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halted; amidst the sounds of lively music; and the young 

damsels of Haarlem made their appearance to escort the tulip 

to the raised seat which it was to occupy on the platform; 

by the side of the gilded chair of his Highness the 

Stadtholder。 



And the proud tulip; raised on its pedestal; soon overlooked 

the assembled crowd of people; who clapped their hands; and 

made the old town of Haarlem re…echo with their tremendous 

cheers。 









Chapter 32



A Last Request





At this solemn moment; and whilst the cheers still 

resounded; a carriage was driving along the road on the 

outskirts of the green on which the scene occurred; it 

pursued its way slowly; on account of the flocks of children 

who were pushed out of the avenue by the crowd of men and 

women。 



This carriage; covered with dust; and creaking on its axles; 

the result of a long journey; enclosed the unfortunate Van 

Baerle; who was just beginning to get a glimpse through the 

open window of the scene which we have tried  with poor 

success; no doubt  to present to the eyes of the reader。 



The crowd and the noise and the display of artificial and 

natural magnificence were as dazzling to the prisoner as a 

ray of light flashing suddenly into his dungeon。 



Notwithstanding the little readiness which his companion had 

shown in answering his questions concerning his fate; he 

ventured once more to ask the meaning of all this bustle; 

which at first sight seemed to be utterly disconnected with 

his own affairs。 



〃What is all this; pray; Mynheer Lieutenant?〃 he asked of 

his conductor。 



〃As you may see; sir;〃 replied the officer; 〃it is a feast。〃 



〃Ah; a feast;〃 said Cornelius; in the sad tone of 

indifference of a man to whom no joy remains in this world。 



Then; after some moments; silence; during which the carriage 

had proceeded a few yards; he asked once more;  



〃The feast of the patron saint of Haarlem? as I see so many 

flowers。〃 



〃It is; indeed; a feast in which flowers play a principal 

part。〃 



〃Oh; the sweet scents! oh; the beautiful colours!〃 cried 

Cornelius。 



〃Stop; that the gentleman may see;〃 said the officer; with 

that frank kindliness which is peculiar to military men; to 

the soldier who was acting as postilion。 



〃Oh; thank you; Sir; for your kindness;〃 replied Van Baerle; 

in a melancholy tone; 〃the joy of others pains me; please 

spare me this pang。〃 



〃Just as you wish。 Drive on! I ordered the driver to stop 

because I thought it would please you; as you are said to 

love flowers; and especially that the feast of which is 

celebrated to…day。〃 



〃And what flower is that?〃 



〃The tulip。〃 



〃The tulip!〃 cried Van Baerle; 〃is to…day the feast of 

tulips?〃 



〃Yes; sir; but as this spectacle displeases you; let us 

drive on。〃 



The officer was about to give the order to proceed; but 

Cornelius stopped him; a painful thought having struck him。 

He asked; with faltering voice;  



〃Is the prize given to…day; sir?〃 



〃Yes; the prize for the black tulip。〃 



Cornelius's cheek flushed; his whole frame trembled; and the 

cold sweat stood on his brow。 



〃Alas! sir;〃 he said; 〃all these good people will be as 

unfortunate as myself; for they will not see the solemnity 

which they have come to witness; or at least they will see 

it incompletely。〃 



〃What is it you mean to say?〃 



〃I mean to say。〃 replied Cornelius; throwing himself back in 

the carriage; 〃that the black tulip will not be found; 

except by one whom I know。〃 



〃In this case;〃 said the officer; 〃the person whom you know 

has found it; for the thing which the whole of Haarlem is 

looking at at this moment is neither more nor less than the 

black tulip。〃 



〃The black tulip!〃 replied Van Baerle; thrusting half his 

body out of the carriage window。 〃Where is it? where is it?〃 



〃Down there on the throne;  don't you see?〃 



〃I do see it。〃 



〃Come along; sir;〃 said the officer。 〃Now we must drive 

off。〃 



〃Oh; have pity; have mercy; sir!〃 said Van Baerle; 〃don't 

take me away! Let me look once more! Is what I see down 

there the black tulip? Quite black? Is it possible? Oh; sir; 

have you seen it? It must have specks; it must be imperfect; 

it must only be dyed black。 Ah! if I were there; I should 

see it at once。 Let me alight; let me see it close; I beg of 

you。〃 



〃Are you mad; Sir? How could I allow such a thing?〃 



〃I implore you。〃 



〃But you forget that you are a prisoner。〃 



〃It is true I am a prisoner; but I am a man of honour; and I 

promise you on my word that I will not run away; I will not 

attempt to escape;  only let me see the flower。〃 



〃But my orders; Sir; my orders。〃 And the officer again made 

the driver a sign to proceed。 



Cornelius stopped him once more。 



〃Oh; be forbearing; be generous! my whole life depends upon 

your pity。 Alas! perhaps it will not be much longer。 You 

don't know; sir; what I suffer。 You don't know the struggle 

going on in my heart and mind。 For after all;〃 Cornelius 

cried in despair; 〃if this were my tulip; if it were the one 

which has been stolen from Rosa! Oh; I must alight; sir! I 

must see the flower! You may kill me afterwards if you like; 

but I will see it; I must see it。〃 



〃Be quiet; unfortunate man; and come quickly back into the 

carriage; for here is the escort of his Highness the 

Stadtholder; and if the Prince observed any disturbance; or 

heard any noise; it would be ruin to me; as well as to you。〃 



Van Baerle; more afraid for his companion than himself; 

threw himself back into the carriage; but he could only keep 

quiet for half a minute; and the first twenty horsemen had 

scarcely passed when he again leaned out of the carriage 

window; gesticulating imploringly towards the Stadtholder at 

the very moment when he passed。 



William; impassible and quiet as usual; was proceeding to 

the green to fulfil his duty as chairman。 He held in his 

hand the roll of parchment; which; on this festive day; had 

become his baton。 



Seeing the man gesticulate with imploring mien; and perhaps 

also recognising the officer who accompanied him; his 

Highness ordered his carriage to stop。 



In an instant his snorting steeds stood still; at a distance 

of about six yards from the carriage in which Van Baerle was 

caged。 



〃What is this?〃 the Prince asked the officer; who at the 

first order of the Stadtholder had jumped out of the 

carriage; and was respectfully approaching him。 



〃Monseigneur;〃 he cried; 〃this is the prisoner of state whom 

I have fetched from Loewestein; and whom I have brought to 

Haarlem according to your Highness's command。〃 



〃What does he want?〃 



〃He entreats for permission to stop here for minute。〃 



〃To see the black tulip; Monseigneur;〃 said Van Baerle; 

clasping his hands; 〃and when I have seen it; when I have 

seen what I desire to know; I am quite ready to die; if die 

I must; but in dying I shall bless your Highness's mercy for 

having allowed me to witness the glorification of my work。〃 



It was; indeed; a curious spectacle to see these two men at 

the windows of their several carriages; the one surrounded 

by his guards; and all powerful; the other a prisoner and 

miserable; the one going to mount a throne; the other 

believing himself to be on his way to the scaffold。 



William; looking with his cold glance on Cornelius; listened 

to his anxious and urgent request。 



Then addressing himself to the officer; he said;  



〃Is this person the mutinous prisoner who has attempted to 

kill his jailer at Loewestein?〃 



Cornelius heaved a sigh and hung his head。 His good…tempered 

honest face turned pale and red at the same instant。 These 

words of the all…powerful Prince; who by some secret 

messenger unavailable to other mortals had already been 

apprised of his crime; seemed to him to forebode not only 

his doom; but also the refusal of his last request。 



He did not try to make a struggle; or to defend himself; and 

he presented to the Prince the affecting spectacle of 

despairing innocence; like that of a child;  a spectacle 

which was fully understood and felt by the great mind and 

the great heart of him who observed it。 



〃Allow the prisoner to alight; and let him see the black 

tulip; it is well worth being seen once。〃 



〃Thank you; Monseigneur; thank you;〃 said Cornelius; nearly 

swooning with joy; and staggering on the steps of his 

carriage; had not the officer supported him; our poor friend 

would have made his thanks to his Highness prostrate on his 

knees with his forehead in the dust。 



After having granted this permission; the Prince proceeded 

on his way over the green amidst the most enthusiastic 

acclamations。 



He soon arr

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