Чорний тюльпан
Master and Pupil
”
“IpromiseyouIwill.”
“Andwhenyouhaveonceplantedit,youwillcommunicatetomeallthecircumstanceswhichmayinterestournursling;suchaschangeofweather,footprintsonthewalks,orfootprintsintheborders.Youwilllistenatnightwhetherourgardenisnotresortedtobycats.AcoupleofthoseuntowardanimalslaidwastetwoofmybordersatDort.”
“Iwilllisten.”
“Onmoonlightnightshaveyoueverlookedatyourgarden,mydearchild?”
“Thewindowofmysleeping-roomoverlooksit.”
“Well,onmoonlightnightsyouwillobservewhetheranyratscomeoutfromtheholesinthewall.Theratsaremostmischievousbytheirgnawingeverything;andIhaveheardunfortunatetulip-growerscomplainmostbitterlyofNoahforhavingputacoupleofratsintheark.”
“Iwillobserve,andiftherearecatsorrats——”
“Youwillapprisemeofit,—that’sright.And,moreover,”VanBaerle,havingbecomemistrustfulinhiscaptivity,continued,“thereisananimalmuchmoretobefearedthaneventhecatortherat.”
“Whatanimal?”
“Man.Youcomprehend,mydearRosa,amanmaystealaguilder,andrisktheprisonforsuchatrifle,and,consequently,itismuchmorelikelythatsomeonemightstealahundredthousandguilders.”
“Nooneeverentersthegardenbutmyself.”
“Thankyou,thankyou,mydearRosa.Allthejoyofmylifehasstilltocomefromyou.”
AndasthelipsofVanBaerleapproachedthegratingwiththesameardorasthedaybefore,andas,moreover,thehourforretiringhadstruck,Rosadrewbackherhead,andstretchedoutherhand.
