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the black tulip-第41节

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she had suffered。 She described the cruelty of Gryphus; the 

destruction of the first bulb; the grief of the prisoner; 

the precautions taken to insure the success of the second 

bulb; the patience of the prisoner and his anxiety during 

their separation; how he was about to starve himself because 

he had no longer any news of his tulip; his joy when she 

went to see him again; and; lastly; their despair when they 

found that the tulip which had come into flower was stolen 

just one hour after it had opened。 



All this was detailed with an accent of truth which; 

although producing no change in the impassible mien of the 

Prince; did not fail to take effect on Van Systens。 



〃But;〃 said the Prince; 〃it cannot be long since you knew 

the prisoner。〃 



Rosa opened her large eyes and looked at the stranger; who 

drew back into the dark corner; as if he wished to escape 

her observation。 



〃Why; sir?〃 she asked him。 



〃Because it is not yet four months since the jailer Gryphus 

and his daughter were removed to Loewestein。〃 



〃That is true; sir。〃 



〃Otherwise; you must have solicited the transfer of your 

father; in order to be able to follow some prisoner who may 

have been transported from the Hague to Loewestein。〃 



〃Sir;〃 said Rosa; blushing。 



〃Finish what you have to say;〃 said William。 



〃I confess I knew the prisoner at the Hague。〃 



〃Happy prisoner!〃 said William; smiling。 



At this moment the officer who had been sent for Boxtel 

returned; and announced to the Prince that the person whom 

he had been to fetch was following on his heels with his tulip。 









Chapter 27



The Third Bulb





Boxtel's return was scarcely announced; when he entered in 

person the drawing…room of Mynheer van Systens; followed by 

two men; who carried in a box their precious burden and 

deposited it on a table。 



The Prince; on being informed; left the cabinet; passed into 

the drawing…room; admired the flower; and silently resumed 

his seat in the dark corner; where he had himself placed his 

chair。 



Rosa; trembling; pale and terrified; expected to be invited 

in her turn to see the tulip。 



She now heard the voice of Boxtel。 



〃It is he!〃 she exclaimed。 



The Prince made her a sign to go and look through the open 

door into the drawing…room。 



〃It is my tulip;〃 cried Rosa; 〃I recognise it。 Oh; my poor 

Cornelius!〃 



And saying this she burst into tears。 



The Prince rose from his seat; went to the door; where he 

stood for some time with the full light falling upon his 

figure。 



As Rosa's eyes now rested upon him; she felt more than ever 

convinced that this was not the first time she had seen the 

stranger。 



〃Master Boxtel;〃 said the Prince; 〃come in here; if you 

please。〃 



Boxtel eagerly approached; and; finding himself face to face 

with William of Orange; started back。 



〃His Highness!〃 he called out。 



〃His Highness!〃 Rosa repeated in dismay。 



Hearing this exclamation on his left; Boxtel turned round; 

and perceived Rosa。 



At this sight the whole frame of the thief shook as if under 

the influence of a galvanic shock。 



〃Ah!〃 muttered the Prince to himself; 〃he is confused。〃 



But Boxtel; making a violent effort to control his feelings; 

was already himself again。 



〃Master Boxtel;〃 said William; 〃you seem to have discovered 

the secret of growing the black tulip?〃 



〃Yes; your Highness;〃 answered Boxtel; in a voice which 

still betrayed some confusion。 



It is true his agitation might have been attributable to the 

emotion which the man must have felt on suddenly recognising 

the Prince。 



〃But;〃 continued the Stadtholder; 〃here is a young damsel 

who also pretends to have found it。〃 



Boxtel; with a disdainful smile; shrugged his shoulders。 



William watched all his movements with evident interest and 

curiosity。 



〃Then you don't know this young girl?〃 said the Prince。 



〃No; your Highness!〃 



〃And you; child; do you know Master Boxtel?〃 



〃No; I don't know Master Boxtel; but I know Master Jacob。〃 



〃What do you mean?〃 



〃I mean to say that at Loewestein the man who here calls 

himself Isaac Boxtel went by the name of Master Jacob。〃 



〃What do you say to that; Master Boxtel?〃 



〃I say that this damsel lies; your Highness。〃 



〃You deny; therefore; having ever been at Loewestein?〃 



Boxtel hesitated; the fixed and searching glance of the 

proud eye of the Prince prevented him from lying。 



〃I cannot deny having been at Loewestein; your Highness; but 

I deny having stolen the tulip。〃 



〃You have stolen it; and that from my room;〃 cried Rosa; 

with indignation。 



〃I deny it。〃 



〃Now listen to me。 Do you deny having followed me into the 

garden; on the day when I prepared the border where I was to 

plant it? Do you deny having followed me into the garden 

when I pretended to plant it? Do you deny that; on that 

evening; you rushed after my departure to the spot where you 

hoped to find the bulb? Do you deny having dug in the ground 

with your hands  but; thank God! in vain; as it was a 

stratagem to discover your intentions。 Say; do you deny all 

this?〃 



Boxtel did not deem it fit to answer these several charges; 

but; turning to the Prince; continued;  



〃I have now for twenty years grown tulips at Dort。 I have 

even acquired some reputation in this art; one of my hybrids 

is entered in the catalogue under the name of an illustrious 

personage。 I have dedicated it to the King of Portugal。 The 

truth in the matter is as I shall now tell your Highness。 

This damsel knew that I had produced the black tulip; and; 

in concert with a lover of hers in the fortress of 

Loewestein; she formed the plan of ruining me by 

appropriating to herself the prize of a hundred thousand 

guilders; which; with the help of your Highness's justice; I 

hope to gain。〃 



〃Yah!〃 cried Rosa; beyond herself with anger。 



〃Silence!〃 said the Prince。 



Then; turning to Boxtel; he said;  



〃And who is that prisoner to whom you allude as the lover of 

this young woman?〃 



Rosa nearly swooned; for Cornelius was designated as a 

dangerous prisoner; and recommended by the Prince to the 

especial surveillance of the jailer。 



Nothing could have been more agreeable to Boxtel than this 

question。 



〃This prisoner;〃 he said; 〃is a man whose name in itself 

will prove to your Highness what trust you may place in his 

probity。 He is a prisoner of state; who was once condemned 

to death。〃 



〃And his name?〃 



Rosa hid her face in her hands with a movement of despair。 



〃His name is Cornelius van Baerle;〃 said Boxtel; 〃and he is 

godson of that villain Cornelius de Witt。〃 



The Prince gave a start; his generally quiet eye flashed; 

and a death…like paleness spread over his impassible 

features。 



He went up to Rosa; and with his finger; gave her a sign to 

remove her hands from her face。 



Rosa obeyed; as if under mesmeric influence; without having 

seen the sign。 



〃It was; then to follow this man that you came to me at 

Leyden to solicit for the transfer of your father?〃 



Rosa hung down her head; and; nearly choking; said;  



〃Yes; your Highness。〃 



〃Go on;〃 said the Prince to Boxtel。 



〃I have nothing more to say;〃 Isaac continued。 〃Your 

Highness knows all。 But there is one thing which I did not 

intend to say; because I did not wish to make this girl 

blush for her ingratitude。 I came to Loewestein because I 

had business there。 On this occasion I made the acquaintance 

of old Gryphus; and; falling in love with his daughter; made 

an offer of marriage to her; and; not being rich; I 

committed the imprudence of mentioning to them my prospect 

of gaining a hundred thousand guilders; in proof of which I 

showed to them the black tulip。 Her lover having himself 

made a show at Dort of cultivating tulips to hide his 

political intrigues; they now plotted together for my ruin。 

On the eve of the day when the flower was expected to open; 

the tulip was taken away by this young woman。 She carried it 

to her room; from which I had the good luck to recover it at 

the very moment when she had the impudence to despatch a 

messenger to announce to the members of the Horticultural 

Society that she had produced the grand black tulip。 But she 

did not stop there。 There is no doubt that; during the few 

hours which she kept the flower in her room; she showed it 

to some persons whom she may now call as witnesses。 But; 

fortunately; your Highness has now been warned against this 

impostor and her witnesses。〃 



〃Oh; my God; my God! what infamous falsehoods!〃 said Rosa; 

bursting into tears; and throwing herself at the feet of the 

Stadtholder; who; although think

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