Черный тюльпан
An Invasion
Atmidnight,withabeatingheart,tremblinghands,andalividcountenance,hedescendedfromthetree,tookaladder,leaneditagainstthewall,mountedittothelaststepbutone,andlistened.
Allwasperfectlyquiet,notasoundbrokethesilenceofthenight;onesolitarylight,thatofthehousekeeper,wasburninginthehouse.
ThissilenceandthisdarknessemboldenedBoxtel;hegotastridethewall,stoppedforaninstant,and,afterhavingascertainedthattherewasnothingtofear,heputhisladderfromhisowngardenintothatofCornelius,anddescended.
Then,knowingtoaninchwherethebulbswhichweretoproducetheblacktulipwereplanted,herantowardsthespot,following,however,thegravelledwalksinordernottobebetrayedbyhisfootprints,and,onarrivingattheprecisespot,heproceeded,withtheeagernessofatiger,toplungehishandintothesoftground.
Hefoundnothing,andthoughthewasmistaken.
Inthemeanwhile,thecoldsweatstoodonhisbrow.
Hefeltaboutclosebyit,—nothing.
Hefeltaboutontheright,andontheleft,—nothing.
Hefeltaboutinfrontandattheback,—nothing.
Hewasnearlymad,whenatlasthesatisfiedhimselfthatonthatverymorningtheearthhadbeendisturbed.
Infact,whilstBoxtelwaslyinginbed,Corneliushadgonedowntohisgarden,hadtakenupthemotherbulb,and,aswehaveseen,divideditintothree.
Boxtelcouldnotbringhimselftoleavetheplace.Hedugupwithhishandsmorethantensquarefeetofground.
Atlastnodoubtremainedofhismisfortune.
