Черный тюльпан
The First Bulb
“Takecare,sir,takecare,”saidCornelius,growingquitepale.
“Careofwhat?Zounds!ofwhat?”roaredthejailer.
“Takecare,Isay,youwillcrushit,MasterGryphus.”
AndwitharapidandalmostfranticmovementhesnatchedthejugfromthehandsofGryphus,andhiditlikeatreasureunderhisarms.
ButGryphus,obstinate,likeanoldman,andmoreandmoreconvincedthathewasdiscoveringhereaconspiracyagainstthePrinceofOrange,rusheduptohisprisoner,raisinghisstick;seeing,however,theimpassibleresolutionofthecaptivetoprotecthisflower-pothewasconvincedthatCorneliustrembledmuchlessforhisheadthanforhisjug.
Hethereforetriedtowrestitfromhimbyforce.
“Halloa!”saidthejailer,furious,“here,yousee,youarerebelling.”
“Leavememytulip,”criedVanBaerle.
“Ah,yes,tulip,”repliedtheoldman,“weknowwelltheshiftsofprisoners.”
“ButIvowtoyou——”
“Letgo,”repeatedGryphus,stampinghisfoot,“letgo,orIshallcalltheguard.”
“Callwhoeveryoulike,butyoushallnothavethisflowerexceptwithmylife.”
Gryphus,exasperated,plungedhisfingerasecondtimeintothesoil,andnowhedrewoutthebulb,whichcertainlylookedquiteblack;andwhilstVanBaerle,quitehappytohavesavedthevessel,didnotsuspectthattheadversaryhadpossessedhimselfofitspreciouscontents,Gryphushurledthesoftenedbulbwithallhisforceontheflags,wherealmostimmediatelyafteritwascrushedtoatomsunderhisheavyshoe.
