Черный тюльпан
The Events which took place during those Eight Days
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“Youfeignednottoseehim,didn’tyou?”Corneliusasked,rememberingallthedetailsoftheadvicewhichhehadgiventoRosa.
“Yes,andIstoopedovertheborder,inwhichIdugwithaspade,asifIwasgoingtoputthebulbin.”
“Andhe,—whatdidhedoduringallthistime?”
“Isawhiseyesglistenthroughthebranchesofthetreelikethoseofatiger.”
“Thereyousee,thereyousee!”criedCornelius.
“Then,afterhavingfinishedmymake-believework,Iretired.”
“Butonlybehindthegardendoor,Idaresay,sothatyoumightseethroughthekeyholewhathewasgoingtodowhenyouhadleft?”
“Hewaitedforamoment,verylikelytomakesureofmynotcomingback,afterwhichhesneakedforthfromhishiding-place,andapproachedtheborderbyalonground-about;atlast,havingreachedhisgoal,thatistosay,thespotwherethegroundwasnewlyturned,hestoppedwithacarelessair,lookingaboutinalldirections,andscanningeverycornerofthegarden,everywindowoftheneighbouringhouses,andeventhesky;afterwhich,thinkinghimselfquitealone,quiteisolated,andoutofeverybody’ssight,hepouncedupontheborder,plungedbothhishandsintothesoftsoil,tookahandfulofthemould,whichhegentlyfritteredbetweenhisfingerstoseewhetherthebulbwasinit,andrepeatedthesamethingtwiceorthreetimes,untilatlastheperceivedthathewasoutwitted.
