Черный тюльпан

The Opening of the Flower

           

           Corneliusutteredacry,andwasnearlyfainting.

           “Oh!”mutteredhe,“myGod,myGod,Thoudostrewardmeformyinnocenceandmycaptivity,asThouhastallowedtwosuchflowerstogrowatthegratedwindowofmyprison!”

           Thetulipwasbeautiful,splendid,magnificent;itsstemwasmorethaneighteenincheshigh;itrosefromoutoffourgreenleaves,whichwereassmoothandstraightasironlance-heads;thewholeoftheflowerwasasblackandshiningasjet.

           “Rosa,”saidCornelius,almostgasping,“Rosa,thereisnotonemomenttoloseinwritingtheletter.”

           “Itiswritten,mydearestCornelius,”saidRosa.

           “Isit,indeed?”

           “WhilstthetulipopenedIwroteitmyself,forIdidnotwishtoloseamoment.Hereistheletter,andtellmewhetheryouapproveofit.”

           Corneliustooktheletter,andread,inahandwritingwhichwasmuchimprovedevensincethelastlittlenotehehadreceivedfromRosa,asfollows:

           “MynheerPresident,Theblacktulipisabouttoopen,perhapsintenminutes.Assoonasitisopen,Ishallsendamessengertoyou,withtherequestthatyouwillcomeandfetchitinpersonfromthefortressatLoewestein.Iamthedaughterofthejailer,Gryphus,almostasmuchofacaptiveastheprisonersofmyfather.Icannot,therefore,bringtoyouthiswonderfulflower.ThisisthereasonwhyIbegyoutocomeandfetchityourself.

           “ItismywishthatitshouldbecalledRosaBarlœnsis.

           “Ithasopened;itisperfectlyblack;come,MynheerPresident,come.

           “Ihavethehonourtobeyourhumbleservant,

           “RosaGryphus.

           “That’sit,dearRosa,that’sit

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 200 из 284