Черный тюльпан
The Pupil of John de Witt
Iwouldratherhavemytwohandscutoffthanhavewrittenonesingleletterofthisinfamousorder.”
And,pushingbackwiththehiltofhisswordthemanwhowantedtotakeitfromhim,headded,—
“Waitaminute,paperslikethisareofimportance,andaretobekept.”
Sayingthis,hefoldedupthedocument,andcarefullyputitinthepocketofhiscoat.
Then,turningroundtowardshistroop,hegavethewordofcommand,—
“Tilly’sdragoons,wheeltotheright!”
Afterthis,headded,inanundertone,yetloudenoughforhiswordstobenotaltogetherlosttothoseabouthim,—
“Andnow,yebutchers,doyourwork!”
Asavageyell,inwhichallthekeenhatredandferocioustriumphrifeintheprecinctsoftheprisonsimultaneouslyburstforth,andaccompaniedthedepartureofthedragoons,astheywerequietlyfilingoff.
TheCounttarriedbehind,facingtothelasttheinfuriatedpopulace,whichadvancedatthesamerateastheCountretired.
JohndeWitt,therefore,hadbynomeansexaggeratedthedanger,when,assistinghisbrotheringettingup,hehurriedhisdeparture.Cornelius,leaningonthearmoftheEx-GrandPensionary,descendedthestairswhichledtothecourtyard.AtthebottomofthestaircasehefoundlittleRosa,tremblingallover.
“Oh,MynheerJohn,”shesaid,“whatamisfortune!”
“Whatisit,mychild?”askedDeWitt.
“TheysaythattheyaregonetotheTown-halltofetchtheorderforTilly’shorsetowithdraw.”
“Youdonotsayso!”repliedJohn.“Indeed,mydearchild,ifthedragoonsareoff,weshallbeinaverysadplight.
