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第34节

the black tulip-第34节

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That evening Cornelius was one of the happiest of men。 Rosa 

allowed him to press her hand in his; and to keep it as long 

as he would; besides which he might talk of his tulip as 

much as he liked。 



From that hour every day marked some progress in the growth 

of the tulip and in the affection of the two young people。 



At one time it was that the leaves had expanded; and at 

another that the flower itself had formed。 



Great was the joy of Cornelius at this news; and his 

questions succeeded one another with a rapidity which gave 

proof of their importance。 



〃Formed!〃 exclaimed Cornelius; 〃is it really formed?〃 



〃It is;〃 repeated Rosa。 



Cornelius trembled with joy; so much so that he was obliged 

to hold by the grating。 



〃Good heavens!〃 he exclaimed。 



Then; turning again to Rosa; he continued his questions。 



〃Is the oval regular? the cylinder full? and are the points 

very green?〃 



〃The oval is almost one inch long; and tapers like a needle; 

the cylinder swells at the sides; and the points are ready 

to open。〃 



Two days after Rosa announced that they were open。 



〃Open; Rosa!〃 cried Cornelius。 〃Is the involucrum open? but 

then one may see and already distinguish  〃 



Here the prisoner paused; anxiously taking breath。 



〃Yes;〃 answered Rosa; 〃one may already distinguish a thread 

of different colour; as thin as a hair。〃 



〃And its colour?〃 asked Cornelius; trembling。 



〃Oh;〃 answered Rosa; 〃it is very dark!〃 



〃Brown?〃 



〃Darker than that。〃 



〃Darker; my good Rosa; darker? Thank you。 Dark as  〃 



〃Dark as the ink with which I wrote to you。〃 



Cornelius uttered a cry of mad joy。 



Then; suddenly stopping and clasping his hands; he said;  



〃Oh; there is not an angel in heaven that may be compared to 

you; Rosa!〃 



〃Indeed!〃 said Rosa; smiling at his enthusiasm。 



〃Rosa; you have worked with such ardour;  you have done so 

much for me! Rosa; my tulip is about to flower; and it will 

flower black! Rosa; Rosa; you are the most perfect being on 

earth!〃 



〃After the tulip; though。〃 



〃Ah! be quiet; you malicious little creature; be quiet! For 

shame! Do not spoil my pleasure。 But tell me; Rosa;  as 

the tulip is so far advanced; it will flower in two or three 

days; at the latest?〃 



〃To…morrow; or the day after。〃 



〃Ah! and I shall not see it;〃 cried Cornelius; starting 

back; 〃I shall not kiss it; as a wonderful work of the 

Almighty; as I kiss your hand and your cheek; Rosa; when by 

chance they are near the grating。〃 



Rosa drew near; not by accident; but intentionally; and 

Cornelius kissed her tenderly。 



〃Faith; I shall cull it; if you wish it。〃 



〃Oh; no; no; Rosa! when it is open; place it carefully in 

the shade; and immediately send a message to Haarlem; to the 

President of the Horticultural Society; that the grand black 

tulip is in flower。 I know well it is far to Haarlem; but 

with money you will find a messenger。 Have you any money; 

Rosa?〃 



Rosa smiled。 



〃Oh; yes!〃 she said。 



〃Enough?〃 said Cornelius。 



〃I have three hundred guilders。〃 



〃Oh; if you have three hundred guilders; you must not send a 

messenger; Rosa; but you must go to Haarlem yourself。〃 



〃But what in the meantime is to become of the flower?〃 



〃Oh; the flower! you must take it with you。 You understand 

that you must not separate from it for an instant。〃 



〃But whilst I am not separating from it; I am separating 

from you; Mynheer Cornelius。〃 



〃Ah! that's true; my sweet Rosa。 Oh; my God! how wicked men 

are! What have I done to offend them; and why have they 

deprived me of my liberty? You are right; Rosa; I cannot 

live without you。 Well; you will send some one to Haarlem; 

 that's settled; really; the matter is wonderful enough 

for the President to put himself to some trouble。 He will 

come himself to Loewestein to see the tulip。〃 



Then; suddenly checking himself; he said; with a faltering 

voice;  



〃Rosa; Rosa; if after all it should not flower black!〃 



〃Oh; surely; surely; you will know to…morrow; or the day 

after。〃 



〃And to wait until evening to know it; Rosa! I shall die 

with impatience。 Could we not agree about a signal?〃 



〃I shall do better than that。〃 



〃What will you do?〃 



〃If it opens at night; I shall come and tell you myself。 If 

it is day; I shall pass your door; and slip you a note 

either under the door; or through the grating; during the 

time between my father's first and second inspection。〃 



〃Yes; Rosa; let it be so。 One word of yours; announcing this 

news to me; will be a double happiness。〃 



〃There; ten o'clock strikes;〃 said Rosa; 〃I must now leave 

you。〃 



〃Yes; yes;〃 said Cornelius; 〃go; Rosa; go!〃 



Rosa withdrew; almost melancholy; for Cornelius had all but 

sent her away。 



It is true that he did so in order that she might watch over 

his black tulip。 









Chapter 22



The Opening of the Flower





The night passed away very sweetly for Cornelius; although 

in great agitation。 Every instant he fancied he heard the 

gentle voice of Rosa calling him。 He then started up; went 

to the door; and looked through the grating; but no one was 

behind it; and the lobby was empty。 



Rosa; no doubt; would be watching too; but; happier than he; 

she watched over the tulip; she had before her eyes that 

noble flower; that wonder of wonders。 which not only was 

unknown; but was not even thought possible until then。 



What would the world say when it heard that the black tulip 

was found; that it existed and that it was the prisoner Van 

Baerle who had found it? 



How Cornelius would have spurned the offer of his liberty in 

exchange for his tulip! 



Day came; without any news; the tulip was not yet in flower。 



The day passed as the night。 Night came; and with it Rosa; 

joyous and cheerful as a bird。 



〃Well?〃 asked Cornelius。 



〃Well; all is going on prosperously。 This night; without any 

doubt; our tulip will be in flower。〃 



〃And will it flower black?〃 



〃Black as jet。〃 



〃Without a speck of any other colour。〃 



〃Without one speck。〃 



〃Good Heavens! my dear Rosa; I have been dreaming all night; 

in the first place of you;〃 (Rosa made a sign of 

incredulity;) 〃and then of what we must do。〃 



〃Well?〃 



〃Well; and I will tell you now what I have decided on。 The 

tulip once being in flower; and it being quite certain that 

it is perfectly black; you must find a messenger。〃 



〃If it is no more than that; I have a messenger quite 

ready。〃 



〃Is he safe?〃 



〃One for whom I will answer;  he is one of my lovers。〃 



〃I hope not Jacob。〃 



〃No; be quiet; it is the ferryman of Loewestein; a smart 

young man of twenty…five。〃 



〃By Jove!〃 



〃Be quiet;〃 said Rosa; smiling; 〃he is still under age; as 

you have yourself fixed it from twenty…six to twenty…eight。〃 



〃In fine; do you think you may rely on this young man?〃 



〃As on myself; he would throw himself into the Waal or the 

Meuse if I bade him。〃 



〃Well; Rosa; this lad may be at Haarlem in ten hours; you 

will give me paper and pencil; and; perhaps better still; 

pen and ink; and I will write; or rather; on second 

thoughts; you will; for if I did; being a poor prisoner; 

people might; like your father; see a conspiracy in it。 You 

will write to the President of the Horticultural Society; 

and I am sure he will come。〃 



〃But if he tarries?〃 



〃Well; let us suppose that he tarries one day; or even two; 

but it is impossible。 A tulip…fancier like him will not 

tarry one hour; not one minute; not one second; to set out 

to see the eighth wonder of the world。 But; as I said; if he 

tarried one or even two days; the tulip will still be in its 

full splendour。 The flower once being seen by the President; 

and the protocol being drawn up; all is in order; you will 

only keep a duplicate of the protocol; and intrust the tulip 

to him。 Ah! if we had been able to carry it ourselves; Rosa; 

it would never have left my hands but to pass into yours; 

but this is a dream; which we must not entertain;〃 continued 

Cornelius with a sigh; 〃the eyes of strangers will see it 

flower to the last。 And above all; Rosa; before the 

President has seen it; let it not be seen by any one。 Alas! 

if any one saw the black tulip; it would be stolen。〃 



〃Oh!〃 



〃Did you not tell me yourself of what you apprehended from 

your lover Jacob? People will steal one guilder; why not a 

hundred thousand?〃 



〃I shall watch; be quiet。〃 



〃But if it opened whilst you were here?〃 



〃The whimsical little thing would indeed be quite capable of 

playing such a trick;〃 said Rosa。 



〃And if on your return you find it open?〃 




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