Черный тюльпан
The Two Brothers
”
AstheCountwassoindisputablyintherightthatitwasimpossibletoargueagainsthim,themobansweredonlybyredoubledclamourandhorriblethreats,towhichtheCountopposedthemostperfecturbanity.
“Gentlemen,”hesaid,“uncockyourmuskets,oneofthemmaygooffbyaccident;andiftheshotchancedtowoundoneofmymen,weshouldknockoveracoupleofhundredsofyours,forwhichweshould,indeed,beverysorry,butyouevenmoreso;especiallyassuchathingisneithercontemplatedbyyounorbymyself.”
“Ifyoudidthat,”criedtheburghers,“weshouldhaveapopatyou,too.”
“Ofcourseyouwould;butsupposeyoukilledeverymanJackofus,thosewhomweshouldhavekilledwouldnot,forallthat,belessdead.”
“Thenleavetheplacetous,andyouwillperformthepartofagoodcitizen.”
“Firstofall,”saidtheCount,“Iamnotacitizen,butanofficer,whichisaverydifferentthing;andsecondly,IamnotaHollander,butaFrenchman,whichismoredifferentstill.IhavetodowithnoonebuttheStates,bywhomIampaid;letmeseeanorderfromthemtoleavetheplacetoyou,andIshallonlybetoogladtowheeloffinaninstant,asIamconfoundedlyboredhere.
