the black tulip-第33节
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unconsciously； so near the iron grating； that Cornelius was
able to touch it with his lips。
Rosa uttered a little scream； which； however； was full of
love； and disappeared。
Chapter 21
The Second Bulb
The night was a happy one； and the whole of the next day
happier still。
During the last few days； the prison had been heavy； dark；
and lowering； as it were； with all its weight on the
unfortunate captive。 Its walls were black； its air chilling；
the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light。
But when Cornelius awoke next morning； a beam of the morning
sun was playing about those iron bars； pigeons were hovering
about with outspread wings； whilst others were lovingly
cooing on the roof or near the still closed window。
Cornelius ran to that window and opened it； it seemed to him
as if new life； and joy； and liberty itself were entering
with this sunbeam into his cell； which； so dreary of late；
was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love。
When Gryphus； therefore； came to see his prisoner in the
morning； he no longer found him morose and lying in bed； but
standing at the window； and singing a little ditty。
〃Halloa！〃 exclaimed the jailer。
〃How are you this morning？〃 asked Cornelius。
Gryphus looked at him with a scowl。
〃And how is the dog； and Master Jacob； and our pretty Rosa？〃
Gryphus ground his teeth； saying。
〃Here is your breakfast。〃
〃Thank you； friend Cerberus；〃 said the prisoner； 〃you are
just in time； I am very hungry。〃
〃Oh！ you are hungry； are you？〃 said Gryphus。
〃And why not？〃 asked Van Baerle。
〃The conspiracy seems to thrive；〃 remarked Gryphus。
〃What conspiracy？〃
〃Very well； I know what I know； Master Scholar； just be
quiet； we shall be on our guard。〃
〃Be on your guard； friend Gryphus； be on your guard as long
as you please； my conspiracy； as well as my person； is
entirely at your service。〃
〃We'll see that at noon。〃
Saying this； Gryphus went out。
〃At noon？〃 repeated Cornelius； 〃what does that mean？ Well；
let us wait until the clock strikes twelve； and we shall
see。〃
It was very easy for Cornelius to wait for twelve at midday；
as he was already waiting for nine at night。
It struck twelve； and there were heard on the staircase not
only the steps of Gryphus； but also those of three or four
soldiers； who were coming up with him。
The door opened。 Gryphus entered； led his men in； and shut
the door after them。
〃There； now search！〃
They searched not only the pockets of Cornelius； but even
his person； yet they found nothing。
They then searched the sheets； the mattress； and the straw
mattress of his bed； and again they found nothing。
Now； Cornelius rejoiced that he had not taken the third
sucker under his own care。 Gryphus would have been sure to
ferret it out in the search； and would then have treated it
as he did the first。
And certainly never did prisoner look with greater
complacency at a search made in his cell than Cornelius。
Gryphus retired with the pencil and the two or three leaves
of white paper which Rosa had given to Van Baerle； this was
the only trophy brought back from the expedition。
At six Gryphus came back again； but alone； Cornelius tried
to propitiate him； but Gryphus growled； showed a large tooth
like a tusk； which he had in the corner of his mouth； and
went out backwards； like a man who is afraid of being
attacked from behind。
Cornelius burst out laughing； to which Gryphus answered
through the grating；
〃Let him laugh that wins。〃
The winner that day was Cornelius； Rosa came at nine。
She was without a lantern。 She needed no longer a light； as
she could now read。 Moreover； the light might betray her； as
Jacob was dogging her steps more than ever。 And lastly； the
light would have shown her blushes。
Of what did the young people speak that evening？ Of those
matters of which lovers speak at the house doors in France；
or from a balcony into the street in Spain； or down from a
terrace into a garden in the East。
They spoke of those things which give wings to the hours；
they spoke of everything except the black tulip。
At last； when the clock struck ten； they parted as usual。
Cornelius was happy； as thoroughly happy as a tulip…fancier
would be to whom one has not spoken of his tulip。
He found Rosa pretty； good； graceful； and charming。
But why did Rosa object to the tulip being spoken of？
This was indeed a great defect in Rosa。
Cornelius confessed to himself； sighing； that woman was not
perfect。
Part of the night he thought of this imperfection； that is
to say； so long as he was awake he thought of Rosa。
After having fallen asleep； he dreamed of her。
But the Rosa of his dreams was by far more perfect than the
Rosa of real life。 Not only did the Rosa of his dreams speak
of the tulip； but also brought to him a black one in a china
vase。
Cornelius then awoke； trembling with joy； and muttering；
〃Rosa； Rosa； I love you。〃
And as it was already day； he thought it right not to fall
asleep again； and he continued following up the line of
thought in which his mind was engaged when he awoke。
Ah！ if Rosa had only conversed about the tulip； Cornelius
would have preferred her to Queen Semiramis； to Queen
Cleopatra； to Queen Elizabeth； to Queen Anne of Austria；
that is to say； to the greatest or most beautiful queens
whom the world has seen。
But Rosa had forbidden it under pain of not returning； Rosa
had forbidden the least mention of the tulip for three days。
That meant seventy…two hours given to the lover to be sure；
but it was seventy…two hours stolen from the horticulturist。
There was one consolation： of the seventy…two hours during
which Rosa would not allow the tulip to be mentioned；
thirty…six had passed already； and the remaining thirty…six
would pass quickly enough： eighteen with waiting for the
evening's interview； and eighteen with rejoicing in its
remembrance。
Rosa came at the same hour； and Cornelius submitted most
heroically to the pangs which the compulsory silence
concerning the tulip gave him。
His fair visitor； however； was well aware that； to command
on the one point； people must yield on another； she
therefore no longer drew back her hands from the grating；
and even allowed Cornelius tenderly to kiss her beautiful
golden tresses。
Poor girl！ she had no idea that these playful little lovers'
tricks were much more dangerous than speaking of the tulip
was； but she became aware of the fact as she returned with a
beating heart； with glowing cheeks； dry lips； and moist
eyes。
And on the following evening； after the first exchange of
salutations； she retired a step； looking at him with a
glance； the expression of which would have rejoiced his
heart could he but have seen it。
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃she is up。〃
〃She is up！ Who？ What？〃 asked Cornelius； who did not venture
on a belief that Rosa would； of her own accord； have
abridged the term of his probation。
〃She？ Well； my daughter； the tulip；〃 said Rosa。
〃What！〃 cried Cornelius； 〃you give me permission； then？〃
〃I do；〃 said Rosa； with the tone of an affectionate mother
who grants a pleasure to her child。
〃Ah； Rosa！〃 said Cornelius； putting his lips to the grating
with the hope of touching a cheek； a hand； a forehead；
anything； in short。
He touched something much better； two warm and half open
lips。
Rosa uttered a slight scream。
Cornelius understood that he must make haste to continue the
conversation。 He guessed that this unexpected kiss had
frightened Rosa。
〃Is it growing up straight？〃
〃Straight as a rocket；〃 said Rosa。
〃How high？〃
〃At least two inches。〃
〃Oh； Rosa； take good care of it； and we shall soon see it
grow quickly。〃
〃Can I take more care of it？〃 said she。 〃Indeed； I think of
nothing else but the tulip。〃
〃Of nothing else； Rosa？ Why； now I shall grow jealous in my
turn。〃
〃Oh； you know that to think of the tulip is to think of you；
I never lose sight of it。 I see it from my bed； on awaking
it is the first object that meets my eyes； and on falling
asleep the last on which they rest。 During the day I sit and
work by its side； for I have never left my chamber since I
put it there。〃
〃You are right Rosa； it is your dowry； you know。〃
〃Yes； and with it I may marry a young man of twenty…six or
twenty…eight years； whom I shall be in love with。〃
〃Don't talk in that way； you naughty girl。〃
That evening Cornelius was one of the happiest of men。 Rosa
allowed him to press he
