the black tulip(黑郁金香)-第39节
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the last three months； all that she had done； and all that
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 thinking her guilty； felt pity
for her dreadful agony。
〃You have done very wrong； my child；〃 he said； 〃and your
lover shall be punished for having thus badly advised you。
For you are so young； and have such an honest look； that I
am inclined to believe the mischief to have been his doing；
and not yours。〃
〃Monseigneur！ Monseigneur！〃 cried Rosa； 〃Cornelius is not
guilty。〃
William started。
〃Not guilty of having advised yo
