Черный тюльпан
The Pupil of John de Witt
”
“Ihavesomeadvicetogiveyou,”Rosasaid,tremblingevenmoreviolentlythanbefore.
“Well,letushearwhatyouhavetosay,mychild.WhyshouldnotGodspeakbyyourmouth?”
“Now,then,MynheerJohn,ifIwereinyourplace,Ishouldnotgooutthroughthemainstreet.”
“Andwhyso,asthedragoonsofTillyarestillattheirpost?”
“Yes,buttheirorder,aslongasitisnotrevoked,enjoinsthemtostopbeforetheprison.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Haveyougotanorderforthemtoaccompanyyououtofthetown?”
“Wehavenot?”
“Well,then,intheverymomentwhenyouhavepassedtheranksofthedragoonsyouwillfallintothehandsofthepeople.”
“Buttheburgherguard?”
“Alas!theburgherguardarethemostenragedofall.”
“Whatarewetodo,then?”
“IfIwereinyourplace,MynheerJohn,”theyounggirltimidlycontinued,“Ishouldleavebythepostern,whichleadsintoadesertedby-lane,whilstallthepeoplearewaitingintheHighStreettoseeyoucomeoutbytheprincipalentrance.FromthereIshouldtrytoreachthegatebywhichyouintendtoleavethetown.”
“Butmybrotherisnotabletowalk,”saidJohn.
“Ishalltry,”Corneliussaid,withanexpressionofmostsublimefortitude.
“Buthaveyounotgotyourcarriage?”askedthegirl.
“Thecarriageisdownnearthegreatentrance.”
“Notso,”shereplied.“Iconsideredyourcoachmantobeafaithfulman,andItoldhimtowaitforyouatthepostern.”
Thetwobrotherslookedfirstateachother,andthenatRosa,withaglancefullofthemosttendergratitude.
