Черный тюльпан
A Last Request
”
“Bequiet,unfortunateman,andcomequicklybackintothecarriage,forhereistheescortofhisHighnesstheStadtholder,andifthePrinceobservedanydisturbance,orheardanynoise,itwouldberuintome,aswellastoyou.”
VanBaerle,moreafraidforhiscompanionthanhimself,threwhimselfbackintothecarriage,buthecouldonlykeepquietforhalfaminute,andthefirsttwentyhorsemenhadscarcelypassedwhenheagainleanedoutofthecarriagewindow,gesticulatingimploringlytowardstheStadtholderattheverymomentwhenhepassed.
William,impassibleandquietasusual,wasproceedingtothegreentofulfilhisdutyaschairman.Heheldinhishandtherollofparchment,which,onthisfestiveday,hadbecomehisbaton.
Seeingthemangesticulatewithimploringmien,andperhapsalsorecognisingtheofficerwhoaccompaniedhim,hisHighnessorderedhiscarriagetostop.
Inaninstanthissnortingsteedsstoodstill,atadistanceofaboutsixyardsfromthecarriageinwhichVanBaerlewascaged.
“Whatisthis?”thePrinceaskedtheofficer,whoatthefirstorderoftheStadtholderhadjumpedoutofthecarriage,andwasrespectfullyapproachinghim.
“Monseigneur,”hecried,“thisistheprisonerofstatewhomIhavefetchedfromLoewestein,andwhomIhavebroughttoHaarlemaccordingtoyourHighness’scommand.”
“Whatdoeshewant?”
“Heentreatsforpermissiontostophereforminute.
