Черный тюльпан
The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
“Zounds!”saidCornelius,eagerlypickinguphispreciousbulbs,“what’sthematter?”
“Thematter,sir!”saidCraeke,layingapaperonthelargetable,onwhichthethirdbulbwaslying,—“thematteris,thatyouarerequestedtoreadthispaperwithoutlosingonemoment.”
AndCraeke,whothoughthehadremarkedinthestreetsofDortsymptomsofatumultsimilartothatwhichhehadwitnessedbeforehisdeparturefromtheHague,ranoffwithoutevenlookingbehindhim.
“Allright!allright!mydearCraeke,”saidCornelius,stretchinghisarmunderthetableforthebulb;“yourpapershallberead,indeeditshall.”
Then,examiningthebulbwhichheheldinthehollowofhishand,hesaid:“Well,hereisoneofthemuninjured.ThatconfoundedCraeke!thustorushintomydry-room;letusnowlookaftertheother.”
Andwithoutlayingdownthebulbwhichhealreadyheld,Baerlewenttothefireplace,kneltdownandstirredwiththetipofhisfingertheashes,whichfortunatelywerequitecold.
Heatoncefelttheotherbulb.
“Well,hereitis,”hesaid;and,lookingatitwithalmostfatherlyaffection,heexclaimed,“Uninjuredasthefirst!”
Atthisveryinstant,andwhilstCornelius,stillonhisknees,wasexamininghispets,thedoorofthedry-roomwassoviolentlyshaken,andopenedinsuchabrusquemanner,thatCorneliusfeltrisinginhischeeksandhisearstheglowofthatevilcounsellorwhichiscalledwrath.
