Черный тюльпан
The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
Ontheeveningofwhichwearespeaking,afterthetwoCorneliuseshadvisitedtogetheralltheapartmentsofthehouse,whilstatrainofdomesticsfollowedtheirsteps,DeWittsaidinalowvoicetoVanBaerle,—
“Mydearson,sendthesepeopleaway,andletusbealoneforsomeminutes.”
TheyoungerCornelius,bowingassent,saidaloud,—
“Wouldyounow,sir,pleasetoseemydry-room?”
Thedry-room,thispantheon,thissanctumsanctorumofthetulip-fancier,was,asDelphiofold,interdictedtotheprofaneuninitiated.
Neverhadanyofhisservantsbeenboldenoughtosethisfootthere.CorneliusadmittedonlytheinoffensivebroomofanoldFrisianhousekeeper,whohadbeenhisnurse,andwhofromthetimewhenhehaddevotedhimselftothecultureoftulipsventurednolongertoputonionsinhisstews,forfearofpullingtopiecesandmincingtheidolofherfosterchild.
Atthemerementionofthedry-room,therefore,theservantswhowerecarryingthelightsrespectfullyfellback.Cornelius,takingthecandlestickfromthehandsoftheforemost,conductedhisgodfatherintothatroom,whichwasnootherthanthatverycabinetwithaglassfrontintowhichBoxtelwascontinuallypryingwithhistelescope.
Theenviousspywaswatchingmoreintentlythanever.
Firstofallhesawthewallsandwindowslitup.
Thentwodarkfiguresappeared.
Oneofthem,tall,majestic,stern,satdownnearthetableonwhichVanBaerlehadplacedthetaper.
Inthisfigure,BoxtelrecognisedthepalefeaturesofCorneliusdeWitt,whoselonghair,partedinfront,felloverhisshoulders.
