Черный тюльпан
The Two Brothers
”
“Butwhathaveyoudonewiththeseletters?”
“IhaveintrustedthemtothecareofCorneliusvanBaerle,mygodson,whomyouknow,andwholivesatDort.”
“PoorhonestVanBaerle!whoknowssomuch,andyetthinksofnothingbutofflowersandofGodwhomadethem.Youhaveintrustedhimwiththisfatalsecret;itwillbehisruin,poorsoul!”
“Hisruin?”
“Yes,forhewilleitherbestrongorhewillbeweak.Ifheisstrong,hewill,whenhehearsofwhathashappenedtous,boastofouracquaintance;ifheisweak,hewillbeafraidonaccountofhisconnectionwithus:ifheisstrong,hewillbetraythesecretbyhisboldness;ifheisweak,hewillallowittobeforcedfromhim.Ineithercaseheislost,andsoarewe.Letus,therefore,fly,fly,aslongasthereisstilltime.”
CorneliusdeWitt,raisinghimselfonhiscouch,andgraspingthehandofhisbrother,whoshudderedatthetouchofhislinenbandages,replied,—
“DonotIknowmygodson?havenotIbeenenabledtoreadeverythoughtinVanBaerle’smind,andeverysentimentinhisheart?Youaskwhetherheisstrongorweak.Heisneithertheonenortheother;butthatisnotnowthequestion.Theprincipalpointis,thatheissurenottodivulgethesecret,fortheverygoodreasonthathedoesnotknowithimself.”
Johnturnedroundinsurprise.
“Youmustknow,mydearbrother,thatIhavebeentrainedintheschoolofthatdistinguishedpoliticianJohndeWitt;andIrepeattoyou,thatVanBaerleisnotawareofthenatureandimportanceofthedepositwhichIhaveintrustedtohim.
