Чорний тюльпан
Cornelius van Baerle’s Will
”
“Theclergymanwhomtheyhaveproposedtoyou?”
“IhaveworshippedGodallmylife,IhaveworshippedHiminHisworks,andpraisedHiminHisdecrees.IamatpeacewithHimanddonotwishforaclergyman.Thelastthoughtwhichoccupiesmymind,howeverhasreferencetothegloryoftheAlmighty,and,indeed,mydear,Ishouldaskyoutohelpmeincarryingoutthislastthought.”
“Oh,MynheerCornelius,speak,speak!”exclaimedRosa,stillbathedintears.
“Givemeyourhand,andpromisemenottolaugh,mydearchild.”
“Laugh,”exclaimedRosa,franticwithgrief,“laughatthismoment!doyounotseemytears?”
“Rosa,youarenostrangertome.Ihavenotseenmuchofyou,butthatlittleisenoughtomakemeappreciateyourcharacter.Ihaveneverseenawomanmorefairormorepurethanyouare,andiffromthismomentItakenomorenoticeofyou,forgiveme;itisonlybecause,onleavingthisworld,Idonotwishtohaveanyfurtherregret.”
Rosafeltashuddercreepingoverherframe,for,whilsttheprisonerpronouncedthesewords,thebelfryclockoftheBuytenhofstruckeleven.
Corneliusunderstoodher.“Yes,yes,letusmakehaste,”hesaid,“youareright,Rosa.”
Then,takingthepaperwiththethreesuckersfromhisbreast,wherehehadagainputit,sincehehadnolongeranyfearofbeingsearched,hesaid:“Mydeargirl,Ihavebeenveryfondofflowers.ThatwasatatimewhenIdidnotknowthattherewasanythingelsetobeloved.
