Черный тюльпан
The Events which took place during those Eight Days
”
Rosapronouncedthosefewwordsinafreezingtone,whichcutdeeplyintotheheartofCornelius.Hedidnotsuspectwhatlayhiddenunderthisappearanceofindifferencewithwhichthepoorgirlaffectedtospeakofherrival,theblacktulip.
“Oh!”mutteredCornelius,“again!again!HaveInottoldyou,Rosa,thatIthoughtbutofyou?thatitwasyoualonewhomIregretted,youwhomImissed,youwhoseabsenceIfeltmorethanthelossoflibertyandoflifeitself?”
Rosasmiledwithamelancholyair.
“Ah!”shesaid,“yourtuliphasbeeninsuchdanger.”
Corneliustrembledinvoluntarily,andshowedhimselfclearlytobecaughtinthetrap,ifevertheremarkwasmeantassuch.
“Danger!”hecried,quitealarmed;“whatdanger?”
Rosalookedathimwithgentlecompassion;shefeltthatwhatshewishedwasbeyondthepowerofthisman,andthathemustbetakenashewas,withhislittlefoible.
“Yes,”shesaid,“youhaveguessedthetruth;thatsuitorandamorousswain,Jacob,didnotcomeonmyaccount.”
“Andwhatdidhecomefor?”Corneliusanxiouslyasked.
“Hecameforthesakeofthetulip.”
“Alas!”saidCornelius,growingevenpaleratthispieceofinformationthanhehadbeenwhenRosa,afortnightbefore,hadtoldhimthatJacobwascomingforhersake.
Rosasawthisalarm,andCorneliusguessed,fromtheexpressionofherface,inwhatdirectionherthoughtswererunning.
“Oh,pardonme,Rosa!”hesaid,“Iknowyou,andIamwellawareofthekindnessandsincerityofyourheart.
