Черный тюльпан

In which Van Baerle, before leaving Loewestein, settles Accounts with Gryphus

           

           “Oh!oh!”saidCornelius,whoseheartfeltoppressedbythefirstdreadofdeath.“WhatquickworktheymakehereinthefortressofLoewestein.Andtherascaltalkedtomeoftwelvehours!”

           “Ah!whatdidItellyou?”whisperedthecommunicativeguardintheearoftheculprit.

           “Alie.”

           “Howso?”

           “Youpromisedmetwelvehours.”

           “Ah,yes,butherecomestoyouanaide-de-campofhisHighness,evenoneofhismostintimatecompanionsVanDeken.Zounds!theydidnotgrantsuchanhonourtopoorMathias.”

           “Come,come!”saidCornelius,drawingalongbreath.“Come,I’llshowtothesepeoplethatanhonestburgher,godsonofCorneliusdeWitt,canwithoutflinchingreceiveasmanymusket-ballsasthatMathias.”

           Sayingthis,hepassedproudlybeforetheclerk,who,beinginterruptedinhiswork,venturedtosaytotheofficer,

           “But,CaptainvanDeken,theprotocolisnotyetfinished.”

           “Itisnotworthwhilefinishingit,”answeredtheofficer.

           “Allright,”repliedtheclerk,philosophicallyputtinguphispaperandpenintoagreasyandwell-wornwriting-case.

           “Itwaswritten,”thoughtpoorCornelius,“thatIshouldnotinthisworldgivemynameeithertoachildtoaflower,ortoabook,thethreethingsbywhichaman’smemoryisperpetuated.”

           Repressinghismelancholythoughts,hefollowedtheofficerwitharesoluteheart,andcarryinghisheaderect.

           CorneliuscountedthestepswhichledtotheEsplanade,regrettingthathehadnotaskedtheguardhowmanytherewereofthem,whichtheman,inhisofficialcomplaisance,wouldnothavefailedtotellhim.

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