[Comprehensive classics] Let Gao Leng learn the language

The night filled the window holes in the cell door, and the iron fence divided the dark blue night sky into slices.

Cornelius listened attentively with his ear bent.

Light footsteps!

He pressed his face against the iron fence excitedly, and looked out with wide eyes. It was already dark, and Madam Gao Leng was holding a lamp. Cornelius could see the light getting closer and heard her footsteps and clothes. The rustle of skirts.

He also heard his heart beating, as if it was about to jump out of his chest.

Lady Gao Leng came over, but she never put her face too close to the iron fence. The kiss of Cornelius still makes her hard to digest until now, like swallowing a fruit core whole in her throat.

She holds a lamp in her right hand, a Bible in her left, and three bulbs of Cornelius in her purse.

Standing at the door, she took out the three bulbs wrapped in the paper from her bosom and handed them to him.

She knew that Cornelius would not answer.

He was only heard to say: "Listen, it seems to me that it is too risky to bet all one's eggs in one basket. Think, dear Rosa, that we are doing something that is impossible today. We are growing large Black Tulip. So we have to be careful, and if we fail, we have nothing to blame ourselves. Now I will tell you the plan of how to achieve the goal."

Madame Gaolin listened attentively to the plans of the poor fellow, and the unfortunate tulip-cultivator took the matter very seriously, while she herself did not attach much importance to it.

"There," continued Cornelius, "I intend to cooperate with you in this great matter, and this is the plan."

"You said."

"There must be a small garden in this prison. If there is no garden, a yard will do. If there is no yard, a flat land will do."

"There is a garden by the Waal."

"Dear Rosa, would you please take some soil from the garden for me to study?"

"Bring it tomorrow."

"You'll take some from both the shady and sunny places, so that I can see both their natures from the dry and the wet."

"You can rest assured."

"After I've selected the soil and improved it if necessary, we'll separate the three bulbs. You take one and I'll tell you which day it will be planted in the soil I've chosen; as long as you take care of it as I instruct you to do." It will definitely bloom."

"it is good."

"You give me another one. I'm going to try to plant it in my room. It can help me pass the long hours when I can't see you. To be honest, I don't have much hope for this one. Consider this unfortunate bulb a victim of my selfishness. But the sun sometimes shines on me. I will make use of every artificial condition I can, even the heat and ashes of my pipe. Finally, we, or rather you alone, save the third bulb, in case the first two experiments fail, we have one last hope. So, dear Rosa, it is impossible for us not to get Our dowry of a hundred thousand florins would not be without the great pleasure of seeing our business succeed."

Ms. Gao Leng has fully understood Cornelius's enthusiasm for black tulips from his detailed words. She said: "I will bring the soil tomorrow. Let you choose for yourself and for me. As for the one you use That share, I'll take it in several trips, and I can only bring you a little in one trip."

"Ah! We needn't be in a hurry, Rosa dear; our tulips won't be planted for a whole month at least. So, you see, we've got plenty of time; but you'll plant your bulb exactly as I instruct you, won't you? "

Ms. Gao Leng fully cooperated with him, and she replied: "I promise you to obey."

"When the bulbs are planted, you will tell me everything about the young plants, such as changes in the weather, footprints in the paths, and footprints in the flower beds. You will pay attention to our garden at night if cats often come. In Dordrecht, two of these damned brutes ruined two of my flower beds."

"I must pay attention."

"On a moonlit day...does your window look out into the garden, my dear child?"

"My bedroom window looks right at it."

"Okay. On a moonlit day, you have to see if there are any mice coming out of the hole in the wall. Mice bite when they see something, the most terrible thing."

"I'll see, if there's a cat or a mouse..."

"Tell me, then. And," continued Cornelius, who had grown suspicious since being raped, "there is another animal more terrible than cats and mice!"

"What animal?"

"Man! You know, my dear Rosa, there are people who are willing to risk hard labor for a florin; so a tulip bulb worth a hundred thousand florins is all the more reason to steal it."

"No one went into the garden but me."

"Can you guarantee it?"

"I swear!"

"Well, Rosa! Thank you, dear Rosa! Ah! You have given me all my happiness!"

Cornelius' lips approached the fence with the same enthusiasm as the day before, and Madam Gao Leng hurriedly hid.

The time for parting was approaching, and Ms. Gao Leng handed him a root, and Cornelius blamed himself for forgetting to teach Rosa how to read because he was only caring about tulips.

Ms. Gao Leng comforted him: "Tomorrow night, when I come tomorrow night, you can teach me. Good night, Cornelius."

Cornelius was moved by her thoughtfulness, and regarded her as his confidant.

He watched her slender back disappear into the night.

"what!"

After she had completely merged into the night, he stroked his forehead with both hands and sighed. He blamed God for letting him lose his freedom, otherwise, how many beautiful times he would have spent with Rosa.

After a while of sad thoughts left, Cornelius cheered up, looking at the bulb in his hand, he felt somewhat comforted in his heart.

Ms. Gao Leng quietly returned to the room with the light on. Before going to bed, she looked at the page of the Bible again.

The author has something to say: Can I leave a comment?Is everyone cold?