Черный тюльпан
Wherein the Reader begins to guess the Kind of Execution that was awaiting Van Baerle
There,inthelargeCouncilRoomintowhichshewasushered,shefoundthePrincewriting.
Hewasalone,withalargeFrisiangreyhoundathisfeet,whichlookedathimwithasteadyglance,asifthefaithfulanimalwerewishingtodowhatnomancoulddo,—readthethoughtsofhismasterinhisface.
Williamcontinuedhiswritingforamoment;then,raisinghiseyes,andseeingRosastandingnearthedoor,hesaid,withoutlayingdownhispen,—
“Comehere,mychild.”
Rosaadvancedafewstepstowardsthetable.
“Sitdown,”hesaid.
Rosaobeyed,forthePrincewasfixinghiseyesuponher,buthehadscarcelyturnedthemagaintohispaperwhenshebashfullyretiredtothedoor.
ThePrincefinishedhisletter.
Duringthistime,thegreyhoundwentuptoRosa,surveyedherandbegantocaressher.
“Ah,ah!”saidWilliamtohisdog,“it’seasytoseethatsheisacountrywomanofyours,andthatyourecogniseher.”
Then,turningtowardsRosa,andfixingonherhisscrutinising,andatthesametimeimpenetrableglance,hesaid,—
“Now,mychild.”
ThePrincewasscarcelytwenty-three,andRosaeighteenortwenty.Hemightthereforeperhapsbetterhavesaid,Mysister.
“Mychild,”hesaid,withthatstrangelycommandingaccentwhichchilledallthosewhoapproachedhim,“wearealone;letusspeaktogether.”
Rosabegantotremble,andyettherewasnothingbutkindnessintheexpressionofthePrince’sface.
“Monseigneur,”shestammered.
“YouhaveafatheratLoewestein?”
“Yes,yourHighness.
