Черный тюльпан
The Two Brothers
”
“Oh!that’swhatIheardjustnow,”saidtheprisoner,asifspeakingtohimself.Then,turningtohisbrother,hecontinued,—
“Aretheremanypersonsdownbeforetheprison.”
“Yes,mybrother,thereare.”
“Butthen,tocomeheretome——”
“Well?”
“Howisitthattheyhaveallowedyoutopass?”
“Youknowwellthatwearenotverypopular,Cornelius,”saidtheGrandPensionary,withgloomybitterness.“Ihavemademywaythroughallsortsofbystreetsandalleys.”
“Youhidyourself,John?”
“Iwishedtoreachyouwithoutlossoftime,andIdidwhatpeoplewilldoinpolitics,orontheseawhenthewindisagainstthem,—Itacked.”
Atthismomentthenoiseinthesquarebelowwasheardtoroarwithincreasingfury.Tillywasparleyingwiththeburghers.
“Well,well,”saidCornelius,“youareaveryskilfulpilot,John;butIdoubtwhetheryouwillassafelyguideyourbrotheroutoftheBuytenhofinthemidstofthisgale,andthroughtheragingsurfofpopularhatred,asyoudidthefleetofVanTromppasttheshoalsoftheScheldttoAntwerp.”
“WiththehelpofGod,Cornelius,we’llatleasttry,”answeredJohn;“but,firstofall,awordwithyou.”
“Speak!”
Theshoutsbegananew.
“Hark,hark!”continuedCornelius,“howangrythosepeopleare!Isitagainstyou,oragainstme?”
“Ishouldsayitisagainstusboth,Cornelius.Itoldyou,mydearbrother,thattheOrangeparty,whileassailinguswiththeirabsurdcalumnies,havealsomadeitareproachagainstusthatwehavenegotiatedwithFrance.
