Черный тюльпан
The Third Bulb
“But,Monseigneur,thisyoungwomanmayhavestolenthebulb,asshedidthetulip,”Boxtelsaid,withafalteringvoice,andevidentlyalarmedattheattentionwithwhichthePrinceexaminedthebulb;andevenmoreatthemovementsofRosa,whowasreadingsomelineswrittenonthepaperwhichremainedinherhands.
Hereyessuddenlylightedup;sheread,withbreathlessanxiety,themysteriouspaperoverandoveragain;andatlast,utteringacry,helditouttothePrinceandsaid,“Read,Monseigneur,forHeaven’ssake,read!”
WilliamhandedthethirdbulbtoVanSystens,tookthepaper,andread.
Nosoonerhadhelookedatitthanhebegantostagger;hishandtrembled,andverynearlyletthepaperfalltotheground;andtheexpressionofpainandcompassioninhisfeatureswasreallyfrightfultosee.
Itwasthatfly-leaf,takenfromtheBible,whichCorneliusdeWitthadsenttoDortbyCraeke,theservantofhisbrotherJohn,torequestVanBaerletoburnthecorrespondenceoftheGrandPensionarywiththeMarquisdeLouvois.
Thisrequest,asthereadermayremember,wascouchedinthefollowingterms:—
“MyDearGodson,—
“BurntheparcelwhichIhaveintrustedtoyou.Burnitwithoutlookingatit,andwithoutopeningit,sothatitscontentsmayforeverremainunknowntoyourself.Secretsofthisdescriptionaredeathtothosewithwhomtheyaredeposited.Burnit,andyouwillhavesavedJohnandCorneliusdeWitt.
“Farewell,andloveme.
“CorneliusdeWitt.
“August20,1672
