Черный тюльпан
The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
Ah!ifIsucceedingivingittheodouroftheroseorthecarnation,or,whatwouldbestillbetter,acompletelynewscent;ifIrestoredtothisqueenofflowersitsnaturaldistinctiveperfume,whichshehaslostinpassingfromherEasterntoherEuropeanthrone,andwhichshemusthaveintheIndianpeninsulaatGoa,Bombay,andMadras,andespeciallyinthatislandwhichinoldentimes,asisasserted,wastheterrestrialparadise,andwhichiscalledCeylon,—oh,whatglory!Imustsay,IwouldthenratherbeCorneliusvanBaerlethanAlexander,Cæsar,orMaximilian.
“Ohtheadmirablebulbs!”
ThusCorneliusindulgedinthedelightsofcontemplation,andwascarriedawaybythesweetestdreams.
Suddenlythebellofhiscabinetwasrungmuchmoreviolentlythanusual.
Cornelius,startled,laidhishandsonhisbulbs,andturnedround.
“Whoishere?”heasked.
“Sir,”answeredtheservant,“itisamessengerfromtheHague.”
“AmessengerfromtheHague!Whatdoeshewant?”
“Sir,itisCraeke.”
“Craeke!theconfidentialservantofMynheerJohndeWitt?Good,lethimwait.”
“Icannotwait,”saidavoiceinthelobby.
Andatthesametimeforcinghiswayin,Craekerushedintothedry-room.
ThisabruptentrancewassuchaninfringementontheestablishedrulesofthehouseholdofCorneliusvanBaerle,thatthelatter,atthesightofCraeke,almostconvulsivelymovedhishandwhichcoveredthebulbs,sothattwoofthemfellonthefloor,oneofthemrollingunderasmalltable,andtheotherintothefireplace.
