Черный тюльпан
The Little Grated Window
”
Gryphus,quitetakenupwiththedesireofcatchingthepigeonsnextday,ashehadpromisedhewoulddo,sawandheardnothingofthisshortinterlude;and,afterhavingclosedthewindow,hetookthearmofhisdaughter,leftthecell,turnedthekeytwice,drewthebolts,andwentofftomakethesamekindpromisetotheotherprisoners.
Hehadscarcelywithdrawn,whenCorneliuswenttothedoortolistentothesoundofhisfootsteps,and,assoonastheyhaddiedaway,herantothewindow,andcompletelydemolishedthenestofthepigeons.
Ratherthanexposethemtothetendermerciesofhisbullyingjailer,hedroveawayforeverthosegentlemessengerstowhomheowedthehappinessofhavingseenRosaagain.
Thisvisitofthejailer,hisbrutalthreats,andthegloomyprospectoftheharshnesswithwhich,ashehadbeforeexperienced,Gryphuswatchedhisprisoners,—allthiswasunabletoextinguishinCorneliusthesweetthoughts,andespeciallythesweethope,whichthepresenceofRosahadreawakenedinhisheart.
HewaitedeagerlytoheartheclockofthetowerofLoewesteinstrikenine.
Thelastchimewasstillvibratingthroughtheair,whenCorneliusheardonthestaircasethelightstepandtherustleoftheflowingdressofthefairFrisianmaid,andsoonafteralightappearedatthelittlegratedwindowinthedoor,onwhichtheprisonerfixedhisearnestgaze.
Theshutteropenedontheoutside.
“HereIam,”saidRosa,outofbreathfromrunningupthestairs,“hereIam.”
“Oh,mygoodRosa.
