Home > Authors Index > Alexandre Dumas > Black Tulip > This page
The Black Tulip, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
||
Chapter 22. The Opening of the Flower |
||
< Previous |
Table of content |
Next > |
________________________________________________
_ 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 What would the world say when it heard that the black tulip was found, How Cornelius would have spurned the offer of his liberty in exchange 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 "Well?" asked Cornelius. "Well, all is going on prosperously. This night, without any doubt, our "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 "Well?" "Well, and I will tell you now what I have decided on. The tulip once "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 "By Jove!" "Be quiet," said Rosa, smiling, "he is still under age, as you have "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 "Well, Rosa, this lad may be at Haarlem in ten hours; you will give me "But if he tarries?" "Well, let us suppose that he tarries one day, or even two; but it is "Oh!" "Did you not tell me yourself of what you apprehended from your lover "I shall watch; be quiet." "But if it opened whilst you were here?" "The whimsical little thing would indeed be quite capable of playing "And if on your return you find it open?" "Well?" "Oh, Rosa, whenever it opens, remember that not a moment must be lost in "And in apprising you. Yes, I understand." Rosa sighed, yet without any bitter feeling, but rather like a woman who "I return to your tulip, Mynheer van Baerle, and as soon as it opens "Rosa, Rosa, I don't know to what wonder under the sun I shall compare "Compare me to the black tulip, and I promise you I shall feel very much "Oh, say 'Good night, my friend.'" "Good night, my friend," said Rosa, a little consoled. "Say, 'My very dear friend.'" "Oh, my friend--" "Very dear friend, I entreat you, say 'very dear,' Rosa, very dear." "Very dear, yes, very dear," said Rosa, with a beating heart, beyond "And now that you have said 'very dear,' dear Rosa, say also 'most "And that is?" "Your cheek,--your fresh cheek, your soft, rosy cheek. Oh, Rosa, give it The prisoner's prayer ended in a sigh of ecstasy; his lips met those of Rosa made her escape. Cornelius stood with his heart upon his lips, and his face glued to the He was fairly choking with happiness and joy. He opened his window, and "Oh Thou art always watching from on high, my God," he cried, half He was well again, the poor invalid; the wretched captive was free once During part of the night Cornelius, with his heart full of joy and Then casting a glance from time to time towards the lobby,-- "Down there," he said, "is Rosa, watching like myself, and waiting At this moment, a star blazed in the southern sky, and shot through the Cornelius felt a thrill run through his frame. "Ah!" he said, "here is Heaven sending a soul to my flower." And as if he had guessed correctly, nearly at that very moment the "Cornelius, my friend, my very dear friend, and very happy friend, come, Cornelius darted with one spring from the window to the door, his lips "It is open, it is black, here it is." "How! here it is?" exclaimed Cornelius. "Yes, yes, we ought indeed to run some little risk to give a great joy; And with one hand she raised to the level of the grating a dark lantern, Cornelius uttered a cry, and was nearly fainting. "Oh!" muttered he, "my God, my God, Thou dost reward me for my innocence The tulip was beautiful, splendid, magnificent; its stem was more than "Rosa," said Cornelius, almost gasping, "Rosa, there is not one moment "It is written, my dearest Cornelius," said Rosa. "Is it, indeed?" "Whilst the tulip opened I wrote it myself, for I did not wish to lose a Cornelius took the letter, and read, in a handwriting which was much "Mynheer President,--The black tulip is about to open, perhaps in ten "It is my wish that it should be called Rosa Barlaensis. "It has opened; it is perfectly black; come, Mynheer President, come. "I have the honour to be your humble servant, "Rosa Gryphus. "That's it, dear Rosa, that's it. Your letter is admirable! I could not "What's the name of the President?" "Give me the letter, I will direct it. Oh, he is very well known: it is And with a trembling hand Cornelius wrote the address,-- "To Mynheer Peter van Systens, Burgomaster, and President of the "And now, Rosa, go, go," said Cornelius, "and let us implore the |