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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

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