Чорний тюльпан
The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
And,besides,iftheparcelhadbeenmadeupofbulbs,BoxtelknewhisneighbourtoowellnottoexpectthatVanBaerlewouldnothavelostonemomentinsatisfyinghiscuriosityandfeastinghiseyesonthepresentwhichhehadreceived.
But,onthecontrary,Corneliushadreceivedtheparcelfromthehandsofhisgodfatherwitheverymarkofrespect,andputitbywiththesamerespectfulmannerinadrawer,stowingitawaysothatitshouldnottakeuptoomuchoftheroomwhichwasreservedtohisbulbs.
Theparcelthusbeingsecreted,CorneliusdeWittgotup,pressedthehandofhisgodson,andturnedtowardsthedoor,VanBaerleseizingthecandlestick,andlightinghimonhiswaydowntothestreet,whichwasstillcrowdedwithpeoplewhowishedtoseetheirgreatfellowcitizengettingintohiscoach.
Boxtelhadnotbeenmistakeninhissupposition.ThedepositintrustedtoVanBaerle,andcarefullylockedupbyhim,wasnothingmorenorlessthanJohndeWitt’scorrespondencewiththeMarquisdeLouvois,thewarministeroftheKingofFrance;onlythegodfatherforboregivingtohisgodsontheleastintimationconcerningthepoliticalimportanceofthesecret,merelydesiringhimnottodelivertheparceltoanyonebuttohimself,ortowhomsoeverheshouldsendtoclaimitinhisname.
AndVanBaerle,aswehaveseen,lockeditupwithhismostpreciousbulbs,tothinknomoreofit,afterhisgodfatherhadlefthim;veryunlikeBoxtel,wholookeduponthisparcelasacleverpilotdoesonthedistantandscarcelyperceptiblecloudwhichisincreasingonitswayandwhichisfraughtwithastorm.
