Черный тюльпан
An Invasion
Madwithrage,hereturnedtohisladder,mountedthewall,drewuptheladder,flungitintohisowngarden,andjumpedafterit.
Allatonce,alastrayofhopepresenteditselftohismind:theseedlingbulbsmightbeinthedry-room;itwasthereforeonlyrequisitetomakehisentrythereashehaddoneintothegarden.
Therehewouldfindthem,and,moreover,itwasnotatalldifficult,asthesashesofthedry-roommightberaisedlikethoseofagreenhouse.Corneliushadopenedthemonthatmorning,andnoonehadthoughtofclosingthemagain.
Everything,therefore,dependeduponwhetherhecouldprocurealadderofsufficientlength,—oneoftwenty-fivefeetinsteadoften.
Boxtelhadnoticedinthestreetwherehelivedahousewhichwasbeingrepaired,andagainstwhichaverytallladderwasplaced.
Thisladderwoulddoadmirably,unlesstheworkmenhadtakenitaway.
Herantothehouse:theladderwasthere.Boxteltookit,carrieditwithgreatexertiontohisgarden,andwithevengreaterdifficultyraiseditagainstthewallofVanBaerle’shouse,whereitjustreachedtothewindow.
Boxtelputalighteddarklanternintohispocket,mountedtheladder,andslippedintothedry-room.
Onreachingthissanctuaryofthefloristhestopped,supportinghimselfagainstthetable;hislegsfailedhim,hisheartbeatasifitwouldchokehim.Hereitwasevenworsethaninthegarden;thereBoxtelwasonlyatrespasser,herehewasathief.
However,hetookcourageagain:hehadnotgonesofartoturnbackwithemptyhands.
