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each pocket。 



Gryphus being once fuddled; Boxtel was very nearly master of 

the house。 



At eleven o'clock Gryphus was dead drunk。 At two in the 

morning Boxtel saw Rosa leaving the chamber; but evidently 

she held in her arms something which she carried with great 

care。 



He did not doubt that this was the black tulip which was in 

flower。 



But what was she going to do with it? Would she set out that 

instant to Haarlem with it? 



It was not possible that a young girl should undertake such 

a journey alone during the night。 



Was she only going to show the tulip to Cornelius? This was 

more likely。 



He followed Rosa in his stocking feet; walking on tiptoe。 



He saw her approach the grated window。 He heard her calling 

Cornelius。 By the light of the dark lantern he saw the tulip 

open; and black as the night in which he was hidden。 



He heard the plan concerted between Cornelius and Rosa to 

send a messenger to Haarlem。 He saw the lips of the lovers 

meet; and then heard Cornelius send Rosa away。 



He saw Rosa extinguish the light and return to her chamber。 

Ten minutes after; he saw her leave the room again; and lock 

it twice。 



Boxtel; who saw all this whilst hiding himself on the 

landing…place of the staircase above; descended step by step 

from his story as Rosa descended from hers; so that; when 

she touched with her light foot the lowest step of the 

staircase; Boxtel touched with a still lighter hand the lock 

of Rosa's chamber。 



And in that hand; it must be understood; he held the false 

key which opened Rosa's door as easily as did the real one。 



And this is why; in the beginning of the chapter; we said 

that the poor young people were in great need of the 

protection of God。 











Chapter 24 



The Black Tulip changes Masters





Cornelius remained standing on the spot where Rosa had left him。

He was quite overpowered with the weight of his twofold happiness。 



Half an hour passed away。 Already did the first rays of the 

sun enter through the iron grating of the prison; when 

Cornelius was suddenly startled at the noise of steps which 

came up the staircase; and of cries which approached nearer 

and nearer。 



Almost at the same instant he saw before him the pale and 

distracted face of Rosa。 



He started; and turned pale with fright。 



〃Cornelius; Cornelius!〃 she screamed; gasping for breath。 



〃Good Heaven! what is it?〃 asked the prisoner。 



〃Cornelius! the tulip  〃 



〃Well?〃 



〃How shall I tell you?〃 



〃Speak; speak; Rosa!〃 



〃Some one has taken  stolen it from us。〃 



〃Stolen  taken?〃 said Cornelius。 



〃Yes;〃 said Rosa; leaning against the door to support 

herself; 〃yes; taken; stolen!〃 



And saying this; she felt her limbs failing her; and she 

fell on her knees。 



〃But how? Tell me; explain to me。〃 



〃Oh; it is not my fault; my friend。〃 



Poor Rosa! she no longer dared to call him 〃My beloved one。〃 



〃You have then left it alone;〃 said Cornelius; ruefully。 



〃One minute only; to instruct our messenger; who lives 

scarcely fifty yards off; on the banks of the Waal。〃 



〃And during that time; notwithstanding all my injunctions; 

you left the key behind; unfortunate child!〃 



〃No; no; no! this is what I cannot understand。 The key was 

never out of my hands; I clinched it as if I were afraid it 

would take wings。〃 



〃But how did it happen; then?〃 



〃That's what I cannot make out。 I had given the letter to my 

messenger; he started before I left his house; I came home; 

and my door was locked; everything in my room was as I had 

left it; except the tulip;  that was gone。 Some one must 

have had a key for my room; or have got a false one made on 

purpose。〃 



She was nearly choking with sobs; and was unable to 

continue。 



Cornelius; immovable and full of consternation; heard almost 

without understanding; and only muttered;  



〃Stolen; stolen; and I am lost!〃 



〃O Cornelius; forgive me; forgive me; it will kill me!〃 



Seeing Rosa's distress; Cornelius seized the iron bars of 

the grating; and furiously shaking them; called out;  



〃Rosa; Rosa; we have been robbed; it is true; but shall we 

allow ourselves to be dejected for all that? No; no; the 

misfortune is great; but it may perhaps be remedied。 Rosa; 

we know the thief!〃 



〃Alas! what can I say about it?〃 



〃But I say that it is no one else but that infamous Jacob。 

Shall we allow him to carry to Haarlem the fruit of our 

labour; the fruit of our sleepless nights; the child of our 

love? Rosa; we must pursue; we must overtake him!〃 



〃But how can we do all this; my friend; without letting my 

father know we were in communication with each other? How 

should I; a poor girl; with so little knowledge of the world 

and its ways; be able to attain this end; which perhaps you 

could not attain yourself?〃 



〃Rosa; Rosa; open this door to me; and you will see whether 

I will not find the thief;  whether I will not make him 

confess his crime and beg for mercy。〃 



〃Alas!〃 cried Rosa; sobbing; 〃can I open the door for you? 

have I the keys? If I had had them; would not you have been 

free long ago?〃 



〃Your father has them;  your wicked father; who has 

already crushed the first bulb of my tulip。 Oh; the wretch! 

he is an accomplice of Jacob!〃 



〃Don't speak so loud; for Heaven's sake!〃 



〃Oh; Rosa; if you don't open the door to me;〃 Cornelius 

cried in his rage; 〃I shall force these bars; and kill 

everything I find in the prison。〃 



〃Be merciful; be merciful; my friend!〃 



〃I tell you; Rosa; that I shall demolish this prison; stone 

for stone!〃 and the unfortunate man; whose strength was 

increased tenfold by his rage; began to shake the door with 

a great noise; little heeding that the thunder of his voice 

was re…echoing through the spiral staircase。 



Rosa; in her fright; made vain attempts to check this 

furious outbreak。 



〃I tell you that I shall kill that infamous Gryphus?〃 roared 

Cornelius。 〃I tell you I shall shed his blood as he did that 

of my black tulip。〃 



The wretched prisoner began really to rave。 



〃Well; then; yes;〃 said Rosa; all in a tremble。 〃Yes; yes; 

only be quiet。 Yes; yes; I will take his keys; I will open 

the door for you! Yes; only be quiet; my own dear 

Cornelius。〃 



She did not finish her speech; as a growl by her side 

interrupted her。 



〃My father!〃 cried Rosa。 



〃Gryphus!〃 roared Van Baerle。 〃Oh; you villain!〃 



Old Gryphus; in the midst of all the noise; had ascended the 

staircase without being heard。 



He rudely seized his daughter by the wrist。 



〃So you will take my keys?〃 he said; in a voice choked with 

rage。 〃Ah! this dastardly fellow; this monster; this 

gallows…bird of a conspirator; is your own dear Cornelius; 

is he? Ah! Missy has communications with prisoners of state。 

Ah! won't I teach you  won't I?〃 



Rosa clasped her hands in despair。 



〃Ah!〃 Gryphus continued; passing from the madness of anger 

to the cool irony of a man who has got the better of his 

enemy;  〃Ah; you innocent tulip…fancier; you gentle 

scholar; you will kill me; and drink my blood! Very well! 

very well! And you have my daughter for an accomplice。 Am I; 

forsooth; in a den of thieves;  in a cave of brigands? 

Yes; but the Governor shall know all to…morrow; and his 

Highness the Stadtholder the day after。 We know the law;  

we shall give a second edition of the Buytenhof; Master 

Scholar; and a good one this time。 Yes; yes; just gnaw your 

paws like a bear in his cage; and you; my fine little lady; 

devour your dear Cornelius with your eyes。 I tell you; my 

lambkins; you shall not much longer have the felicity of 

conspiring together。 Away with you; unnatural daughter! And 

as to you; Master Scholar; we shall see each other again。 

Just be quiet;  we shall。〃 



Rosa; beyond herself with terror and despair; kissed her 

hands to her friend; then; suddenly struck with a bright 

thought; she rushed toward the staircase; saying;  



〃All is not yet lost; Cornelius。 Rely on me; my Cornelius。〃 



Her father followed her; growling。 



As to poor Cornelius; he gradually loosened his hold of the 

bars; which his fingers still grasped convulsively。 His head 

was heavy; his eyes almost started from their sockets; and 

he fell heavily on the floor of his cell; muttering;  



〃Stolen! it has been stolen from me!〃 



During this time Boxtel had left the fortress by the door 

which Rosa herself had opened。 He carried the black tulip 

wrapped up in a cloak; and; throwing himself into a coach; 

which was waiting for him at Gorcum; he drove off; without; 

as may well be imagined; having informed his friend Gryphus 

of his sudden departure。 



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