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The Black Tulip, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
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Chapter 26. A Member of the Horticultural Society |
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_ Rosa, beyond herself and nearly mad with joy and fear at the idea of the black tulip being found again, started for the White Swan, followed by the boatman, a stout lad from Frisia, who was strong enough to knock down a dozen Boxtels single-handed. He had been made acquainted in the course of the journey with the state But on arriving in the great market-place Rosa at once stopped, a sudden "Good Heaven!" she muttered to herself, "I have made a grievous blunder; She reflected for a moment. "If I go to that Boxtel, and do not know him; if that Boxtel is not my In the meanwhile, a great noise was heard, like the distant roar of the "We must return to the President," she muttered. "Well, then, let us return," said the boatman. They took a small street, which led them straight to the mansion of Everywhere on her way Rosa heard people speaking only of the black Rosa had not a little difficulty is penetrating a second time into the But when he recognised Rosa, whom in his own mind he had set down as Rosa, however, clasped her hands, and said with that tone of honest "For Heaven's sake, sir, do not turn me away; listen to what I have to Van Systens stamped his foot with impatience; it was the second time "But my report!" he cried,--"my report on the black tulip!" "Mynheer van Systens," Rosa continued, with the firmness of innocence "Well, I declare, here is a proposal," said Van Systens. "What do you mean?" "I ask you what can be proved by your recognising them?" "After all," said Rosa, in her despair, "you are an honest man, sir; how Rosa's speech seemed to have brought a certain conviction into the heart "What is this?" cried the burgomaster; "what is this? Is it possible? And he rushed towards his anteroom, without any longer heeding Rosa, Scarcely had he reached his anteroom when he cried out aloud on seeing In his wake followed two officers, one of the navy, and the other of the Van Systens, having found his way through the frightened domestics, "Monseigneur," he called out, "Monseigneur! What distinguished honour is "Dear Mynheer van Systens," said William of Orange, with a serenity "Oh, Monseigneur, Monseigneur!" said Van Systens, "what glory to the "Have you got the flower here?" said the Prince, who, very likely, "I am sorry to say we have not." "And where is it?" "With its owner." "Who is he?" "An honest tulip-grower of Dort." "His name?" "Boxtel." "His quarters?" "At the White Swan; I shall send for him, and if in the meanwhile your "Very well, send for him." "Yes, your Highness, but----" "What is it?" "Oh, nothing of any consequence, Monseigneur." "Everything is of consequence, Mynheer van Systens." "Well, then, Monseigneur, if it must be said, a little difficulty has "What difficulty?" "This tulip has already been claimed by usurpers. It's true that it is "Indeed!" "Yes, Monseigneur, by usurpers, by forgers." "This is a crime, Mynheer van Systens." "So it is, your Highness." "And have you any proofs of their guilt?" "No, Monseigneur, the guilty woman----" "The guilty woman, Sir?" "I ought to say, the woman who claims the tulip, Monseigneur, is here in "And what do you think of her?" "I think, Monseigneur, that the bait of a hundred thousand guilders may "And so she claims the tulip?" "Yes Monseigneur." "And what proof does she offer?" "I was just going to question her when your Highness came in." "Question her, Mynheer van Systens, question her. I am the first "I have found my King Solomon," said Van Systens, bowing, and showing His Highness was just going to walk ahead, but, suddenly recollecting "Go before me, and call me plain Mynheer." The two then entered the cabinet. Rosa was still standing at the same place, leaning on the window, and "Ah! a Frisian girl," said the Prince, as he observed Rosa's gold At the noise of their footsteps she turned round, but scarcely saw the All her attention, as may be easily imagined, was fixed on that The humble stranger took a book down from the shelf, and made Van Van Systens, likewise at the invitation of the young man in the violet "My child, you promise to tell me the truth and the entire truth "I promise." "Well, then, speak before this gentleman; this gentleman is one of the "What am I to tell you, sir," said Rosa, "beside that which I have told "Well, then, what is it?" "I repeat the question I have addressed to you before." "Which?" "That you will order Mynheer Boxtel to come here with his tulip. If I do "You have, then, some proofs, my child?" "God, who knows my good right, will assist me to some." Van Systens exchanged a look with the Prince, who, since the first words An officer went off to fetch Boxtel, and Van Systens in the meanwhile "And with what do you support your assertion that you are the real owner "With the very simple fact of my having planted and grown it in my own "In your chamber? Where was your chamber?" "At Loewestein." "You are from Loewestein?" "I am the daughter of the jailer of the fortress." The Prince made a little movement, as much as to say, "Well, that's it, And, all the while feigning to be engaged with his book, he watched Rosa "And you are fond of flowers?" continued Mynheer van Systens. "Yes, sir." "Then you are an experienced florist, I dare say?" Rosa hesitated a moment; then with a tone which came from the depth of "Gentlemen, I am speaking to men of honor." There was such an expression of truth in the tone of her voice, that "Well, then, I am not an experienced florist; I am only a poor girl, one "But by whom else?" "By a poor prisoner of Loewestein." "By a prisoner of Loewestein?" repeated the Prince. The tone of his voice startled Rosa, who was sure she had heard it "By a prisoner of state, then," continued the Prince, "as there are none Having said this he began to read again, at least in appearance. "Yes," said Rosa, with a faltering voice, "yes, by a prisoner of state." Van Systens trembled as he heard such a confession made in the presence "Continue," said William dryly, to the President of the Horticultural "Ah, sir," said Rosa, addressing the person whom she thought to be her "Certainly," said Van Systens, "the prisoner of state ought to be kept "Alas! sir." "And from what you tell me you took advantage of your position, as "So it is, sir," Rosa murmured in dismay; "yes, I am bound to confess, I "Unfortunate girl!" exclaimed Van Systens. The Prince, observing the fright of Rosa and the pallor of the "This cannot signify anything to the members of the Horticultural Van Systens, by means of an eloquent glance, offered, in the name of the Rosa, reassured by this sort of encouragement which the stranger was All this was detailed with an accent of truth which, although producing "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 "Why, sir?" she asked him. "Because it is not yet four months since the jailer Gryphus and his "That is true, sir." "Otherwise, you must have solicited the transfer of your father, in "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 |