Черный тюльпан
The Opening of the Flower
Alas!ifanyonesawtheblacktulip,itwouldbestolen.”
“Oh!”
“DidyounottellmeyourselfofwhatyouapprehendedfromyourloverJacob?Peoplewillstealoneguilder,whynotahundredthousand?”
“Ishallwatch;bequiet.”
“Butifitopenedwhilstyouwerehere?”
“Thewhimsicallittlethingwouldindeedbequitecapableofplayingsuchatrick,”saidRosa.
“Andifonyourreturnyoufinditopen?”
“Well?”
“Oh,Rosa,wheneveritopens,rememberthatnotamomentmustbelostinapprisingthePresident.”
“Andinapprisingyou.Yes,Iunderstand.”
Rosasighed,yetwithoutanybitterfeeling,butratherlikeawomanwhobeginstounderstandafoible,andtoaccustomherselftoit.
“Ireturntoyourtulip,MynheervanBaerle,andassoonasitopensIwillgiveyounews,whichbeingdonethemessengerwillsetoutimmediately.”
“Rosa,Rosa,Idon’tknowtowhatwonderunderthesunIshallcompareyou.”
“Comparemetotheblacktulip,andIpromiseyouIshallfeelverymuchflattered.Goodnight,then,tillwemeetagain,MynheerCornelius.”
“Oh,say‘Goodnight,myfriend.’”
“Goodnight,myfriend,”saidRosa,alittleconsoled.
“Say,‘Myverydearfriend.’”
“Oh,myfriend—”
“Verydearfriend,Ientreatyou,say‘verydear,’Rosa,verydear.”
“Verydear,yes,verydear,”saidRosa,withabeatingheart,beyondherselfwithhappiness.
“Andnowthatyouhavesaid‘verydear,’dearRosa,sayalso‘mosthappy’:say‘happierandmoreblessedthanevermanwasunderthesun.’Ionlylackonething,Rosa.
