Черный тюльпан
Rosa’s Lover
’
“‘But,firstofall,’saidmyfather,‘weoughttoknowhowhehascontrivedtoprocurethisbulb.’
“Iturnedmyeyesawaytoavoidmyfather’slook;butImetthoseofJacob.
“Itwasasifhehadtriedtoreadmythoughtsatthebottomofmyheart.
“Somelittleshowofangersometimessavesananswer.Ishruggedmyshoulders,turnedmyback,andadvancedtowardsthedoor.
“ButIwaskeptbysomethingwhichIheard,althoughitwasutteredinaverylowvoiceonly.
“Jacobsaidtomyfather,—
“‘Itwouldnotbesodifficulttoascertainthat.’
“‘Howso?’
“‘Youneedonlysearchhisperson:andifhehastheotherbulbs,weshallfindthem,asthereusuallyarethreesuckers!’”
“Threesuckers!”criedCornelius.“DidyousaythatIhavethree?”
“Thewordcertainlystruckmejustasmuchasitdoesyou.Iturnedround.Theywerebothofthemsodeeplyengagedintheirconversationthattheydidnotobservemymovement.
“‘But,’saidmyfather,‘perhapshehasnotgothisbulbsabouthim?’
“‘Thentakehimdown,undersomepretextorotherandIwillsearchhiscellinthemeanwhile.’”
“Halloa,halloa!”saidCornelius.“ButthisMr.Jacobofyoursisavillain,itseems.”
“Iamafraidheis.”
“Tellme,Rosa,”continuedCornelius,withapensiveair.
“What?”
“Didyounottellmethatonthedaywhenyoupreparedyourbordersthismanfollowedyou?”
“Sohedid.”
“Thatheglidedlikeashadowbehindtheeldertrees?”
“Certainly.”
“Thatnotoneofyourmovementsescapedhim?”
“Notone,indeed.
