Черный тюльпан
Rosa’s Lover
”
Sayingthis,shesmiledinsuchawaythatthelittlecloudofjealousywhichhaddarkenedthebrowofCorneliusspeedilyvanished.
“Howwasit?”askedtheprisoner.
“Well,beingaskedbyhisfriend,myfathertoldatsupperthewholestoryofthetulip,orratherofthebulb,andofhisownfineexploitofcrushingit.”
Corneliusheavedasigh,whichmighthavebeencalledagroan.
“HadyouonlyseenMasterJacobatthatmoment!”continuedRosa.“Ireallythoughthewouldsetfiretothecastle;hiseyeswereliketwoflamingtorches,hishairstoodonend,andheclinchedhisfistforamoment;Ithoughthewouldhavestrangledmyfather.”
“‘Youhavedonethat,’hecried,‘youhavecrushedthebulb?’
“‘IndeedIhave.’
“‘Itisinfamous,’saidMasterJacob,‘itisodious!Youhavecommittedagreatcrime!’
“Myfatherwasquitedumbfounded.
“‘Areyoumad,too?’heaskedhisfriend.”
“Oh,whataworthymanisthisMasterJacob!”mutteredCornelius,—“anhonestsoul,anexcellentheartthatheis.”
“Thetruthis,thatitisimpossibletotreatamanmorerudelythanhedidmyfather;hewasreallyquiteindespair,repeatingoverandoveragain,—
“‘Crushed,crushedthebulb!myGod,myGod!crushed!’
“Then,turningtowardme,heasked,‘Butitwasnottheonlyonethathehad?’”
“Didheaskthat?”inquiredCornelius,withsomeanxiety.
“‘Youthinkitwasnottheonlyone?’saidmyfather.‘Verywell,weshallsearchfortheothers.
