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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas + + + + +Chapter 1 + +A Grateful People + + +On the 20th of August, 1672, the city of the Hague, always +so lively, so neat, and so trim that one might believe every +day to be Sunday, with its shady park, with its tall trees, +spreading over its Gothic houses, with its canals like large +mirrors, in which its steeples and its almost Eastern +cupolas are reflected, -- the city of the Hague, the capital +of the Seven United Provinces, was swelling in all its +arteries with a black and red stream of hurried, panting, +and restless citizens, who, with their knives in their +girdles, muskets on their shoulders, or sticks in their +hands, were pushing on to the Buytenhof, a terrible prison, +the grated windows of which are still shown, where, on the +charge of attempted murder preferred against him by the +surgeon Tyckelaer, Cornelius de Witt, the brother of the +Grand Pensionary of Holland was confined. + +If the history of that time, and especially that of the year +in the middle of which our narrative commences, were not +indissolubly connected with the two names just mentioned, +the few explanatory pages which we are about to add might +appear quite supererogatory; but we will, from the very +first, apprise the reader -- our old friend, to whom we are +wont on the first page to promise amusement, and with whom +we always try to keep our word as well as is in our power -- +that this explanation is as indispensable to the right +understanding of our story as to that of the great event +itself on which it is based. + +Cornelius de Witt, Ruart de Pulten, that is to say, warden +of the dikes, ex-burgomaster of Dort, his native town, and +member of the Assembly of the States of Holland, was +forty-nine years of age, when the Dutch people, tired of the +Republic such as John de Witt, the Grand Pensionary of +Holland, understood it, at once conceived a most violent +affection for the Stadtholderate, which had been abolished +for ever in Holland by the "Perpetual Edict" forced by John +de Witt upon the United Provinces. + +As it rarely happens that public opinion, in its whimsical +flights, does not identify a principle with a man, thus the +people saw the personification of the Republic in the two +stern figures of the brothers De Witt, those Romans of +Holland, spurning to pander to the fancies of the mob, and +wedding themselves with unbending fidelity to liberty +without licentiousness, and prosperity without the waste of +superfluity; on the other hand, the Stadtholderate recalled +to the popular mind the grave and thoughtful image of the +young Prince William of Orange. + +The brothers De Witt humoured Louis XIV., whose moral +influence was felt by the whole of Europe, and the pressure +of whose material power Holland had been made to feel in +that marvellous campaign on the Rhine, which, in the space +of three months, had laid the power of the United Provinces +prostrate. + +Louis XIV. had long been the enemy of the Dutch, who +insulted or ridiculed him to their hearts' content, although +it must be said that they generally used French refugees for +the mouthpiece of their spite. Their national pride held him +up as the Mithridates of the Republic. The brothers De Witt, +therefore, had to strive against a double difficulty, -- +against the force of national antipathy, and, besides, +against the feeling of weariness which is natural to all +vanquished people, when they hope that a new chief will be +able to save them from ruin and shame. + +This new chief, quite ready to appear on the political +stage, and to measure himself against Louis XIV., however +gigantic the fortunes of the Grand Monarch loomed in the +future, was William, Prince of Orange, son of William II., +and grandson, by his mother Henrietta Stuart, of Charles I. +of England. We have mentioned him before as the person by +whom the people expected to see the office of Stadtholder +restored. + +This young man was, in 1672, twenty-two years of age. John +de Witt, who was his tutor, had brought him up with the view +of making him a good citizen. Loving his country better than +he did his disciple, the master had, by the Perpetual Edict, +extinguished the hope which the young Prince might have +entertained of one day becoming Stadtholder. But God laughs +at the presumption of man, who wants to raise and prostrate +the powers on earth without consulting the King above; and +the fickleness and caprice of the Dutch combined with the +terror inspired by Louis XIV., in repealing the Perpetual +Edict, and re-establishing the office of Stadtholder in +favour of William of Orange, for whom the hand of Providence +had traced out ulterior destinies on the hidden map of the +future. + +The Grand Pensionary bowed before the will of his fellow +citizens; Cornelius de Witt, however, was more obstinate, +and notwithstanding all the threats of death from the +Orangist rabble, who besieged him in his house at Dort, he +stoutly refused to sign the act by which the office of +Stadtholder was restored. Moved by the tears and entreaties +of his wife, he at last complied, only adding to his +signature the two letters V. C. (Vi Coactus), notifying +thereby that he only yielded to force. + +It was a real miracle that on that day he escaped from the +doom intended for him. + +John de Witt derived no advantage from his ready compliance +with the wishes of his fellow citizens. Only a few days +after, an attempt was made to stab him, in which he was +severely although not mortally wounded. + +This by no means suited the views of the Orange faction. The +life of the two brothers being a constant obstacle to their +plans, they changed their tactics, and tried to obtain by +calumny what they had not been able to effect by the aid of +the poniard. + +How rarely does it happen that, in the right moment, a great +man is found to head the execution of vast and noble +designs; and for that reason, when such a providential +concurrence of circumstances does occur, history is prompt +to record the name of the chosen one, and to hold him up to +the admiration of posterity. But when Satan interposes in +human affairs to cast a shadow upon some happy existence, or +to overthrow a kingdom, it seldom happens that he does not +find at his side some miserable tool, in whose ear he has +but to whisper a word to set him at once about his task. + +The wretched tool who was at hand to be the agent of this +dastardly plot was one Tyckelaer whom we have already +mentioned, a surgeon by profession. + +He lodged an information against Cornelius de Witt, setting +forth that the warden -- who, as he had shown by the letters +added to his signature, was fuming at the repeal of the +Perpetual Edict -- had, from hatred against William of +Orange, hired an assassin to deliver the new Republic of its +new Stadtholder; and he, Tyckelaer was the person thus +chosen; but that, horrified at the bare idea of the act +which he was asked to perpetrate, he had preferred rather to +reveal the crime than to commit it. + +This disclosure was, indeed, well calculated to call forth a +furious outbreak among the Orange faction. The Attorney +General caused, on the 16th of August, 1672, Cornelius de +Witt to be arrested; and the noble brother of John de Witt +had, like the vilest criminal, to undergo, in one of the +apartments of the town prison, the preparatory degrees of +torture, by means of which his judges expected to force from +him the confession of his alleged plot against William of +Orange. + +But Cornelius was not only possessed of a great mind, but +also of a great heart. He belonged to that race of martyrs +who, indissolubly wedded to their political convictions as +their ancestors were to their faith, are able to smile on +pain: while being stretched on the rack, he recited with a +firm voice, and scanning the lines according to measure, the +first strophe of the "Justum ac tenacem" of Horace, and, +making no confession, tired not only the strength, but even +the fanaticism, of his executioners. + +The judges, notwithstanding, acquitted Tyckelaer from every +charge; at the same time sentencing Cornelius to be deposed +from all his offices and dignities; to pay all the costs of +the trial; and to be banished from the soil of the Republic +for ever. + +This judgment against not only an innocent, but also a great +man, was indeed some gratification to the passions of the +people, to whose interests Cornelius de Witt had always +devoted himself: but, as we shall soon see, it was not +enough. + +The Athenians, who indeed have left behind them a pretty +tolerable reputation for ingratitude, have in this respect +to yield precedence to the Dutch. They, at least in the case +of Aristides, contented themselves with banishing him. + +John de Witt, at the first intimation of the charge brought +against his brother, had resigned his office of Grand +Pensionary. He too received a noble recompense for his +devotedness to the best interests of his country, taking +with him into the retirement of private life the hatred of a +host of enemies, and the fresh scars of wounds inflicted by +assassins, only too often the sole guerdon obtained by +honest people, who are guilty of having worked for their +country, and of having forgotten their own private +interests. + +In the meanwhile William of Orange urged on the course of +events by every means in his power, eagerly waiting for the +time when the people, by whom he was idolised, should have +made of the bodies of the brothers the two steps over which +he might ascend to the chair of Stadtholder. + +Thus, then, on the 20th of August, 1672, as we have already +stated in the beginning of this chapter, the whole town was +crowding towards the Buytenhof, to witness the departure of +Cornelius de Witt from prison, as he was going to exile; and +to see what traces the torture of the rack had left on the +noble frame of the man who knew his Horace so well. + +Yet all this multitude was not crowding to the Buytenhof +with the innocent view of merely feasting their eyes with +the spectacle; there were many who went there to play an +active part in it, and to take upon themselves an office +which they conceived had been badly filled, -- that of the +executioner. + +There were, indeed, others with less hostile intentions. All +that they cared for was the spectacle, always so attractive +to the mob, whose instinctive pride is flattered by it, -- +the sight of greatness hurled down into the dust. + +"Has not," they would say, "this Cornelius de Witt been +locked up and broken by the rack? Shall we not see him pale, +streaming with blood, covered with shame?" And was not this +a sweet triumph for the burghers of the Hague, whose envy +even beat that of the common rabble; a triumph in which +every honest citizen and townsman might be expected to +share? + +"Moreover," hinted the Orange agitators interspersed through +the crowd, whom they hoped to manage like a sharp-edged and +at the same time crushing instrument, -- "moreover, will +there not, from the Buytenhof to the gate of the town, a +nice little opportunity present itself to throw some +handfuls of dirt, or a few stones, at this Cornelius de +Witt, who not only conferred the dignity of Stadtholder on +the Prince of Orange merely vi coactus, but who also +intended to have him assassinated?" + +"Besides which," the fierce enemies of France chimed in, "if +the work were done well and bravely at the Hague, Cornelius +would certainly not be allowed to go into exile, where he +will renew his intrigues with France, and live with his big +scoundrel of a brother, John, on the gold of the Marquis de +Louvois." + +Being in such a temper, people generally will run rather +than walk; which was the reason why the inhabitants of the +Hague were hurrying so fast towards the Buytenhof. + +Honest Tyckelaer, with a heart full of spite and malice, and +with no particular plan settled in his mind, was one of the +foremost, being paraded about by the Orange party like a +hero of probity, national honour, and Christian charity. + +This daring miscreant detailed, with all the embellishments +and flourishes suggested by his base mind and his ruffianly +imagination, the attempts which he pretended Cornelius de +Witt had made to corrupt him; the sums of money which were +promised, and all the diabolical stratagems planned +beforehand to smooth for him, Tyckelaer, all the +difficulties in the path of murder. + +And every phase of his speech, eagerly listened to by the +populace, called forth enthusiastic cheers for the Prince of +Orange, and groans and imprecations of blind fury against +the brothers De Witt. + +The mob even began to vent its rage by inveighing against +the iniquitous judges, who had allowed such a detestable +criminal as the villain Cornelius to get off so cheaply. + +Some of the agitators whispered, "He will be off, he will +escape from us!" + +Others replied, "A vessel is waiting for him at Schevening, +a French craft. Tyckelaer has seen her." + +"Honest Tyckelaer! Hurrah for Tyckelaer!" the mob cried in +chorus. + +"And let us not forget," a voice exclaimed from the crowd, +"that at the same time with Cornelius his brother John, who +is as rascally a traitor as himself, will likewise make his +escape." + +"And the two rogues will in France make merry with our +money, with the money for our vessels, our arsenals, and our +dockyards, which they have sold to Louis XIV." + +"Well, then, don't let us allow them to depart!" advised one +of the patriots who had gained the start of the others. + +"Forward to the prison, to the prison!" echoed the crowd. + +Amid these cries, the citizens ran along faster and faster, +cocking their muskets, brandishing their hatchets, and +looking death and defiance in all directions. + +No violence, however, had as yet been committed; and the +file of horsemen who were guarding the approaches of the +Buytenhof remained cool, unmoved, silent, much more +threatening in their impassibility than all this crowd of +burghers, with their cries, their agitation, and their +threats. The men on their horses, indeed, stood like so many +statues, under the eye of their chief, Count Tilly, the +captain of the mounted troops of the Hague, who had his +sword drawn, but held it with its point downwards, in a line +with the straps of his stirrup. + +This troop, the only defence of the prison, overawed by its +firm attitude not only the disorderly riotous mass of the +populace, but also the detachment of the burgher guard, +which, being placed opposite the Buytenhof to support the +soldiers in keeping order, gave to the rioters the example +of seditious cries, shouting, -- + +"Hurrah for Orange! Down with the traitors!" + +The presence of Tilly and his horsemen, indeed, exercised a +salutary check on these civic warriors; but by degrees they +waxed more and more angry by their own shouts, and as they +were not able to understand how any one could have courage +without showing it by cries, they attributed the silence of +the dragoons to pusillanimity, and advanced one step towards +the prison, with all the turbulent mob following in their +wake. + +In this moment, Count Tilly rode forth towards them +single-handed, merely lifting his sword and contracting his +brow whilst he addressed them: -- + +"Well, gentlemen of the burgher guard, what are you +advancing for, and what do you wish?" + +The burghers shook their muskets, repeating their cry, -- + +"Hurrah for Orange! Death to the traitors!" + +"'Hurrah for Orange!' all well and good!" replied Tilly, +"although I certainly am more partial to happy faces than to +gloomy ones. 'Death to the traitors!' as much of it as you +like, as long as you show your wishes only by cries. But, as +to putting them to death in good earnest, I am here to +prevent that, and I shall prevent it." + +Then, turning round to his men, he gave the word of command, +-- + +"Soldiers, ready!" + +The troopers obeyed orders with a precision which +immediately caused the burgher guard and the people to fall +back, in a degree of confusion which excited the smile of +the cavalry officer. + +"Holloa!" he exclaimed, with that bantering tone which is +peculiar to men of his profession; "be easy, gentlemen, my +soldiers will not fire a shot; but, on the other hand, you +will not advance by one step towards the prison." + +"And do you know, sir, that we have muskets?" roared the +commandant of the burghers. + +"I must know it, by Jove, you have made them glitter enough +before my eyes; but I beg you to observe also that we on our +side have pistols, that the pistol carries admirably to a +distance of fifty yards, and that you are only twenty-five +from us." + +"Death to the traitors!" cried the exasperated burghers. + +"Go along with you," growled the officer, "you always cry +the same thing over again. It is very tiresome." + +With this, he took his post at the head of his troops, +whilst the tumult grew fiercer and fiercer about the +Buytenhof. + +And yet the fuming crowd did not know that, at that very +moment when they were tracking the scent of one of their +victims, the other, as if hurrying to meet his fate, passed, +at a distance of not more than a hundred yards, behind the +groups of people and the dragoons, to betake himself to the +Buytenhof. + +John de Witt, indeed, had alighted from his coach with his +servant, and quietly walked across the courtyard of the +prison. + +Mentioning his name to the turnkey, who however knew him, he +said, -- + +"Good morning, Gryphus; I am coming to take away my brother, +who, as you know, is condemned to exile, and to carry him +out of the town." + +Whereupon the jailer, a sort of bear, trained to lock and +unlock the gates of the prison, had greeted him and admitted +him into the building, the doors of which were immediately +closed again. + +Ten yards farther on, John de Witt met a lovely young girl, +of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in the national +costume of the Frisian women, who, with pretty demureness, +dropped a curtesy to him. Chucking her under the chin, he +said to her, -- + +"Good morning, my good and fair Rosa; how is my brother?" + +"Oh, Mynheer John!" the young girl replied, "I am not afraid +of the harm which has been done to him. That's all over +now." + +"But what is it you are afraid of?" + +"I am afraid of the harm which they are going to do to him." + +"Oh, yes," said De Witt, "you mean to speak of the people +down below, don't you?" + +"Do you hear them?" + +"They are indeed in a state of great excitement; but when +they see us perhaps they will grow calmer, as we have never +done them anything but good." + +"That's unfortunately no reason, except for the contrary," +muttered the girl, as, on an imperative sign from her +father, she withdrew. + +"Indeed, child, what you say is only too true." + +Then, in pursuing his way, he said to himself, -- + +"Here is a damsel who very likely does not know how to read, +who consequently has never read anything, and yet with one +word she has just told the whole history of the world." + +And with the same calm mien, but more melancholy than he had +been on entering the prison, the Grand Pensionary proceeded +towards the cell of his brother. + + + + +Chapter 2 + +The Two Brothers + + +As the fair Rosa, with foreboding doubt, had foretold, so it +happened. Whilst John de Witt was climbing the narrow +winding stairs which led to the prison of his brother +Cornelius, the burghers did their best to have the troop of +Tilly, which was in their way, removed. + +Seeing this disposition, King Mob, who fully appreciated the +laudable intentions of his own beloved militia, shouted most +lustily, -- + +"Hurrah for the burghers!" + +As to Count Tilly, who was as prudent as he was firm, he +began to parley with the burghers, under the protection of +the cocked pistols of his dragoons, explaining to the +valiant townsmen, that his order from the States commanded +him to guard the prison and its approaches with three +companies. + +"Wherefore such an order? Why guard the prison?" cried the +Orangists. + +"Stop," replied the Count, "there you at once ask me more +than I can tell you. I was told, 'Guard the prison,' and I +guard it. You, gentlemen, who are almost military men +yourselves, you are aware that an order must never be +gainsaid." + +"But this order has been given to you that the traitors may +be enabled to leave the town." + +"Very possibly, as the traitors are condemned to exile," +replied Tilly. + +"But who has given this order?" + +"The States, to be sure!" + +"The States are traitors." + +"I don't know anything about that!" + +"And you are a traitor yourself!" + +"I?" + +"Yes, you." + +"Well, as to that, let us understand each other gentlemen. +Whom should I betray? The States? Why, I cannot betray them, +whilst, being in their pay, I faithfully obey their orders." + +As the Count was so indisputably in the right that it was +impossible to argue against him, the mob answered only by +redoubled clamour and horrible threats, to which the Count +opposed the most perfect urbanity. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "uncock your muskets, one of them may +go off by accident; and if the shot chanced to wound one of +my men, we should knock over a couple of hundreds of yours, +for which we should, indeed, be very sorry, but you even +more so; especially as such a thing is neither contemplated +by you nor by myself." + +"If you did that," cried the burghers, "we should have a pop +at you, too." + +"Of course you would; but suppose you killed every man Jack +of us, those whom we should have killed would not, for all +that, be less dead." + +"Then leave the place to us, and you will perform the part +of a good citizen." + +"First of all," said the Count, "I am not a citizen, but an +officer, which is a very different thing; and secondly, I am +not a Hollander, but a Frenchman, which is more different +still. I have to do with no one but the States, by whom I am +paid; let me see an order from them to leave the place to +you, and I shall only be too glad to wheel off in an +instant, as I am confoundedly bored here." + +"Yes, yes!" cried a hundred voices; the din of which was +immediately swelled by five hundred others; "let us march to +the Town-hall; let us go and see the deputies! Come along! +come along!" + +"That's it," Tilly muttered between his teeth, as he saw the +most violent among the crowd turning away; "go and ask for a +meanness at the Town-hall, and you will see whether they +will grant it; go, my fine fellows, go!" + +The worthy officer relied on the honour of the magistrates, +who, on their side, relied on his honour as a soldier. + +"I say, Captain," the first lieutenant whispered into the +ear of the Count, "I hope the deputies will give these +madmen a flat refusal; but, after all, it would do no harm +if they would send us some reinforcement." + +In the meanwhile, John de Witt, whom we left climbing the +stairs, after the conversation with the jailer Gryphus and +his daughter Rosa, had reached the door of the cell, where +on a mattress his brother Cornelius was resting, after +having undergone the preparatory degrees of the torture. The +sentence of banishment having been pronounced, there was no +occasion for inflicting the torture extraordinary. + +Cornelius was stretched on his couch, with broken wrists and +crushed fingers. He had not confessed a crime of which he +was not guilty; and now, after three days of agony, he once +more breathed freely, on being informed that the judges, +from whom he had expected death, were only condemning him to +exile. + +Endowed with an iron frame and a stout heart, how would he +have disappointed his enemies if they could only have seen, +in the dark cell of the Buytenhof, his pale face lit up by +the smile of the martyr, who forgets the dross of this earth +after having obtained a glimpse of the bright glory of +heaven. + +The warden, indeed, had already recovered his full strength, +much more owing to the force of his own strong will than to +actual aid; and he was calculating how long the formalities +of the law would still detain him in prison. + +This was just at the very moment when the mingled shouts of +the burgher guard and of the mob were raging against the two +brothers, and threatening Captain Tilly, who served as a +rampart to them. This noise, which roared outside of the +walls of the prison, as the surf dashing against the rocks, +now reached the ears of the prisoner. + +But, threatening as it sounded, Cornelius appeared not to +deem it worth his while to inquire after its cause; nor did +he get up to look out of the narrow grated window, which +gave access to the light and to the noise of the world +without. + +He was so absorbed in his never-ceasing pain that it had +almost become a habit with him. He felt with such delight +the bonds which connected his immortal being with his +perishable frame gradually loosening, that it seemed to him +as if his spirit, freed from the trammels of the body, were +hovering above it, like the expiring flame which rises from +the half-extinguished embers. + +He also thought of his brother; and whilst the latter was +thus vividly present to his mind the door opened, and John +entered, hurrying to the bedside of the prisoner, who +stretched out his broken limbs and his hands tied up in +bandages towards that glorious brother, whom he now +excelled, not in services rendered to the country, but in +the hatred which the Dutch bore him. + +John tenderly kissed his brother on the forehead, and put +his sore hands gently back on the mattress. + +"Cornelius, my poor brother, you are suffering great pain, +are you not?" + +"I am suffering no longer, since I see you, my brother." + +"Oh, my poor dear Cornelius! I feel most wretched to see you +in such a state." + +"And, indeed, I have thought more of you than of myself; and +whilst they were torturing me, I never thought of uttering a +complaint, except once, to say, 'Poor brother!' But now that +you are here, let us forget all. You are coming to take me +away, are you not?" + +"I am." + +"I am quite healed; help me to get up, and you shall see how +I can walk." + +"You will not have to walk far, as I have my coach near the +pond, behind Tilly's dragoons." + +"Tilly's dragoons! What are they near the pond for?" + +"Well," said the Grand Pensionary with a melancholy smile +which was habitual to him, "the gentlemen at the Town-hall +expect that the people at the Hague would like to see you +depart, and there is some apprehension of a tumult." + +"Of a tumult?" replied Cornelius, fixing his eyes on his +perplexed brother; "a tumult?" + +"Yes, Cornelius." + +"Oh! that's what I heard just now," said the prisoner, as if +speaking to himself. Then, turning to his brother, he +continued, -- + +"Are there many persons down before the prison." + +"Yes, my brother, there are." + +"But then, to come here to me ---- " + +"Well?" + +"How is it that they have allowed you to pass?" + +"You know well that we are not very popular, Cornelius," +said the Grand Pensionary, with gloomy bitterness. "I have +made my way through all sorts of bystreets and alleys." + +"You hid yourself, John?" + +"I wished to reach you without loss of time, and I did what +people will do in politics, or on the sea when the wind is +against them, -- I tacked." + +At this moment the noise in the square below was heard to +roar with increasing fury. Tilly was parleying with the +burghers. + +"Well, well," said Cornelius, "you are a very skilful pilot, +John; but I doubt whether you will as safely guide your +brother out of the Buytenhof in the midst of this gale, and +through the raging surf of popular hatred, as you did the +fleet of Van Tromp past the shoals of the Scheldt to +Antwerp." + +"With the help of God, Cornelius, we'll at least try," +answered John; "but, first of all, a word with you." + +"Speak!" + +The shouts began anew. + +"Hark, hark!" continued Cornelius, "how angry those people +are! Is it against you, or against me?" + +"I should say it is against us both, Cornelius. I told you, +my dear brother, that the Orange party, while assailing us +with their absurd calumnies, have also made it a reproach +against us that we have negotiated with France." + +"What blockheads they are!" + +"But, indeed, they reproach us with it." + +"And yet, if these negotiations had been successful, they +would have prevented the defeats of Rees, Orsay, Wesel, and +Rheinberg; the Rhine would not have been crossed, and +Holland might still consider herself invincible in the midst +of her marshes and canals." + +"All this is quite true, my dear Cornelius, but still more +certain it is, that if at this moment our correspondence +with the Marquis de Louvois were discovered, skilful pilot +as I am, I should not be able to save the frail barque which +is to carry the brothers De Witt and their fortunes out of +Holland. That correspondence, which might prove to honest +people how dearly I love my country, and what sacrifices I +have offered to make for its liberty and glory, would be +ruin to us if it fell into the hands of the Orange party. I +hope you have burned the letters before you left Dort to +join me at the Hague." + +"My dear brother," Cornelius answered, "your correspondence +with M. de Louvois affords ample proof of your having been +of late the greatest, most generous, and most able citizen +of the Seven United Provinces. I rejoice in the glory of my +country; and particularly do I rejoice in your glory, John. +I have taken good care not to burn that correspondence." + +"Then we are lost, as far as this life is concerned," +quietly said the Grand Pensionary, approaching the window. + +"No, on the contrary, John, we shall at the same time save +our lives and regain our popularity." + +"But what have you done with these letters?" + +"I have intrusted them to the care of Cornelius van Baerle, +my godson, whom you know, and who lives at Dort." + +"Poor honest Van Baerle! who knows so much, and yet thinks +of nothing but of flowers and of God who made them. You have +intrusted him with this fatal secret; it will be his ruin, +poor soul!" + +"His ruin?" + +"Yes, for he will either be strong or he will be weak. If he +is strong, he will, when he hears of what has happened to +us, boast of our acquaintance; if he is weak, he will be +afraid on account of his connection with us: if he is +strong, he will betray the secret by his boldness; if he is +weak, he will allow it to be forced from him. In either case +he is lost, and so are we. Let us, therefore, fly, fly, as +long as there is still time." + +Cornelius de Witt, raising himself on his couch, and +grasping the hand of his brother, who shuddered at the touch +of his linen bandages, replied, -- + +"Do not I know my godson? have not I been enabled to read +every thought in Van Baerle's mind, and every sentiment in +his heart? You ask whether he is strong or weak. He is +neither the one nor the other; but that is not now the +question. The principal point is, that he is sure not to +divulge the secret, for the very good reason that he does +not know it himself." + +John turned round in surprise. + +"You must know, my dear brother, that I have been trained in +the school of that distinguished politician John de Witt; +and I repeat to you, that Van Baerle is not aware of the +nature and importance of the deposit which I have intrusted +to him." + +"Quick then," cried John, "as there is still time, let us +convey to him directions to burn the parcel." + +"Through whom?" + +"Through my servant Craeke, who was to have accompanied us +on horseback, and who has entered the prison with me, to +assist you downstairs." + +"Consider well before having those precious documents burnt, +John!" + +"I consider, above all things, that the brothers De Witt +must necessarily save their lives, to be able to save their +character. If we are dead, who will defend us? Who will have +fully understood our intentions?" + +"You expect, then, that they would kill us if those papers +were found?" + +John, without answering, pointed with his hand to the +square, whence, at that very moment, fierce shouts and +savage yells made themselves heard. + +"Yes, yes," said Cornelius, "I hear these shouts very +plainly, but what is their meaning?" + +John opened the window. + +"Death to the traitors!" howled the populace. + +"Do you hear now, Cornelius?" + +"To the traitors! that means us!" said the prisoner, raising +his eyes to heaven and shrugging his shoulders. + +"Yes, it means us," repeated John. + +"Where is Craeke?" + +"At the door of your cell, I suppose." + +"Let him enter then." + +John opened the door; the faithful servant was waiting on +the threshold. + +"Come in, Craeke, and mind well what my brother will tell +you." + +"No, John; it will not suffice to send a verbal message; +unfortunately, I shall be obliged to write." + +"And why that?" + +"Because Van Baerle will neither give up the parcel nor burn +it without a special command to do so." + +"But will you be able to write, poor old fellow?" John +asked, with a look on the scorched and bruised hands of the +unfortunate sufferer. + +"If I had pen and ink you would soon see," said Cornelius. + +"Here is a pencil, at any rate." + +"Have you any paper? for they have left me nothing." + +"Here, take this Bible, and tear out the fly-leaf." + +"Very well, that will do." + +"But your writing will be illegible." + +"Just leave me alone for that," said Cornelius. "The +executioners have indeed pinched me badly enough, but my +hand will not tremble once in tracing the few lines which +are requisite." + +And really Cornelius took the pencil and began to write, +when through the white linen bandages drops of blood oozed +out which the pressure of the fingers against the pencil +squeezed from the raw flesh. + +A cold sweat stood on the brow of the Grand Pensionary. + +Cornelius wrote: -- + +"My dear Godson, -- + +"Burn the parcel which I have intrusted to you. Burn it +without looking at it, and without opening it, so that its +contents may for ever remain unknown to yourself. Secrets of +this description are death to those with whom they are +deposited. Burn it, and you will have saved John and +Cornelius de Witt. + +"Farewell, and love me. + +"Cornelius de Witt + +"August 20th, 1672." + +John, with tears in his eyes, wiped off a drop of the noble +blood which had soiled the leaf, and, after having handed +the despatch to Craeke with a last direction, returned to +Cornelius, who seemed overcome by intense pain, and near +fainting. + +"Now," said he, "when honest Craeke sounds his coxswain's +whistle, it will be a signal of his being clear of the +crowd, and of his having reached the other side of the pond. +And then it will be our turn to depart." + +Five minutes had not elapsed, before a long and shrill +whistle was heard through the din and noise of the square of +the Buytenhof. + +John gratefully raised his eyes to heaven. + +"And now," said he, "let us off, Cornelius." + + + + +Chapter 3 + +The Pupil of John de Witt + + +Whilst the clamour of the crowd in the square of Buytenhof, +which grew more and more menacing against the two brothers, +determined John de Witt to hasten the departure of his +brother Cornelius, a deputation of burghers had gone to the +Town-hall to demand the withdrawal of Tilly's horse. + +It was not far from the Buytenhof to Hoogstraet (High +Street); and a stranger, who since the beginning of this +scene had watched all its incidents with intense interest, +was seen to wend his way with, or rather in the wake of, the +others towards the Town-hall, to hear as soon as possible +the current news of the hour. + +This stranger was a very young man, of scarcely twenty-two +or three, with nothing about him that bespoke any great +energy. He evidently had his good reasons for not making +himself known, as he hid his face in a handkerchief of fine +Frisian linen, with which he incessantly wiped his brow or +his burning lips. + +With an eye keen as that of a bird of prey, -- with a long +aquiline nose, a finely cut mouth, which he generally kept +open, or rather which was gaping like the edges of a wound, +-- this man would have presented to Lavater, if Lavater had +lived at that time, a subject for physiognomical +observations which at the first blush would not have been +very favourable to the person in question. + +"What difference is there between the figure of the +conqueror and that of the pirate?" said the ancients. The +difference only between the eagle and the vulture, -- +serenity or restlessness. + +And indeed the sallow physiognomy, the thin and sickly body, +and the prowling ways of the stranger, were the very type of +a suspecting master, or an unquiet thief; and a police +officer would certainly have decided in favour of the latter +supposition, on account of the great care which the +mysterious person evidently took to hide himself. + +He was plainly dressed, and apparently unarmed; his arm was +lean but wiry, and his hands dry, but of an aristocratic +whiteness and delicacy, and he leaned on the shoulder of an +officer, who, with his hand on his sword, had watched the +scenes in the Buytenhof with eager curiosity, very natural +in a military man, until his companion drew him away with +him. + +On arriving at the square of the Hoogstraet, the man with +the sallow face pushed the other behind an open shutter, +from which corner he himself began to survey the balcony of +the Town-hall. + +At the savage yells of the mob, the window of the Town-hall +opened, and a man came forth to address the people. + +"Who is that on the balcony?" asked the young man, glancing +at the orator. + +"It is the Deputy Bowelt," replied the officer. + +"What sort of a man is he? Do you know anything of him?" + +"An honest man; at least I believe so, Monseigneur." + +Hearing this character given of Bowelt, the young man showed +signs of such a strange disappointment and evident +dissatisfaction that the officer could not but remark it, +and therefore added, -- + +"At least people say so, Monseigneur. I cannot say anything +about it myself, as I have no personal acquaintance with +Mynheer Bowelt." + +"An honest man," repeated he who was addressed as +Monseigneur; "do you mean to say that he is an honest man +(brave homme), or a brave one (homme brave)?" + +"Ah, Monseigneur must excuse me; I would not presume to draw +such a fine distinction in the case of a man whom, I assure +your Highness once more, I know only by sight." + +"If this Bowelt is an honest man," his Highness continued, +"he will give to the demand of these furibund petitioners a +very queer reception." + +The nervous quiver of his hand, which moved on the shoulder +of his companion as the fingers of a player on the keys of a +harpsichord, betrayed his burning impatience, so ill +concealed at certain times, and particularly at that moment, +under the icy and sombre expression of his face. + +The chief of the deputation of the burghers was then heard +addressing an interpellation to Mynheer Bowelt, whom he +requested to let them know where the other deputies, his +colleagues, were. + +"Gentlemen," Bowelt repeated for the second time, "I assure +you that in this moment I am here alone with Mynheer +d'Asperen, and I cannot take any resolution on my own +responsibility." + +"The order! we want the order!" cried several thousand +voices. + +Mynheer Bowelt wished to speak, but his words were not +heard, and he was only seen moving his arms in all sorts of +gestures, which plainly showed that he felt his position to +be desperate. When, at last, he saw that he could not make +himself heard, he turned round towards the open window, and +called Mynheer d'Asperen. + +The latter gentleman now made his appearance on the balcony, +where he was saluted with shouts even more energetic than +those with which, ten minutes before, his colleague had been +received. + +This did not prevent him from undertaking the difficult task +of haranguing the mob; but the mob preferred forcing the +guard of the States -- which, however, offered no resistance +to the sovereign people -- to listening to the speech of +Mynheer d'Asperen. + +"Now, then," the young man coolly remarked, whilst the crowd +was rushing into the principal gate of the Town-hall, "it +seems the question will be discussed indoors, Captain. Come +along, and let us hear the debate." + +"Oh, Monseigneur! Monseigneur! take care!" + +"Of what?" + +"Among these deputies there are many who have had dealings +with you, and it would be sufficient, that one of them +should recognize your Highness." + +"Yes, that I might be charged with having been the +instigator of all this work, indeed, you are right," said +the young man, blushing for a moment from regret of having +betrayed so much eagerness. "From this place we shall see +them return with or without the order for the withdrawal of +the dragoons, then we may judge which is greater, Mynheer +Bowelt's honesty or his courage." + +"But," replied the officer, looking with astonishment at the +personage whom he addressed as Monseigneur, "but your +Highness surely does not suppose for one instant that the +deputies will order Tilly's horse to quit their post?" + +"Why not?" the young man quietly retorted. + +"Because doing so would simply be signing the death warrant +of Cornelius and John de Witt." + +"We shall see," his Highness replied, with the most perfect +coolness; "God alone knows what is going on within the +hearts of men." + +The officer looked askance at the impassible figure of his +companion, and grew pale: he was an honest man as well as a +brave one. + +From the spot where they stood, his Highness and his +attendant heard the tumult and the heavy tramp of the crowd +on the staircase of the Town-hall. The noise thereupon +sounded through the windows of the hall, on the balcony of +which Mynheers Bowelt and D'Asperen had presented +themselves. These two gentlemen had retired into the +building, very likely from fear of being forced over the +balustrade by the pressure of the crowd. + +After this, fluctuating shadows in tumultuous confusion were +seen flitting to and fro across the windows: the council +hall was filling. + +Suddenly the noise subsided, and as suddenly again it rose +with redoubled intensity, and at last reached such a pitch +that the old building shook to the very roof. + +At length, the living stream poured back through the +galleries and stairs to the arched gateway, from which it +was seen issuing like waters from a spout. + +At the head of the first group, man was flying rather than +running, his face hideously distorted with satanic glee: +this man was the surgeon Tyckelaer. + +"We have it! we have it!" he cried, brandishing a paper in +the air. + +"They have got the order!" muttered the officer in +amazement. + +"Well, then," his Highness quietly remarked, "now I know +what to believe with regard to Mynheer Bowelt's honesty and +courage: he has neither the one nor the other." + +Then, looking with a steady glance after the crowd which was +rushing along before him, he continued, -- + +"Let us now go to the Buytenhof, Captain; I expect we shall +see a very strange sight there." + +The officer bowed, and, without making any reply, followed +in the steps of his master. + +There was an immense crowd in the square and about the +neighbourhood of the prison. But the dragoons of Tilly still +kept it in check with the same success and with the same +firmness. + +It was not long before the Count heard the increasing din of +the approaching multitude, the first ranks of which rushed +on with the rapidity of a cataract. + +At the same time he observed the paper, which was waving +above the surface of clenched fists and glittering arms. + +"Halloa!" he said, rising in his stirrups, and touching his +lieutenant with the knob of his sword; "I really believe +those rascals have got the order." + +"Dastardly ruffians they are," cried the lieutenant. + +It was indeed the order, which the burgher guard received +with a roar of triumph. They immediately sallied forth, with +lowered arms and fierce shouts, to meet Count Tilly's +dragoons. + +But the Count was not the man to allow them to approach +within an inconvenient distance. + +"Stop!" he cried, "stop, and keep off from my horse, or I +shall give the word of command to advance." + +"Here is the order!" a hundred insolent voices answered at +once. + +He took it in amazement, cast a rapid glance on it, and said +quite aloud, -- + +"Those who have signed this order are the real murderers of +Cornelius de Witt. I would rather have my two hands cut off +than have written one single letter of this infamous order." + +And, pushing back with the hilt of his sword the man who +wanted to take it from him, he added, -- + +"Wait a minute, papers like this are of importance, and are +to be kept." + +Saying this, he folded up the document, and carefully put it +in the pocket of his coat. + +Then, turning round towards his troop, he gave the word of +command, -- + +"Tilly's dragoons, wheel to the right!" + +After this, he added, in an undertone, yet loud enough for +his words to be not altogether lost to those about him, -- + +"And now, ye butchers, do your work!" + +A savage yell, in which all the keen hatred and ferocious +triumph rife in the precincts of the prison simultaneously +burst forth, and accompanied the departure of the dragoons, +as they were quietly filing off. + +The Count tarried behind, facing to the last the infuriated +populace, which advanced at the same rate as the Count +retired. + +John de Witt, therefore, had by no means exaggerated the +danger, when, assisting his brother in getting up, he +hurried his departure. Cornelius, leaning on the arm of the +Ex-Grand Pensionary, descended the stairs which led to the +courtyard. At the bottom of the staircase he found little +Rosa, trembling all over. + +"Oh, Mynheer John," she said, "what a misfortune!" + +"What is it, my child?" asked De Witt. + +"They say that they are gone to the Town-hall to fetch the +order for Tilly's horse to withdraw." + +"You do not say so!" replied John. "Indeed, my dear child, +if the dragoons are off, we shall be in a very sad plight." + +"I have some advice to give you," Rosa said, trembling even +more violently than before. + +"Well, let us hear what you have to say, my child. Why +should not God speak by your mouth?" + +"Now, then, Mynheer John, if I were in your place, I should +not go out through the main street." + +"And why so, as the dragoons of Tilly are still at their +post?" + +"Yes, but their order, as long as it is not revoked, enjoins +them to stop before the prison." + +"Undoubtedly." + +"Have you got an order for them to accompany you out of the +town?" + +"We have not?" + +"Well, then, in the very moment when you have passed the +ranks of the dragoons you will fall into the hands of the +people." + +"But the burgher guard?" + +"Alas! the burgher guard are the most enraged of all." + +"What are we to do, then?" + +"If I were in your place, Mynheer John," the young girl +timidly continued, "I should leave by the postern, which +leads into a deserted by-lane, whilst all the people are +waiting in the High Street to see you come out by the +principal entrance. From there I should try to reach the +gate by which you intend to leave the town." + +"But my brother is not able to walk," said John. + +"I shall try," Cornelius said, with an expression of most +sublime fortitude. + +"But have you not got your carriage?" asked the girl. + +"The carriage is down near the great entrance." + +"Not so," she replied. "I considered your coachman to be a +faithful man, and I told him to wait for you at the +postern." + +The two brothers looked first at each other, and then at +Rosa, with a glance full of the most tender gratitude. + +"The question is now," said the Grand Pensionary, "whether +Gryphus will open this door for us." + +"Indeed, he will do no such thing," said Rosa. + +"Well, and how then?" + +"I have foreseen his refusal, and just now whilst he was +talking from the window of the porter's lodge with a +dragoon, I took away the key from his bunch." + +"And you have got it?" + +"Here it is, Mynheer John." + +"My child," said Cornelius, "I have nothing to give you in +exchange for the service you are rendering us but the Bible +which you will find in my room; it is the last gift of an +honest man; I hope it will bring you good luck." + +"I thank you, Master Cornelius, it shall never leave me," +replied Rosa. + +And then, with a sigh, she said to herself, "What a pity +that I do not know how to read!" + +"The shouts and cries are growing louder and louder," said +John; "there is not a moment to be lost." + +"Come along, gentlemen," said the girl, who now led the two +brothers through an inner lobby to the back of the prison. +Guided by her, they descended a staircase of about a dozen +steps; traversed a small courtyard, which was surrounded by +castellated walls; and, the arched door having been opened +for them by Rosa, they emerged into a lonely street where +their carriage was ready to receive them. + +"Quick, quick, my masters! do you hear them?" cried the +coachman, in a deadly fright. + +Yet, after having made Cornelius get into the carriage +first, the Grand Pensionary turned round towards the girl, +to whom he said, -- + +"Good-bye, my child! words could never express our +gratitude. God will reward you for having saved the lives of +two men." + +Rosa took the hand which John de Witt proffered to her, and +kissed it with every show of respect. + +"Go! for Heaven's sake, go!" she said; "it seems they are +going to force the gate." + +John de Witt hastily got in, sat himself down by the side of +his brother, and, fastening the apron of the carriage, +called out to the coachman, -- + +"To the Tol-Hek!" + +The Tol-Hek was the iron gate leading to the harbor of +Schevening, in which a small vessel was waiting for the two +brothers. + +The carriage drove off with the fugitives at the full speed +of a pair of spirited Flemish horses. Rosa followed them +with her eyes until they turned the corner of the street, +upon which, closing the door after her, she went back and +threw the key into a cell. + +The noise which had made Rosa suppose that the people were +forcing the prison door was indeed owing to the mob +battering against it after the square had been left by the +military. + +Solid as the gate was, and although Gryphus, to do him +justice, stoutly enough refused to open it, yet evidently it +could not resist much longer, and the jailer, growing very +pale, put to himself the question whether it would not be +better to open the door than to allow it to be forced, when +he felt some one gently pulling his coat. + +He turned round and saw Rosa. + +"Do you hear these madmen?" he said. + +"I hear them so well, my father, that in your place ---- " + +"You would open the door?" + +"No, I should allow it to be forced." + +"But they will kill me!" + +"Yes, if they see you." + +"How shall they not see me?" + +"Hide yourself." + +"Where?" + +"In the secret dungeon." + +"But you, my child?" + +"I shall get into it with you. We shall lock the door and +when they have left the prison, we shall again come forth +from our hiding place." + +"Zounds, you are right, there!" cried Gryphus; "it's +surprising how much sense there is in such a little head!" + +Then, as the gate began to give way amidst the triumphant +shouts of the mob, she opened a little trap-door, and said, +-- + +"Come along, come along, father." + +"But our prisoners?" + +"God will watch over them, and I shall watch over you." + +Gryphus followed his daughter, and the trap-door closed over +his head, just as the broken gate gave admittance to the +populace. + +The dungeon where Rosa had induced her father to hide +himself, and where for the present we must leave the two, +offered to them a perfectly safe retreat, being known only +to those in power, who used to place there important +prisoners of state, to guard against a rescue or a revolt. + +The people rushed into the prison, with the cry -- + +"Death to the traitors! To the gallows with Cornelius de +Witt! Death! death!" + + + + +Chapter 4 + +The Murderers + + +The young man with his hat slouched over his eyes, still +leaning on the arm of the officer, and still wiping from +time to time his brow with his handkerchief, was watching in +a corner of the Buytenhof, in the shade of the overhanging +weather-board of a closed shop, the doings of the infuriated +mob, a spectacle which seemed to draw near its catastrophe. + +"Indeed," said he to the officer, "indeed, I think you were +right, Van Deken; the order which the deputies have signed +is truly the death-warrant of Master Cornelius. Do you hear +these people? They certainly bear a sad grudge to the two De +Witts." + +"In truth," replied the officer, "I never heard such +shouts." + +"They seem to have found out the cell of the man. Look, +look! is not that the window of the cell where Cornelius was +locked up?" + +A man had seized with both hands and was shaking the iron +bars of the window in the room which Cornelius had left only +ten minutes before. + +"Halloa, halloa!" the man called out, "he is gone." + +"How is that? gone?" asked those of the mob who had not been +able to get into the prison, crowded as it was with the mass +of intruders. + +"Gone, gone," repeated the man in a rage, "the bird has +flown." + +"What does this man say?" asked his Highness, growing quite +pale. + +"Oh, Monseigneur, he says a thing which would be very +fortunate if it should turn out true!" + +"Certainly it would be fortunate if it were true," said the +young man; "unfortunately it cannot be true." + +"However, look!" said the officer. + +And indeed, some more faces, furious and contorted with +rage, showed themselves at the windows, crying, -- + +"Escaped, gone, they have helped them off!" + +And the people in the street repeated, with fearful +imprecations, -- + +"Escaped gone! After them, and catch them!" + +"Monseigneur, it seems that Mynheer Cornelius has really +escaped," said the officer. + +"Yes, from prison, perhaps, but not from the town; you will +see, Van Deken, that the poor fellow will find the gate +closed against him which he hoped to find open." + +"Has an order been given to close the town gates, +Monseigneur?" + +"No, -- at least I do not think so; who could have given +such an order?" + +"Indeed, but what makes your Highness suppose?" + +"There are fatalities," Monseigneur replied, in an offhand +manner; "and the greatest men have sometimes fallen victims +to such fatalities." + +At these words the officer felt his blood run cold, as +somehow or other he was convinced that the prisoner was +lost. + +At this moment the roar of the multitude broke forth like +thunder, for it was now quite certain that Cornelius de Witt +was no longer in the prison. + + + +Cornelius and John, after driving along the pond, had taken +the main street, which leads to the Tol-Hek, giving +directions to the coachman to slacken his pace, in order not +to excite any suspicion. + +But when, on having proceeded half-way down that street, the +man felt that he had left the prison and death behind, and +before him there was life and liberty, he neglected every +precaution, and set his horses off at a gallop. + +All at once he stopped. + +"What is the matter?" asked John, putting his head out of +the coach window. + +"Oh, my masters!" cried the coachman, "it is ---- " + +Terror choked the voice of the honest fellow. + +"Well, say what you have to say!" urged the Grand +Pensionary. + +"The gate is closed, that's what it is." + +"How is this? It is not usual to close the gate by day." + +"Just look!" + +John de Witt leaned out of the window, and indeed saw that +the man was right. + +"Never mind, but drive on," said John, "I have with me the +order for the commutation of the punishment, the gate-keeper +will let us through." + +The carriage moved along, but it was evident that the driver +was no longer urging his horses with the same degree of +confidence. + +Moreover, as John de Witt put his head out of the carriage +window, he was seen and recognized by a brewer, who, being +behind his companions, was just shutting his door in all +haste to join them at the Buytenhof. He uttered a cry of +surprise, and ran after two other men before him, whom he +overtook about a hundred yards farther on, and told them +what he had seen. The three men then stopped, looking after +the carriage, being however not yet quite sure as to whom it +contained. + +The carriage in the meanwhile arrived at the Tol-Hek. + +"Open!" cried the coachman. + +"Open!" echoed the gatekeeper, from the threshold of his +lodge; "it's all very well to say 'Open!' but what am I to +do it with?" + +"With the key, to be sure!" said the coachman. + +"With the key! Oh, yes! but if you have not got it?" + +"How is that? Have not you got the key?" asked the coachman. + +"No, I haven't." + +"What has become of it?" + +"Well, they have taken it from me." + +"Who?" + +"Some one, I dare say, who had a mind that no one should +leave the town." + +"My good man," said the Grand Pensionary, putting out his +head from the window, and risking all for gaining all; "my +good man, it is for me, John de Witt, and for my brother +Cornelius, who I am taking away into exile." + +"Oh, Mynheer de Witt! I am indeed very much grieved," said +the gatekeeper, rushing towards the carriage; "but, upon my +sacred word, the key has been taken from me." + +"When?" + +"This morning." + +"By whom?" + +"By a pale and thin young man, of about twenty-two." + +"And wherefore did you give it up to him?" + +"Because he showed me an order, signed and sealed." + +"By whom?" + +"By the gentlemen of the Town-hall." + +"Well, then," said Cornelius calmly, "our doom seems to be +fixed." + +"Do you know whether the same precaution has been taken at +the other gates?" + +"I do not." + +"Now then," said John to the coachman, "God commands man to +do all that is in his power to preserve his life; go, and +drive to another gate." + +And whilst the servant was turning round the vehicle the +Grand Pensionary said to the gatekeeper, -- + +"Take our thanks for your good intentions; the will must +count for the deed; you had the will to save us, and that, +in the eyes of the Lord, is as if you had succeeded in doing +so." + +"Alas!" said the gatekeeper, "do you see down there?" + +"Drive at a gallop through that group," John called out to +the coachman, "and take the street on the left; it is our +only chance." + +The group which John alluded to had, for its nucleus, those +three men whom we left looking after the carriage, and who, +in the meanwhile, had been joined by seven or eight others. + +These new-comers evidently meant mischief with regard to the +carriage. + +When they saw the horses galloping down upon them, they +placed themselves across the street, brandishing cudgels in +their hands, and calling out, -- + +"Stop! stop!" + +The coachman, on his side, lashed his horses into increased +speed, until the coach and the men encountered. + +The brothers De Witt, enclosed within the body of the +carriage, were not able to see anything; but they felt a +severe shock, occasioned by the rearing of the horses. The +whole vehicle for a moment shook and stopped; but +immediately after, passing over something round and elastic, +which seemed to be the body of a prostrate man set off again +amidst a volley of the fiercest oaths. + +"Alas!" said Cornelius, "I am afraid we have hurt some one." + +"Gallop! gallop!" called John. + +But, notwithstanding this order, the coachman suddenly came +to a stop. + +"Now, then, what is the matter again?" asked John. + +"Look there!" said the coachman. + +John looked. The whole mass of the populace from the +Buytenhof appeared at the extremity of the street along +which the carriage was to proceed, and its stream moved +roaring and rapid, as if lashed on by a hurricane. + +"Stop and get off," said John to the coachman; "it is +useless to go any farther; we are lost!" + +"Here they are! here they are!" five hundred voices were +crying at the same time. + +"Yes, here they are, the traitors, the murderers, the +assassins!" answered the men who were running after the +carriage to the people who were coming to meet it. The +former carried in their arms the bruised body of one of +their companions, who, trying to seize the reins of the +horses, had been trodden down by them. + +This was the object over which the two brothers had felt +their carriage pass. + +The coachman stopped, but, however strongly his master urged +him, he refused to get off and save himself. + +In an instant the carriage was hemmed in between those who +followed and those who met it. It rose above the mass of +moving heads like a floating island. But in another instant +it came to a dead stop. A blacksmith had with his hammer +struck down one of the horses, which fell in the traces. + +At this moment, the shutter of a window opened, and +disclosed the sallow face and the dark eyes of the young +man, who with intense interest watched the scene which was +preparing. Behind him appeared the head of the officer, +almost as pale as himself. + +"Good heavens, Monseigneur, what is going on there?" +whispered the officer. + +"Something very terrible, to a certainty," replied the +other. + +"Don't you see, Monseigneur, they are dragging the Grand +Pensionary from the carriage, they strike him, they tear him +to pieces!" + +"Indeed, these people must certainly be prompted by a most +violent indignation," said the young marl, with the same +impassible tone which he had preserved all along. + +"And here is Cornelius, whom they now likewise drag out of +the carriage, -- Cornelius, who is already quite broken and +mangled by the torture. Only look, look!" + +"Indeed, it is Cornelius, and no mistake." + +The officer uttered a feeble cry, and turned his head away; +the brother of the Grand Pensionary, before having set foot +on the ground, whilst still on the bottom step of the +carriage, was struck down with an iron bar which broke his +skull. He rose once more, but immediately fell again. + +Some fellows then seized him by the feet, and dragged him +into the crowd, into the middle of which one might have +followed his bloody track, and he was soon closed in among +the savage yells of malignant exultation. + +The young man -- a thing which would have been thought +impossible -- grew even paler than before, and his eyes were +for a moment veiled behind the lids. + +The officer saw this sign of compassion, and, wishing to +avail himself of this softened tone of his feelings, +continued, -- + +"Come, come, Monseigneur, for here they are also going to +murder the Grand Pensionary." + +But the young man had already opened his eyes again. + +"To be sure," he said. "These people are really implacable. +It does no one good to offend them." + +"Monseigneur," said the officer, "may not one save this poor +man, who has been your Highness's instructor? If there be +any means, name it, and if I should perish in the attempt +---- " + +William of Orange -- for he it was -- knit his brows in a +very forbidding manner, restrained the glance of gloomy +malice which glistened in his half-closed eye, and answered, +-- + +"Captain Van Deken, I request you to go and look after my +troops, that they may be armed for any emergency." + +"But am I to leave your Highness here, alone, in the +presence of all these murderers?" + +"Go, and don't you trouble yourself about me more than I do +myself," the Prince gruffly replied. + +The officer started off with a speed which was much less +owing to his sense of military obedience than to his +pleasure at being relieved from the necessity of witnessing +the shocking spectacle of the murder of the other brother. + +He had scarcely left the room, when John -- who, with an +almost superhuman effort, had reached the stone steps of a +house nearly opposite that where his former pupil concealed +himself -- began to stagger under the blows which were +inflicted on him from all sides, calling out, -- + +"My brother! where is my brother?" + +One of the ruffians knocked off his hat with a blow of his +clenched fist. + +Another showed to him his bloody hands; for this fellow had +ripped open Cornelius and disembowelled him, and was now +hastening to the spot in order not to lose the opportunity +of serving the Grand Pensionary in the same manner, whilst +they were dragging the dead body of Cornelius to the gibbet. + +John uttered a cry of agony and grief, and put one of his +hands before his eyes. + +"Oh, you close your eyes, do you?" said one of the soldiers +of the burgher guard; "well, I shall open them for you." + +And saying this he stabbed him with his pike in the face, +and the blood spurted forth. + +"My brother!" cried John de Witt, trying to see through the +stream of blood which blinded him, what had become of +Cornelius; "my brother, my brother!" + +"Go and run after him!" bellowed another murderer, putting +his musket to his temples and pulling the trigger. + +But the gun did not go off. + +The fellow then turned his musket round, and, taking it by +the barrel with both hands, struck John de Witt down with +the butt-end. John staggered and fell down at his feet, but, +raising himself with a last effort, he once more called out, +-- + +"My brother!" with a voice so full of anguish that the young +man opposite closed the shutter. + +There remained little more to see; a third murderer fired a +pistol with the muzzle to his face; and this time the shot +took effect, blowing out his brains. John de Witt fell to +rise no more. + +On this, every one of the miscreants, emboldened by his +fall, wanted to fire his gun at him, or strike him with +blows of the sledge-hammer, or stab him with a knife or +swords, every one wanted to draw a drop of blood from the +fallen hero, and tear off a shred from his garments. + +And after having mangled, and torn, and completely stripped +the two brothers, the mob dragged their naked and bloody +bodies to an extemporised gibbet, where amateur executioners +hung them up by the feet. + +Then came the most dastardly scoundrels of all, who not +having dared to strike the living flesh, cut the dead in +pieces, and then went about the town selling small slices of +the bodies of John and Cornelius at ten sous a piece. + +We cannot take upon ourselves to say whether, through the +almost imperceptible chink of the shutter, the young man +witnessed the conclusion of this shocking scene; but at the +very moment when they were hanging the two martyrs on the +gibbet he passed through the terrible mob, which was too +much absorbed in the task, so grateful to its taste, to take +any notice of him, and thus he reached unobserved the +Tol-Hek, which was still closed. + +"Ah! sir," said the gatekeeper, "do you bring me the key?" + +"Yes, my man, here it is." + +"It is most unfortunate that you did not bring me that key +only one quarter of an hour sooner," said the gatekeeper, +with a sigh. + +"And why that?" asked the other. + +"Because I might have opened the gate to Mynheers de Witt; +whereas, finding the gate locked, they were obliged to +retrace their steps." + +"Gate! gate!" cried a voice which seemed to be that of a man +in a hurry. + +The Prince, turning round, observed Captain Van Deken. + +"Is that you, Captain?" he said. "You are not yet out of the +Hague? This is executing my orders very slowly." + +"Monseigneur," replied the Captain, "this is the third gate +at which I have presented myself; the other two were +closed." + +"Well, this good man will open this one for you; do it, my +friend." + +The last words were addressed to the gatekeeper, who stood +quite thunderstruck on hearing Captain Van Deken addressing +by the title of Monseigneur this pale young man, to whom he +himself had spoken in such a familiar way. + +As it were to make up for his fault, he hastened to open the +gate, which swung creaking on its hinges. + +"Will Monseigneur avail himself of my horse?" asked the +Captain. + +"I thank you, Captain, I shall use my own steed, which is +waiting for me close at hand." + +And taking from his pocket a golden whistle, such as was +generally used at that time for summoning the servants, he +sounded it with a shrill and prolonged call, on which an +equerry on horseback speedily made his appearance, leading +another horse by the bridle. + +William, without touching the stirrup, vaulted into the +saddle of the led horse, and, setting his spurs into its +flanks, started off for the Leyden road. Having reached it, +he turned round and beckoned to the Captain who was far +behind, to ride by his side. + +"Do you know," he then said, without stopping, "that those +rascals have killed John de Witt as well as his brother?" + +"Alas! Monseigneur," the Captain answered sadly, "I should +like it much better if these two difficulties were still in +your Highness's way of becoming de facto Stadtholder of +Holland." + +"Certainly, it would have been better," said William, "if +what did happen had not happened. But it cannot be helped +now, and we have had nothing to do with it. Let us push on, +Captain, that we may arrive at Alphen before the message +which the States-General are sure to send to me to the +camp." + +The Captain bowed, allowed the Prince to ride ahead and, for +the remainder of the journey, kept at the same respectful +distance as he had done before his Highness called him to +his side. + +"How I should wish," William of Orange malignantly muttered +to himself, with a dark frown and setting the spurs to his +horse, "to see the figure which Louis will cut when he is +apprised of the manner in which his dear friends De Witt +have been served! Oh thou Sun! thou Sun! as truly as I am +called William the Silent, thou Sun, thou hadst best look to +thy rays!" + +And the young Prince, the relentless rival of the Great +King, sped away upon his fiery steed, -- this future +Stadtholder who had been but the day before very uncertainly +established in his new power, but for whom the burghers of +the Hague had built a staircase with the bodies of John and +Cornelius, two princes as noble as he in the eyes of God and man. + + + + +Chapter 5 + +The Tulip-fancier and his Neighbour + + +Whilst the burghers of the Hague were tearing in pieces the +bodies of John and Cornelius de Witt, and whilst William of +Orange, after having made sure that his two antagonists were +really dead, was galloping over the Leyden road, followed by +Captain van Deken, whom he found a little too compassionate +to honour him any longer with his confidence, Craeke, the +faithful servant, mounted on a good horse, and little +suspecting what terrible events had taken place since his +departure, proceeded along the high road lined with trees, +until he was clear of the town and the neighbouring +villages. + +Being once safe, he left his horse at a livery stable in +order not to arouse suspicion, and tranquilly continued his +journey on the canal-boats, which conveyed him by easy +stages to Dort, pursuing their way under skilful guidance by +the shortest possible routes through the windings of the +river, which held in its watery embrace so many enchanting +little islands, edged with willows and rushes, and abounding +in luxurious vegetation, whereon flocks of fat sheep browsed +in peaceful sleepiness. Craeke from afar off recognised +Dort, the smiling city, at the foot of a hill dotted with +windmills. He saw the fine red brick houses, mortared in +white lines, standing on the edge of the water, and their +balconies, open towards the river, decked out with silk +tapestry embroidered with gold flowers, the wonderful +manufacture of India and China; and near these brilliant +stuffs, large lines set to catch the voracious eels, which +are attracted towards the houses by the garbage thrown every +day from the kitchens into the river. + +Craeke, standing on the deck of the boat, saw, across the +moving sails of the windmills, on the slope of the hill, the +red and pink house which was the goal of his errand. The +outlines of its roof were merging in the yellow foliage of a +curtain of poplar trees, the whole habitation having for +background a dark grove of gigantic elms. The mansion was +situated in such a way that the sun, falling on it as into a +funnel, dried up, warmed, and fertilised the mist which the +verdant screen could not prevent the river wind from +carrying there every morning and evening. + +Having disembarked unobserved amid the usual bustle of the +city, Craeke at once directed his steps towards the house +which we have just described, and which -- white, trim, and +tidy, even more cleanly scoured and more carefully waxed in +the hidden corners than in the places which were exposed to +view -- enclosed a truly happy mortal. + +This happy mortal, rara avis, was Dr. van Baerle, the godson +of Cornelius de Witt. He had inhabited the same house ever +since his childhood, for it was the house in which his +father and grandfather, old established princely merchants +of the princely city of Dort, were born. + +Mynheer van Baerle the father had amassed in the Indian +trade three or four hundred thousand guilders, which Mynheer +van Baerle the son, at the death of his dear and worthy +parents, found still quite new, although one set of them +bore the date of coinage of 1640, and the other that of +1610, a fact which proved that they were guilders of Van +Baerle the father and of Van Baerle the grandfather; but we +will inform the reader at once that these three or four +hundred thousand guilders were only the pocket money, or +sort of purse, for Cornelius van Baerle, the hero of this +story, as his landed property in the province yielded him an +income of about ten thousand guilders a year. + +When the worthy citizen, the father of Cornelius, passed +from time into eternity, three months after having buried +his wife, who seemed to have departed first to smooth for +him the path of death as she had smoothed for him the path +of life, he said to his son, as he embraced him for the last +time, -- + +"Eat, drink, and spend your money, if you wish to know what +life really is, for as to toiling from morn to evening on a +wooden stool, or a leathern chair, in a counting-house or a +laboratory, that certainly is not living. Your time to die +will also come; and if you are not then so fortunate as to +have a son, you will let my name grow extinct, and my +guilders, which no one has ever fingered but my father, +myself, and the coiner, will have the surprise of passing to +an unknown master. And least of all, imitate the example of +your godfather, Cornelius de Witt, who has plunged into +politics, the most ungrateful of all careers, and who will +certainly come to an untimely end." + +Having given utterance to this paternal advice, the worthy +Mynheer van Baerle died, to the intense grief of his son +Cornelius, who cared very little for the guilders, and very +much for his father. + +Cornelius then remained alone in his large house. In vain +his godfather offered to him a place in the public service, +-- in vain did he try to give him a taste for glory, -- +although Cornelius, to gratify his godfather, did embark +with De Ruyter upon "The Seven Provinces," the flagship of a +fleet of one hundred and thirty-nine sail, with which the +famous admiral set out to contend singlehanded against the +combined forces of France and England. When, guided by the +pilot Leger, he had come within musket-shot of the "Prince," +with the Duke of York (the English king's brother) aboard, +upon which De Ruyter, his mentor, made so sharp and well +directed an attack that the Duke, perceiving that his vessel +would soon have to strike, made the best of his way aboard +the "Saint Michael"; when he had seen the "Saint Michael," +riddled and shattered by the Dutch broadside, drift out of +the line; when he had witnessed the sinking of the "Earl of +Sandwich," and the death by fire or drowning of four hundred +sailors; when he realized that the result of all this +destruction -- after twenty ships had been blown to pieces, +three thousand men killed and five thousand injured -- was +that nothing was decided, that both sides claimed the +victory, that the fighting would soon begin again, and that +just one more name, that of Southwold Bay, had been added to +the list of battles; when he had estimated how much time is +lost simply in shutting his eyes and ears by a man who likes +to use his reflective powers even while his fellow creatures +are cannonading one another; -- Cornelius bade farewell to +De Ruyter, to the Ruart de Pulten, and to glory, kissed the +knees of the Grand Pensionary, for whom he entertained the +deepest veneration, and retired to his house at Dort, rich +in his well-earned repose, his twenty-eight years, an iron +constitution and keen perceptions, and his capital of more +than four hundred thousands of florins and income of ten +thousand, convinced that a man is always endowed by Heaven +with too much for his own happiness, and just enough to make +him miserable. + +Consequently, and to indulge his own idea of happiness, +Cornelius began to be interested in the study of plants and +insects, collected and classified the Flora of all the Dutch +islands, arranged the whole entomology of the province, on +which he wrote a treatise, with plates drawn by his own +hands; and at last, being at a loss what to do with his +time, and especially with his money, which went on +accumulating at a most alarming rate, he took it into his +head to select for himself, from all the follies of his +country and of his age, one of the most elegant and +expensive, -- he became a tulip-fancier. + +It was the time when the Dutch and the Portuguese, rivalling +each other in this branch of horticulture, had begun to +worship that flower, and to make more of a cult of it than +ever naturalists dared to make of the human race for fear of +arousing the jealousy of God. + +Soon people from Dort to Mons began to talk of Mynheer van +Baerle's tulips; and his beds, pits, drying-rooms, and +drawers of bulbs were visited, as the galleries and +libraries of Alexandria were by illustrious Roman +travellers. + +Van Baerle began by expending his yearly revenue in laying +the groundwork of his collection, after which he broke in +upon his new guilders to bring it to perfection. His +exertions, indeed, were crowned with a most magnificent +result: he produced three new tulips, which he called the +"Jane," after his mother; the "Van Baerle," after his +father; and the "Cornelius," after his godfather; the other +names have escaped us, but the fanciers will be sure to find +them in the catalogues of the times. + +In the beginning of the year 1672, Cornelius de Witt came to +Dort for three months, to live at his old family mansion; +for not only was he born in that city, but his family had +been resident there for centuries. + +Cornelius, at that period, as William of Orange said, began +to enjoy the most perfect unpopularity. To his fellow +citizens, the good burghers of Dort, however, he did not +appear in the light of a criminal who deserved to be hung. +It is true, they did not particularly like his somewhat +austere republicanism, but they were proud of his valour; +and when he made his entrance into their town, the cup of +honour was offered to him, readily enough, in the name of +the city. + +After having thanked his fellow citizens, Cornelius +proceeded to his old paternal house, and gave directions for +some repairs, which he wished to have executed before the +arrival of his wife and children; and thence he wended his +way to the house of his godson, who perhaps was the only +person in Dort as yet unacquainted with the presence of +Cornelius in the town. + +In the same degree as Cornelius de Witt had excited the +hatred of the people by sowing those evil seeds which are +called political passions, Van Baerle had gained the +affections of his fellow citizens by completely shunning the +pursuit of politics, absorbed as he was in the peaceful +pursuit of cultivating tulips. + +Van Baerle was truly beloved by his servants and labourers; +nor had he any conception that there was in this world a man +who wished ill to another. + +And yet it must be said, to the disgrace of mankind, that +Cornelius van Baerle, without being aware of the fact, had a +much more ferocious, fierce, and implacable enemy than the +Grand Pensionary and his brother had among the Orange party, +who were most hostile to the devoted brothers, who had never +been sundered by the least misunderstanding during their +lives, and by their mutual devotion in the face of death +made sure the existence of their brotherly affection beyond +the grave. + +At the time when Cornelius van Baerle began to devote +himself to tulip-growing, expending on this hobby his yearly +revenue and the guilders of his father, there was at Dort, +living next door to him, a citizen of the name of Isaac +Boxtel who from the age when he was able to think for +himself had indulged the same fancy, and who was in +ecstasies at the mere mention of the word "tulban," which +(as we are assured by the "Floriste Francaise," the most +highly considered authority in matters relating to this +flower) is the first word in the Cingalese tongue which was +ever used to designate that masterpiece of floriculture +which is now called the tulip. + +Boxtel had not the good fortune of being rich, like Van +Baerle. He had therefore, with great care and patience, and +by dint of strenuous exertions, laid out near his house at +Dort a garden fit for the culture of his cherished flower; +he had mixed the soil according to the most approved +prescriptions, and given to his hotbeds just as much heat +and fresh air as the strictest rules of horticulture exact. + +Isaac knew the temperature of his frames to the twentieth +part of a degree. He knew the strength of the current of +air, and tempered it so as to adapt it to the wave of the +stems of his flowers. His productions also began to meet +with the favour of the public. They were beautiful, nay, +distinguished. Several fanciers had come to see Boxtel's +tulips. At last he had even started amongst all the +Linnaeuses and Tourneforts a tulip which bore his name, and +which, after having travelled all through France, had found +its way into Spain, and penetrated as far as Portugal; and +the King, Don Alfonso VI. -- who, being expelled from +Lisbon, had retired to the island of Terceira, where he +amused himself, not, like the great Conde, with watering his +carnations, but with growing tulips -- had, on seeing the +Boxtel tulip, exclaimed, "Not so bad, by any means!" + +All at once, Cornelius van Baerle, who, after all his +learned pursuits, had been seized with the tulipomania, made +some changes in his house at Dort, which, as we have stated, +was next door to that of Boxtel. He raised a certain +building in his court-yard by a story, which shutting out +the sun, took half a degree of warmth from Boxtel's garden, +and, on the other hand, added half a degree of cold in +winter; not to mention that it cut the wind, and disturbed +all the horticultural calculations and arrangements of his +neighbour. + +After all, this mishap appeared to Boxtel of no great +consequence. Van Baerle was but a painter, a sort of fool +who tried to reproduce and disfigure on canvas the wonders +of nature. The painter, he thought, had raised his studio by +a story to get better light, and thus far he had only been +in the right. Mynheer van Baerle was a painter, as Mynheer +Boxtel was a tulip-grower; he wanted somewhat more sun for +his paintings, and he took half a degree from his +neighbour's tulips. + +The law was for Van Baerle, and Boxtel had to abide by it. + +Besides, Isaac had made the discovery that too much sun was +injurious to tulips, and that this flower grew quicker, and +had a better colouring, with the temperate warmth of +morning, than with the powerful heat of the midday sun. He +therefore felt almost grateful to Cornelius van Baerle for +having given him a screen gratis. + +Maybe this was not quite in accordance with the true state +of things in general, and of Isaac Boxtel's feelings in +particular. It is certainly astonishing what rich comfort +great minds, in the midst of momentous catastrophes, will +derive from the consolations of philosophy. + +But alas! What was the agony of the unfortunate Boxtel on +seeing the windows of the new story set out with bulbs and +seedlings of tulips for the border, and tulips in pots; in +short, with everything pertaining to the pursuits of a +tulip-monomaniac! + +There were bundles of labels, cupboards, and drawers with +compartments, and wire guards for the cupboards, to allow +free access to the air whilst keeping out slugs, mice, +dormice, and rats, all of them very curious fanciers of +tulips at two thousand francs a bulb. + +Boxtel was quite amazed when he saw all this apparatus, but +he was not as yet aware of the full extent of his +misfortune. Van Baerle was known to be fond of everything +that pleases the eye. He studied Nature in all her aspects +for the benefit of his paintings, which were as minutely +finished as those of Gerard Dow, his master, and of Mieris, +his friend. Was it not possible, that, having to paint the +interior of a tulip-grower's, he had collected in his new +studio all the accessories of decoration? + +Yet, although thus consoling himself with illusory +suppositions, Boxtel was not able to resist the burning +curiosity which was devouring him. In the evening, +therefore, he placed a ladder against the partition wall +between their gardens, and, looking into that of his +neighbour Van Baerle, he convinced himself that the soil of +a large square bed, which had formerly been occupied by +different plants, was removed, and the ground disposed in +beds of loam mixed with river mud (a combination which is +particularly favourable to the tulip), and the whole +surrounded by a border of turf to keep the soil in its +place. Besides this, sufficient shade to temper the noonday +heat; aspect south-southwest; water in abundant supply, and +at hand; in short, every requirement to insure not only +success but also progress. There could not be a doubt that +Van Baerle had become a tulip-grower. + +Boxtel at once pictured to himself this learned man, with a +capital of four hundred thousand and a yearly income of ten +thousand guilders, devoting all his intellectual and +financial resources to the cultivation of the tulip. He +foresaw his neighbour's success, and he felt such a pang at +the mere idea of this success that his hands dropped +powerless, his knees trembled, and he fell in despair from +the ladder. + +And thus it was not for the sake of painted tulips, but for +real ones, that Van Baerle took from him half a degree of +warmth. And thus Van Baerle was to have the most admirably +fitted aspect, and, besides, a large, airy, and well +ventilated chamber where to preserve his bulbs and +seedlings; while he, Boxtel, had been obliged to give up for +this purpose his bedroom, and, lest his sleeping in the same +apartment might injure his bulbs and seedlings, had taken up +his abode in a miserable garret. + +Boxtel, then, was to have next door to him a rival and +successful competitor; and his rival, instead of being some +unknown, obscure gardener, was the godson of Mynheer +Cornelius de Witt, that is to say, a celebrity. + +Boxtel, as the reader may see, was not possessed of the +spirit of Porus, who, on being conquered by Alexander, +consoled himself with the celebrity of his conqueror. + +And now if Van Baerle produced a new tulip, and named it the +John de Witt, after having named one the Cornelius? It was +indeed enough to choke one with rage. + +Thus Boxtel, with jealous foreboding, became the prophet of +his own misfortune. And, after having made this melancholy +discovery, he passed the most wretched night imaginable. + + + + +Chapter 6 + +The Hatred of a Tulip-fancier + + +From that moment Boxtel's interest in tulips was no longer a +stimulus to his exertions, but a deadening anxiety. +Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which +his neighbour would cause him, and thus his favourite +occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him. + +Van Baerle, as may easily be imagined, had no sooner begun +to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy, than he +succeeded in growing the finest tulips. Indeed; he knew +better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden -- the two +towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial +climate -- how to vary the colours, to modify the shape, and +to produce new species. + +He belonged to that natural, humorous school who took for +their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered +by one of their number in 1653, -- "To despise flowers is to +offend God." + +From that premise the school of tulip-fanciers, the most +exclusive of all schools, worked out the following syllogism +in the same year: -- + +"To despise flowers is to offend God. + +"The more beautiful the flower is, the more does one offend +God in despising it. + +"The tulip is the most beautiful of all flowers. + +"Therefore, he who despises the tulip offends God beyond +measure." + +By reasoning of this kind, it can be seen that the four or +five thousand tulip-growers of Holland, France, and +Portugal, leaving out those of Ceylon and China and the +Indies, might, if so disposed, put the whole world under the +ban, and condemn as schismatics and heretics and deserving +of death the several hundred millions of mankind whose hopes +of salvation were not centred upon the tulip. + +We cannot doubt that in such a cause Boxtel, though he was +Van Baerle's deadly foe, would have marched under the same +banner with him. + +Mynheer van Baerle and his tulips, therefore, were in the +mouth of everybody; so much so, that Boxtel's name +disappeared for ever from the list of the notable +tulip-growers in Holland, and those of Dort were now +represented by Cornelius van Baerle, the modest and +inoffensive savant. + +Engaging, heart and soul, in his pursuits of sowing, +planting, and gathering, Van Baerle, caressed by the whole +fraternity of tulip-growers in Europe, entertained nor the +least suspicion that there was at his very door a pretender +whose throne he had usurped. + +He went on in his career, and consequently in his triumphs; +and in the course of two years he covered his borders with +such marvellous productions as no mortal man, following in +the tracks of the Creator, except perhaps Shakespeare and +Rubens, have equalled in point of numbers. + +And also, if Dante had wished for a new type to be added to +his characters of the Inferno, he might have chosen Boxtel +during the period of Van Baerle's successes. Whilst +Cornelius was weeding, manuring, watering his beds, whilst, +kneeling on the turf border, he analysed every vein of the +flowering tulips, and meditated on the modifications which +might be effected by crosses of colour or otherwise, Boxtel, +concealed behind a small sycamore which he had trained at +the top of the partition wall in the shape of a fan, +watched, with his eyes starting from their sockets and with +foaming mouth, every step and every gesture of his +neighbour; and whenever he thought he saw him look happy, or +descried a smile on his lips, or a flash of contentment +glistening in his eyes, he poured out towards him such a +volley of maledictions and furious threats as to make it +indeed a matter of wonder that this venomous breath of envy +and hatred did not carry a blight on the innocent flowers +which had excited it. + +When the evil spirit has once taken hold of the heart of +man, it urges him on, without letting him stop. Thus Boxtel +soon was no longer content with seeing Van Baerle. He wanted +to see his flowers, too; he had the feelings of an artist, +the master-piece of a rival engrossed his interest. + +He therefore bought a telescope, which enabled him to watch +as accurately as did the owner himself every progressive +development of the flower, from the moment when, in the +first year, its pale seed-leaf begins to peep from the +ground, to that glorious one, when, after five years, its +petals at last reveal the hidden treasures of its chalice. +How often had the miserable, jealous man to observe in Van +Baerle's beds tulips which dazzled him by their beauty, and +almost choked him by their perfection! + +And then, after the first blush of the admiration which he +could not help feeling, he began to be tortured by the pangs +of envy, by that slow fever which creeps over the heart and +changes it into a nest of vipers, each devouring the other +and ever born anew. How often did Boxtel, in the midst of +tortures which no pen is able fully to describe, -- how +often did he feel an inclination to jump down into the +garden during the night, to destroy the plants, to tear the +bulbs with his teeth, and to sacrifice to his wrath the +owner himself, if he should venture to stand up for the +defence of his tulips! + +But to kill a tulip was a horrible crime in the eyes of a +genuine tulip-fancier; as to killing a man, it would not +have mattered so very much. + +Yet Van Baerle made such progress in the noble science of +growing tulips, which he seemed to master with the true +instinct of genius, that Boxtel at last was maddened to such +a degree as to think of throwing stones and sticks into the +flower-stands of his neighbour. But, remembering that he +would be sure to be found out, and that he would not only be +punished by law, but also dishonoured for ever in the face +of all the tulip-growers of Europe, he had recourse to +stratagem, and, to gratify his hatred, tried to devise a +plan by means of which he might gain his ends without being +compromised himself. + +He considered a long time, and at last his meditations were +crowned with success. + +One evening he tied two cats together by their hind legs +with a string about six feet in length, and threw them from +the wall into the midst of that noble, that princely, that +royal bed, which contained not only the "Cornelius de Witt," +but also the "Beauty of Brabant," milk-white, edged with +purple and pink, the "Marble of Rotterdam," colour of flax, +blossoms feathered red and flesh colour, the "Wonder of +Haarlem," the "Colombin obscur," and the "Columbin clair +terni." + +The frightened cats, having alighted on the ground, first +tried to fly each in a different direction, until the string +by which they were tied together was tightly stretched +across the bed; then, however, feeling that they were not +able to get off, they began to pull to and fro, and to wheel +about with hideous caterwaulings, mowing down with their +string the flowers among which they were struggling, until, +after a furious strife of about a quarter of an hour, the +string broke and the combatants vanished. + +Boxtel, hidden behind his sycamore, could not see anything, +as it was pitch-dark; but the piercing cries of the cats +told the whole tale, and his heart overflowing with gall now +throbbed with triumphant joy. + +Boxtel was so eager to ascertain the extent of the injury, +that he remained at his post until morning to feast his eyes +on the sad state in which the two cats had left the +flower-beds of his neighbour. The mists of the morning +chilled his frame, but he did not feel the cold, the hope of +revenge keeping his blood at fever heat. The chagrin of his +rival was to pay for all the inconvenience which he incurred +himself. + +At the earliest dawn the door of the white house opened, and +Van Baerle made his appearance, approaching the flower-beds +with the smile of a man who has passed the night comfortably +in his bed, and has had happy dreams. + +All at once he perceived furrows and little mounds of earth +on the beds which only the evening before had been as smooth +as a mirror, all at once he perceived the symmetrical rows +of his tulips to be completely disordered, like the pikes of +a battalion in the midst of which a shell has fallen. + +He ran up to them with blanched cheek. + +Boxtel trembled with joy. Fifteen or twenty tulips, torn and +crushed, were lying about, some of them bent, others +completely broken and already withering, the sap oozing from +their bleeding bulbs: how gladly would Van Baerle have +redeemed that precious sap with his own blood! + +But what were his surprise and his delight! what was the +disappointment of his rival! Not one of the four tulips +which the latter had meant to destroy was injured at all. +They raised proudly their noble heads above the corpses of +their slain companions. This was enough to console Van +Baerle, and enough to fan the rage of the horticultural +murderer, who tore his hair at the sight of the effects of +the crime which he had committed in vain. + +Van Baerle could not imagine the cause of the mishap, which, +fortunately, was of far less consequence than it might have +been. On making inquiries, he learned that the whole night +had been disturbed by terrible caterwaulings. He besides +found traces of the cats, their footmarks and hairs left +behind on the battle-field; to guard, therefore, in future +against a similar outrage, he gave orders that henceforth +one of the under gardeners should sleep in the garden in a +sentry-box near the flower-beds. + +Boxtel heard him give the order, and saw the sentry-box put +up that very day; but he deemed himself lucky in not having +been suspected, and, being more than ever incensed against +the successful horticulturist, he resolved to bide his time. + +Just then the Tulip Society of Haarlem offered a prize for +the discovery (we dare not say the manufacture) of a large +black tulip without a spot of colour, a thing which had not +yet been accomplished, and was considered impossible, as at +that time there did not exist a flower of that species +approaching even to a dark nut brown. It was, therefore, +generally said that the founders of the prize might just as +well have offered two millions as a hundred thousand +guilders, since no one would be able to gain it. + +The tulip-growing world, however, was thrown by it into a +state of most active commotion. Some fanciers caught at the +idea without believing it practicable, but such is the power +of imagination among florists, that although considering the +undertaking as certain to fail, all their thoughts were +engrossed by that great black tulip, which was looked upon +to be as chimerical as the black swan of Horace or the white +raven of French tradition. + +Van Baerle was one of the tulip-growers who were struck with +the idea; Boxtel thought of it in the light of a +speculation. Van Baerle, as soon as the idea had once taken +root in his clear and ingenious mind, began slowly the +necessary planting and cross-breeding to reduce the tulips +which he had grown already from red to brown, and from brown +to dark brown. + +By the next year he had obtained flowers of a perfect +nut-brown, and Boxtel espied them in the border, whereas he +had himself as yet only succeeded in producing the light +brown. + +It might perhaps be interesting to explain to the gentle +reader the beautiful chain of theories which go to prove +that the tulip borrows its colors from the elements; perhaps +we should give him pleasure if we were to maintain and +establish that nothing is impossible for a florist who +avails himself with judgment and discretion and patience of +the sun's heat; the clear water, the juices of the earth, +and the cool breezes. But this is not a treatise upon tulips +in general; it is the story of one particular tulip which we +have undertaken to write, and to that we limit ourselves, +however alluring the subject which is so closely allied to +ours. + +Boxtel, once more worsted by the superiority of his hated +rival, was now completely disgusted with tulip-growing, and, +being driven half mad, devoted himself entirely to +observation. + +The house of his rival was quite open to view; a garden +exposed to the sun; cabinets with glass walls, shelves, +cupboards, boxes, and ticketed pigeon-holes, which could +easily be surveyed by the telescope. Boxtel allowed his +bulbs to rot in the pits, his seedlings to dry up in their +cases, and his tulips to wither in the borders and +henceforward occupied himself with nothing else but the +doings at Van Baerle's. He breathed through the stalks of +Van Baerle's tulips, quenched his thirst with the water he +sprinkled upon them, and feasted on the fine soft earth +which his neighbour scattered upon his cherished bulbs. + +But the most curious part of the operations was not +performed in the garden. + +It might be one o'clock in the morning when Van Baerle went +up to his laboratory, into the glazed cabinet whither +Boxtel's telescope had such an easy access; and here, as +soon as the lamp illuminated the walls and windows, Boxtel +saw the inventive genius of his rival at work. + +He beheld him sifting his seeds, and soaking them in liquids +which were destined to modify or to deepen their colours. He +knew what Cornelius meant when heating certain grains, then +moistening them, then combining them with others by a sort +of grafting, -- a minute and marvellously delicate +manipulation, -- and when he shut up in darkness those which +were expected to furnish the black colour, exposed to the +sun or to the lamp those which were to produce red, and +placed between the endless reflections of two water-mirrors +those intended for white, the pure representation of the +limpid element. + +This innocent magic, the fruit at the same time of +child-like musings and of manly genius -- this patient +untiring labour, of which Boxtel knew himself to be +incapable -- made him, gnawed as he was with envy, centre +all his life, all his thoughts, and all his hopes in his +telescope. + +For, strange to say, the love and interest of horticulture +had not deadened in Isaac his fierce envy and thirst of +revenge. Sometimes, whilst covering Van Baerle with his +telescope, he deluded himself into a belief that he was +levelling a never-failing musket at him; and then he would +seek with his finger for the trigger to fire the shot which +was to have killed his neighbour. But it is time that we +should connect with this epoch of the operations of the one, +and the espionage of the other, the visit which Cornelius de +Witt came to pay to his native town. + + + + +Chapter 7 + +The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune + + +Cornelius de Witt, after having attended to his family +affairs, reached the house of his godson, Cornelius van +Baerle, one evening in the month of January, 1672. + +De Witt, although being very little of a horticulturist or +of an artist, went over the whole mansion, from the studio +to the green-house, inspecting everything, from the pictures +down to the tulips. He thanked his godson for having joined +him on the deck of the admiral's ship "The Seven Provinces," +during the battle of Southwold Bay, and for having given his +name to a magnificent tulip; and whilst he thus, with the +kindness and affability of a father to a son, visited Van +Baerle's treasures, the crowd gathered with curiosity, and +even respect, before the door of the happy man. + +All this hubbub excited the attention of Boxtel, who was +just taking his meal by his fireside. He inquired what it +meant, and, on being informed of the cause of all this stir, +climbed up to his post of observation, where in spite of the +cold, he took his stand, with the telescope to his eye. + +This telescope had not been of great service to him since +the autumn of 1671. The tulips, like true daughters of the +East, averse to cold, do not abide in the open ground in +winter. They need the shelter of the house, the soft bed on +the shelves, and the congenial warmth of the stove. Van +Baerle, therefore, passed the whole winter in his +laboratory, in the midst of his books and pictures. He went +only rarely to the room where he kept his bulbs, unless it +were to allow some occasional rays of the sun to enter, by +opening one of the movable sashes of the glass front. + +On the evening of which we are speaking, after the two +Corneliuses had visited together all the apartments of the +house, whilst a train of domestics followed their steps, De +Witt said in a low voice to Van Baerle, -- + +"My dear son, send these people away, and let us be alone +for some minutes." + +The younger Cornelius, bowing assent, said aloud, -- + +"Would you now, sir, please to see my dry-room?" + +The dry-room, this pantheon, this sanctum sanctorum of the +tulip-fancier, was, as Delphi of old, interdicted to the +profane uninitiated. + +Never had any of his servants been bold enough to set his +foot there. Cornelius admitted only the inoffensive broom of +an old Frisian housekeeper, who had been his nurse, and who +from the time when he had devoted himself to the culture of +tulips ventured no longer to put onions in his stews, for +fear of pulling to pieces and mincing the idol of her foster +child. + +At the mere mention of the dry-room, therefore, the servants +who were carrying the lights respectfully fell back. +Cornelius, taking the candlestick from the hands of the +foremost, conducted his godfather into that room, which was +no other than that very cabinet with a glass front into +which Boxtel was continually prying with his telescope. + +The envious spy was watching more intently than ever. + +First of all he saw the walls and windows lit up. + +Then two dark figures appeared. + +One of them, tall, majestic, stern, sat down near the table +on which Van Baerle had placed the taper. + +In this figure, Boxtel recognised the pale features of +Cornelius de Witt, whose long hair, parted in front, fell +over his shoulders. + +De Witt, after having said some few words to Cornelius, the +meaning of which the prying neighbour could not read in the +movement of his lips, took from his breast pocket a white +parcel, carefully sealed, which Boxtel, judging from the +manner in which Cornelius received it, and placed it in one +of the presses, supposed to contain papers of the greatest +importance. + +His first thought was that this precious deposit enclosed +some newly imported bulbs from Bengal or Ceylon; but he soon +reflected that Cornelius de Witt was very little addicted to +tulip-growing, and that he only occupied himself with the +affairs of man, a pursuit by far less peaceful and agreeable +than that of the florist. He therefore came to the +conclusion that the parcel contained simply some papers, and +that these papers were relating to politics. + +But why should papers of political import be intrusted to +Van Baerle, who not only was, but also boasted of being, an +entire stranger to the science of government, which, in his +opinion, was more occult than alchemy itself? + +It was undoubtedly a deposit which Cornelius de Witt, +already threatened by the unpopularity with which his +countrymen were going to honour him, was placing in the +hands of his godson; a contrivance so much the more cleverly +devised, as it certainly was not at all likely that it +should be searched for at the house of one who had always +stood aloof from every sort of intrigue. + +And, besides, if the parcel had been made up of bulbs, +Boxtel knew his neighbour too well not to expect that Van +Baerle would not have lost one moment in satisfying his +curiosity and feasting his eyes on the present which he had +received. + +But, on the contrary, Cornelius had received the parcel from +the hands of his godfather with every mark of respect, and +put it by with the same respectful manner in a drawer, +stowing it away so that it should not take up too much of +the room which was reserved to his bulbs. + +The parcel thus being secreted, Cornelius de Witt got up, +pressed the hand of his godson, and turned towards the door, +Van Baerle seizing the candlestick, and lighting him on his +way down to the street, which was still crowded with people +who wished to see their great fellow citizen getting into +his coach. + +Boxtel had not been mistaken in his supposition. The deposit +intrusted to Van Baerle, and carefully locked up by him, was +nothing more nor less than John de Witt's correspondence +with the Marquis de Louvois, the war minister of the King of +France; only the godfather forbore giving to his godson the +least intimation concerning the political importance of the +secret, merely desiring him not to deliver the parcel to any +one but to himself, or to whomsoever he should send to claim +it in his name. + +And Van Baerle, as we have seen, locked it up with his most +precious bulbs, to think no more of it, after his godfather +had left him; very unlike Boxtel, who looked upon this +parcel as a clever pilot does on the distant and scarcely +perceptible cloud which is increasing on its way and which +is fraught with a storm. + +Little dreaming of the jealous hatred of his neighbour, Van +Baerle had proceeded step by step towards gaining the prize +offered by the Horticultural Society of Haarlem. He had +progressed from hazel-nut shade to that of roasted coffee, +and on the very day when the frightful events took place at +the Hague which we have related in the preceding chapters, +we find him, about one o'clock in the day, gathering from +the border the young suckers raised from tulips of the +colour of roasted coffee; and which, being expected to +flower for the first time in the spring of 1675, would +undoubtedly produce the large black tulip required by the +Haarlem Society. + +On the 20th of August, 1672, at one o'clock, Cornelius was +therefore in his dry-room, with his feet resting on the +foot-bar of the table, and his elbows on the cover, looking +with intense delight on three suckers which he had just +detached from the mother bulb, pure, perfect, and entire, +and from which was to grow that wonderful produce of +horticulture which would render the name of Cornelius van +Baerle for ever illustrious. + +"I shall find the black tulip," said Cornelius to himself, +whilst detaching the suckers. "I shall obtain the hundred +thousand guilders offered by the Society. I shall distribute +them among the poor of Dort; and thus the hatred which every +rich man has to encounter in times of civil wars will be +soothed down, and I shall be able, without fearing any harm +either from Republicans or Orangists, to keep as heretofore +my borders in splendid condition. I need no more be afraid +lest on the day of a riot the shopkeepers of the town and +the sailors of the port should come and tear out my bulbs, +to boil them as onions for their families, as they have +sometimes quietly threatened when they happened to remember +my having paid two or three hundred guilders for one bulb. +It is therefore settled I shall give the hundred thousand +guilders of the Haarlem prize to-the poor. And yet ---- " + +Here Cornelius stopped and heaved a sigh. "And yet," he +continued, "it would have been so very delightful to spend +the hundred thousand guilders on the enlargement of my +tulip-bed or even on a journey to the East, the country of +beautiful flowers. But, alas! these are no thoughts for the +present times, when muskets, standards, proclamations, and +beating of drums are the order of the day." + +Van Baerle raised his eyes to heaven and sighed again. Then +turning his glance towards his bulbs, -- objects of much +greater importance to him than all those muskets, standards, +drums, and proclamations, which he conceived only to be fit +to disturb the minds of honest people, -- he said: -- + +"These are, indeed, beautiful bulbs; how smooth they are, +how well formed; there is that air of melancholy about them +which promises to produce a flower of the colour of ebony. +On their skin you cannot even distinguish the circulating +veins with the naked eye. Certainly, certainly, not a light +spot will disfigure the tulip which I have called into +existence. And by what name shall we call this offspring of +my sleepless nights, of my labour and my thought? Tulipa +nigra Barlaensis? + +"Yes Barlaensis: a fine name. All the tulip-fanciers -- that +is to say, all the intelligent people of Europe -- will feel +a thrill of excitement when the rumour spreads to the four +quarters of the globe: The grand black tulip is found! 'How +is it called?' the fanciers will ask. -- 'Tulipa nigra +Barlaensis!' -- 'Why Barlaensis?' -- 'After its grower, Van +Baerle,' will be the answer. -- 'And who is this Van +Baerle?' -- 'It is the same who has already produced five +new tulips: the Jane, the John de Witt, the Cornelius de +Witt, etc.' Well, that is what I call my ambition. It will +cause tears to no one. And people will talk of my Tulipa +nigra Barlaensis when perhaps my godfather, this sublime +politician, is only known from the tulip to which I have +given his name. + +"Oh! these darling bulbs! + +"When my tulip has flowered," Baerle continued in his +soliloquy, "and when tranquillity is restored in Holland, I +shall give to the poor only fifty thousand guilders, which, +after all, is a goodly sum for a man who is under no +obligation whatever. Then, with the remaining fifty thousand +guilders, I shall make experiments. With them I shall +succeed in imparting scent to the tulip. Ah! if I succeed in +giving it the odour of the rose or the carnation, or, what +would be still better, a completely new scent; if I restored +to this queen of flowers its natural distinctive perfume, +which she has lost in passing from her Eastern to her +European throne, and which she must have in the Indian +peninsula at Goa, Bombay, and Madras, and especially in that +island which in olden times, as is asserted, was the +terrestrial paradise, and which is called Ceylon, -- oh, +what glory! I must say, I would then rather be Cornelius van +Baerle than Alexander, Caesar, or Maximilian. + +"Oh the admirable bulbs!" + +Thus Cornelius indulged in the delights of contemplation, +and was carried away by the sweetest dreams. + +Suddenly the bell of his cabinet was rung much more +violently than usual. + +Cornelius, startled, laid his hands on his bulbs, and turned +round. + +"Who is here?" he asked. + +"Sir," answered the servant, "it is a messenger from the +Hague." + +"A messenger from the Hague! What does he want?" + +"Sir, it is Craeke." + +"Craeke! the confidential servant of Mynheer John de Witt? +Good, let him wait." + +"I cannot wait," said a voice in the lobby. + +And at the same time forcing his way in, Craeke rushed into +the dry-room. + +This abrupt entrance was such an infringement on the +established rules of the household of Cornelius van Baerle, +that the latter, at the sight of Craeke, almost convulsively +moved his hand which covered the bulbs, so that two of them +fell on the floor, one of them rolling under a small table, +and the other into the fireplace. + +"Zounds!" said Cornelius, eagerly picking up his precious +bulbs, "what's the matter?" + +"The matter, sir!" said Craeke, laying a paper on the large +table, on which the third bulb was lying, -- "the matter is, +that you are requested to read this paper without losing one +moment." + +And Craeke, who thought he had remarked in the streets of +Dort symptoms of a tumult similar to that which he had +witnessed before his departure from the Hague, ran off +without even looking behind him. + +"All right! all right! my dear Craeke," said Cornelius, +stretching his arm under the table for the bulb; "your paper +shall be read, indeed it shall." + +Then, examining the bulb which he held in the hollow of his +hand, he said: "Well, here is one of them uninjured. That +confounded Craeke! thus to rush into my dry-room; let us now +look after the other." + +And without laying down the bulb which he already held, +Baerle went to the fireplace, knelt down and stirred with +the tip of his finger the ashes, which fortunately were +quite cold. + +He at once felt the other bulb. + +"Well, here it is," he said; and, looking at it with almost +fatherly affection, he exclaimed, "Uninjured as the first!" + +At this very instant, and whilst Cornelius, still on his +knees, was examining his pets, the door of the dry-room was +so violently shaken, and opened in such a brusque manner, +that Cornelius felt rising in his cheeks and his ears the +glow of that evil counsellor which is called wrath. + +"Now, what is it again," he demanded; "are people going mad +here?" + +"Oh, sir! sir!" cried the servant, rushing into the dry-room +with a much paler face and with a much more frightened mien +than Craeke had shown. + +"Well!" asked Cornelius, foreboding some mischief from the +double breach of the strict rule of his house. + +"Oh, sir, fly! fly quick!" cried the servant. + +"Fly! and what for?" + +"Sir, the house is full of the guards of the States." + +"What do they want?" + +"They want you." + +"What for?" + +"To arrest you." + +"Arrest me? arrest me, do you say?" + +"Yes, sir, and they are headed by a magistrate." + +"What's the meaning of all this?" said Van Baerle, grasping +in his hands the two bulbs, and directing his terrified +glance towards the staircase. + +"They are coming up! they are coming up!" cried the servant. + +"Oh, my dear child, my worthy master!" cried the old +housekeeper, who now likewise made her appearance in the +dry-room, "take your gold, your jewelry, and fly, fly!" + +"But how shall I make my escape, nurse?" said Van Baerle. + +"Jump out of the window." + +"Twenty-five feet from the ground!" + +"But you will fall on six feet of soft soil!" + +"Yes, but I should fall on my tulips." + +"Never mind, jump out." + +Cornelius took the third bulb, approached the window and +opened it, but seeing what havoc he would necessarily cause +in his borders, and, more than this, what a height he would +have to jump, he called out, "Never!" and fell back a step. + +At this moment they saw across the banister of the staircase +the points of the halberds of the soldiers rising. + +The housekeeper raised her hands to heaven. + +As to Cornelius van Baerle, it must be stated to his honour, +not as a man, but as a tulip-fancier, his only thought was +for his inestimable bulbs. + +Looking about for a paper in which to wrap them up, he +noticed the fly-leaf from the Bible, which Craeke had laid +upon the table, took it without in his confusion remembering +whence it came, folded in it the three bulbs, secreted them +in his bosom, and waited. + +At this very moment the soldiers, preceded by a magistrate, +entered the room. + +"Are you Dr. Cornelius van Baerle?" demanded the magistrate +(who, although knowing the young man very well, put his +question according to the forms of justice, which gave his +proceedings a much more dignified air). + +"I am that person, Master van Spennen," answered Cornelius, +politely, to his judge, "and you know it very well." + +"Then give up to us the seditious papers which you secrete +in your house." + +"The seditious papers!" repeated Cornelius, quite dumfounded +at the imputation. + +"Now don't look astonished, if you please." + +"I vow to you, Master van Spennen," Cornelius replied, "that +I am completely at a loss to understand what you want." + +"Then I shall put you in the way, Doctor," said the judge; +"give up to us the papers which the traitor Cornelius de +Witt deposited with you in the month of January last." + +A sudden light came into the mind of Cornelius. + +"Halloa!" said Van Spennen, "you begin now to remember, +don't you?" + +"Indeed I do, but you spoke of seditious papers, and I have +none of that sort." + +"You deny it then?" + +"Certainly I do." + +The magistrate turned round and took a rapid survey of the +whole cabinet. + +"Where is the apartment you call your dry-room?" he asked. + +"The very same where you now are, Master van Spennen." + +The magistrate cast a glance at a small note at the top of +his papers. + +"All right," he said, like a man who is sure of his ground. + +Then, turning round towards Cornelius, he continued, "Will +you give up those papers to me?" + +"But I cannot, Master van Spennen; those papers do not +belong to me; they have been deposited with me as a trust, +and a trust is sacred." + +"Dr. Cornelius," said the judge, "in the name of the States, +I order you to open this drawer, and to give up to me the +papers which it contains." + +Saying this, the judge pointed with his finger to the third +drawer of the press, near the fireplace. + +In this very drawer, indeed the papers deposited by the +Warden of the Dikes with his godson were lying; a proof that +the police had received very exact information. + +"Ah! you will not," said Van Spennen, when he saw Cornelius +standing immovable and bewildered, "then I shall open the +drawer myself." + +And, pulling out the drawer to its full length, the +magistrate at first alighted on about twenty bulbs, +carefully arranged and ticketed, and then on the paper +parcel, which had remained in exactly the same state as it +was when delivered by the unfortunate Cornelius de Witt to +his godson. + +The magistrate broke the seals, tore off the envelope, cast +an eager glance on the first leaves which met his eye and +then exclaimed, in a terrible voice, -- + +"Well, justice has been rightly informed after all!" + +"How," said Cornelius, "how is this?" + +"Don't pretend to be ignorant, Mynheer van Baerle," answered +the magistrate. "Follow me." + +"How's that! follow you?" cried the Doctor. + +"Yes, sir, for in the name of the States I arrest you." + +Arrests were not as yet made in the name of William of +Orange; he had not been Stadtholder long enough for that. + +"Arrest me!" cried Cornelius; "but what have I done?" + +"That's no affair of mine, Doctor; you will explain all that +before your judges." + +"Where?" + +"At the Hague." + +Cornelius, in mute stupefaction, embraced his old nurse, who +was in a swoon; shook hands with his servants, who were +bathed in tears, and followed the magistrate, who put him in +a coach as a prisoner of state and had him driven at full +gallop to the Hague. + + + + +Chapter 8 + +An Invasion + + +The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed +before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel. + +It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, +not even the least detail of the private meeting between +Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him. He had, +indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had +rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to +the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van +Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where +he used to keep his most precious bulbs. + +The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the +course of political events much more attentively than his +neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the +brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason +against the States, he thought within his heart that very +likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would +be arrested as well as the godfather. + +Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel's heart at the chance, +he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing +against a man whom this information might lead to the +scaffold. + +But there is this terrible thing in evil thoughts, that evil +minds soon grow familiar with them. + +Besides this, Mynheer Isaac Boxtel encouraged himself with +the following sophism: -- + +"Cornelius de Witt is a bad citizen, as he is charged with +high treason, and arrested. + +"I, on the contrary, am a good citizen, as I am not charged +with anything in the world, as I am as free as the air of +heaven." + +"If, therefore, Cornelius de Witt is a bad citizen, -- of +which there can be no doubt, as he is charged with high +treason, and arrested, -- his accomplice, Cornelius van +Baerle, is no less a bad citizen than himself. + +"And, as I am a good citizen, and as it is the duty of every +good citizen to inform against the bad ones, it is my duty +to inform against Cornelius van Baerle." + +Specious as this mode of reasoning might sound, it would not +perhaps have taken so complete a hold of Boxtel, nor would +he perhaps have yielded to the mere desire of vengeance +which was gnawing at his heart, had not the demon of envy +been joined with that of cupidity. + +Boxtel was quite aware of the progress which Van Baerle had +made towards producing the grand black tulip. + +Dr. Cornelius, notwithstanding all his modesty, had not been +able to hide from his most intimate friends that he was all +but certain to win, in the year of grace 1673, the prize of +a hundred thousand guilders offered by the Horticultural +Society of Haarlem. + +It was just this certainty of Cornelius van Baerle that +caused the fever which raged in the heart of Isaac Boxtel. + +If Cornelius should be arrested there would necessarily be a +great upset in his house, and during the night after his +arrest no one would think of keeping watch over the tulips +in his garden. + +Now in that night Boxtel would climb over the wall and, as +he knew the position of the bulb which was to produce the +grand black tulip, he would filch it; and instead of +flowering for Cornelius, it would flower for him, Isaac; he +also, instead of Van Baerle, would have the prize of a +hundred thousand guilders, not to speak of the sublime +honour of calling the new flower Tulipa nigra Boxtellensis, +-- a result which would satisfy not only his vengeance, but +also his cupidity and his ambition. + +Awake, he thought of nothing but the grand black tulip; +asleep, he dreamed of it. + +At last, on the 19th of August, about two o'clock in the +afternoon, the temptation grew so strong, that Mynheer Isaac +was no longer able to resist it. + +Accordingly, he wrote an anonymous information, the minute +exactness of which made up for its want of authenticity, and +posted his letter. + +Never did a venomous paper, slipped into the jaws of the +bronze lions at Venice, produce a more prompt and terrible +effect. + +On the same evening the letter reached the principal +magistrate, who without a moment's delay convoked his +colleagues early for the next morning. On the following +morning, therefore, they assembled, and decided on Van +Baerle's arrest, placing the order for its execution in the +hands of Master van Spennen, who, as we have seen, performed +his duty like a true Hollander, and who arrested the Doctor +at the very hour when the Orange party at the Hague were +roasting the bleeding shreds of flesh torn from the corpses +of Cornelius and John de Witt. + +But, whether from a feeling of shame or from craven +weakness, Isaac Boxtel did not venture that day to point his +telescope either at the garden, or at the laboratory, or at +the dry-room. + +He knew too well what was about to happen in the house of +the poor doctor to feel any desire to look into it. He did +not even get up when his only servant -- who envied the lot +of the servants of Cornelius just as bitterly as Boxtel did +that of their master -- entered his bedroom. He said to the +man, -- + +"I shall not get up to-day, I am ill." + +About nine o'clock he heard a great noise in the street +which made him tremble, at this moment he was paler than a +real invalid, and shook more violently than a man in the +height of fever. + +His servant entered the room; Boxtel hid himself under the +counterpane. + +"Oh, sir!" cried the servant, not without some inkling that, +whilst deploring the mishap which had befallen Van Baerle, +he was announcing agreeable news to his master, -- "oh, sir! +you do not know, then, what is happening at this moment?" + +"How can I know it?" answered Boxtel, with an almost +unintelligible voice. + +"Well, Mynheer Boxtel, at this moment your neighbour +Cornelius van Baerle is arrested for high treason." + +"Nonsense!" Boxtel muttered, with a faltering voice; "the +thing is impossible." + +"Faith, sir, at any rate that's what people say; and, +besides, I have seen Judge van Spennen with the archers +entering the house." + +"Well, if you have seen it with your own eyes, that's a +different case altogether." + +"At all events," said the servant, "I shall go and inquire +once more. Be you quiet, sir, I shall let you know all about +it." + +Boxtel contented himself with signifying his approval of the +zeal of his servant by dumb show. + +The man went out, and returned in half an hour. + +"Oh, sir, all that I told you is indeed quite true." + +"How so?" + +"Mynheer van Baerle is arrested, and has been put into a +carriage, and they are driving him to the Hague." + +"To the Hague!" + +"Yes, to the Hague, and if what people say is true, it won't +do him much good." + +"And what do they say?" Boxtel asked. + +"Faith, sir, they say -- but it is not quite sure -- that by +this hour the burghers must be murdering Mynheer Cornelius +and Mynheer John de Witt." + +"Oh," muttered, or rather growled Boxtel, closing his eyes +from the dreadful picture which presented itself to his +imagination. + +"Why, to be sure," said the servant to himself, whilst +leaving the room, "Mynheer Isaac Boxtel must be very sick +not to have jumped from his bed on hearing such good news." + +And, in reality, Isaac Boxtel was very sick, like a man who +has murdered another. + +But he had murdered his man with a double object; the first +was attained, the second was still to be attained. + +Night closed in. It was the night which Boxtel had looked +forward to. + +As soon as it was dark he got up. + +He then climbed into his sycamore. + +He had calculated correctly; no one thought of keeping watch +over the garden; the house and the servants were all in the +utmost confusion. + +He heard the clock strike -- ten, eleven, twelve. + +At midnight, with a beating heart, trembling hands, and a +livid countenance, he descended from the tree, took a +ladder, leaned it against the wall, mounted it to the last +step but one, and listened. + +All was perfectly quiet, not a sound broke the silence of +the night; one solitary light, that of the housekeeper, was +burning in the house. + +This silence and this darkness emboldened Boxtel; he got +astride the wall, stopped for an instant, and, after having +ascertained that there was nothing to fear, he put his +ladder from his own garden into that of Cornelius, and +descended. + +Then, knowing to an inch where the bulbs which were to +produce the black tulip were planted, he ran towards the +spot, following, however, the gravelled walks in order not +to be betrayed by his footprints, and, on arriving at the +precise spot, he proceeded, with the eagerness of a tiger, +to plunge his hand into the soft ground. + +He found nothing, and thought he was mistaken. + +In the meanwhile, the cold sweat stood on his brow. + +He felt about close by it, -- nothing. + +He felt about on the right, and on the left, -- nothing. + +He felt about in front and at the back, -- nothing. + +He was nearly mad, when at last he satisfied himself that on +that very morning the earth had been disturbed. + +In fact, whilst Boxtel was lying in bed, Cornelius had gone +down to his garden, had taken up the mother bulb, and, as we +have seen, divided it into three. + +Boxtel could not bring himself to leave the place. He dug up +with his hands more than ten square feet of ground. + +At last no doubt remained of his misfortune. Mad with rage, +he returned to his ladder, mounted the wall, drew up the +ladder, flung it into his own garden, and jumped after it. + +All at once, a last ray of hope presented itself to his +mind: the seedling bulbs might be in the dry-room; it was +therefore only requisite to make his entry there as he had +done into the garden. + +There he would find them, and, moreover, it was not at all +difficult, as the sashes of the dry-room might be raised +like those of a greenhouse. Cornelius had opened them on +that morning, and no one had thought of closing them again. + +Everything, therefore, depended upon whether he could +procure a ladder of sufficient length, -- one of twenty-five +feet instead of ten. + +Boxtel had noticed in the street where he lived a house +which was being repaired, and against which a very tall +ladder was placed. + +This ladder would do admirably, unless the workmen had taken +it away. + +He ran to the house: the ladder was there. Boxtel took it, +carried it with great exertion to his garden, and with even +greater difficulty raised it against the wall of Van +Baerle's house, where it just reached to the window. + +Boxtel put a lighted dark lantern into his pocket, mounted +the ladder, and slipped into the dry-room. + +On reaching this sanctuary of the florist he stopped, +supporting himself against the table; his legs failed him, +his heart beat as if it would choke him. Here it was even +worse than in the garden; there Boxtel was only a +trespasser, here he was a thief. + +However, he took courage again: he had not gone so far to +turn back with empty hands. + +But in vain did he search the whole room, open and shut all +the drawers, even that privileged one where the parcel which +had been so fatal to Cornelius had been deposited; he found +ticketed, as in a botanical garden, the "Jane," the "John de +Witt," the hazel-nut, and the roasted-coffee coloured tulip; +but of the black tulip, or rather the seedling bulbs within +which it was still sleeping, not a trace was found. + +And yet, on looking over the register of seeds and bulbs, +which Van Baerle kept in duplicate, if possible even with +greater exactitude and care than the first commercial houses +of Amsterdam their ledgers, Boxtel read these lines: -- + +"To-day, 20th of August, 1672, I have taken up the mother +bulb of the grand black tulip, which I have divided into +three perfect suckers." + +"Oh these bulbs, these bulbs!" howled Boxtel, turning over +everything in the dry-room, "where could he have concealed +them?" + +Then, suddenly striking his forehead in his frenzy, he +called out, "Oh wretch that I am! Oh thrice fool Boxtel! +Would any one be separated from his bulbs? Would any one +leave them at Dort, when one goes to the Hague? Could one +live far from one's bulbs, when they enclose the grand black +tulip? He had time to get hold of them, the scoundrel, he +has them about him, he has taken them to the Hague!" + +It was like a flash of lightning which showed to Boxtel the +abyss of a uselessly committed crime. + +Boxtel sank quite paralyzed on that very table, and on that +very spot where, some hours before, the unfortunate Van +Baerle had so leisurely, and with such intense delight, +contemplated his darling bulbs. + +"Well, then, after all," said the envious Boxtel, -- raising +his livid face from his hands in which it had been buried -- +"if he has them, he can keep them only as long as he lives, +and ---- " + +The rest of this detestable thought was expressed by a +hideous smile. + +"The bulbs are at the Hague," he said, "therefore, I can no +longer live at Dort: away, then, for them, to the Hague! to +the Hague!" + +And Boxtel, without taking any notice of the treasures about +him, so entirely were his thoughts absorbed by another +inestimable treasure, let himself out by the window, glided +down the ladder, carried it back to the place whence he had +taken it, and, like a beast of prey, returned growling to +his house. + + + + +Chapter 9 + +The Family Cell + + +It was about midnight when poor Van Baerle was locked up in +the prison of the Buytenhof. + +What Rosa foresaw had come to pass. On finding the cell of +Cornelius de Witt empty, the wrath of the people ran very +high, and had Gryphus fallen into the hands of those madmen +he would certainly have had to pay with his life for the +prisoner. + +But this fury had vented itself most fully on the two +brothers when they were overtaken by the murderers, thanks +to the precaution which William -- the man of precautions -- +had taken in having the gates of the city closed. + +A momentary lull had therefore set in whilst the prison was +empty, and Rosa availed herself of this favourable moment to +come forth from her hiding place, which she also induced her +father to leave. + +The prison was therefore completely deserted. Why should +people remain in the jail whilst murder was going on at the +Tol-Hek? + +Gryphus came forth trembling behind the courageous Rosa. +They went to close the great gate, at least as well as it +would close, considering that it was half demolished. It was +easy to see that a hurricane of mighty fury had vented +itself upon it. + +About four o'clock a return of the noise was heard, but of +no threatening character to Gryphus and his daughter. The +people were only dragging in the two corpses, which they +came back to gibbet at the usual place of execution. + +Rosa hid herself this time also, but only that she might not +see the ghastly spectacle. + +At midnight, people again knocked at the gate of the jail, +or rather at the barricade which served in its stead: it was +Cornelius van Baerle whom they were bringing. + +When the jailer received this new inmate, and saw from the +warrant the name and station of his prisoner, he muttered +with his turnkey smile, -- + +"Godson of Cornelius de Witt! Well, young man, we have the +family cell here, and we will give it to you." + +And quite enchanted with his joke, the ferocious Orangeman +took his cresset and his keys to conduct Cornelius to the +cell, which on that very morning Cornelius de Witt had left +to go into exile, or what in revolutionary times is meant +instead by those sublime philosophers who lay it down as an +axiom of high policy, "It is the dead only who do not +return." + +On the way which the despairing florist had to traverse to +reach that cell he heard nothing but the barking of a dog, +and saw nothing but the face of a young girl. + +The dog rushed forth from a niche in the wall, shaking his +heavy chain, and sniffing all round Cornelius in order so +much the better to recognise him in case he should be +ordered to pounce upon him. + +The young girl, whilst the prisoner was mounting the +staircase, appeared at the narrow door of her chamber, which +opened on that very flight of steps; and, holding the lamp +in her right hand, she at the same time lit up her pretty +blooming face, surrounded by a profusion of rich wavy golden +locks, whilst with her left she held her white night-dress +closely over her breast, having been roused from her first +slumber by the unexpected arrival of Van Baerle. + +It would have made a fine picture, worthy of Rembrandt, the +gloomy winding stairs illuminated by the reddish glare of +the cresset of Gryphus, with his scowling jailer's +countenance at the top, the melancholy figure of Cornelius +bending over the banister to look down upon the sweet face +of Rosa, standing, as it were, in the bright frame of the +door of her chamber, with embarrassed mien at being thus +seen by a stranger. + +And at the bottom, quite in the shade, where the details are +absorbed in the obscurity, the mastiff, with his eyes +glistening like carbuncles, and shaking his chain, on which +the double light from the lamp of Rosa and the lantern of +Gryphus threw a brilliant glitter. + +The sublime master would, however, have been altogether +unable to render the sorrow expressed in the face of Rosa, +when she saw this pale, handsome young man slowly climbing +the stairs, and thought of the full import of the words, +which her father had just spoken, "You will have the family +cell." + +This vision lasted but a moment, -- much less time than we +have taken to describe it. Gryphus then proceeded on his +way, Cornelius was forced to follow him, and five minutes +afterwards he entered his prison, of which it is unnecessary +to say more, as the reader is already acquainted with it. + +Gryphus pointed with his finger to the bed on which the +martyr had suffered so much, who on that day had rendered +his soul to God. Then, taking up his cresset, he quitted the +cell. + +Thus left alone, Cornelius threw himself on his bed, but he +slept not, he kept his eye fixed on the narrow window, +barred with iron, which looked on the Buytenhof; and in this +way saw from behind the trees that first pale beam of light +which morning sheds on the earth as a white mantle. + +Now and then during the night horses had galloped at a smart +pace over the Buytenhof, the heavy tramp of the patrols had +resounded from the pavement, and the slow matches of the +arquebuses, flaring in the east wind, had thrown up at +intervals a sudden glare as far as to the panes of his +window. + +But when the rising sun began to gild the coping stones at +the gable ends of the houses, Cornelius, eager to know +whether there was any living creature about him, approached +the window, and cast a sad look round the circular yard +before him + +At the end of the yard a dark mass, tinted with a dingy blue +by the morning dawn, rose before him, its dark outlines +standing out in contrast to the houses already illuminated +by the pale light of early morning. + +Cornelius recognised the gibbet. + +On it were suspended two shapeless trunks, which indeed were +no more than bleeding skeletons. + +The good people of the Hague had chopped off the flesh of +its victims, but faithfully carried the remainder to the +gibbet, to have a pretext for a double inscription written +on a huge placard, on which Cornelius; with the keen sight +of a young man of twenty-eight, was able to read the +following lines, daubed by the coarse brush of a +sign-painter: -- + +"Here are hanging the great rogue of the name of John de +Witt, and the little rogue Cornelius de Witt, his brother, +two enemies of the people, but great friends of the king of +France." + +Cornelius uttered a cry of horror, and in the agony of his +frantic terror knocked with his hands and feet at the door +so violently and continuously, that Gryphus, with his huge +bunch of keys in his hand, ran furiously up. + +The jailer opened the door, with terrible imprecations +against the prisoner who disturbed him at an hour which +Master Gryphus was not accustomed to be aroused. + +"Well, now, by my soul, he is mad, this new De Witt," he +cried, "but all those De Witts have the devil in them." + +"Master, master," cried Cornelius, seizing the jailer by the +arm and dragging him towards the window, -- "master, what +have I read down there?" + +"Where down there?" + +"On that placard." + +And, trembling, pale, and gasping for breath, he pointed to +the gibbet at the other side of the yard, with the cynical +inscription surmounting it. + +Gryphus broke out into a laugh. + +"Eh! eh!" he answered, "so, you have read it. Well, my good +sir, that's what people will get for corresponding with the +enemies of his Highness the Prince of Orange." + +"The brothers De Witt are murdered!" Cornelius muttered, +with the cold sweat on his brow, and sank on his bed, his +arms hanging by his side, and his eyes closed. + +"The brothers De Witt have been judged by the people," said +Gryphus; "you call that murdered, do you? well, I call it +executed." + +And seeing that the prisoner was not only quiet, but +entirely prostrate and senseless, he rushed from the cell, +violently slamming the door, and noisily drawing the bolts. + +Recovering his consciousness, Cornelius found himself alone, +and recognised the room where he was, -- "the family cell," +as Gryphus had called it, -- as the fatal passage leading to +ignominious death. + +And as he was a philosopher, and, more than that, as he was +a Christian, he began to pray for the soul of his godfather, +then for that of the Grand Pensionary, and at last submitted +with resignation to all the sufferings which God might +ordain for him. + +Then turning again to the concerns of earth, and having +satisfied himself that he was alone in his dungeon, he drew +from his breast the three bulbs of the black tulip, and +concealed them behind a block of stone, on which the +traditional water-jug of the prison was standing, in the +darkest corner of his cell. + +Useless labour of so many years! such sweet hopes crushed; +his discovery was, after all, to lead to naught, just as his +own career was to be cut short. Here, in his prison, there +was not a trace of vegetation, not an atom of soil, not a +ray of sunshine. + +At this thought Cornelius fell into a gloomy despair, from +which he was only aroused by an extraordinary circumstance. + +What was this circumstance? + +We shall inform the reader in our next chapter. + + + + +Chapter 10 + +The Jailer's Daughter + + +On the same evening Gryphus, as he brought the prisoner his +mess, slipped on the damp flags whilst opening the door of +the cell, and fell, in the attempt to steady himself, on his +hand; but as it was turned the wrong way, he broke his arm +just above the wrist. + +Cornelius rushed forward towards the jailer, but Gryphus, +who was not yet aware of the serious nature of his injury, +called out to him, -- + +"It is nothing: don't you stir." + +He then tried to support himself on his arm, but the bone +gave way; then only he felt the pain, and uttered a cry. + +When he became aware that his arm was broken, this man, so +harsh to others, fell swooning on the threshold, where he +remained motionless and cold, as if dead. + +During all this time the door of the cell stood open and +Cornelius found himself almost free. But the thought never +entered his mind of profiting by this accident; he had seen +from the manner in which the arm was bent, and from the +noise it made in bending, that the bone was fractured, and +that the patient must be in great pain; and now he thought +of nothing else but of administering relief to the sufferer, +however little benevolent the man had shown himself during +their short interview. + +At the noise of Gryphus's fall, and at the cry which escaped +him, a hasty step was heard on the staircase, and +immediately after a lovely apparition presented itself to +the eyes of Cornelius. + +It was the beautiful young Frisian, who, seeing her father +stretched on the ground, and the prisoner bending over him, +uttered a faint cry, as in the first fright she thought +Gryphus, whose brutality she well knew, had fallen in +consequence of a struggle between him and the prisoner. + +Cornelius understood what was passing in the mind of the +girl, at the very moment when the suspicion arose in her +heart. + +But one moment told her the true state of the case and, +ashamed of her first thoughts, she cast her beautiful eyes, +wet with tears, on the young man, and said to him, -- + +"I beg your pardon, and thank you, sir; the first for what I +have thought, and the second for what you are doing." + +Cornelius blushed, and said, "I am but doing my duty as a +Christian in helping my neighbour." + +"Yes, and affording him your help this evening, you have +forgotten the abuse which he heaped on you this morning. Oh, +sir! this is more than humanity, -- this is indeed Christian +charity." + +Cornelius cast his eyes on the beautiful girl, quite +astonished to hear from the mouth of one so humble such a +noble and feeling speech. + +But he had no time to express his surprise. Gryphus +recovered from his swoon, opened his eyes, and as his +brutality was returning with his senses, he growled "That's +it, a fellow is in a hurry to bring to a prisoner his +supper, and falls and breaks his arm, and is left lying on +the ground." + +"Hush, my father," said Rosa, "you are unjust to this +gentleman, whom I found endeavouring to give you his aid." + +"His aid?" Gryphus replied, with a doubtful air. + +"It is quite true, master! I am quite ready to help you +still more." + +"You!" said Gryphus, "are you a medical man?" + +"It was formerly my profession." + +"And so you would be able to set my arm?" + +"Perfectly." + +"And what would you need to do it? let us hear." + +"Two splinters of wood, and some linen for a bandage." + +"Do you hear, Rosa?" said Gryphus, "the prisoner is going to +set my arm, that's a saving; come, assist me to get up, I +feel as heavy as lead." + +Rosa lent the sufferer her shoulder; he put his unhurt arm +around her neck, and making an effort, got on his legs, +whilst Cornelius, to save him a walk, pushed a chair towards +him. + +Gryphus sat down; then, turning towards his daughter, he +said, -- + +"Well, didn't you hear? go and fetch what is wanted." + +Rosa went down, and immediately after returned with two +staves of a small barrel and a large roll of linen bandage. + +Cornelius had made use of the intervening moments to take +off the man's coat, and to tuck up his shirt sleeve. + +"Is this what you require, sir?" asked Rosa. + +"Yes, mademoiselle," answered Cornelius, looking at the +things she had brought, -- "yes, that's right. Now push this +table, whilst I support the arm of your father." + +Rosa pushed the table, Cornelius placed the broken arm on it +so as to make it flat, and with perfect skill set the bone, +adjusted the splinters, and fastened the bandages. + +At the last touch, the jailer fainted a second time. + +"Go and fetch vinegar, mademoiselle," said Cornelius; "we +will bathe his temples, and he will recover." + +But, instead of acting up to the doctor's prescription, +Rosa, after having satisfied herself that her father was +still unconscious, approached Cornelius and said, -- + +"Service for service, sir." + +"What do you mean, my pretty child?" said Cornelius. + +"I mean to say, sir, that the judge who is to examine you +to-morrow has inquired to-day for the room in which you are +confined, and, on being told that you are occupying the cell +of Mynheer Cornelius de Witt, laughed in a very strange and +very disagreeable manner, which makes me fear that no good +awaits you." + +"But," asked Cornelius, "what harm can they do to me?" + +"Look at that gibbet." + +"But I am not guilty," said Cornelius. + +"Were they guilty whom you see down there gibbeted, mangled, +and torn to pieces?" + +"That's true," said Cornelius, gravely. + +"And besides," continued Rosa, "the people want to find you +guilty. But whether innocent or guilty, your trial begins +to-morrow, and the day after you will be condemned. Matters +are settled very quickly in these times." + +"Well, and what do you conclude from all this?" + +"I conclude that I am alone, that I am weak, that my father +is lying in a swoon, that the dog is muzzled, and that +consequently there is nothing to prevent your making your +escape. Fly, then; that's what I mean." + +"What do you say?" + +"I say that I was not able to save Mynheer Cornelius or +Mynheer John de Witt, and that I should like to save you. +Only be quick; there, my father is regaining his breath, one +minute more, and he will open his eyes, and it will be too +late. Do you hesitate?" + +In fact, Cornelius stood immovable, looking at Rosa, yet +looking at her as if he did not hear her. + +"Don't you understand me?" said the young girl, with some +impatience. + +"Yes, I do," said Cornelius, "but ---- " + +"But?" + +"I will not, they would accuse you." + +"Never mind," said Rosa, blushing, "never mind that." + +"You are very good, my dear child," replied Cornelius, "but +I stay." + +"You stay, oh, sir! oh, sir! don't you understand that you +will be condemned to death, executed on the scaffold, +perhaps assassinated and torn to pieces, just like Mynheer +John and Mynheer Cornelius. For heaven's sake, don't think +of me, but fly from this place, Take care, it bears ill luck +to the De Witts!" + +"Halloa!" cried the jailer, recovering his senses, "who is +talking of those rogues, those wretches, those villains, the +De Witts?" + +"Don't be angry, my good man," said Cornelius, with his +good-tempered smile, "the worst thing for a fracture is +excitement, by which the blood is heated." + +Thereupon, he said in an undertone to Rosa -- + +"My child, I am innocent, and I shall await my trial with +tranquillity and an easy mind." + +"Hush," said Rosa. + +"Why hush?" + +"My father must not suppose that we have been talking to +each other." + +"What harm would that do?" + +"What harm? He would never allow me to come here any more," +said Rosa. + +Cornelius received this innocent confidence with a smile; he +felt as if a ray of good fortune were shining on his path. + +"Now, then, what are you chattering there together about?" +said Gryphus, rising and supporting his right arm with his +left. + +"Nothing," said Rosa; "the doctor is explaining to me what +diet you are to keep." + +"Diet, diet for me? Well, my fine girl, I shall put you on +diet too." + +"On what diet, my father?" + +"Never to go to the cells of the prisoners, and, if ever you +should happen to go, to leave them as soon as possible. +Come, off with me, lead the way, and be quick." + +Rosa and Cornelius exchanged glances. + +That of Rosa tried to express, -- + +"There, you see?" + +That of Cornelius said, -- + +"Let it be as the Lord wills." + + + + +Chapter 11 + +Cornelius van Baerle's Will + + +Rosa had not been mistaken; the judges came on the following +day to the Buytenhof, and proceeded with the trial of +Cornelius van Baerle. The examination, however, did not last +long, it having appeared on evidence that Cornelius had kept +at his house that fatal correspondence of the brothers De +Witt with France. + +He did not deny it. + +The only point about which there seemed any difficulty was +whether this correspondence had been intrusted to him by his +godfather, Cornelius de Witt. + +But as, since the death of those two martyrs, Van Baerle had +no longer any reason for withholding the truth, he not only +did not deny that the parcel had been delivered to him by +Cornelius de Witt himself, but he also stated all the +circumstances under which it was done. + +This confession involved the godson in the crime of the +godfather; manifest complicity being considered to exist +between Cornelius de Witt and Cornelius van Baerle. + +The honest doctor did not confine himself to this avowal, +but told the whole truth with regard to his own tastes, +habits, and daily life. He described his indifference to +politics, his love of study, of the fine arts, of science, +and of flowers. He explained that, since the day when +Cornelius de Witt handed to him the parcel at Dort, he +himself had never touched, nor even noticed it. + +To this it was objected, that in this respect he could not +possibly be speaking the truth, since the papers had been +deposited in a press in which both his hands and his eyes +must have been engaged every day. + +Cornelius answered that it was indeed so; that, however, he +never put his hand into the press but to ascertain whether +his bulbs were dry, and that he never looked into it but to +see if they were beginning to sprout. + +To this again it was objected, that his pretended +indifference respecting this deposit was not to be +reasonably entertained, as he could not have received such +papers from the hand of his godfather without being made +acquainted with their important character. + +He replied that his godfather Cornelius loved him too well, +and, above all, that he was too considerate a man to have +communicated to him anything of the contents of the parcel, +well knowing that such a confidence would only have caused +anxiety to him who received it. + +To this it was objected that, if De Witt had wished to act +in such a way, he would have added to the parcel, in case of +accidents, a certificate setting forth that his godson was +an entire stranger to the nature of this correspondence, or +at least he would during his trial have written a letter to +him, which might be produced as his justification. + +Cornelius replied that undoubtedly his godfather could not +have thought that there was any risk for the safety of his +deposit, hidden as it was in a press which was looked upon +as sacred as the tabernacle by the whole household of Van +Baerle; and that consequently he had considered the +certificate as useless. As to a letter, he certainly had +some remembrance that some moments previous to his arrest, +whilst he was absorbed in the contemplation of one of the +rarest of his bulbs, John de Witt's servant entered his +dry-room, and handed to him a paper, but the whole was to +him only like a vague dream; the servant had disappeared, +and as to the paper, perhaps it might be found if a proper +search were made. + +As far as Craeke was concerned, it was impossible to find +him, as he had left Holland. + +The paper also was not very likely to be found, and no one +gave himself the trouble to look for it. + +Cornelius himself did not much press this point, since, even +supposing that the paper should turn up, it could not have +any direct connection with the correspondence which +constituted the crime. + +The judges wished to make it appear as though they wanted to +urge Cornelius to make a better defence; they displayed that +benevolent patience which is generally a sign of the +magistrate's being interested for the prisoner, or of a +man's having so completely got the better of his adversary +that he needs no longer any oppressive means to ruin him. + +Cornelius did not accept of this hypocritical protection, +and in a last answer, which he set forth with the noble +bearing of a martyr and the calm serenity of a righteous +man, he said, -- + +"You ask me things, gentlemen, to which I can answer only +the exact truth. Hear it. The parcel was put into my hands +in the way I have described; I vow before God that I was, +and am still, ignorant of its contents, and that it was not +until my arrest that I learned that this deposit was the +correspondence of the Grand Pensionary with the Marquis de +Louvois. And lastly, I vow and protest that I do not +understand how any one should have known that this parcel +was in my house; and, above all, how I can be deemed +criminal for having received what my illustrious and +unfortunate godfather brought to my house." + +This was Van Baerle's whole defence; after which the judges +began to deliberate on the verdict. + +They considered that every offshoot of civil discord is +mischievous, because it revives the contest which it is the +interest of all to put down. + +One of them, who bore the character of a profound observer, +laid down as his opinion that this young man, so phlegmatic +in appearance, must in reality be very dangerous, as under +this icy exterior he was sure to conceal an ardent desire to +avenge his friends, the De Witts. + +Another observed that the love of tulips agreed perfectly +well with that of politics, and that it was proved in +history that many very dangerous men were engaged in +gardening, just as if it had been their profession, whilst +really they occupied themselves with perfectly different +concerns; witness Tarquin the Elder, who grew poppies at +Gabii, and the Great Conde, who watered his carnations at +the dungeon of Vincennes at the very moment when the former +meditated his return to Rome, and the latter his escape from +prison. + +The judge summed up with the following dilemma: -- + +"Either Cornelius van Baerle is a great lover of tulips, or +a great lover of politics; in either case, he has told us a +falsehood; first, because his having occupied himself with +politics is proved by the letters which were found at his +house; and secondly, because his having occupied himself +with tulips is proved by the bulbs which leave no doubt of +the fact. And herein lies the enormity of the case. As +Cornelius van Baerle was concerned in the growing of tulips +and in the pursuit of politics at one and the same time, the +prisoner is of hybrid character, of an amphibious +organisation, working with equal ardour at politics and at +tulips, which proves him to belong to the class of men most +dangerous to public tranquillity, and shows a certain, or +rather a complete, analogy between his character and that of +those master minds of which Tarquin the Elder and the Great +Conde have been felicitously quoted as examples." + +The upshot of all these reasonings was, that his Highness +the Prince Stadtholder of Holland would feel infinitely +obliged to the magistracy of the Hague if they simplified +for him the government of the Seven Provinces by destroying +even the least germ of conspiracy against his authority. + +This argument capped all the others, and, in order so much +the more effectually to destroy the germ of conspiracy, +sentence of death was unanimously pronounced against +Cornelius van Baerle, as being arraigned, and convicted, for +having, under the innocent appearance of a tulip-fancier, +participated in the detestable intrigues and abominable +plots of the brothers De Witt against Dutch nationality and +in their secret relations with their French enemy. + +A supplementary clause was tacked to the sentence, to the +effect that "the aforesaid Cornelius van Baerle should be +led from the prison of the Buytenhof to the scaffold in the +yard of the same name, where the public executioner would +cut off his head." + +As this deliberation was a most serious affair, it lasted a +full half-hour, during which the prisoner was remanded to +his cell. + +There the Recorder of the States came to read the sentence +to him. + +Master Gryphus was detained in bed by the fever caused by +the fracture of his arm. His keys passed into the hands of +one of his assistants. Behind this turnkey, who introduced +the Recorder, Rosa, the fair Frisian maid, had slipped into +the recess of the door, with a handkerchief to her mouth to +stifle her sobs. + +Cornelius listened to the sentence with an expression rather +of surprise than sadness. + +After the sentence was read, the Recorder asked him whether +he had anything to answer. + +"Indeed, I have not," he replied. "Only I confess that, +among all the causes of death against which a cautious man +may guard, I should never have supposed this to be +comprised." + +On this answer, the Recorder saluted Van Baerle with all +that consideration which such functionaries generally bestow +upon great criminals of every sort. + +But whilst he was about to withdraw, Cornelius asked, "By +the bye, Mr. Recorder, what day is the thing -- you know +what I mean -- to take place?" + +"Why, to-day," answered the Recorder, a little surprised by +the self-possession of the condemned man. + +A sob was heard behind the door, and Cornelius turned round +to look from whom it came; but Rosa, who had foreseen this +movement, had fallen back. + +"And," continued Cornelius, "what hour is appointed?" + +"Twelve o'clock, sir." + +"Indeed," said Cornelius, "I think I heard the clock strike +ten about twenty minutes ago; I have not much time to +spare." + +"Indeed you have not, if you wish to make your peace with +God," said the Recorder, bowing to the ground. "You may ask +for any clergyman you please." + +Saying these words he went out backwards, and the assistant +turnkey was going to follow him, and to lock the door of +Cornelius's cell, when a white and trembling arm interposed +between him and the heavy door. + +Cornelius saw nothing but the golden brocade cap, tipped +with lace, such as the Frisian girls wore; he heard nothing +but some one whispering into the ear of the turnkey. But the +latter put his heavy keys into the white hand which was +stretched out to receive them, and, descending some steps, +sat down on the staircase which was thus guarded above by +himself, and below by the dog. The head-dress turned round, +and Cornelius beheld the face of Rosa, blanched with grief, +and her beautiful eyes streaming with tears. + +She went up to Cornelius, crossing her arms on her heaving +breast. + +"Oh, sir, sir!" she said, but sobs choked her utterance. + +"My good girl," Cornelius replied with emotion, "what do you +wish? I may tell you that my time on earth is short." + +"I come to ask a favour of you," said Rosa, extending her +arms partly towards him and partly towards heaven. + +"Don't weep so, Rosa," said the prisoner, "for your tears go +much more to my heart than my approaching fate, and you +know, the less guilty a prisoner is, the more it is his duty +to die calmly, and even joyfully, as he dies a martyr. Come, +there's a dear, don't cry any more, and tell me what you +want, my pretty Rosa." + +She fell on her knees. "Forgive my father," she said. + +"Your father, your father!" said Cornelius, astonished. + +"Yes, he has been so harsh to you; but it is his nature, he +is so to every one, and you are not the only one whom he has +bullied." + +"He is punished, my dear Rosa, more than punished, by the +accident that has befallen him, and I forgive him." + +"I thank you, sir," said Rosa. "And now tell me -- oh, tell +me -- can I do anything for you?" + +"You can dry your beautiful eyes, my dear child," answered +Cornelius, with a good-tempered smile. + +"But what can I do for you, -- for you I mean?" + +"A man who has only one hour longer to live must be a great +Sybarite still to want anything, my dear Rosa." + +"The clergyman whom they have proposed to you?" + +"I have worshipped God all my life, I have worshipped Him in +His works, and praised Him in His decrees. I am at peace +with Him and do not wish for a clergyman. The last thought +which occupies my mind, however has reference to the glory +of the Almighty, and, indeed, my dear, I should ask you to +help me in carrying out this last thought." + +"Oh, Mynheer Cornelius, speak, speak!" exclaimed Rosa, still +bathed in tears. + +"Give me your hand, and promise me not to laugh, my dear +child." + +"Laugh," exclaimed Rosa, frantic with grief, "laugh at this +moment! do you not see my tears?" + +"Rosa, you are no stranger to me. I have not seen much of +you, but that little is enough to make me appreciate your +character. I have never seen a woman more fair or more pure +than you are, and if from this moment I take no more notice +of you, forgive me; it is only because, on leaving this +world, I do not wish to have any further regret." + +Rosa felt a shudder creeping over her frame, for, whilst the +prisoner pronounced these words, the belfry clock of the +Buytenhof struck eleven. + +Cornelius understood her. "Yes, yes, let us make haste," he +said, "you are right, Rosa." + +Then, taking the paper with the three suckers from his +breast, where he had again put it, since he had no longer +any fear of being searched, he said: "My dear girl, I have +been very fond of flowers. That was at a time when I did not +know that there was anything else to be loved. Don't blush, +Rosa, nor turn away; and even if I were making you a +declaration of love, alas! poor dear, it would be of no more +consequence. Down there in the yard, there is an instrument +of steel, which in sixty minutes will put an end to my +boldness. Well, Rosa, I loved flowers dearly, and I have +found, or at least I believe so, the secret of the great +black tulip, which it has been considered impossible to +grow, and for which, as you know, or may not know, a prize +of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the +Horticultural Society of Haarlem. These hundred thousand +guilders -- and Heaven knows I do not regret them -- these +hundred thousand guilders I have here in this paper, for +they are won by the three bulbs wrapped up in it, which you +may take, Rosa, as I make you a present of them." + +"Mynheer Cornelius!" + +"Yes, yes, Rosa, you may take them; you are not wronging any +one, my child. I am alone in this world; my parents are +dead; I never had a sister or a brother. I have never had a +thought of loving any one with what is called love, and if +any one has loved me, I have not known it. However, you see +well, Rosa, that I am abandoned by everybody, as in this sad +hour you alone are with me in my prison, consoling and +assisting me." + +"But, sir, a hundred thousand guilders!" + +"Well, let us talk seriously, my dear child: those hundred +thousand guilders will be a nice marriage portion, with your +pretty face; you shall have them, Rosa, dear Rosa, and I ask +nothing in return but your promise that you will marry a +fine young man, whom you love, and who will love you, as +dearly as I loved my flowers. Don't interrupt me, Rosa dear, +I have only a few minutes more." + +The poor girl was nearly choking with her sobs. + +Cornelius took her by the hand. + +"Listen to me," he continued: "I'll tell you how to manage +it. Go to Dort and ask Butruysheim, my gardener, for soil +from my border number six, fill a deep box with it, and +plant in it these three bulbs. They will flower next May, +that is to say, in seven months; and, when you see the +flower forming on the stem, be careful at night to protect +them from the wind, and by day to screen them from the sun. +They will flower black, I am quite sure of it. You are then +to apprise the President of the Haarlem Society. He will +cause the color of the flower to be proved before a +committee and these hundred thousand guilders will be paid +to you." + +Rosa heaved a deep sigh. + +"And now," continued Cornelius, -- wiping away a tear which +was glistening in his eye, and which was shed much more for +that marvellous black tulip which he was not to see than for +the life which he was about to lose, -- "I have no wish +left, except that the tulip should be called Rosa +Barlaensis, that is to say, that its name should combine +yours and mine; and as, of course, you do not understand +Latin, and might therefore forget this name, try to get for +me pencil and paper, that I may write it down for you." + +Rosa sobbed afresh, and handed to him a book, bound in +shagreen, which bore the initials C. W. + +"What is this?" asked the prisoner. + +"Alas!" replied Rosa, "it is the Bible of your poor +godfather, Cornelius de Witt. From it he derived strength to +endure the torture, and to bear his sentence without +flinching. I found it in this cell, after the death of the +martyr, and have preserved it as a relic. To-day I brought +it to you, for it seemed to me that this book must possess +in itself a divine power. Write in it what you have to +write, Mynheer Cornelius; and though, unfortunately, I am +not able to read, I will take care that what you write shall +be accomplished." + +Cornelius took the Bible, and kissed it reverently. + +"With what shall I write?" asked Cornelius. + +"There is a pencil in the Bible," said Rosa. + +This was the pencil which John de Witt had lent to his +brother, and which he had forgotten to take away with him. + +Cornelius took it, and on the second fly leaf (for it will +be remembered that the first was torn out), drawing near his +end like his godfather, he wrote with a no less firm hand: +-- + +"On this day, the 23d of August, 1672, being on the point of +rendering, although innocent, my soul to God on the +scaffold, I bequeath to Rosa Gryphus the only worldly goods +which remain to me of all that I have possessed in this +world, the rest having been confiscated; I bequeath, I say, +to Rosa Gryphus three bulbs, which I am convinced must +produce, in the next May, the Grand Black Tulip for which a +prize of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the +Haarlem Society, requesting that she may be paid the same +sum in my stead, as my sole heiress, under the only +condition of her marrying a respectable young man of about +my age, who loves her, and whom she loves, and of her giving +the black tulip, which will constitute a new species, the +name of Rosa Barlaensis, that is to say, hers and mine +combined. + +"So may God grant me mercy, and to her health and long life! + +"Cornelius van Baerle." + +The prisoner then, giving the Bible to Rosa, said, -- + +"Read." + +"Alas!" she answered, "I have already told you I cannot +read." + +Cornelius then read to Rosa the testament that he had just +made. + +The agony of the poor girl almost overpowered her. + +"Do you accept my conditions?" asked the prisoner, with a +melancholy smile, kissing the trembling hands of the +afflicted girl. + +"Oh, I don't know, sir," she stammered. + +"You don't know, child, and why not?" + +"Because there is one condition which I am afraid I cannot +keep." + +"Which? I should have thought that all was settled between +us." + +"You give me the hundred thousand guilders as a marriage +portion, don't you? + +"And under the condition of my marrying a man whom I love?" + +"Certainly." + +"Well, then, sir, this money cannot belong to me. I shall +never love any one; neither shall I marry." + +And, after having with difficulty uttered these words, Rosa +almost swooned away in the violence of her grief. + +Cornelius, frightened at seeing her so pale and sinking, was +going to take her in his arms, when a heavy step, followed +by other dismal sounds, was heard on the staircase, amidst +the continued barking of the dog. + +"They are coming to fetch you. Oh God! Oh God!" cried Rosa, +wringing her hands. "And have you nothing more to tell me?" + +She fell on her knees with her face buried in her hands and +became almost senseless. + +"I have only to say, that I wish you to preserve these bulbs +as a most precious treasure, and carefully to treat them +according to the directions I have given you. Do it for my +sake, and now farewell, Rosa." + +"Yes, yes," she said, without raising her head, "I will do +anything you bid me, except marrying," she added, in a low +voice, "for that, oh! that is impossible for me." + +She then put the cherished treasure next her beating heart. + +The noise on the staircase which Cornelius and Rosa had +heard was caused by the Recorder, who was coming for the +prisoner. He was followed by the executioner, by the +soldiers who were to form the guard round the scaffold, and +by some curious hangers-on of the prison. + +Cornelius, without showing any weakness, but likewise +without any bravado, received them rather as friends than as +persecutors, and quietly submitted to all those preparations +which these men were obliged to make in performance of their +duty. + +Then, casting a glance into the yard through the narrow +iron-barred window of his cell, he perceived the scaffold, +and, at twenty paces distant from it, the gibbet, from +which, by order of the Stadtholder, the outraged remains of +the two brothers De Witt had been taken down. + +When the moment came to descend in order to follow the +guards, Cornelius sought with his eyes the angelic look of +Rosa, but he saw, behind the swords and halberds, only a +form lying outstretched near a wooden bench, and a deathlike +face half covered with long golden locks. + +But Rosa, whilst falling down senseless, still obeying her +friend, had pressed her hand on her velvet bodice and, +forgetting everything in the world besides, instinctively +grasped the precious deposit which Cornelius had intrusted +to her care. + +Leaving the cell, the young man could still see in the +convulsively clinched fingers of Rosa the yellowish leaf +from that Bible on which Cornelius de Witt had with such +difficulty and pain written these few lines, which, if Van +Baerle had read them, would undoubtedly have been the saving +of a man and a tulip. + + + + +Chapter 12 + +The Execution + + +Cornelius had not three hundred paces to walk outside the +prison to reach the foot of the scaffold. At the bottom of +the staircase, the dog quietly looked at him whilst he was +passing; Cornelius even fancied he saw in the eyes of the +monster a certain expression as it were of compassion. + +The dog perhaps knew the condemned prisoners, and only bit +those who left as free men. + +The shorter the way from the door of the prison to the foot +of the scaffold, the more fully, of course, it was crowded +with curious people. + +These were the same who, not satisfied with the blood which +they had shed three days before, were now craving for a new +victim. + +And scarcely had Cornelius made his appearance than a fierce +groan ran through the whole street, spreading all over the +yard, and re-echoing from the streets which led to the +scaffold, and which were likewise crowded with spectators. + +The scaffold indeed looked like an islet at the confluence +of several rivers. + +In the midst of these threats, groans, and yells, Cornelius, +very likely in order not to hear them, had buried himself in +his own thoughts. + +And what did he think of in his last melancholy journey? + +Neither of his enemies, nor of his judges, nor of his +executioners. + +He thought of the beautiful tulips which he would see from +heaven above, at Ceylon, or Bengal, or elsewhere, when he +would be able to look with pity on this earth, where John +and Cornelius de Witt had been murdered for having thought +too much of politics, and where Cornelius van Baerle was +about to be murdered for having thought too much of tulips. + +"It is only one stroke of the axe," said the philosopher to +himself, "and my beautiful dream will begin to be realised." + +Only there was still a chance, just as it had happened +before to M. de Chalais, to M. de Thou, and other slovenly +executed people, that the headsman might inflict more than +one stroke, that is to say, more than one martyrdom, on the +poor tulip-fancier. + +Yet, notwithstanding all this, Van Baerle mounted the +scaffold not the less resolutely, proud of having been the +friend of that illustrious John, and godson of that noble +Cornelius de Witt, whom the ruffians, who were now crowding +to witness his own doom, had torn to pieces and burnt three +days before. + +He knelt down, said his prayers, and observed, not without a +feeling of sincere joy, that, laying his head on the block, +and keeping his eyes open, he would be able to his last +moment to see the grated window of the Buytenhof. + +At length the fatal moment arrived, and Cornelius placed his +chin on the cold damp block. But at this moment his eyes +closed involuntarily, to receive more resolutely the +terrible avalanche which was about to fall on his head, and +to engulf his life. + +A gleam like that of lightning passed across the scaffold: +it was the executioner raising his sword. + +Van Baerle bade farewell to the great black tulip, certain +of awaking in another world full of light and glorious +tints. + +Three times he felt, with a shudder, the cold current of air +from the knife near his neck, but what a surprise! he felt +neither pain nor shock. + +He saw no change in the colour of the sky, or of the world +around him. + +Then suddenly Van Baerle felt gentle hands raising him, and +soon stood on his feet again, although trembling a little. + +He looked around him. There was some one by his side, +reading a large parchment, sealed with a huge seal of red +wax. + +And the same sun, yellow and pale, as it behooves a Dutch +sun to be, was shining in the skies; and the same grated +window looked down upon him from the Buytenhof; and the same +rabble, no longer yelling, but completely thunderstruck, +were staring at him from the streets below. + +Van Baerle began to be sensible to what was going on around +him. + +His Highness, William, Prince of Orange, very likely afraid +that Van Baerle's blood would turn the scale of judgment +against him, had compassionately taken into consideration +his good character, and the apparent proofs of his +innocence. + +His Highness, accordingly, had granted him his life. + +Cornelius at first hoped that the pardon would be complete, +and that he would be restored to his full liberty and to his +flower borders at Dort. + +But Cornelius was mistaken. To use an expression of Madame +de Sevigne, who wrote about the same time, "there was a +postscript to the letter;" and the most important part of +the letter was contained in the postscript. + +In this postscript, William of Orange, Stadtholder of +Holland, condemned Cornelius van Baerle to imprisonment for +life. He was not sufficiently guilty to suffer death, but he +was too much so to be set at liberty. + +Cornelius heard this clause, but, the first feeling of +vexation and disappointment over, he said to himself, -- + +"Never mind, all this is not lost yet; there is some good in +this perpetual imprisonment; Rosa will be there, and also my +three bulbs of the black tulip are there." + +But Cornelius forgot that the Seven Provinces had seven +prisons, one for each, and that the board of the prisoner is +anywhere else less expensive than at the Hague, which is a +capital. + +His Highness, who, as it seems, did not possess the means to +feed Van Baerle at the Hague, sent him to undergo his +perpetual imprisonment at the fortress of Loewestein, very +near Dort, but, alas! also very far from it; for Loewestein, +as the geographers tell us, is situated at the point of the +islet which is formed by the confluence of the Waal and the +Meuse, opposite Gorcum. + +Van Baerle was sufficiently versed in the history of his +country to know that the celebrated Grotius was confined in +that castle after the death of Barneveldt; and that the +States, in their generosity to the illustrious publicist, +jurist, historian, poet, and divine, had granted to him for +his daily maintenance the sum of twenty-four stivers. + +"I," said Van Baerle to himself, "I am worth much less than +Grotius. They will hardly give me twelve stivers, and I +shall live miserably; but never mind, at all events I shall +live." + +Then suddenly a terrible thought struck him. + +"Ah!" he exclaimed, "how damp and misty that part of the +country is, and the soil so bad for the tulips! And then +Rosa will not be at Loewestein!" + + + + +Chapter 13 + +What was going on all this Time in the Mind of one of the Spectators + + +Whilst Cornelius was engaged with his own thoughts, a coach +had driven up to the scaffold. This vehicle was for the +prisoner. He was invited to enter it, and he obeyed. + +His last look was towards the Buytenhof. He hoped to see at +the window the face of Rosa, brightening up again. + +But the coach was drawn by good horses, who soon carried Van +Baerle away from among the shouts which the rabble roared in +honour of the most magnanimous Stadtholder, mixing with it a +spice of abuse against the brothers De Witt and the godson +of Cornelius, who had just now been saved from death. + +This reprieve suggested to the worthy spectators remarks +such as the following: -- + +"It's very fortunate that we used such speed in having +justice done to that great villain John, and to that little +rogue Cornelius, otherwise his Highness might have snatched +them from us, just as he has done this fellow." + +Among all the spectators whom Van Baerle's execution had +attracted to the Buytenhof, and whom the sudden turn of +affairs had disagreeably surprised, undoubtedly the one most +disappointed was a certain respectably dressed burgher, who +from early morning had made such a good use of his feet and +elbows that he at last was separated from the scaffold only +by the file of soldiers which surrounded it. + +Many had shown themselves eager to see the perfidious blood +of the guilty Cornelius flow, but not one had shown such a +keen anxiety as the individual just alluded to. + +The most furious had come to the Buytenhof at daybreak, to +secure a better place; but he, outdoing even them, had +passed the night at the threshold of the prison, from +whence, as we have already said, he had advanced to the very +foremost rank, unguibus et rostro, -- that is to say, +coaxing some, and kicking the others. + +And when the executioner had conducted the prisoner to the +scaffold, the burgher, who had mounted on the stone of the +pump the better to see and be seen, made to the executioner +a sign which meant, -- + +"It's a bargain, isn't it?" + +The executioner answered by another sign, which was meant to +say, -- + +"Be quiet, it's all right." + +This burgher was no other than Mynheer Isaac Boxtel, who +since the arrest of Cornelius had come to the Hague to try +if he could not get hold of the three bulbs of the black +tulip. + +Boxtel had at first tried to gain over Gryphus to his +interest, but the jailer had not only the snarling +fierceness, but likewise the fidelity, of a dog. He had +therefore bristled up at Boxtel's hatred, whom he had +suspected to be a warm friend of the prisoner, making +trifling inquiries to contrive with the more certainty some +means of escape for him. + +Thus to the very first proposals which Boxtel made to +Gryphus to filch the bulbs which Cornelius van Baerle must +be supposed to conceal, if not in his breast, at least in +some corner of his cell, the surly jailer had only answered +by kicking Mynheer Isaac out, and setting the dog at him. + +The piece which the mastiff had torn from his hose did not +discourage Boxtel. He came back to the charge, but this time +Gryphus was in bed, feverish, and with a broken arm. He +therefore was not able to admit the petitioner, who then +addressed himself to Rosa, offering to buy her a head-dress +of pure gold if she would get the bulbs for him. On this, +the generous girl, although not yet knowing the value of the +object of the robbery, which was to be so well remunerated, +had directed the tempter to the executioner, as the heir of +the prisoner. + +In the meanwhile the sentence had been pronounced. Thus +Isaac had no more time to bribe any one. He therefore clung +to the idea which Rosa had suggested: he went to the +executioner. + +Isaac had not the least doubt that Cornelius would die with +the bulbs on his heart. + +But there were two things which Boxtel did not calculate +upon: -- + +Rosa, that is to say, love; + +William of Orange, that is to say, clemency. + +But for Rosa and William, the calculations of the envious +neighbour would have been correct. + +But for William, Cornelius would have died. + +But for Rosa, Cornelius would have died with his bulbs on +his heart. + +Mynheer Boxtel went to the headsman, to whom he gave himself +out as a great friend of the condemned man; and from whom he +bought all the clothes of the dead man that was to be, for +one hundred guilders; rather an exorbitant sum, as he +engaged to leave all the trinkets of gold and silver to the +executioner. + +But what was the sum of a hundred guilders to a man who was +all but sure to buy with it the prize of the Haarlem +Society? + +It was money lent at a thousand per cent., which, as nobody +will deny, was a very handsome investment. + +The headsman, on the other hand, had scarcely anything to do +to earn his hundred guilders. He needed only, as soon as the +execution was over, to allow Mynheer Boxtel to ascend the +scaffold with his servants, to remove the inanimate remains +of his friend. + +The thing was, moreover, quite customary among the "faithful +brethren," when one of their masters died a public death in +the yard of the Buytenhof. + +A fanatic like Cornelius might very easily have found +another fanatic who would give a hundred guilders for his +remains. + +The executioner also readily acquiesced in the proposal, +making only one condition, -- that of being paid in advance. + +Boxtel, like the people who enter a show at a fair, might be +disappointed, and refuse to pay on going out. + +Boxtel paid in advance, and waited. + +After this, the reader may imagine how excited Boxtel was; +with what anxiety he watched the guards, the Recorder, and +the executioner; and with what intense interest he surveyed +the movements of Van Baerle. How would he place himself on +the block? how would he fall? and would he not, in falling, +crush those inestimable bulbs? had not he at least taken +care to enclose them in a golden box, -- as gold is the +hardest of all metals? + +Every trifling delay irritated him. Why did that stupid +executioner thus lose time in brandishing his sword over the +head of Cornelius, instead of cutting that head off? + +But when he saw the Recorder take the hand of the condemned, +and raise him, whilst drawing forth the parchment from his +pocket, -- when he heard the pardon of the Stadtholder +publicly read out, -- then Boxtel was no more like a human +being; the rage and malice of the tiger, of the hyena, and +of the serpent glistened in his eyes, and vented itself in +his yell and his movements. Had he been able to get at Van +Baerle, he would have pounced upon him and strangled him. + +And so, then, Cornelius was to live, and was to go with him +to Loewestein, and thither to his prison he would take with +him his bulbs; and perhaps he would even find a garden where +the black tulip would flower for him. + +Boxtel, quite overcome by his frenzy, fell from the stone +upon some Orangemen, who, like him, were sorely vexed at the +turn which affairs had taken. They, mistaking the frantic +cries of Mynheer Isaac for demonstrations of joy, began to +belabour him with kicks and cuffs, such as could not have +been administered in better style by any prize-fighter on +the other side of the Channel. + +Blows were, however, nothing to him. He wanted to run after +the coach which was carrying away Cornelius with his bulbs. +But in his hurry he overlooked a paving-stone in his way, +stumbled, lost his centre of gravity, rolled over to a +distance of some yards, and only rose again, bruised and +begrimed, after the whole rabble of the Hague, with their +muddy feet, had passed over him. + +One would think that this was enough for one day, but +Mynheer Boxtel did not seem to think so, as, in addition to +having his clothes torn, his back bruised, and his hands +scratched, he inflicted upon himself the further punishment +of tearing out his hair by handfuls, as an offering to that +goddess of envy who, as mythology teaches us, wears a +head-dress of serpents. + + + + +Chapter 14 + +The Pigeons of Dort + + +It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van +Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once +received the learned master Grotius. + +But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even +greater. As chance would have it, the cell formerly +inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be +vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the +tulip-fancier Van Baerle there. + +The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the +time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made +escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers +forgot to examine. + +On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious +omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according +to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second +pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown. + +The cell had an historical character. We will only state +here that, with the exception of an alcove which was +contrived there for the use of Madame Grotius, it differed +in no respect from the other cells of the prison; only, +perhaps, it was a little higher, and had a splendid view +from the grated window. + +Cornelius felt himself perfectly indifferent as to the place +where he had to lead an existence which was little more than +vegetation. There were only two things now for which he +cared, and the possession of which was a happiness enjoyed +only in imagination. + +A flower, and a woman; both of them, as he conceived, lost +to him for ever. + +Fortunately the good doctor was mistaken. In his prison cell +the most adventurous life which ever fell to the lot of any +tulip-fancier was reserved for him. + +One morning, whilst at his window inhaling the fresh air +which came from the river, and casting a longing look to the +windmills of his dear old city Dort, which were looming in +the distance behind a forest of chimneys, he saw flocks of +pigeons coming from that quarter to perch fluttering on the +pointed gables of Loewestein. + +These pigeons, Van Baerle said to himself, are coming from +Dort, and consequently may return there. By fastening a +little note to the wing of one of these pigeons, one might +have a chance to send a message there. Then, after a few +moments' consideration, he exclaimed, -- + +"I will do it." + +A man grows very patient who is twenty-eight years of age, +and condemned to a prison for life, -- that is to say, to +something like twenty-two or twenty-three thousand days of +captivity. + +Van Baerle, from whose thoughts the three bulbs were never +absent, made a snare for catching the pigeons, baiting the +birds with all the resources of his kitchen, such as it was +for eight slivers (sixpence English) a day; and, after a +month of unsuccessful attempts, he at last caught a female +bird. + +It cost him two more months to catch a male bird; he then +shut them up together, and having about the beginning of the +year 1673 obtained some eggs from them, he released the +female, which, leaving the male behind to hatch the eggs in +her stead, flew joyously to Dort, with the note under her +wing. + +She returned in the evening. She had preserved the note. + +Thus it went on for fifteen days, at first to the +disappointment, and then to the great grief, of Van Baerle. + +On the sixteenth day, at last, she came back without it. + +Van Baerle had addressed it to his nurse, the old Frisian +woman; and implored any charitable soul who might find it to +convey it to her as safely and as speedily as possible. + +In this letter there was a little note enclosed for Rosa. + +Van Baerle's nurse had received the letter in the following +way. + +Leaving Dort, Mynheer Isaac Boxtel had abandoned, not only +his house, his servants, his observatory, and his telescope, +but also his pigeons. + +The servant, having been left without wages, first lived on +his little savings, and then on his master's pigeons. + +Seeing this, the pigeons emigrated from the roof of Isaac +Boxtel to that of Cornelius van Baerle. + +The nurse was a kind-hearted woman, who could not live +without something to love. She conceived an affection for +the pigeons which had thrown themselves on her hospitality; +and when Boxtel's servant reclaimed them with culinary +intentions, having eaten the first fifteen already, and now +wishing to eat the other fifteen, she offered to buy them +from him for a consideration of six stivers per head. + +This being just double their value, the man was very glad to +close the bargain, and the nurse found herself in undisputed +possession of the pigeons of her master's envious neighbour. + +In the course of their wanderings, these pigeons with others +visited the Hague, Loewestein, and Rotterdam, seeking +variety, doubtless, in the flavour of their wheat or +hempseed. + +Chance, or rather God, for we can see the hand of God in +everything, had willed that Cornelius van Baerle should +happen to hit upon one of these very pigeons. + +Therefore, if the envious wretch had not left Dort to follow +his rival to the Hague in the first place, and then to +Gorcum or to Loewestein, -- for the two places are separated +only by the confluence of the Waal and the Meuse, -- Van +Baerle's letter would have fallen into his hands and not the +nurse's: in which event the poor prisoner, like the raven of +the Roman cobbler, would have thrown away his time, his +trouble, and, instead of having to relate the series of +exciting events which are about to flow from beneath our pen +like the varied hues of a many coloured tapestry, we should +have naught to describe but a weary waste of days, dull and +melancholy and gloomy as night's dark mantle. + +The note, as we have said, had reached Van Baerle's nurse. + +And also it came to pass, that one evening in the beginning +of February, just when the stars were beginning to twinkle, +Cornelius heard on the staircase of the little turret a +voice which thrilled through him. + +He put his hand on his heart, and listened. + +It was the sweet harmonious voice of Rosa. + +Let us confess it, Cornelius was not so stupefied with +surprise, or so beyond himself with joy, as he would have +been but for the pigeon, which, in answer to his letter, had +brought back hope to him under her empty wing; and, knowing +Rosa, he expected, if the note had ever reached her, to hear +of her whom he loved, and also of his three darling bulbs. + +He rose, listened once more, and bent forward towards the +door. + +Yes, they were indeed the accents which had fallen so +sweetly on his heart at the Hague. + +The question now was, whether Rosa, who had made the journey +from the Hague to Loewestein, and who -- Cornelius did not +understand how -- had succeeded even in penetrating into the +prison, would also be fortunate enough in penetrating to the +prisoner himself. + +Whilst Cornelius, debating this point within himself, was +building all sorts of castles in the air, and was struggling +between hope and fear, the shutter of the grating in the +door opened, and Rosa, beaming with joy, and beautiful in +her pretty national costume -- but still more beautiful from +the grief which for the last five months had blanched her +cheeks -- pressed her little face against the wire grating +of the window, saying to him, -- + +"Oh, sir, sir! here I am!" + +Cornelius stretched out his arms, and, looking to heaven, +uttered a cry of joy, -- + +"Oh, Rosa, Rosa!" + +"Hush! let us speak low: my father follows on my heels," +said the girl. + +"Your father?" + +"Yes, he is in the courtyard at the bottom of the staircase, +receiving the instructions of the Governor; he will +presently come up." + +"The instructions of the Governor?" + +"Listen to me, I'll try to tell you all in a few words. The +Stadtholder has a country-house, one league distant from +Leyden, properly speaking a kind of large dairy, and my +aunt, who was his nurse, has the management of it. As soon +as I received your letter, which, alas! I could not read +myself, but which your housekeeper read to me, I hastened to +my aunt; there I remained until the Prince should come to +the dairy; and when he came, I asked him as a favour to +allow my father to exchange his post at the prison of the +Hague with the jailer of the fortress of Loewestein. The +Prince could not have suspected my object; had he known it, +he would have refused my request, but as it is he granted +it." + +"And so you are here?" + +"As you see." + +"And thus I shall see you every day?" + +"As often as I can manage it." + +"Oh, Rosa, my beautiful Rosa, do you love me a little?" + +"A little?" she said, "you make no great pretensions, +Mynheer Cornelius." + +Cornelius tenderly stretched out his hands towards her, but +they were only able to touch each other with the tips of +their fingers through the wire grating. + +"Here is my father," said she. + +Rosa then abruptly drew back from the door, and ran to meet +old Gryphus, who made his appearance at the top of the +staircase. + + + + +Chapter 15 + +The Little Grated Window + + +Gryphus was followed by the mastiff. + +The turnkey took the animal round the jail, so that, if +needs be, he might recognize the prisoners. + +"Father," said Rosa, "here is the famous prison from which +Mynheer Grotius escaped. You know Mynheer Grotius?" + +"Oh, yes, that rogue Grotius, a friend of that villain +Barneveldt, whom I saw executed when I was a child. Ah! so +Grotius; and that's the chamber from which he escaped. Well, +I'll answer for it that no one shall escape after him in my +time." + +And thus opening the door, he began in the dark to talk to +the prisoner. + +The dog, on his part, went up to the prisoner, and, +growling, smelled about his legs just as though to ask him +what right he had still to be alive, after having left the +prison in the company of the Recorder and the executioner. + +But the fair Rosa called him to her side. + +"Well, my master," said Gryphus, holding up his lantern to +throw a little light around, "you see in me your new jailer. +I am head turnkey, and have all the cells under my care. I +am not vicious, but I'm not to be trifled with, as far as +discipline goes." + +"My good Master Gryphus, I know you perfectly well," said +the prisoner, approaching within the circle of light cast +around by the lantern. + +"Halloa! that's you, Mynheer van Baerle," said Gryphus. +"That's you; well, I declare, it's astonishing how people do +meet." + +"Oh, yes; and it's really a great pleasure to me, good +Master Gryphus, to see that your arm is doing well, as you +are able to hold your lantern with it." + +Gryphus knitted his brow. "Now, that's just it," he said, +"people always make blunders in politics. His Highness has +granted you your life; I'm sure I should never have done +so." + +"Don't say so," replied Cornelius; "why not?" + +"Because you are the very man to conspire again. You learned +people have dealings with the devil." + +"Nonsense, Master Gryphus. Are you dissatisfied with the +manner in which I have set your arm, or with the price that +I asked you?" said Cornelius, laughing. + +"On the contrary," growled the jailer, "you have set it only +too well. There is some witchcraft in this. After six weeks, +I was able to use it as if nothing had happened, so much so, +that the doctor of the Buytenhof, who knows his trade well, +wanted to break it again, to set it in the regular way, and +promised me that I should have my blessed three months for +my money before I should be able to move it." + +"And you did not want that?" + +"I said, 'Nay, as long as I can make the sign of the cross +with that arm' (Gryphus was a Roman Catholic), 'I laugh at +the devil.'" + +"But if you laugh at the devil, Master Gryphus, you ought +with so much more reason to laugh at learned people." + +"Ah, learned people, learned people! Why, I would rather +have to guard ten soldiers than one scholar. The soldiers +smoke, guzzle, and get drunk; they are gentle as lambs if +you only give them brandy or Moselle, but scholars, and +drink, smoke, and fuddle -- ah, yes, that's altogether +different. They keep sober, spend nothing, and have their +heads always clear to make conspiracies. But I tell you, at +the very outset, it won't be such an easy matter for you to +conspire. First of all, you will have no books, no paper, +and no conjuring book. It's books that helped Mynheer +Grotius to get off." + +"I assure you, Master Gryphus," replied Van Baerle, "that if +I have entertained the idea of escaping, I most decidedly +have it no longer." + +"Well, well," said Gryphus, "just look sharp: that's what I +shall do also. But, for all that, I say his Highness has +made a great mistake." + +"Not to have cut off my head? thank you, Master Gryphus." + +"Just so, look whether the Mynheer de Witt don't keep very +quiet now." + +"That's very shocking what you say now, Master Gryphus," +cried Van Baerle, turning away his head to conceal his +disgust. "You forget that one of those unfortunate gentlemen +was my friend, and the other my second father." + +"Yes, but I also remember that the one, as well as the +other, was a conspirator. And, moreover, I am speaking from +Christian charity." + +"Oh, indeed! explain that a little to me, my good Master +Gryphus. I do not quite understand it." + +"Well, then, if you had remained on the block of Master +Harbruck ---- " + +"What?" + +"You would not suffer any longer; whereas, I will not +disguise it from you, I shall lead you a sad life of it." + +"Thank you for the promise, Master Gryphus." + +And whilst the prisoner smiled ironically at the old jailer, +Rosa, from the outside, answered by a bright smile, which +carried sweet consolation to the heart of Van Baerle. + +Gryphus stepped towards the window. + +It was still light enough to see, although indistinctly, +through the gray haze of the evening, the vast expanse of +the horizon. + +"What view has one from here?" asked Gryphus. + +"Why, a very fine and pleasant one," said Cornelius, looking +at Rosa. + +"Yes, yes, too much of a view, too much." + +And at this moment the two pigeons, scared by the sight and +especially by the voice of the stranger, left their nest, +and disappeared, quite frightened in the evening mist. + +"Halloa! what's this?" cried Gryphus. + +"My pigeons," answered Cornelius. + +"Your pigeons," cried the jailer, "your pigeons! has a +prisoner anything of his own?" + +"Why, then," said Cornelius, "the pigeons which a merciful +Father in Heaven has lent to me." + +"So, here we have a breach of the rules already," replied +Gryphus. "Pigeons! ah, young man, young man! I'll tell you +one thing, that before to-morrow is over, your pigeons will +boil in my pot." + +"First of all you should catch them, Master Gryphus. You +won't allow these pigeons to be mine! Well, I vow they are +even less yours than mine." + +"Omittance is no acquittance," growled the jailer, "and I +shall certainly wring their necks before twenty-four hours +are over: you may be sure of that." + +Whilst giving utterance to this ill-natured promise, Gryphus +put his head out of the window to examine the nest. This +gave Van Baerle time to run to the door, and squeeze the +hand of Rosa, who whispered to him, -- + +"At nine o'clock this evening." + +Gryphus, quite taken up with the desire of catching the +pigeons next day, as he had promised he would do, saw and +heard nothing of this short interlude; and, after having +closed the window, he took the arm of his daughter, left the +cell, turned the key twice, drew the bolts, and went off to +make the same kind promise to the other prisoners. + +He had scarcely withdrawn, when Cornelius went to the door +to listen to the sound of his footsteps, and, as soon as +they had died away, he ran to the window, and completely +demolished the nest of the pigeons. + +Rather than expose them to the tender mercies of his +bullying jailer, he drove away for ever those gentle +messengers to whom he owed the happiness of having seen Rosa +again. + +This visit of the jailer, his brutal threats, and the gloomy +prospect of the harshness with which, as he had before +experienced, Gryphus watched his prisoners, -- all this was +unable to extinguish in Cornelius the sweet thoughts, and +especially the sweet hope, which the presence of Rosa had +reawakened in his heart. + +He waited eagerly to hear the clock of the tower of +Loewestein strike nine. + +The last chime was still vibrating through the air, when +Cornelius heard on the staircase the light step and the +rustle of the flowing dress of the fair Frisian maid, and +soon after a light appeared at the little grated window in +the door, on which the prisoner fixed his earnest gaze. + +The shutter opened on the outside. + +"Here I am," said Rosa, out of breath from running up the +stairs, "here I am." + +"Oh, my good Rosa." + +"You are then glad to see me?" + +"Can you ask? But how did you contrive to get here? tell +me." + +"Now listen to me. My father falls asleep every evening +almost immediately after his supper; I then make him lie +down, a little stupefied with his gin. Don't say anything +about it, because, thanks to this nap, I shall be able to +come every evening and chat for an hour with you." + +"Oh, I thank you, Rosa, dear Rosa." + +Saying these words, Cornelius put his face so near the +little window that Rosa withdrew hers. + +"I have brought back to you your bulbs." + +Cornelius's heart leaped with joy. He had not yet dared to +ask Rosa what she had done with the precious treasure which +he had intrusted to her. + +"Oh, you have preserved them, then?" + +"Did you not give them to me as a thing which was dear to +you?" + +"Yes, but as I have given them to you, it seems to me that +they belong to you." + +"They would have belonged to me after your death, but, +fortunately, you are alive now. Oh how I blessed his +Highness in my heart! If God grants to him all the happiness +that I have wished him, certainly Prince William will be the +happiest man on earth. When I looked at the Bible of your +godfather Cornelius, I was resolved to bring back to you +your bulbs, only I did not know how to accomplish it. I had, +however, already formed the plan of going to the +Stadtholder, to ask from him for my father the appointment +of jailer of Loewestein, when your housekeeper brought me +your letter. Oh, how we wept together! But your letter only +confirmed me the more in my resolution. I then left for +Leyden, and the rest you know." + +"What, my dear Rosa, you thought, even before receiving my +letter, of coming to meet me again?" + +"If I thought of it," said Rosa, allowing her love to get +the better of her bashfulness, "I thought of nothing else." + +And, saying these words, Rosa looked so exceedingly pretty, +that for the second time Cornelius placed his forehead and +lips against the wire grating; of course, we must presume +with the laudable desire to thank the young lady. + +Rosa, however, drew back as before. + +"In truth," she said, with that coquetry which somehow or +other is in the heart of every young girl, "I have often +been sorry that I am not able to read, but never so much so +as when your housekeeper brought me your letter. I kept the +paper in my hands, which spoke to other people, and which +was dumb to poor stupid me." + +"So you have often regretted not being able to read," said +Cornelius. "I should just like to know on what occasions." + +"Troth," she said, laughing, "to read all the letters which +were written to me." + +"Oh, you received letters, Rosa?" + +"By hundreds." + +"But who wrote to you?" + +"Who! why, in the first place, all the students who passed +over the Buytenhof, all the officers who went to parade, all +the clerks, and even the merchants who saw me at my little +window." + +"And what did you do with all these notes, my dear Rosa?" + +"Formerly," she answered, "I got some friend to read them to +me, which was capital fun, but since a certain time -- well, +what use is it to attend to all this nonsense? -- since a +certain time I have burnt them." + +"Since a certain time!" exclaimed Cornelius, with a look +beaming with love and joy. + +Rosa cast down her eyes, blushing. In her sweet confusion, +she did not observe the lips of Cornelius, which, alas! only +met the cold wire-grating. Yet, in spite of this obstacle, +they communicated to the lips of the young girl the glowing +breath of the most tender kiss. + +At this sudden outburst of tenderness, Rosa grew very pale, +-- perhaps paler than she had been on the day of the +execution. She uttered a plaintive sob, closed her fine +eyes, and fled, trying in vain to still the beating of her +heart. + +And thus Cornelius was again alone. + +Rosa had fled so precipitately, that she completely forgot +to return to Cornelius the three bulbs of the Black Tulip. + + + + +Chapter 16 + +Master and Pupil + + +The worthy Master Gryphus, as the reader may have seen, was +far from sharing the kindly feeling of his daughter for the +godson of Cornelius de Witt. + +There being only five prisoners at Loewestein, the post of +turnkey was not a very onerous one, but rather a sort of +sinecure, given after a long period of service. + +But the worthy jailer, in his zeal, had magnified with all +the power of his imagination the importance of his office. +To him Cornelius had swelled to the gigantic proportions of +a criminal of the first order. He looked upon him, +therefore, as the most dangerous of all his prisoners. He +watched all his steps, and always spoke to him with an angry +countenance; punishing him for what he called his dreadful +rebellion against such a clement prince as the Stadtholder. + +Three times a day he entered Van Baerle's cell, expecting to +find him trespassing; but Cornelius had ceased to +correspond, since his correspondent was at hand. It is even +probable that, if Cornelius had obtained his full liberty, +with permission to go wherever he liked, the prison, with +Rosa and his bulbs, would have appeared to him preferable to +any other habitation in the world without Rosa and his +bulbs. + +Rosa, in fact, had promised to come and see him every +evening, and from the first evening she had kept her word. + +On the following evening she went up as before, with the +same mysteriousness and the same precaution. Only she had +this time resolved within herself not to approach too near +the grating. In order, however, to engage Van Baerle in a +conversation from the very first which would seriously +occupy his attention, she tendered to him through the +grating the three bulbs, which were still wrapped up in the +same paper. + +But to the great astonishment of Rosa, Van Baerle pushed +back her white hand with the tips of his fingers. + +The young man had been considering about the matter. + +"Listen to me," he said. "I think we should risk too much by +embarking our whole fortune in one ship. Only think, my dear +Rosa, that the question is to carry out an enterprise which +until now has been considered impossible, namely, that of +making the great black tulip flower. Let us, therefore, take +every possible precaution, so that in case of a failure we +may not have anything to reproach ourselves with. I will now +tell you the way I have traced out for us." + +Rosa was all attention to what he would say, much more on +account of the importance which the unfortunate +tulip-fancier attached to it, than that she felt interested +in the matter herself. + +"I will explain to you, Rosa," he said. "I dare say you have +in this fortress a small garden, or some courtyard, or, if +not that, at least some terrace." + +"We have a very fine garden," said Rosa, "it runs along the +edge of the Waal, and is full of fine old trees." + +"Could you bring me some soil from the garden, that I may +judge?" + +"I will do so to-morrow." + +"Take some from a sunny spot, and some from a shady, so that +I may judge of its properties in a dry and in a moist +state." + +"Be assured I shall." + +"After having chosen the soil, and, if it be necessary, +modified it, we will divide our three bulbs; you will take +one and plant it, on the day that I will tell you, in the +soil chosen by me. It is sure to flower, if you tend it +according to my directions." + +"I will not lose sight of it for a minute." + +"You will give me another, which I will try to grow here in +my cell, and which will help me to beguile those long weary +hours when I cannot see you. I confess to you I have very +little hope for the latter one, and I look beforehand on +this unfortunate bulb as sacrificed to my selfishness. +However, the sun sometimes visits me. I will, besides, try +to convert everything into an artificial help, even the heat +and the ashes of my pipe, and lastly, we, or rather you, +will keep in reserve the third sucker as our last resource, +in case our first two experiments should prove a failure. In +this manner, my dear Rosa, it is impossible that we should +not succeed in gaining the hundred thousand guilders for +your marriage portion; and how dearly shall we enjoy that +supreme happiness of seeing our work brought to a successful +issue!" + +"I know it all now," said Rosa. "I will bring you the soil +to-morrow, and you will choose it for your bulb and for +mine. As to that in which yours is to grow, I shall have +several journeys to convey it to you, as I cannot bring much +at a time." + +"There is no hurry for it, dear Rosa; our tulips need not be +put into the ground for a month at least. So you see we have +plenty of time before us. Only I hope that, in planting your +bulb, you will strictly follow all my instructions." + +"I promise you I will." + +"And when you have once planted it, you will communicate to +me all the circumstances which may interest our nursling; +such as change of weather, footprints on the walks, or +footprints in the borders. You will listen at night whether +our garden is not resorted to by cats. A couple of those +untoward animals laid waste two of my borders at Dort." + +"I will listen." + +"On moonlight nights have you ever looked at your garden, my +dear child?" + +"The window of my sleeping-room overlooks it." + +"Well, on moonlight nights you will observe whether any rats +come out from the holes in the wall. The rats are most +mischievous by their gnawing everything; and I have heard +unfortunate tulip-growers complain most bitterly of Noah for +having put a couple of rats in the ark." + +"I will observe, and if there are cats or rats ---- " + +"You will apprise me of it, -- that's right. And, moreover," +Van Baerle, having become mistrustful in his captivity, +continued, "there is an animal much more to be feared than +even the cat or the rat." + +"What animal?" + +"Man. You comprehend, my dear Rosa, a man may steal a +guilder, and risk the prison for such a trifle, and, +consequently, it is much more likely that some one might +steal a hundred thousand guilders." + +"No one ever enters the garden but myself." + +"Thank you, thank you, my dear Rosa. All the joy of my life +has still to come from you." + +And as the lips of Van Baerle approached the grating with +the same ardor as the day before, and as, moreover, the hour +for retiring had struck, Rosa drew back her head, and +stretched out her hand. + +In this pretty little hand, of which the coquettish damsel +was particularly proud, was the bulb. + +Cornelius kissed most tenderly the tips of her fingers. Did +he do so because the hand kept one of the bulbs of the great +black tulip, or because this hand was Rosa's? We shall leave +this point to the decision of wiser heads than ours. + +Rosa withdrew with the other two suckers, pressing them to +her heart. + +Did she press them to her heart because they were the bulbs +of the great black tulip, or because she had them from +Cornelius? + +This point, we believe, might be more readily decided than +the other. + +However that may have been, from that moment life became +sweet, and again full of interest to the prisoner. + +Rosa, as we have seen, had returned to him one of the +suckers. + +Every evening she brought to him, handful by handful, a +quantity of soil from that part of the garden which he had +found to be the best, and which, indeed, was excellent. + +A large jug, which Cornelius had skilfully broken, did +service as a flower-pot. He half filled it, and mixed the +earth of the garden with a small portion of dried river mud, +a mixture which formed an excellent soil. + +Then, at the beginning of April, he planted his first sucker +in that jug. + +Not a day passed on which Rosa did not come to have her chat +with Cornelius. + +The tulips, concerning whose cultivation Rosa was taught all +the mysteries of the art, formed the principal topic of the +conversation; but, interesting as the subject was, people +cannot always talk about tulips. + +They therefore began to chat also about other things, and +the tulip-fancier found out to his great astonishment what a +vast range of subjects a conversation may comprise. + +Only Rosa had made it a habit to keep her pretty face +invariably six inches distant from the grating, having +perhaps become distrustful of herself. + +There was one thing especially which gave Cornelius almost +as much anxiety as his bulbs -- a subject to which he always +returned -- the dependence of Rosa on her father. + +Indeed, Van Baerle's happiness depended on the whim of this +man. He might one day find Loewestein dull, or the air of +the place unhealthy, or the gin bad, and leave the fortress, +and take his daughter with him, when Cornelius and Rosa +would again be separated. + +"Of what use would the carrier pigeons then be?" said +Cornelius to Rosa, "as you, my dear girl, would not be able +to read what I should write to you, nor to write to me your +thoughts in return." + +"Well," answered Rosa, who in her heart was as much afraid +of a separation as Cornelius himself, "we have one hour +every evening, let us make good use of it." + +"I don't think we make such a bad use of it as it is." + +"Let us employ it even better," said Rosa, smiling. "Teach +me to read and write. I shall make the best of your lessons, +believe me; and, in this way, we shall never be separated +any more, except by our own will." + +"Oh, then, we have an eternity before us," said Cornelius. + +Rosa smiled, and quietly shrugged her shoulders. + +"Will you remain for ever in prison?" she said, "and after +having granted you your life, will not his Highness also +grant you your liberty? And will you not then recover your +fortune, and be a rich man, and then, when you are driving +in your own coach, riding your own horse, will you still +look at poor Rosa, the daughter of a jailer, scarcely better +than a hangman?" + +Cornelius tried to contradict her, and certainly he would +have done so with all his heart, and with all the sincerity +of a soul full of love. + +She, however, smilingly interrupted him, saying, "How is +your tulip going on?" + +To speak to Cornelius of his tulip was an expedient resorted +to by her to make him forget everything, even Rosa herself. + +"Very well, indeed," he said, "the coat is growing black, +the sprouting has commenced, the veins of the bulb are +swelling, in eight days hence, and perhaps sooner, we may +distinguish the first buds of the leaves protruding. And +yours Rosa?" + +"Oh, I have done things on a large scale, and according to +your directions." + +"Now, let me hear, Rosa, what you have done," said +Cornelius, with as tender an anxiety as he had lately shown +to herself. + +"Well," she said, smiling, for in her own heart she could +not help studying this double love of the prisoner for +herself and for the black tulip, "I have done things on a +large scale; I have prepared a bed as you described it to +me, on a clear spot, far from trees and walls, in a soil +slightly mixed with sand, rather moist than dry without a +fragment of stone or pebble." + +"Well done, Rosa, well done." + +"I am now only waiting for your further orders to put in the +bulb, you know that I must be behindhand with you, as I have +in my favour all the chances of good air, of the sun, and +abundance of moisture." + +"All true, all true," exclaimed Cornelius, clapping his +hands with joy, "you are a good pupil, Rosa, and you are +sure to gain your hundred thousand guilders." + +"Don't forget," said Rosa, smiling, "that your pupil, as you +call me, has still other things to learn besides the +cultivation of tulips." + +"Yes, yes, and I am as anxious as you are, Rosa, that you +should learn to read." + +"When shall we begin?" + +"At once." + +"No, to-morrow." + +"Why to-morrow?" + +"Because to-day our hour is expired, and I must leave you." + +"Already? But what shall we read?" + +"Oh," said Rosa, "I have a book, -- a book which I hope will +bring us luck." + +"To-morrow, then." + +"Yes, to-morrow." + +On the following evening Rosa returned with the Bible of +Cornelius de Witt. + + + + +Chapter 17 + +The First Bulb + + +On the following evening, as we have said, Rosa returned +with the Bible of Cornelius de Witt. + +Then began between the master and the pupil one of those +charming scenes which are the delight of the novelist who +has to describe them. + +The grated window, the only opening through which the two +lovers were able to communicate, was too high for +conveniently reading a book, although it had been quite +convenient for them to read each other's faces. + +Rosa therefore had to press the open book against the +grating edgewise, holding above it in her right hand the +lamp, but Cornelius hit upon the lucky idea of fixing it to +the bars, so as to afford her a little rest. Rosa was then +enabled to follow with her finger the letters and syllables, +which she was to spell for Cornelius, who with a straw +pointed out the letters to his attentive pupil through the +holes of the grating. + +The light of the lamp illuminated the rich complexion of +Rosa, her blue liquid eyes, and her golden hair under her +head-dress of gold brocade, with her fingers held up, and +showing in the blood, as it flowed downwards in the veins +that pale pink hue which shines before the light owing to +the living transparency of the flesh tint. + +Rosa's intellect rapidly developed itself under the +animating influence of Cornelius, and when the difficulties +seemed too arduous, the sympathy of two loving hearts seemed +to smooth them away. + +And Rosa, after having returned to her room, repeated in her +solitude the reading lessons, and at the same time recalled +all the delight which she had felt whilst receiving them. + +One evening she came half an hour later than usual. This was +too extraordinary an instance not to call forth at once +Cornelius's inquiries after its cause. + +"Oh! do not be angry with me," she said, "it is not my +fault. My father has renewed an acquaintance with an old +crony who used to visit him at the Hague, and to ask him to +let him see the prison. He is a good sort of fellow, fond of +his bottle, tells funny stories, and moreover is very free +with his money, so as always to be ready to stand a treat." + +"You don't know anything further of him?" asked Cornelius, +surprised. + +"No," she answered; "it's only for about a fortnight that my +father has taken such a fancy to this friend who is so +assiduous in visiting him." + +"Ah, so," said Cornelius, shaking his head uneasily as every +new incident seemed to him to forebode some catastrophe; +"very likely some spy, one of those who are sent into jails +to watch both prisoners and their keepers." + +"I don't believe that," said Rosa, smiling; "if that worthy +person is spying after any one, it is certainly not after my +father." + +"After whom, then?" + +"Me, for instance." + +"You?" + +"Why not?" said Rosa, smiling. + +"Ah, that's true," Cornelius observed, with a sigh. "You +will not always have suitors in vain; this man may become +your husband." + +"I don't say anything to the contrary." + +"What cause have you to entertain such a happy prospect?" + +"Rather say, this fear, Mynheer Cornelius." + +"Thank you, Rosa, you are right; well, I will say then, this +fear?" + +"I have only this reason ---- " + +"Tell me, I am anxious to hear." + +"This man came several times before to the Buytenhof, at the +Hague. I remember now, it was just about the time when you +were confined there. When I left, he left too; when I came +here, he came after me. At the Hague his pretext was that he +wanted to see you." + +"See me?" + +"Yes, it must have undoubtedly been only a pretext for now, +when he could plead the same reason, as you are my father's +prisoner again, he does not care any longer for you; quite +the contrary, -- I heard him say to my father only yesterday +that he did not know you." + +"Go on, Rosa, pray do, that I may guess who that man is, and +what he wants." + +"Are you quite sure, Mynheer Cornelius, that none of your +friends can interest himself for you?" + +"I have no friends, Rosa; I have only my old nurse, whom you +know, and who knows you. Alas, poor Sue! she would come +herself, and use no roundabout ways. She would at once say +to your father, or to you, 'My good sir, or my good miss, my +child is here; see how grieved I am; let me see him only for +one hour, and I'll pray for you as long as I live.' No, no," +continued Cornelius; "with the exception of my poor old Sue, +I have no friends in this world." + +"Then I come back to what I thought before; and the more so +as last evening at sunset, whilst I was arranging the border +where I am to plant your bulb, I saw a shadow gliding +between the alder trees and the aspens. I did not appear to +see him, but it was this man. He concealed himself and saw +me digging the ground, and certainly it was me whom he +followed, and me whom he was spying after. I could not move +my rake, or touch one atom of soil, without his noticing +it." + +"Oh, yes, yes, he is in love with you," said Cornelius. "Is +he young? Is he handsome?" + +Saying this he looked anxiously at Rosa, eagerly waiting for +her answer. + +"Young? handsome?" cried Rosa, bursting into a laugh. "He is +hideous to look at; crooked, nearly fifty years of age, and +never dares to look me in the face, or to speak, except in +an undertone." + +"And his name?" + +"Jacob Gisels." + +"I don't know him." + +"Then you see that, at all events, he does not come after +you." + +"At any rate, if he loves you, Rosa, which is very likely, +as to see you is to love you, at least you don't love him." + +"To be sure I don't." + +"Then you wish me to keep my mind easy?" + +"I should certainly ask you to do so." + +"Well, then, now as you begin to know how to read you will +read all that I write to you of the pangs of jealousy and of +absence, won't you, Rosa?" + +"I shall read it, if you write with good big letters." + +Then, as the turn which the conversation took began to make +Rosa uneasy, she asked, -- + +"By the bye, how is your tulip going on?" + +"Oh, Rosa, only imagine my joy, this morning I looked at it +in the sun, and after having moved the soil aside which +covers the bulb, I saw the first sprouting of the leaves. +This small germ has caused me a much greater emotion than +the order of his Highness which turned aside the sword +already raised at the Buytenhof." + +"You hope, then?" said Rosa, smiling. + +"Yes, yes, I hope." + +"And I, in my turn, when shall I plant my bulb?" + +"Oh, the first favourable day I will tell you; but, whatever +you do, let nobody help you, and don't confide your secret +to any one in the world; do you see, a connoisseur by merely +looking at the bulb would be able to distinguish its value; +and so, my dearest Rosa, be careful in locking up the third +sucker which remains to you." + +"It is still wrapped up in the same paper in which you put +it, and just as you gave it me. I have laid it at the bottom +of my chest under my point lace, which keeps it dry, without +pressing upon it. But good night, my poor captive +gentleman." + +"How? already?" + +"It must be, it must be." + +"Coming so late and going so soon." + +"My father might grow impatient not seeing me return, and +that precious lover might suspect a rival." + +Here she listened uneasily. + +"What is it?" asked Van Baerle. "I thought I heard +something." + +"What, then?" + +"Something like a step, creaking on the staircase." + +"Surely," said the prisoner, "that cannot be Master Gryphus, +he is always heard at a distance" + +"No, it is not my father, I am quite sure, but ---- " + +"But?" + +"But it might be Mynheer Jacob." + +Rosa rushed toward the staircase, and a door was really +heard rapidly to close before the young damsel had got down +the first ten steps. + +Cornelius was very uneasy about it, but it was after all +only a prelude to greater anxieties. + +The flowing day passed without any remarkable incident. +Gryphus made his three visits, and discovered nothing. He +never came at the same hours as he hoped thus to discover +the secrets of the prisoner. Van Baerle, therefore, had +devised a contrivance, a sort of pulley, by means of which +he was able to lower or to raise his jug below the ledge of +tiles and stone before his window. The strings by which this +was effected he had found means to cover with that moss +which generally grows on tiles, or in the crannies of the +walls. + +Gryphus suspected nothing, and the device succeeded for +eight days. One morning, however, when Cornelius, absorbed +in the contemplation of his bulb, from which a germ of +vegetation was already peeping forth, had not heard old +Gryphus coming upstairs as a gale of wind was blowing which +shook the whole tower, the door suddenly opened. + +Gryphus, perceiving an unknown and consequently a forbidden +object in the hands of his prisoner, pounced upon it with +the same rapidity as the hawk on its prey. + +As ill luck would have it, his coarse, hard hand, the same +which he had broken, and which Cornelius van Baerle had set +so well, grasped at once in the midst of the jug, on the +spot where the bulb was lying in the soil. + +"What have you got here?" he roared. "Ah! have I caught +you?" and with this he grabbed in the soil. + +"I? nothing, nothing," cried Cornelius, trembling. + +"Ah! have I caught you? a jug and earth in it There is some +criminal secret at the bottom of all this." + +"Oh, my good Master Gryphus," said Van Baerle, imploringly, +and anxious as the partridge robbed of her young by the +reaper. + +In fact, Gryphus was beginning to dig the soil with his +crooked fingers. + +"Take care, sir, take care," said Cornelius, growing quite +pale. + +"Care of what? Zounds! of what?" roared the jailer. + +"Take care, I say, you will crush it, Master Gryphus." + +And with a rapid and almost frantic movement he snatched the +jug from the hands of Gryphus, and hid it like a treasure +under his arms. + +But Gryphus, obstinate, like an old man, and more and more +convinced that he was discovering here a conspiracy against +the Prince of Orange, rushed up to his prisoner, raising his +stick; seeing, however, the impassible resolution of the +captive to protect his flower-pot he was convinced that +Cornelius trembled much less for his head than for his jug. + +He therefore tried to wrest it from him by force. + +"Halloa!" said the jailer, furious, "here, you see, you are +rebelling." + +"Leave me my tulip," cried Van Baerle. + +"Ah, yes, tulip," replied the old man, "we know well the +shifts of prisoners." + +"But I vow to you ---- " + +"Let go," repeated Gryphus, stamping his foot, "let go, or I +shall call the guard." + +"Call whoever you like, but you shall not have this flower +except with my life." + +Gryphus, exasperated, plunged his finger a second time into +the soil, and now he drew out the bulb, which certainly +looked quite black; and whilst Van Baerle, quite happy to +have saved the vessel, did not suspect that the adversary +had possessed himself of its precious contents, Gryphus +hurled the softened bulb with all his force on the flags, +where almost immediately after it was crushed to atoms under +his heavy shoe. + +Van Baerle saw the work of destruction, got a glimpse of the +juicy remains of his darling bulb, and, guessing the cause +of the ferocious joy of Gryphus, uttered a cry of agony, +which would have melted the heart even of that ruthless +jailer who some years before killed Pelisson's spider. + +The idea of striking down this spiteful bully passed like +lightning through the brain of the tulip-fancier. The blood +rushed to his brow, and seemed like fire in his eyes, which +blinded him, and he raised in his two hands the heavy jug +with all the now useless earth which remained in it. One +instant more, and he would have flung it on the bald head of +old Gryphus. + +But a cry stopped him; a cry of agony, uttered by poor Rosa, +who, trembling and pale, with her arms raised to heaven, +made her appearance behind the grated window, and thus +interposed between her father and her friend. + +Gryphus then understood the danger with which he had been +threatened, and he broke out in a volley of the most +terrible abuse. + +"Indeed," said Cornelius to him, "you must be a very mean +and spiteful fellow to rob a poor prisoner of his only +consolation, a tulip bulb." + +"For shame, my father," Rosa chimed in, "it is indeed a +crime you have committed here." + +"Ah, is that you, my little chatter-box?" the old man cried, +boiling with rage and turning towards her; "don't you meddle +with what don't concern you, but go down as quickly as +possible." + +"Unfortunate me," continued Cornelius, overwhelmed with +grief. + +"After all, it is but a tulip," Gryphus resumed, as he began +to be a little ashamed of himself. "You may have as many +tulips as you like: I have three hundred of them in my +loft." + +"To the devil with your tulips!" cried Cornelius; "you are +worthy of each other: had I a hundred thousand millions of +them, I would gladly give them for the one which you have +just destroyed." + +"Oh, so!" Gryphus said, in a tone of triumph; "now there we +have it. It was not your tulip you cared for. There was in +that false bulb some witchcraft, perhaps some means of +correspondence with conspirators against his Highness who +has granted you your life. I always said they were wrong in +not cutting your head off." + +"Father, father!" cried Rosa. + +"Yes, yes! it is better as it is now," repeated Gryphus, +growing warm; "I have destroyed it, and I'll do the same +again, as often as you repeat the trick. Didn't I tell you, +my fine fellow, that I would make your life a hard one?" + +"A curse on you!" Cornelius exclaimed, quite beyond himself +with despair, as he gathered, with his trembling fingers, +the remnants of that bulb on which he had rested so many +joys and so many hopes. + +"We shall plant the other to-morrow, my dear Mynheer +Cornelius," said Rosa, in a low voice, who understood the +intense grief of the unfortunate tulip-fancier, and who, +with the pure sacred love of her innocent heart, poured +these kind words, like a drop of balm, on the bleeding +wounds of Cornelius. + + + + +Chapter 18 + +Rosa's Lover + + +Rosa had scarcely pronounced these consolatory words when a +voice was heard from the staircase asking Gryphus how +matters were going on. + +"Do you hear, father?" said Rosa. + +"What?" + +"Master Jacob calls you, he is uneasy." + +"There was such a noise," said Gryphus; "wouldn't you have +thought he would murder me, this doctor? They are always +very troublesome fellows, these scholars." + +Then, pointing with his finger towards the staircase, he +said to Rosa: "Just lead the way, Miss." + +After this he locked the door and called out: "I shall be +with you directly, friend Jacob." + +Poor Cornelius, thus left alone with his bitter grief, +muttered to himself, -- + +"Ah, you old hangman! it is me you have trodden under foot; +you have murdered me; I shall not survive it." + +And certainly the unfortunate prisoner would have fallen ill +but for the counterpoise which Providence had granted to his +grief, and which was called Rosa. + +In the evening she came back. Her first words announced to +Cornelius that henceforth her father would make no objection +to his cultivating flowers. + +"And how do you know that?" the prisoner asked, with a +doleful look. + +"I know it because he has said so." + +"To deceive me, perhaps." + +"No, he repents." + +"Ah yes! but too late." + +"This repentance is not of himself." + +"And who put it into him?" + +"If you only knew how his friend scolded him!" + +"Ah, Master Jacob; he does not leave you, then, that Master +Jacob?" + +"At any rate, he leaves us as little as he can help." + +Saying this, she smiled in such a way that the little cloud +of jealousy which had darkened the brow of Cornelius +speedily vanished. + +"How was it?" asked the prisoner. + +"Well, being asked by his friend, my father told at supper +the whole story of the tulip, or rather of the bulb, and of +his own fine exploit of crushing it." + +Cornelius heaved a sigh, which might have been called a +groan. + +"Had you only seen Master Jacob at that moment!" continued +Rosa. "I really thought he would set fire to the castle; his +eyes were like two flaming torches, his hair stood on end, +and he clinched his fist for a moment; I thought he would +have strangled my father." + +"'You have done that,' he cried, 'you have crushed the +bulb?' + +"'Indeed I have.' + +"'It is infamous,' said Master Jacob, 'it is odious! You +have committed a great crime!' + +"My father was quite dumbfounded. + +"'Are you mad, too?' he asked his friend." + +"Oh, what a worthy man is this Master Jacob!" muttered +Cornelius, -- "an honest soul, an excellent heart that he +is." + +"The truth is, that it is impossible to treat a man more +rudely than he did my father; he was really quite in +despair, repeating over and over again, -- + +"'Crushed, crushed the bulb! my God, my God! crushed!' + +"Then, turning toward me, he asked, 'But it was not the only +one that he had?'" + +"Did he ask that?" inquired Cornelius, with some anxiety. + +"'You think it was not the only one?' said my father. 'Very +well, we shall search for the others.' + +"'You will search for the others?' cried Jacob, taking my +father by the collar; but he immediately loosed him. Then, +turning towards me, he continued, asking 'And what did that +poor young man say?' + +"I did not know what to answer, as you had so strictly +enjoined me never to allow any one to guess the interest +which you are taking in the bulb. Fortunately, my father +saved me from the difficulty by chiming in, -- + +"'What did he say? Didn't he fume and fret?' + +"I interrupted him, saying, 'Was it not natural that he +should be furious, you were so unjust and brutal, father?' + +"'Well, now, are you mad?' cried my father; 'what immense +misfortune is it to crush a tulip bulb? You may buy a +hundred of them in the market of Gorcum.' + +"'Perhaps some less precious one than that was!' I quite +incautiously replied." + +"And what did Jacob say or do at these words?" asked +Cornelius. + +"At these words, if I must say it, his eyes seemed to flash +like lightning." + +"But," said Cornelius, "that was not all; I am sure he said +something in his turn." + +"'So, then, my pretty Rosa,' he said, with a voice as sweet +a honey, -- 'so you think that bulb to have been a precious +one?' + +"I saw that I had made a blunder. + +"'What do I know?' I said, negligently; 'do I understand +anything of tulips? I only know -- as unfortunately it is +our lot to live with prisoners -- that for them any pastime +is of value. This poor Mynheer van Baerle amused himself +with this bulb. Well, I think it very cruel to take from him +the only thing that he could have amused himself with.' + +"'But, first of all,' said my father, 'we ought to know how +he has contrived to procure this bulb.' + +"I turned my eyes away to avoid my father's look; but I met +those of Jacob. + +"It was as if he had tried to read my thoughts at the bottom +of my heart. + +"Some little show of anger sometimes saves an answer. I +shrugged my shoulders, turned my back, and advanced towards +the door. + +"But I was kept by something which I heard, although it was +uttered in a very low voice only. + +"Jacob said to my father, -- + +"'It would not be so difficult to ascertain that.' + +"'How so?' + +"'You need only search his person: and if he has the other +bulbs, we shall find them, as there usually are three +suckers!'" + +"Three suckers!" cried Cornelius. "Did you say that I have +three?" + +"The word certainly struck me just as much as it does you. I +turned round. They were both of them so deeply engaged in +their conversation that they did not observe my movement. + +"'But,' said my father, 'perhaps he has not got his bulbs +about him?' + +"'Then take him down, under some pretext or other and I will +search his cell in the meanwhile.'" + +"Halloa, halloa!" said Cornelius. "But this Mr. Jacob of +yours is a villain, it seems." + +"I am afraid he is." + +"Tell me, Rosa," continued Cornelius, with a pensive air. + +"What?" + +"Did you not tell me that on the day when you prepared your +borders this man followed you?" + +"So he did." + +"That he glided like a shadow behind the elder trees?" + +"Certainly." + +"That not one of your movements escaped him?" + +"Not one, indeed." + +"Rosa," said Cornelius, growing quite pale. + +"Well?" + +"It was not you he was after." + +"Who else, then?" + +"It is not you that he was in love with!" + +"But with whom else?" + +"He was after my bulb, and is in love with my tulip!" + +"You don't say so! And yet it is very possible," said Rosa. + +"Will you make sure of it?" + +"In what manner?" + +"Oh, it would be very easy!" + +"Tell me." + +"Go to-morrow into the garden; manage matters so that Jacob +may know, as he did the first time, that you are going +there, and that he may follow you. Feign to put the bulb +into the ground; leave the garden, but look through the +keyhole of the door and watch him." + +"Well, and what then?" + +"What then? We shall do as he does." + +"Oh!" said Rosa, with a sigh, "you are very fond of your +bulbs." + +"To tell the truth," said the prisoner, sighing likewise, +"since your father crushed that unfortunate bulb, I feel as +if part of my own self had been paralyzed." + +"Now just hear me," said Rosa; "will you try something +else?" + +"What?" + +"Will you accept the proposition of my father?" + +"Which proposition?" + +"Did not he offer to you tulip bulbs by hundreds?" + +"Indeed he did." + +"Accept two or three, and, along with them, you may grow the +third sucker." + +"Yes, that would do very well," said Cornelius, knitting his +brow; "if your father were alone, but there is that Master +Jacob, who watches all our ways." + +"Well, that is true; but only think! you are depriving +yourself, as I can easily see, of a very great pleasure." + +She pronounced these words with a smile, which was not +altogether without a tinge of irony. + +Cornelius reflected for a moment; he evidently was +struggling against some vehement desire. + +"No!" he cried at last, with the stoicism of a Roman of old, +"it would be a weakness, it would be a folly, it would be a +meanness! If I thus give up the only and last resource which +we possess to the uncertain chances of the bad passions of +anger and envy, I should never deserve to be forgiven. No, +Rosa, no; to-morrow we shall come to a conclusion as to the +spot to be chosen for your tulip; you will plant it +according to my instructions; and as to the third sucker," +-- Cornelius here heaved a deep sigh, -- "watch over it as a +miser over his first or last piece of gold; as the mother +over her child; as the wounded over the last drop of blood +in his veins; watch over it, Rosa! Some voice within me +tells me that it will be our saving, that it will be a +source of good to us." + +"Be easy, Mynheer Cornelius," said Rosa, with a sweet +mixture of melancholy and gravity, "be easy; your wishes are +commands to me." + +"And even," continued Van Baerle, warming more and more with +his subject, "if you should perceive that your steps are +watched, and that your speech has excited the suspicion of +your father and of that detestable Master Jacob, -- well, +Rosa, don't hesitate for one moment to sacrifice me, who am +only still living through you, -- me, who have no one in the +world but you; sacrifice me, -- don't come to see me any +more." + +Rosa felt her heart sink within her, and her eyes were +filling with tears. + +"Alas!" she said. + +"What is it?" asked Cornelius. + +"I see one thing." + +"What do you see?" + +"I see," said she, bursting out in sobs, "I see that you +love your tulips with such love as to have no more room in +your heart left for other affections." + +Saying this, she fled. + +Cornelius, after this, passed one of the worst nights he +ever had in his life. + +Rosa was vexed with him, and with good reason. Perhaps she +would never return to see the prisoner, and then he would +have no more news, either of Rosa or of his tulips. + +We have to confess, to the disgrace of our hero and of +floriculture, that of his two affections he felt most +strongly inclined to regret the loss of Rosa; and when, at +about three in the morning, he fell asleep overcome with +fatigue, and harassed with remorse, the grand black tulip +yielded precedence in his dreams to the sweet blue eyes of +the fair maid of Friesland. + + + + +Chapter 19 + +The Maid and the Flower + + +But poor Rosa, in her secluded chamber, could not have known +of whom or of what Cornelius was dreaming. + +From what he had said she was more ready to believe that he +dreamed of the black tulip than of her; and yet Rosa was +mistaken. + +But as there was no one to tell her so, and as the words of +Cornelius's thoughtless speech had fallen upon her heart +like drops of poison, she did not dream, but she wept. + +The fact was, that, as Rosa was a high-spirited creature, of +no mean perception and a noble heart, she took a very clear +and judicious view of her own social position, if not of her +moral and physical qualities. + +Cornelius was a scholar, and was wealthy, -- at least he had +been before the confiscation of his property; Cornelius +belonged to the merchant-bourgeoisie, who were prouder of +their richly emblazoned shop signs than the hereditary +nobility of their heraldic bearings. Therefore, although he +might find Rosa a pleasant companion for the dreary hours of +his captivity, when it came to a question of bestowing his +heart it was almost certain that he would bestow it upon a +tulip, -- that is to say, upon the proudest and noblest of +flowers, rather than upon poor Rosa, the jailer's lowly +child. + +Thus Rosa understood Cornelius's preference of the tulip to +herself, but was only so much the more unhappy therefor. + +During the whole of this terrible night the poor girl did +not close an eye, and before she rose in the morning she had +come to the resolution of making her appearance at the +grated window no more. + +But as she knew with what ardent desire Cornelius looked +forward to the news about his tulip; and as, notwithstanding +her determination not to see any more a man her pity for +whose fate was fast growing into love, she did not, on the +other hand, wish to drive him to despair, she resolved to +continue by herself the reading and writing lessons; and, +fortunately, she had made sufficient progress to dispense +with the help of a master when the master was not to be +Cornelius. + +Rosa therefore applied herself most diligently to reading +poor Cornelius de Witt's Bible, on the second fly leaf of +which the last will of Cornelius van Baerle was written. + +"Alas!" she muttered, when perusing again this document, +which she never finished without a tear, the pearl of love, +rolling from her limpid eyes on her pale cheeks -- "alas! at +that time I thought for one moment he loved me." + +Poor Rosa! she was mistaken. Never had the love of the +prisoner been more sincere than at the time at which we are +now arrived, when in the contest between the black tulip and +Rosa the tulip had had to yield to her the first and +foremost place in Cornelius's heart. + +But Rosa was not aware of it. + +Having finished reading, she took her pen, and began with as +laudable diligence the by far more difficult task of +writing. + +As, however, Rosa was already able to write a legible hand +when Cornelius so uncautiously opened his heart, she did not +despair of progressing quickly enough to write, after eight +days at the latest, to the prisoner an account of his tulip. + +She had not forgotten one word of the directions given to +her by Cornelius, whose speeches she treasured in her heart, +even when they did not take the shape of directions. + +He, on his part, awoke deeper in love than ever. The tulip, +indeed, was still a luminous and prominent object in his +mind; but he no longer looked upon it as a treasure to which +he ought to sacrifice everything, and even Rosa, but as a +marvellous combination of nature and art with which he would +have been happy to adorn the bosom of his beloved one. + +Yet during the whole of that day he was haunted with a vague +uneasiness, at the bottom of which was the fear lest Rosa +should not come in the evening to pay him her usual visit. +This thought took more and more hold of him, until at the +approach of evening his whole mind was absorbed in it. + +How his heart beat when darkness closed in! The words which +he had said to Rosa on the evening before and which had so +deeply afflicted her, now came back to his mind more vividly +than ever, and he asked himself how he could have told his +gentle comforter to sacrifice him to his tulip, -- that is +to say, to give up seeing him, if need be, -- whereas to him +the sight of Rosa had become a condition of life. + +In Cornelius's cell one heard the chimes of the clock of the +fortress. It struck seven, it struck eight, it struck nine. +Never did the metal voice vibrate more forcibly through the +heart of any man than did the last stroke, marking the ninth +hour, through the heart of Cornelius. + +All was then silent again. Cornelius put his hand on his +heart, to repress as it were its violent palpitation, and +listened. + +The noise of her footstep, the rustling of her gown on the +staircase, were so familiar to his ear, that she had no +sooner mounted one step than he used to say to himself, -- + +"Here comes Rosa." + +This evening none of those little noises broke the silence +of the lobby, the clock struck nine, and a quarter; the +half-hour, then a quarter to ten, and at last its deep tone +announced, not only to the inmates of the fortress, but also +to all the inhabitants of Loewestein, that it was ten. + +This was the hour at which Rosa generally used to leave +Cornelius. The hour had struck, but Rosa had not come. + +Thus then his foreboding had not deceived him; Rosa, being +vexed, shut herself up in her room and left him to himself. + +"Alas!" he thought, "I have deserved all this. She will come +no more, and she is right in staying away; in her place I +should do just the same." + +Yet notwithstanding all this, Cornelius listened, waited, +and hoped until midnight, then he threw himself upon the +bed, with his clothes on. + +It was a long and sad night for him, and the day brought no +hope to the prisoner. + +At eight in the morning, the door of his cell opened; but +Cornelius did not even turn his head; he had heard the heavy +step of Gryphus in the lobby, but this step had perfectly +satisfied the prisoner that his jailer was coming alone. + +Thus Cornelius did not even look at Gryphus. + +And yet he would have been so glad to draw him out, and to +inquire about Rosa. He even very nearly made this inquiry, +strange as it would needs have appeared to her father. To +tell the truth, there was in all this some selfish hope to +hear from Gryphus that his daughter was ill. + +Except on extraordinary occasions, Rosa never came during +the day. Cornelius therefore did not really expect her as +long as the day lasted. Yet his sudden starts, his listening +at the door, his rapid glances at every little noise towards +the grated window, showed clearly that the prisoner +entertained some latent hope that Rosa would, somehow or +other, break her rule. + +At the second visit of Gryphus, Cornelius, contrary to all +his former habits, asked the old jailer, with the most +winning voice, about her health; but Gryphus contented +himself with giving the laconical answer, -- + +"All's well." + +At the third visit of the day, Cornelius changed his former +inquiry: -- + +"I hope nobody is ill at Loewestein?" + +"Nobody," replied, even more laconically, the jailer, +shutting the door before the nose of the prisoner. + +Gryphus, being little used to this sort of civility on the +part of Cornelius, began to suspect that his prisoner was +about to try and bribe him. + +Cornelius was now alone once more; it was seven o'clock in +the evening, and the anxiety of yesterday returned with +increased intensity. + +But another time the hours passed away without bringing the +sweet vision which lighted up, through the grated window, +the cell of poor Cornelius, and which, in retiring, left +light enough in his heart to last until it came back again. + +Van Baerle passed the night in an agony of despair. On the +following day Gryphus appeared to him even more hideous, +brutal, and hateful than usual; in his mind, or rather in +his heart, there had been some hope that it was the old man +who prevented his daughter from coming. + +In his wrath he would have strangled Gryphus, but would not +this have separated him for ever from Rosa? + +The evening closing in, his despair changed into melancholy, +which was the more gloomy as, involuntarily, Van Baerle +mixed up with it the thought of his poor tulip. It was now +just that week in April which the most experienced gardeners +point out as the precise time when tulips ought to be +planted. He had said to Rosa, -- + +"I shall tell you the day when you are to put the bulb in +the ground." + +He had intended to fix, at the vainly hoped for interview, +the following day as the time for that momentous operation. +The weather was propitious; the air, though still damp, +began to be tempered by those pale rays of the April sun +which, being the first, appear so congenial, although so +pale. How if Rosa allowed the right moment for planting the +bulb to pass by, -- if, in addition to the grief of seeing +her no more, he should have to deplore the misfortune of +seeing his tulip fail on account of its having been planted +too late, or of its not having been planted at all! + +These two vexations combined might well make him leave off +eating and drinking. + +This was the case on the fourth day. + +It was pitiful to see Cornelius, dumb with grief, and pale +from utter prostration, stretch out his head through the +iron bars of his window, at the risk of not being able to +draw it back again, to try and get a glimpse of the garden +on the left spoken of by Rosa, who had told him that its +parapet overlooked the river. He hoped that perhaps he might +see, in the light of the April sun, Rosa or the tulip, the +two lost objects of his love. + +In the evening, Gryphus took away the breakfast and dinner +of Cornelius, who had scarcely touched them. + +On the following day he did not touch them at all, and +Gryphus carried the dishes away just as he had brought them. + +Cornelius had remained in bed the whole day. + +"Well," said Gryphus, coming down from the last visit, "I +think we shall soon get rid of our scholar." + +Rosa was startled. + +"Nonsense!" said Jacob. "What do you mean?" + +"He doesn't drink, he doesn't eat, he doesn't leave his bed. +He will get out of it, like Mynheer Grotius, in a chest, +only the chest will be a coffin." + +Rosa grew pale as death. + +"Ah!" she said to herself, "he is uneasy about his tulip." + +And, rising with a heavy heart, she returned to her chamber, +where she took a pen and paper, and during the whole of that +night busied herself with tracing letters. + +On the following morning, when Cornelius got up to drag +himself to the window, he perceived a paper which had been +slipped under the door. + +He pounced upon it, opened it, and read the following words, +in a handwriting which he could scarcely have recognized as +that of Rosa, so much had she improved during her short +absence of seven days, -- + +"Be easy; your tulip is going on well." + +Although these few words of Rosa's somewhat soothed the +grief of Cornelius, yet he felt not the less the irony which +was at the bottom of them. Rosa, then, was not ill, she was +offended; she had not been forcibly prevented from coming, +but had voluntarily stayed away. Thus Rosa, being at +liberty, found in her own will the force not to come and see +him, who was dying with grief at not having seen her. + +Cornelius had paper and a pencil which Rosa had brought to +him. He guessed that she expected an answer, but that she +would not come before the evening to fetch it. He therefore +wrote on a piece of paper, similar to that which he had +received, -- + +"It was not my anxiety about the tulip that has made me ill, +but the grief at not seeing you." + +After Gryphus had made his last visit of the day, and +darkness had set in, he slipped the paper under the door, +and listened with the most intense attention, but he neither +heard Rosa's footsteps nor the rustling of her gown. + +He only heard a voice as feeble as a breath, and gentle like +a caress, which whispered through the grated little window +in the door the word, -- + +"To-morrow!" + +Now to-morrow was the eighth day. For eight days Cornelius +and Rosa had not seen each other. + + + + +Chapter 20 + +The Events which took place during those Eight Days + + +On the following evening, at the usual hour, Van Baerle +heard some one scratch at the grated little window, just as +Rosa had been in the habit of doing in the heyday of their +friendship. + +Cornelius being, as may easily be imagined, not far off from +the door, perceived Rosa, who at last was waiting again for +him with her lamp in her hand. + +Seeing him so sad and pale, she was startled, and said, -- + +"You are ill, Mynheer Cornelius?" + +"Yes, I am," he answered, as indeed he was suffering in mind +and in body. + +"I saw that you did not eat," said Rosa; "my father told me +that you remained in bed all day. I then wrote to calm your +uneasiness concerning the fate of the most precious object +of your anxiety." + +"And I," said Cornelius, "I have answered. Seeing your +return, my dear Rosa, I thought you had received my letter." + +"It is true; I have received it." + +"You cannot this time excuse yourself with not being able to +read. Not only do you read very fluently, but also you have +made marvellous progress in writing." + +"Indeed, I have not only received, but also read your note. +Accordingly I am come to see whether there might not be some +remedy to restore you to health." + +"Restore me to health?" cried Cornelius; "but have you any +good news to communicate to me?" + +Saying this, the poor prisoner looked at Rosa, his eyes +sparkling with hope. + +Whether she did not, or would not, understand this look, +Rosa answered gravely, -- + +"I have only to speak to you about your tulip, which, as I +well know, is the object uppermost in your mind." + +Rosa pronounced those few words in a freezing tone, which +cut deeply into the heart of Cornelius. He did not suspect +what lay hidden under this appearance of indifference with +which the poor girl affected to speak of her rival, the +black tulip. + +"Oh!" muttered Cornelius, "again! again! Have I not told +you, Rosa, that I thought but of you? that it was you alone +whom I regretted, you whom I missed, you whose absence I +felt more than the loss of liberty and of life itself?" + +Rosa smiled with a melancholy air. + +"Ah!" she said, "your tulip has been in such danger." + +Cornelius trembled involuntarily, and showed himself clearly +to be caught in the trap, if ever the remark was meant as +such. + +"Danger!" he cried, quite alarmed; "what danger?" + +Rosa looked at him with gentle compassion; she felt that +what she wished was beyond the power of this man, and that +he must be taken as he was, with his little foible. + +"Yes," she said, "you have guessed the truth; that suitor +and amorous swain, Jacob, did not come on my account." + +"And what did he come for?" Cornelius anxiously asked. + +"He came for the sake of the tulip." + +"Alas!" said Cornelius, growing even paler at this piece of +information than he had been when Rosa, a fortnight before, +had told him that Jacob was coming for her sake. + +Rosa saw this alarm, and Cornelius guessed, from the +expression of her face, in what direction her thoughts were +running. + +"Oh, pardon me, Rosa!" he said, "I know you, and I am well +aware of the kindness and sincerity of your heart. To you +God has given the thought and strength for defending +yourself; but to my poor tulip, when it is in danger, God +has given nothing of the sort." + +Rosa, without replying to this excuse of the prisoner, +continued, -- + +"From the moment when I first knew that you were uneasy on +account of the man who followed me, and in whom I had +recognized Jacob, I was even more uneasy myself. On the day, +therefore, after that on which I saw you last, and on which +you said -- " + +Cornelius interrupted her. + +"Once more, pardon me, Rosa!" he cried. "I was wrong in +saying to you what I said. I have asked your pardon for that +unfortunate speech before. I ask it again: shall I always +ask it in vain?" + +"On the following day," Rosa continued, "remembering what +you had told me about the stratagem which I was to employ to +ascertain whether that odious man was after the tulip, or +after me ---- " + +"Yes, yes, odious. Tell me," he said, "do you hate that +man?" + +"I do hate him," said Rosa, "as he is the cause of all the +unhappiness I have suffered these eight days." + +"You, too, have been unhappy, Rosa? I thank you a thousand +times for this kind confession." + +"Well, on the day after that unfortunate one, I went down +into the garden and proceeded towards the border where I was +to plant your tulip, looking round all the while to see +whether I was again followed as I was last time." + +"And then?" Cornelius asked. + +"And then the same shadow glided between the gate and the +wall, and once more disappeared behind the elder-trees." + +"You feigned not to see him, didn't you?" Cornelius asked, +remembering all the details of the advice which he had given +to Rosa. + +"Yes, and I stooped over the border, in which I dug with a +spade, as if I was going to put the bulb in." + +"And he, -- what did he do during all this time?" + +"I saw his eyes glisten through the branches of the tree +like those of a tiger." + +"There you see, there you see!" cried Cornelius. + +"Then, after having finished my make-believe work, I +retired." + +"But only behind the garden door, I dare say, so that you +might see through the keyhole what he was going to do when +you had left?" + +"He waited for a moment, very likely to make sure of my not +coming back, after which he sneaked forth from his +hiding-place, and approached the border by a long +round-about; at last, having reached his goal, that is to +say, the spot where the ground was newly turned, he stopped +with a careless air, looking about in all directions, and +scanning every corner of the garden, every window of the +neighbouring houses, and even the sky; after which, thinking +himself quite alone, quite isolated, and out of everybody's +sight, he pounced upon the border, plunged both his hands +into the soft soil, took a handful of the mould, which he +gently frittered between his fingers to see whether the bulb +was in it, and repeated the same thing twice or three times, +until at last he perceived that he was outwitted. Then, +keeping down the agitation which was raging in his breast, +he took up the rake, smoothed the ground, so as to leave it +on his retiring in the same state as he had found it, and, +quite abashed and rueful, walked back to the door, affecting +the unconcerned air of an ordinary visitor of the garden." + +"Oh, the wretch!" muttered Cornelius, wiping the cold sweat +from his brow. "Oh, the wretch! I guessed his intentions. +But the bulb, Rosa; what have you done with it? It is +already rather late to plant it." + +"The bulb? It has been in the ground for these six days." + +"Where? and how?" cried Cornelius. "Good Heaven, what +imprudence! What is it? In what sort of soil is it? In what +aspect? Good or bad? Is there no risk of having it filched +by that detestable Jacob?" + +"There is no danger of its being stolen," said Rosa, "unless +Jacob will force the door of my chamber." + +"Oh! then it is with you in your bedroom?" said Cornelius, +somewhat relieved. "But in what soil? in what vessel? You +don't let it grow, I hope, in water like those good ladies +of Haarlem and Dort, who imagine that water could replace +the earth?" + +"You may make yourself comfortable on that score," said +Rosa, smiling; "your bulb is not growing in water." + +"I breathe again." + +"It is in a good, sound stone pot, just about the size of +the jug in which you had planted yours. The soil is composed +of three parts of common mould, taken from the best spot of +the garden, and one of the sweepings of the road. I have +heard you and that detestable Jacob, as you call him, so +often talk about what is the soil best fitted for growing +tulips, that I know it as well as the first gardener of +Haarlem." + +"And now what is the aspect, Rosa?" + +"At present it has the sun all day long, -- that is to say +when the sun shines. But when it once peeps out of the +ground, I shall do as you have done here, dear Mynheer +Cornelius: I shall put it out of my window on the eastern +side from eight in the morning until eleven and in my window +towards the west from three to five in the afternoon." + +"That's it! that's it!" cried Cornelius; "and you are a +perfect gardener, my pretty Rosa. But I am afraid the +nursing of my tulip will take up all your time." + +"Yes, it will," said Rosa; "but never mind. Your tulip is my +daughter. I shall devote to it the same time as I should to +a child of mine, if I were a mother. Only by becoming its +mother," Rosa added, smilingly, "can I cease to be its +rival." + +"My kind and pretty Rosa!" muttered Cornelius casting on her +a glance in which there was much more of the lover than of +the gardener, and which afforded Rosa some consolation. + +Then, after a silence of some moments, during which +Cornelius had grasped through the openings of the grating +for the receding hand of Rosa, he said, -- + +"Do you mean to say that the bulb has now been in the ground +for six days?" + +"Yes, six days, Mynheer Cornelius," she answered. + +"And it does not yet show leaf" + +"No, but I think it will to-morrow." + +"Well, then, to-morrow you will bring me news about it, and +about yourself, won't you, Rosa? I care very much for the +daughter, as you called it just now, but I care even much +more for the mother." + +"To-morrow?" said Rosa, looking at Cornelius askance. "I +don't know whether I shall be able to come to-morrow." + +"Good heavens!" said Cornelius, "why can't you come +to-morrow?" + +"Mynheer Cornelius, I have lots of things to do." + +"And I have only one," muttered Cornelius. + +"Yes," said Rosa, "to love your tulip." + +"To love you, Rosa." + +Rosa shook her head, after which followed a pause. + +"Well," -- Cornelius at last broke the silence, -- "well, +Rosa, everything changes in the realm of nature; the flowers +of spring are succeeded by other flowers; and the bees, +which so tenderly caressed the violets and the wall-flowers, +will flutter with just as much love about the honey-suckles, +the rose, the jessamine, and the carnation." + +"What does all this mean?" asked Rosa. + +"You have abandoned me, Miss Rosa, to seek your pleasure +elsewhere. You have done well, and I will not complain. What +claim have I to your fidelity?" + +"My fidelity!" Rosa exclaimed, with her eyes full of tears, +and without caring any longer to hide from Cornelius this +dew of pearls dropping on her cheeks, "my fidelity! have I +not been faithful to you?" + +"Do you call it faithful to desert me, and to leave me here +to die?" + +"But, Mynheer Cornelius," said Rosa, "am I not doing +everything for you that could give you pleasure? have I not +devoted myself to your tulip?" + +"You are bitter, Rosa, you reproach me with the only +unalloyed pleasure which I have had in this world." + +"I reproach you with nothing, Mynheer Cornelius, except, +perhaps, with the intense grief which I felt when people +came to tell me at the Buytenhof that you were about to be +put to death." + +"You are displeased, Rosa, my sweet girl, with my loving +flowers." + +"I am not displeased with your loving them, Mynheer +Cornelius, only it makes me sad to think that you love them +better than you do me." + +"Oh, my dear, dear Rosa! look how my hands tremble; look at +my pale cheek, hear how my heart beats. It is for you, my +love, not for the black tulip. Destroy the bulb, destroy the +germ of that flower, extinguish the gentle light of that +innocent and delightful dream, to which I have accustomed +myself; but love me, Rosa, love me; for I feel deeply that I +love but you." + +"Yes, after the black tulip," sighed Rosa, who at last no +longer coyly withdrew her warm hands from the grating, as +Cornelius most affectionately kissed them. + +"Above and before everything in this world, Rosa." + +"May I believe you?" + +"As you believe in your own existence." + +"Well, then, be it so; but loving me does not bind you too +much." + +"Unfortunately, it does not bind me more than I am bound; +but it binds you, Rosa, you." + +"To what?" + +"First of all, not to marry." + +She smiled. + +"That's your way," she said; "you are tyrants all of you. +You worship a certain beauty, you think of nothing but her. +Then you are condemned to death, and whilst walking to the +scaffold, you devote to her your last sigh; and now you +expect poor me to sacrifice to you all my dreams and my +happiness." + +"But who is the beauty you are talking of, Rosa?" said +Cornelius, trying in vain to remember a woman to whom Rosa +might possibly be alluding. + +"The dark beauty with a slender waist, small feet, and a +noble head; in short, I am speaking of your flower." + +Cornelius smiled. + +"That is an imaginary lady love, at all events; whereas, +without counting that amorous Jacob, you by your own account +are surrounded with all sorts of swains eager to make love +to you. Do you remember Rosa, what you told me of the +students, officers, and clerks of the Hague? Are there no +clerks, officers, or students at Loewestein?" + +"Indeed there are, and lots of them." + +"Who write letters?" + +"They do write." + +"And now, as you know how to read ---- " + +Here Cornelius heaved a sigh at the thought, that, poor +captive as he was, to him alone Rosa owed the faculty of +reading the love-letters which she received. + +"As to that," said Rosa, "I think that in reading the notes +addressed to me, and passing the different swains in review +who send them to me, I am only following your instructions." + +"How so? My instructions?" + +"Indeed, your instructions, sir," said Rosa, sighing in her +turn; "have you forgotten the will written by your hand on +the Bible of Cornelius de Witt? I have not forgotten it; for +now, as I know how to read, I read it every day over and +over again. In that will you bid me to love and marry a +handsome young man of twenty-six or eight years. I am on the +look-out for that young man, and as the whole of my day is +taken up with your tulip, you must needs leave me the +evenings to find him." + +"But, Rosa, the will was made in the expectation of death, +and, thanks to Heaven, I am still alive." + +"Well, then, I shall not be after the handsome young man, +and I shall come to see you." + +"That's it, Rosa, come! come!" + +"Under one condition." + +"Granted beforehand!" + +"That the black tulip shall not be mentioned for the next +three days." + +"It shall never be mentioned any more, if you wish it, +Rosa." + +"No, no," the damsel said, laughing, "I will not ask for +impossibilities." + +And, saying this, she brought her fresh cheek, as if +unconsciously, so near the iron grating, that Cornelius was +able to touch it with his lips. + +Rosa uttered a little scream, which, however, was full of +love, and disappeared. + + + + +Chapter 21 + +The Second Bulb + + +The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day +happier still. + +During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, +and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the +unfortunate captive. Its walls were black, its air chilling, +the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light. + +But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning +sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering +about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly +cooing on the roof or near the still closed window. + +Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him +as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering +with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, +was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love. + +When Gryphus, therefore, came to see his prisoner in the +morning, he no longer found him morose and lying in bed, but +standing at the window, and singing a little ditty. + +"Halloa!" exclaimed the jailer. + +"How are you this morning?" asked Cornelius. + +Gryphus looked at him with a scowl. + +"And how is the dog, and Master Jacob, and our pretty Rosa?" + +Gryphus ground his teeth, saying. -- + +"Here is your breakfast." + +"Thank you, friend Cerberus," said the prisoner; "you are +just in time; I am very hungry." + +"Oh! you are hungry, are you?" said Gryphus. + +"And why not?" asked Van Baerle. + +"The conspiracy seems to thrive," remarked Gryphus. + +"What conspiracy?" + +"Very well, I know what I know, Master Scholar; just be +quiet, we shall be on our guard." + +"Be on your guard, friend Gryphus; be on your guard as long +as you please; my conspiracy, as well as my person, is +entirely at your service." + +"We'll see that at noon." + +Saying this, Gryphus went out. + +"At noon?" repeated Cornelius; "what does that mean? Well, +let us wait until the clock strikes twelve, and we shall +see." + +It was very easy for Cornelius to wait for twelve at midday, +as he was already waiting for nine at night. + +It struck twelve, and there were heard on the staircase not +only the steps of Gryphus, but also those of three or four +soldiers, who were coming up with him. + +The door opened. Gryphus entered, led his men in, and shut +the door after them. + +"There, now search!" + +They searched not only the pockets of Cornelius, but even +his person; yet they found nothing. + +They then searched the sheets, the mattress, and the straw +mattress of his bed; and again they found nothing. + +Now, Cornelius rejoiced that he had not taken the third +sucker under his own care. Gryphus would have been sure to +ferret it out in the search, and would then have treated it +as he did the first. + +And certainly never did prisoner look with greater +complacency at a search made in his cell than Cornelius. + +Gryphus retired with the pencil and the two or three leaves +of white paper which Rosa had given to Van Baerle, this was +the only trophy brought back from the expedition. + +At six Gryphus came back again, but alone; Cornelius tried +to propitiate him, but Gryphus growled, showed a large tooth +like a tusk, which he had in the corner of his mouth, and +went out backwards, like a man who is afraid of being +attacked from behind. + +Cornelius burst out laughing, to which Gryphus answered +through the grating, -- + +"Let him laugh that wins." + +The winner that day was Cornelius; Rosa came at nine. + +She was without a lantern. She needed no longer a light, as +she could now read. Moreover, the light might betray her, as +Jacob was dogging her steps more than ever. And lastly, the +light would have shown her blushes. + +Of what did the young people speak that evening? Of those +matters of which lovers speak at the house doors in France, +or from a balcony into the street in Spain, or down from a +terrace into a garden in the East. + +They spoke of those things which give wings to the hours; +they spoke of everything except the black tulip. + +At last, when the clock struck ten, they parted as usual. + +Cornelius was happy, as thoroughly happy as a tulip-fancier +would be to whom one has not spoken of his tulip. + +He found Rosa pretty, good, graceful, and charming. + +But why did Rosa object to the tulip being spoken of? + +This was indeed a great defect in Rosa. + +Cornelius confessed to himself, sighing, that woman was not +perfect. + +Part of the night he thought of this imperfection; that is +to say, so long as he was awake he thought of Rosa. + +After having fallen asleep, he dreamed of her. + +But the Rosa of his dreams was by far more perfect than the +Rosa of real life. Not only did the Rosa of his dreams speak +of the tulip, but also brought to him a black one in a china +vase. + +Cornelius then awoke, trembling with joy, and muttering, -- + +"Rosa, Rosa, I love you." + +And as it was already day, he thought it right not to fall +asleep again, and he continued following up the line of +thought in which his mind was engaged when he awoke. + +Ah! if Rosa had only conversed about the tulip, Cornelius +would have preferred her to Queen Semiramis, to Queen +Cleopatra, to Queen Elizabeth, to Queen Anne of Austria; +that is to say, to the greatest or most beautiful queens +whom the world has seen. + +But Rosa had forbidden it under pain of not returning; Rosa +had forbidden the least mention of the tulip for three days. +That meant seventy-two hours given to the lover to be sure; +but it was seventy-two hours stolen from the horticulturist. + +There was one consolation: of the seventy-two hours during +which Rosa would not allow the tulip to be mentioned, +thirty-six had passed already; and the remaining thirty-six +would pass quickly enough: eighteen with waiting for the +evening's interview, and eighteen with rejoicing in its +remembrance. + +Rosa came at the same hour, and Cornelius submitted most +heroically to the pangs which the compulsory silence +concerning the tulip gave him. + +His fair visitor, however, was well aware that, to command +on the one point, people must yield on another; she +therefore no longer drew back her hands from the grating, +and even allowed Cornelius tenderly to kiss her beautiful +golden tresses. + +Poor girl! she had no idea that these playful little lovers' +tricks were much more dangerous than speaking of the tulip +was; but she became aware of the fact as she returned with a +beating heart, with glowing cheeks, dry lips, and moist +eyes. + +And on the following evening, after the first exchange of +salutations, she retired a step, looking at him with a +glance, the expression of which would have rejoiced his +heart could he but have seen it. + +"Well," she said, "she is up." + +"She is up! Who? What?" asked Cornelius, who did not venture +on a belief that Rosa would, of her own accord, have +abridged the term of his probation. + +"She? Well, my daughter, the tulip," said Rosa. + +"What!" cried Cornelius, "you give me permission, then?" + +"I do," said Rosa, with the tone of an affectionate mother +who grants a pleasure to her child. + +"Ah, Rosa!" said Cornelius, putting his lips to the grating +with the hope of touching a cheek, a hand, a forehead, -- +anything, in short. + +He touched something much better, -- two warm and half open +lips. + +Rosa uttered a slight scream. + +Cornelius understood that he must make haste to continue the +conversation. He guessed that this unexpected kiss had +frightened Rosa. + +"Is it growing up straight?" + +"Straight as a rocket," said Rosa. + +"How high?" + +"At least two inches." + +"Oh, Rosa, take good care of it, and we shall soon see it +grow quickly." + +"Can I take more care of it?" said she. "Indeed, I think of +nothing else but the tulip." + +"Of nothing else, Rosa? Why, now I shall grow jealous in my +turn." + +"Oh, you know that to think of the tulip is to think of you; +I never lose sight of it. I see it from my bed, on awaking +it is the first object that meets my eyes, and on falling +asleep the last on which they rest. During the day I sit and +work by its side, for I have never left my chamber since I +put it there." + +"You are right Rosa, it is your dowry, you know." + +"Yes, and with it I may marry a young man of twenty-six or +twenty-eight years, whom I shall be in love with." + +"Don't talk in that way, you naughty girl." + +That evening Cornelius was one of the happiest of men. Rosa +allowed him to press her hand in his, and to keep it as long +as he would, besides which he might talk of his tulip as +much as he liked. + +From that hour every day marked some progress in the growth +of the tulip and in the affection of the two young people. + +At one time it was that the leaves had expanded, and at +another that the flower itself had formed. + +Great was the joy of Cornelius at this news, and his +questions succeeded one another with a rapidity which gave +proof of their importance. + +"Formed!" exclaimed Cornelius, "is it really formed?" + +"It is," repeated Rosa. + +Cornelius trembled with joy, so much so that he was obliged +to hold by the grating. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed. + +Then, turning again to Rosa, he continued his questions. + +"Is the oval regular? the cylinder full? and are the points +very green?" + +"The oval is almost one inch long, and tapers like a needle, +the cylinder swells at the sides, and the points are ready +to open." + +Two days after Rosa announced that they were open. + +"Open, Rosa!" cried Cornelius. "Is the involucrum open? but +then one may see and already distinguish ---- " + +Here the prisoner paused, anxiously taking breath. + +"Yes," answered Rosa, "one may already distinguish a thread +of different colour, as thin as a hair." + +"And its colour?" asked Cornelius, trembling. + +"Oh," answered Rosa, "it is very dark!" + +"Brown?" + +"Darker than that." + +"Darker, my good Rosa, darker? Thank you. Dark as ---- " + +"Dark as the ink with which I wrote to you." + +Cornelius uttered a cry of mad joy. + +Then, suddenly stopping and clasping his hands, he said, -- + +"Oh, there is not an angel in heaven that may be compared to +you, Rosa!" + +"Indeed!" said Rosa, smiling at his enthusiasm. + +"Rosa, you have worked with such ardour, -- you have done so +much for me! Rosa, my tulip is about to flower, and it will +flower black! Rosa, Rosa, you are the most perfect being on +earth!" + +"After the tulip, though." + +"Ah! be quiet, you malicious little creature, be quiet! For +shame! Do not spoil my pleasure. But tell me, Rosa, -- as +the tulip is so far advanced, it will flower in two or three +days, at the latest?" + +"To-morrow, or the day after." + +"Ah! and I shall not see it," cried Cornelius, starting +back, "I shall not kiss it, as a wonderful work of the +Almighty, as I kiss your hand and your cheek, Rosa, when by +chance they are near the grating." + +Rosa drew near, not by accident, but intentionally, and +Cornelius kissed her tenderly. + +"Faith, I shall cull it, if you wish it." + +"Oh, no, no, Rosa! when it is open, place it carefully in +the shade, and immediately send a message to Haarlem, to the +President of the Horticultural Society, that the grand black +tulip is in flower. I know well it is far to Haarlem, but +with money you will find a messenger. Have you any money, +Rosa?" + +Rosa smiled. + +"Oh, yes!" she said. + +"Enough?" said Cornelius. + +"I have three hundred guilders." + +"Oh, if you have three hundred guilders, you must not send a +messenger, Rosa, but you must go to Haarlem yourself." + +"But what in the meantime is to become of the flower?" + +"Oh, the flower! you must take it with you. You understand +that you must not separate from it for an instant." + +"But whilst I am not separating from it, I am separating +from you, Mynheer Cornelius." + +"Ah! that's true, my sweet Rosa. Oh, my God! how wicked men +are! What have I done to offend them, and why have they +deprived me of my liberty? You are right, Rosa, I cannot +live without you. Well, you will send some one to Haarlem, +-- that's settled; really, the matter is wonderful enough +for the President to put himself to some trouble. He will +come himself to Loewestein to see the tulip." + +Then, suddenly checking himself, he said, with a faltering +voice, -- + +"Rosa, Rosa, if after all it should not flower black!" + +"Oh, surely, surely, you will know to-morrow, or the day +after." + +"And to wait until evening to know it, Rosa! I shall die +with impatience. Could we not agree about a signal?" + +"I shall do better than that." + +"What will you do?" + +"If it opens at night, I shall come and tell you myself. If +it is day, I shall pass your door, and slip you a note +either under the door, or through the grating, during the +time between my father's first and second inspection." + +"Yes, Rosa, let it be so. One word of yours, announcing this +news to me, will be a double happiness." + +"There, ten o'clock strikes," said Rosa, "I must now leave +you." + +"Yes, yes," said Cornelius, "go, Rosa, go!" + +Rosa withdrew, almost melancholy, for Cornelius had all but +sent her away. + +It is true that he did so in order that she might watch over +his black tulip. + + + + +Chapter 22 + +The Opening of the Flower + + +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 over the tulip; she had before her eyes that +noble flower, that wonder of wonders, which not only was +unknown, but was not even thought possible until then. + +What would the world say when it heard that the black tulip +was found, that it existed and that it was the prisoner Van +Baerle who had found it? + +How Cornelius would have spurned the offer of his liberty in +exchange for his tulip! + +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 cheerful as a bird. + +"Well?" asked Cornelius. + +"Well, all is going on prosperously. This night, without any +doubt, our tulip will be in flower." + +"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 first place of you," (Rosa made a sign of +incredulity,) "and then of what we must do." + +"Well?" + +"Well, and I will tell you now what I have decided on. The +tulip once being in flower, and it being quite certain that +it is perfectly black, you must find a messenger." + +"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 twenty-five." + +"By Jove!" + +"Be quiet," said Rosa, smiling, "he is still under age, as +you have yourself fixed it from twenty-six to twenty-eight." + +"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 bade him." + +"Well, Rosa, this lad may be at Haarlem in ten hours; you +will give me paper and pencil, and, perhaps better still, +pen and ink, and I will write, or rather, on second +thoughts, you will, for if I did, being a poor prisoner, +people might, like your father, see a conspiracy in it. You +will write to the President of the Horticultural Society, +and I am sure he will come." + +"But if he tarries?" + +"Well, let us suppose that he tarries one day, or even two; +but it is impossible. A tulip-fancier like him will not +tarry one hour, not one minute, not one second, to set out +to see the eighth wonder of the world. But, as I said, if he +tarried one or even two days, the tulip will still be in its +full splendour. The flower once being seen by the President, +and the protocol being drawn up, all is in order; you will +only keep a duplicate of the protocol, and intrust the tulip +to him. Ah! if we had been able to carry it ourselves, Rosa, +it would never have left my hands but to pass into yours; +but this is a dream, which we must not entertain," continued +Cornelius with a sigh, "the eyes of strangers will see it +flower to the last. And above all, Rosa, before the +President has seen it, let it not be seen by any one. Alas! +if any one saw the black tulip, it would be stolen." + +"Oh!" + +"Did you not tell me yourself of what you apprehended from +your lover Jacob? People will steal one guilder, why not a +hundred thousand?" + +"I shall watch; be quiet." + +"But if it opened whilst you were here?" + +"The whimsical little thing would indeed be quite capable of +playing such a trick," said Rosa. + +"And if on your return you find it open?" + +"Well?" + +"Oh, Rosa, whenever it opens, remember that not a moment +must be lost in apprising the President." + +"And in apprising you. Yes, I understand." + +Rosa sighed, yet without any bitter feeling, but rather like +a woman who begins to understand a foible, and to accustom +herself to it. + +"I return to your tulip, Mynheer van Baerle, and as soon as +it opens I will give you news, which being done the +messenger will set out immediately." + +"Rosa, Rosa, I don't know to what wonder under the sun I +shall compare you." + +"Compare me to the black tulip, and I promise you I shall +feel very much flattered. Good night, then, till we meet +again, Mynheer Cornelius." + +"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 herself with happiness. + +"And now that you have said 'very dear,' dear Rosa, say also +'most happy': say 'happier and more blessed than ever man +was under the sun.' I only lack one thing, Rosa." + +"And that is?" + +"Your cheek, -- your fresh cheek, your soft, rosy cheek. Oh, +Rosa, give it me of your own free will, and not by chance. +Ah!" + +The prisoner's prayer ended in a sigh of ecstasy; his lips +met those of the maiden, -- not by chance, nor by stratagem, +but as Saint-Preux's was to meet the lips of Julie a hundred +years later. + +Rosa made her escape. + +Cornelius stood with his heart upon his lips, and his face +glued to the wicket in the door. + +He was fairly choking with happiness and joy. He opened his +window, and gazed long, with swelling heart, at the +cloudless vault of heaven, and the moon, which shone like +silver upon the two-fold stream flowing from far beyond the +hills. He filled his lungs with the pure, sweet air, while +his brain dwelt upon thoughts of happiness, and his heart +overflowed with gratitude and religious fervour. + +"Oh Thou art always watching from on high, my God," he +cried, half prostrate, his glowing eyes fixed upon the +stars: "forgive me that I almost doubted Thy existence +during these latter days, for Thou didst hide Thy face +behind the clouds, and wert for a moment lost to my sight, O +Thou merciful God, Thou pitying Father everlasting! But +to-day, this evening, and to-night, again I see Thee in all +Thy wondrous glory in the mirror of Thy heavenly abode, and +more clearly still in the mirror of my grateful heart." + +He was well again, the poor invalid; the wretched captive +was free once more. + +During part of the night Cornelius, with his heart full of +joy and delight, remained at his window, gazing at the +stars, and listening for every sound. + +Then casting a glance from time to time towards the lobby, +-- + +"Down there," he said, "is Rosa, watching like myself, and +waiting from minute to minute; down there, under Rosa's +eyes, is the mysterious flower, which lives, which expands, +which opens, perhaps Rosa holds in this moment the stem of +the tulip between her delicate fingers. Touch it gently, +Rosa. Perhaps she touches with her lips its expanding +chalice. Touch it cautiously, Rosa, your lips are burning. +Yes, perhaps at this moment the two objects of my dearest +love caress each other under the eye of Heaven." + +At this moment, a star blazed in the southern sky, and shot +through the whole horizon, falling down, as it were, on the +fortress of Loewestein. + +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 prisoner heard in the lobby a step light as that +of a sylph, and the rustling of a gown, and a well-known +voice, which said to him, -- + +"Cornelius, my friend, my very dear friend, and very happy +friend, come, come quickly." + +Cornelius darted with one spring from the window to the +door, his lips met those of Rosa, who told him, with a kiss, +-- + +"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; here it is, take it." + +And with one hand she raised to the level of the grating a +dark lantern, which she had lit in the meanwhile, whilst +with the other she held to the same height the miraculous +tulip. + +Cornelius uttered a cry, and was nearly fainting. + +"Oh!" muttered he, "my God, my God, Thou dost reward me for +my innocence and my captivity, as Thou hast allowed two such +flowers to grow at the grated window of my prison!" + +The tulip was beautiful, splendid, magnificent; its stem was +more than eighteen inches high; it rose from out of four +green leaves, which were as smooth and straight as iron +lance-heads; the whole of the flower was as black and +shining as jet. + +"Rosa," said Cornelius, almost gasping, "Rosa, there is not +one moment to lose in writing the letter." + +"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 moment. Here is the letter, and tell me +whether you approve of it." + +Cornelius took the letter, and read, in a handwriting which +was much improved even since the last little note he had +received from Rosa, as follows: -- + +"Mynheer President, -- The black tulip is about to open, +perhaps in ten minutes. As soon as it is open, I shall send +a messenger to you, with the request that you will come and +fetch it in person from the fortress at Loewestein. I am the +daughter of the jailer, Gryphus, almost as much of a captive +as the prisoners of my father. I cannot, therefore, bring to +you this wonderful flower. This is the reason why I beg you +to come and fetch it yourself. + +"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 have written it with such beautiful simplicity. +You will give to the committee all the information that will +be required of you. They will then know how the tulip has +been grown, how much care and anxiety, and how many +sleepless nights, it has cost. But for the present not a +minute must be lost. The messenger! the messenger!" + +"What's the name of the President?" + +"Give me the letter, I will direct it. Oh, he is very well +known: it is Mynheer van Systens, the burgomaster of +Haarlem; give it to me, Rosa, give it to me." + +And with a trembling hand Cornelius wrote the address, -- + +"To Mynheer Peter van Systens, Burgomaster, and President of +the Horticultural Society of Haarlem." + +"And now, Rosa, go, go," said Cornelius, "and let us implore +the protection of God, who has so kindly watched over us +until now." + + + + +Chapter 23 + +The Rival + + +And in fact the poor young people were in great need of protection. + +They had never been so near the destruction of their hopes +as at this moment, when they thought themselves certain of +their fulfilment. + +The reader cannot but have recognized in Jacob our old +friend, or rather enemy, Isaac Boxtel, and has guessed, no +doubt, that this worthy had followed from the Buytenhof to +Loewestein the object of his love and the object of his +hatred, -- the black tulip and Cornelius van Baerle. + +What no one but a tulip-fancier, and an envious +tulip-fancier, could have discovered, -- the existence of +the bulbs and the endeavours of the prisoner, -- jealousy +had enabled Boxtel, if not to discover, at least to guess. + +We have seen him, more successful under the name of Jacob +than under that of Isaac, gain the friendship of Gryphus, +which for several months he cultivated by means of the best +Genievre ever distilled from the Texel to Antwerp, and he +lulled the suspicion of the jealous turnkey by holding out +to him the flattering prospect of his designing to marry +Rosa. + +Besides thus offering a bait to the ambition of the father, +he managed, at the same time, to interest his zeal as a +jailer, picturing to him in the blackest colours the learned +prisoner whom Gryphus had in his keeping, and who, as the +sham Jacob had it, was in league with Satan, to the +detriment of his Highness the Prince of Orange. + +At first he had also made some way with Rosa; not, indeed, +in her affections, but inasmuch as, by talking to her of +marriage and of love, he had evaded all the suspicions which +he might otherwise have excited. + +We have seen how his imprudence in following Rosa into the +garden had unmasked him in the eyes of the young damsel, and +how the instinctive fears of Cornelius had put the two +lovers on their guard against him. + +The reader will remember that the first cause of uneasiness +was given to the prisoner by the rage of Jacob when Gryphus +crushed the first bulb. In that moment Boxtel's exasperation +was the more fierce, as, though suspecting that Cornelius +possessed a second bulb, he by no means felt sure of it. + +From that moment he began to dodge the steps of Rosa, not +only following her to the garden, but also to the lobbies. + +Only as this time he followed her in the night, and +bare-footed, he was neither seen nor heard except once, when +Rosa thought she saw something like a shadow on the +staircase. + +Her discovery, however, was made too late, as Boxtel had +heard from the mouth of the prisoner himself that a second +bulb existed. + +Taken in by the stratagem of Rosa, who had feigned to put it +in the ground, and entertaining no doubt that this little +farce had been played in order to force him to betray +himself, he redoubled his precaution, and employed every +means suggested by his crafty nature to watch the others +without being watched himself. + +He saw Rosa conveying a large flower-pot of white +earthenware from her father's kitchen to her bedroom. He saw +Rosa washing in pails of water her pretty little hands, +begrimed as they were with the mould which she had handled, +to give her tulip the best soil possible. + +And at last he hired, just opposite Rosa's window, a little +attic, distant enough not to allow him to be recognized with +the naked eye, but sufficiently near to enable him, with the +help of his telescope, to watch everything that was going on +at the Loewestein in Rosa's room, just as at Dort he had +watched the dry-room of Cornelius. + +He had not been installed more than three days in his attic +before all his doubts were removed. + +From morning to sunset the flower-pot was in the window, +and, like those charming female figures of Mieris and +Metzys, Rosa appeared at that window as in a frame, formed +by the first budding sprays of the wild vine and the +honeysuckle encircling her window. + +Rosa watched the flower-pot with an interest which betrayed +to Boxtel the real value of the object enclosed in it. + +This object could not be anything else but the second bulb, +that is to say, the quintessence of all the hopes of the +prisoner. + +When the nights threatened to be too cold, Rosa took in the +flower-pot. + +Well, it was then quite evident she was following the +instructions of Cornelius, who was afraid of the bulb being +killed by frost. + +When the sun became too hot, Rosa likewise took in the pot +from eleven in the morning until two in the afternoon. + +Another proof: Cornelius was afraid lest the soil should +become too dry. + +But when the first leaves peeped out of the earth Boxtel was +fully convinced; and his telescope left him no longer in any +uncertainty before they had grown one inch in height. + +Cornelius possessed two bulbs, and the second was intrusted +to the love and care of Rosa. + +For it may well be imagined that the tender secret of the +two lovers had not escaped the prying curiosity of Boxtel. + +The question, therefore, was how to wrest the second bulb +from the care of Rosa. + +Certainly this was no easy task. + +Rosa watched over her tulip as a mother over her child, or a +dove over her eggs. + +Rosa never left her room during the day, and, more than +that, strange to say, she never left it in the evening. + +For seven days Boxtel in vain watched Rosa; she was always +at her post. + +This happened during those seven days which made Cornelius +so unhappy, depriving him at the same time of all news of +Rosa and of his tulip. + +Would the coolness between Rosa and Cornelius last for ever? + +This would have made the theft much more difficult than +Mynheer Isaac had at first expected. + +We say the theft, for Isaac had simply made up his mind to +steal the tulip; and as it grew in the most profound +secrecy, and as, moreover, his word, being that of a +renowned tulip-grower, would any day be taken against that +of an unknown girl without any knowledge of horticulture, or +against that of a prisoner convicted of high treason, he +confidently hoped that, having once got possession of the +bulb, he would be certain to obtain the prize; and then the +tulip, instead of being called Tulipa nigra Barlaensis, +would go down to posterity under the name of Tulipa nigra +Boxtellensis or Boxtellea. + +Mynheer Isaac had not yet quite decided which of these two +names he would give to the tulip, but, as both meant the +same thing, this was, after all, not the important point. + +The point was to steal the tulip. But in order that Boxtel +might steal the tulip, it was necessary that Rosa should +leave her room. + +Great therefore was his joy when he saw the usual evening +meetings of the lovers resumed. + +He first of all took advantage of Rosa's absence to make +himself fully acquainted with all the peculiarities of the +door of her chamber. The lock was a double one and in good +order, but Rosa always took the key with her. + +Boxtel at first entertained an idea of stealing the key, but +it soon occurred to him, not only that it would be +exceedingly difficult to abstract it from her pocket, but +also that, when she perceived her loss, she would not leave +her room until the lock was changed, and then Boxtel's first +theft would be useless. + +He thought it, therefore, better to employ a different +expedient. He collected as many keys as he could, and tried +all of them during one of those delightful hours which Rosa +and Cornelius passed together at the grating of the cell. + +Two of the keys entered the lock, and one of them turned +round once, but not the second time. + +There was, therefore, only a little to be done to this key. + +Boxtel covered it with a slight coat of wax, and when he +thus renewed the experiment, the obstacle which prevented +the key from being turned a second time left its impression +on the wax. + +It cost Boxtel two days more to bring his key to perfection, +with the aid of a small file. + +Rosa's door thus opened without noise and without +difficulty, and Boxtel found himself in her room alone with +the tulip. + +The first guilty act of Boxtel had been to climb over a wall +in order to dig up the tulip; the second, to introduce +himself into the dry-room of Cornelius, through an open +window; and the third, to enter Rosa's room by means of a +false key. + +Thus envy urged Boxtel on with rapid steps in the career of +crime. + +Boxtel, as we have said, was alone with the tulip. + +A common thief would have taken the pot under his arm, and +carried it off. + +But Boxtel was not a common thief, and he reflected. + +It was not yet certain, although very probable, that the +tulip would flower black; if, therefore, he stole it now, he +not only might be committing a useless crime, but also the +theft might be discovered in the time which must elapse +until the flower should open. + +He therefore -- as being in possession of the key, he might +enter Rosa's chamber whenever he liked -- thought it better +to wait and to take it either an hour before or after +opening, and to start on the instant to Haarlem, where the +tulip would be before the judges of the committee before any +one else could put in a reclamation. + +Should any one then reclaim it, Boxtel would in his turn +charge him or her with theft. + +This was a deep-laid scheme, and quite worthy of its author. + +Thus, every evening during that delightful hour which the +two lovers passed together at the grated window, Boxtel +entered Rosa's chamber to watch the progress which the black +tulip had made towards flowering. + +On the evening at which we have arrived he was going to +enter according to custom; but the two lovers, as we have +seen, only exchanged a few words before Cornelius sent Rosa +back to watch over the tulip. + +Seeing Rosa enter her room ten minutes after she had left +it, Boxtel guessed that the tulip had opened, or was about +to open. + +During that night, therefore, the great blow was to be +struck. Boxtel presented himself before Gryphus with a +double supply of Genievre, that is to say, with a bottle in +each pocket. + +Gryphus being once fuddled, Boxtel was very nearly master of +the house. + +At eleven o'clock Gryphus was dead drunk. At two in the +morning Boxtel saw Rosa leaving the chamber; but evidently +she held in her arms something which she carried with great +care. + +He did not doubt that this was the black tulip which was in +flower. + +But what was she going to do with it? Would she set out that +instant to Haarlem with it? + +It was not possible that a young girl should undertake such +a journey alone during the night. + +Was she only going to show the tulip to Cornelius? This was +more likely. + +He followed Rosa in his stocking feet, walking on tiptoe. + +He saw her approach the grated window. He heard her calling +Cornelius. By the light of the dark lantern he saw the tulip +open, and black as the night in which he was hidden. + +He heard the plan concerted between Cornelius and Rosa to +send a messenger to Haarlem. He saw the lips of the lovers +meet, and then heard Cornelius send Rosa away. + +He saw Rosa extinguish the light and return to her chamber. +Ten minutes after, he saw her leave the room again, and lock +it twice. + +Boxtel, who saw all this whilst hiding himself on the +landing-place of the staircase above, descended step by step +from his story as Rosa descended from hers; so that, when +she touched with her light foot the lowest step of the +staircase, Boxtel touched with a still lighter hand the lock +of Rosa's chamber. + +And in that hand, it must be understood, he held the false +key which opened Rosa's door as easily as did the real one. + +And this is why, in the beginning of the chapter, we said +that the poor young people were in great need of the +protection of God. + + + + + +Chapter 24 + +The Black Tulip changes Masters + + +Cornelius remained standing on the spot where Rosa had left him. +He was quite overpowered with the weight of his twofold happiness. + +Half an hour passed away. Already did the first rays of the +sun enter through the iron grating of the prison, when +Cornelius was suddenly startled at the noise of steps which +came up the staircase, and of cries which approached nearer +and nearer. + +Almost at the same instant he saw before him the pale and +distracted face of Rosa. + +He started, and turned pale with fright. + +"Cornelius, Cornelius!" she screamed, gasping for breath. + +"Good Heaven! what is it?" asked the prisoner. + +"Cornelius! the tulip ---- " + +"Well?" + +"How shall I tell you?" + +"Speak, speak, Rosa!" + +"Some one has taken -- stolen it from us." + +"Stolen -- taken?" said Cornelius. + +"Yes," said Rosa, leaning against the door to support +herself; "yes, taken, stolen!" + +And saying this, she felt her limbs failing her, and she +fell on her knees. + +"But how? Tell me, explain to me." + +"Oh, it is not my fault, my friend." + +Poor Rosa! she no longer dared to call him "My beloved one." + +"You have then left it alone," said Cornelius, ruefully. + +"One minute only, to instruct our messenger, who lives +scarcely fifty yards off, on the banks of the Waal." + +"And during that time, notwithstanding all my injunctions, +you left the key behind, unfortunate child!" + +"No, no, no! this is what I cannot understand. The key was +never out of my hands; I clinched it as if I were afraid it +would take wings." + +"But how did it happen, then?" + +"That's what I cannot make out. I had given the letter to my +messenger; he started before I left his house; I came home, +and my door was locked, everything in my room was as I had +left it, except the tulip, -- that was gone. Some one must +have had a key for my room, or have got a false one made on +purpose." + +She was nearly choking with sobs, and was unable to +continue. + +Cornelius, immovable and full of consternation, heard almost +without understanding, and only muttered, -- + +"Stolen, stolen, and I am lost!" + +"O Cornelius, forgive me, forgive me, it will kill me!" + +Seeing Rosa's distress, Cornelius seized the iron bars of +the grating, and furiously shaking them, called out, -- + +"Rosa, Rosa, we have been robbed, it is true, but shall we +allow ourselves to be dejected for all that? No, no; the +misfortune is great, but it may perhaps be remedied. Rosa, +we know the thief!" + +"Alas! what can I say about it?" + +"But I say that it is no one else but that infamous Jacob. +Shall we allow him to carry to Haarlem the fruit of our +labour, the fruit of our sleepless nights, the child of our +love? Rosa, we must pursue, we must overtake him!" + +"But how can we do all this, my friend, without letting my +father know we were in communication with each other? How +should I, a poor girl, with so little knowledge of the world +and its ways, be able to attain this end, which perhaps you +could not attain yourself?" + +"Rosa, Rosa, open this door to me, and you will see whether +I will not find the thief, -- whether I will not make him +confess his crime and beg for mercy." + +"Alas!" cried Rosa, sobbing, "can I open the door for you? +have I the keys? If I had had them, would not you have been +free long ago?" + +"Your father has them, -- your wicked father, who has +already crushed the first bulb of my tulip. Oh, the wretch! +he is an accomplice of Jacob!" + +"Don't speak so loud, for Heaven's sake!" + +"Oh, Rosa, if you don't open the door to me," Cornelius +cried in his rage, "I shall force these bars, and kill +everything I find in the prison." + +"Be merciful, be merciful, my friend!" + +"I tell you, Rosa, that I shall demolish this prison, stone +for stone!" and the unfortunate man, whose strength was +increased tenfold by his rage, began to shake the door with +a great noise, little heeding that the thunder of his voice +was re-echoing through the spiral staircase. + +Rosa, in her fright, made vain attempts to check this +furious outbreak. + +"I tell you that I shall kill that infamous Gryphus?" roared +Cornelius. "I tell you I shall shed his blood as he did that +of my black tulip." + +The wretched prisoner began really to rave. + +"Well, then, yes," said Rosa, all in a tremble. "Yes, yes, +only be quiet. Yes, yes, I will take his keys, I will open +the door for you! Yes, only be quiet, my own dear +Cornelius." + +She did not finish her speech, as a growl by her side +interrupted her. + +"My father!" cried Rosa. + +"Gryphus!" roared Van Baerle. "Oh, you villain!" + +Old Gryphus, in the midst of all the noise, had ascended the +staircase without being heard. + +He rudely seized his daughter by the wrist. + +"So you will take my keys?" he said, in a voice choked with +rage. "Ah! this dastardly fellow, this monster, this +gallows-bird of a conspirator, is your own dear Cornelius, +is he? Ah! Missy has communications with prisoners of state. +Ah! won't I teach you -- won't I?" + +Rosa clasped her hands in despair. + +"Ah!" Gryphus continued, passing from the madness of anger +to the cool irony of a man who has got the better of his +enemy, -- "Ah, you innocent tulip-fancier, you gentle +scholar; you will kill me, and drink my blood! Very well! +very well! And you have my daughter for an accomplice. Am I, +forsooth, in a den of thieves, -- in a cave of brigands? +Yes, but the Governor shall know all to-morrow, and his +Highness the Stadtholder the day after. We know the law, -- +we shall give a second edition of the Buytenhof, Master +Scholar, and a good one this time. Yes, yes, just gnaw your +paws like a bear in his cage, and you, my fine little lady, +devour your dear Cornelius with your eyes. I tell you, my +lambkins, you shall not much longer have the felicity of +conspiring together. Away with you, unnatural daughter! And +as to you, Master Scholar, we shall see each other again. +Just be quiet, -- we shall." + +Rosa, beyond herself with terror and despair, kissed her +hands to her friend; then, suddenly struck with a bright +thought, she rushed toward the staircase, saying, -- + +"All is not yet lost, Cornelius. Rely on me, my Cornelius." + +Her father followed her, growling. + +As to poor Cornelius, he gradually loosened his hold of the +bars, which his fingers still grasped convulsively. His head +was heavy, his eyes almost started from their sockets, and +he fell heavily on the floor of his cell, muttering, -- + +"Stolen! it has been stolen from me!" + +During this time Boxtel had left the fortress by the door +which Rosa herself had opened. He carried the black tulip +wrapped up in a cloak, and, throwing himself into a coach, +which was waiting for him at Gorcum, he drove off, without, +as may well be imagined, having informed his friend Gryphus +of his sudden departure. + +And now, as we have seen him enter his coach, we shall with +the consent of the reader, follow him to the end of his +journey. + +He proceeded but slowly, as the black tulip could not bear +travelling post-haste. + +But Boxtel, fearing that he might not arrive early enough, +procured at Delft a box, lined all round with fresh moss, in +which he packed the tulip. The flower was so lightly pressed +upon all sides, with a supply of air from above, that the +coach could now travel full speed without any possibility of +injury to the tulip. + +He arrived next morning at Haarlem, fatigued but triumphant; +and, to do away with every trace of the theft, he +transplanted the tulip, and, breaking the original +flower-pot, threw the pieces into the canal. After which he +wrote the President of the Horticultural Society a letter, +in which he announced to him that he had just arrived at +Haarlem with a perfectly black tulip; and, with his flower +all safe, took up his quarters at a good hotel in the town, +and there he waited. + + + + +Chapter 25 + +The President van Systens + + +Rosa, on leaving Cornelius, had fixed on her plan, which was +no other than to restore to Cornelius the stolen tulip, or +never to see him again. + +She had seen the despair of the prisoner, and she knew that +it was derived from a double source, and that it was +incurable. + +On the one hand, separation became inevitable, -- Gryphus +having at the same time surprised the secret of their love +and of their secret meetings. + +On the other hand, all the hopes on the fulfilment of which +Cornelius van Baerle had rested his ambition for the last +seven years were now crushed. + +Rosa was one of those women who are dejected by trifles, but +who in great emergencies are supplied by the misfortune +itself with the energy for combating or with the resources +for remedying it. + +She went to her room, and cast a last glance about her to +see whether she had not been mistaken, and whether the tulip +was not stowed away in some corner where it had escaped her +notice. But she sought in vain, the tulip was still missing; +the tulip was indeed stolen. + +Rosa made up a little parcel of things indispensable for a +journey; took her three hundred guilders, -- that is to say, +all her fortune, -- fetched the third bulb from among her +lace, where she had laid it up, and carefully hid it in her +bosom; after which she locked her door twice to disguise her +flight as long as possible, and, leaving the prison by the +same door which an hour before had let out Boxtel, she went +to a stable-keeper to hire a carriage. + +The man had only a two-wheel chaise, and this was the +vehicle which Boxtel had hired since last evening, and in +which he was now driving along the road to Delft; for the +road from Loewestein to Haarlem, owing to the many canals, +rivers, and rivulets intersecting the country, is +exceedingly circuitous. + +Not being able to procure a vehicle, Rosa was obliged to +take a horse, with which the stable-keeper readily intrusted +her, knowing her to be the daughter of the jailer of the +fortress. + +Rosa hoped to overtake her messenger, a kind-hearted and +honest lad, whom she would take with her, and who might at +the same time serve her as a guide and a protector. + +And in fact she had not proceeded more than a league before +she saw him hastening along one of the side paths of a very +pretty road by the river. Setting her horse off at a canter, +she soon came up with him. + +The honest lad was not aware of the important character of +his message; nevertheless, he used as much speed as if he +had known it; and in less than an hour he had already gone a +league and a half. + +Rosa took from him the note, which had now become useless, +and explained to him what she wanted him to do for her. The +boatman placed himself entirely at her disposal, promising +to keep pace with the horse if Rosa would allow him to take +hold of either the croup or the bridle of her horse. The two +travellers had been on their way for five hours, and made +more than eight leagues, and yet Gryphus had not the least +suspicion of his daughter having left the fortress. + +The jailer, who was of a very spiteful and cruel +disposition, chuckled within himself at the idea of having +struck such terror into his daughter's heart. + +But whilst he was congratulating himself on having such a +nice story to tell to his boon companion, Jacob, that worthy +was on his road to Delft; and, thanks to the swiftness of +the horse, had already the start of Rosa and her companion +by four leagues. + +And whilst the affectionate father was rejoicing at the +thought of his daughter weeping in her room, Rosa was making +the best of her way towards Haarlem. + +Thus the prisoner alone was where Gryphus thought him to be. + +Rosa was so little with her father since she took care of +the tulip, that at his dinner hour, that is to say, at +twelve o'clock, he was reminded for the first time by his +appetite that his daughter was fretting rather too long. + +He sent one of the under-turnkeys to call her; and, when the +man came back to tell him that he had called and sought her +in vain, he resolved to go and call her himself. + +He first went to her room, but, loud as he knocked, Rosa +answered not. + +The locksmith of the fortress was sent for; he opened the +door, but Gryphus no more found Rosa than she had found the +tulip. + +At that very moment she entered Rotterdam. + +Gryphus therefore had just as little chance of finding her +in the kitchen as in her room, and just as little in the +garden as in the kitchen. + +The reader may imagine the anger of the jailer when, after +having made inquiries about the neighbourhood, he heard that +his daughter had hired a horse, and, like an adventuress, +set out on a journey without saying where she was going. + +Gryphus again went up in his fury to Van Baerle, abused him, +threatened him, knocked all the miserable furniture of his +cell about, and promised him all sorts of misery, even +starvation and flogging. + +Cornelius, without even hearing what his jailer said, +allowed himself to be ill-treated, abused, and threatened, +remaining all the while sullen, immovable, dead to every +emotion and fear. + +After having sought for Rosa in every direction, Gryphus +looked out for Jacob, and, as he could not find him either, +he began to suspect from that moment that Jacob had run away +with her. + +The damsel, meanwhile, after having stopped for two hours at +Rotterdam, had started again on her journey. On that evening +she slept at Delft, and on the following morning she reached +Haarlem, four hours after Boxtel had arrived there. + +Rosa, first of all, caused herself to be led before Mynheer +van Systens, the President of the Horticultural Society of +Haarlem. + +She found that worthy gentleman in a situation which, to do +justice to our story, we must not pass over in our +description. + +The President was drawing up a report to the committee of +the society. + +This report was written on large-sized paper, in the finest +handwriting of the President. + +Rosa was announced simply as Rosa Gryphus; but as her name, +well as it might sound, was unknown to the President, she +was refused admittance. + +Rosa, however, was by no means abashed, having vowed in her +heart, in pursuing her cause, not to allow herself to be put +down either by refusal, or abuse, or even brutality. + +"Announce to the President," she said to the servant, "that +I want to speak to him about the black tulip." + +These words seemed to be an "Open Sesame," for she soon +found herself in the office of the President, Van Systens, +who gallantly rose from his chair to meet her. + +He was a spare little man, resembling the stem of a flower, +his head forming its chalice, and his two limp arms +representing the double leaf of the tulip; the resemblance +was rendered complete by his waddling gait which made him +even more like that flower when it bends under a breeze. + +"Well, miss," he said, "you are coming, I am told, about the +affair of the black tulip." + +To the President of the Horticultural Society the Tulipa +nigra was a first-rate power, which, in its character as +queen of the tulips, might send ambassadors. + +"Yes, sir," answered Rosa; "I come at least to speak of it." + +"Is it doing well, then?" asked Van Systens, with a smile of +tender veneration. + +"Alas! sir, I don't know," said Rosa. + +"How is that? could any misfortune have happened to it?" + +"A very great one, sir; yet not to it, but to me." + +"What?" + +"It has been stolen from me." + +"Stolen! the black tulip?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do you know the thief?" + +"I have my suspicions, but I must not yet accuse any one." + +"But the matter may very easily be ascertained." + +"How is that?" + +"As it has been stolen from you, the thief cannot be far +off." + +"Why not?" + +"Because I have seen the black tulip only two hours ago." + +"You have seen the black tulip!" cried Rosa, rushing up to +Mynheer van Systens. + +"As I see you, miss." + +"But where?" + +"Well, with your master, of course." + +"With my master?" + +"Yes, are you not in the service of Master Isaac Boxtel?" + +"I?" + +"Yes, you." + +"But for whom do you take me, sir?" + +"And for whom do you take me?" + +"I hope, sir, I take you for what you are, -- that is to +say, for the honorable Mynheer van Systens, Burgomaster of +Haarlem, and President of the Horticultural Society." + +"And what is it you told me just now?" + +"I told you, sir, that my tulip has been stolen." + +"Then your tulip is that of Mynheer Boxtel. Well, my child, +you express yourself very badly. The tulip has been stolen, +not from you, but from Mynheer Boxtel." + +"I repeat to you, sir, that I do not know who this Mynheer +Boxtel is, and that I have now heard his name pronounced for +the first time." + +"You do not know who Mynheer Boxtel is, and you also had a +black tulip?" + +"But is there any other besides mine?" asked Rosa, +trembling. + +"Yes, -- that of Mynheer Boxtel." + +"How is it?" + +"Black, of course." + +"Without speck?" + +"Without a single speck, or even point." + +"And you have this tulip, -- you have it deposited here?" + +"No, but it will be, as it has to be exhibited before the +committee previous to the prize being awarded." + +"Oh, sir!" cried Rosa, "this Boxtel -- this Isaac Boxtel -- +who calls himself the owner of the black tulip ---- " + +"And who is its owner?" + +"Is he not a very thin man?" + +"Bald?" + +"Yes." + +"With sunken eyes?" + +"I think he has." + +"Restless, stooping, and bowlegged?" + +"In truth, you draw Master Boxtel's portrait feature by +feature." + +"And the tulip, sir? Is it not in a pot of white and blue +earthenware, with yellowish flowers in a basket on three +sides?" + +"Oh, as to that I am not quite sure; I looked more at the +flower than at the pot." + +"Oh, sir! that's my tulip, which has been stolen from me. I +came here to reclaim it before you and from you." + +"Oh! oh!" said Van Systens, looking at Rosa. "What! you are +here to claim the tulip of Master Boxtel? Well, I must say, +you are cool enough." + +"Honoured sir," a little put out by this apostrophe, "I do +not say that I am coming to claim the tulip of Master +Boxtel, but to reclaim my own." + +"Yours?" + +"Yes, the one which I have myself planted and nursed." + +"Well, then, go and find out Master Boxtel, at the White +Swan Inn, and you can then settle matters with him; as for +me, considering that the cause seems to me as difficult to +judge as that which was brought before King Solomon, and +that I do not pretend to be as wise as he was, I shall +content myself with making my report, establishing the +existence of the black tulip, and ordering the hundred +thousand guilders to be paid to its grower. Good-bye, my +child." + +"Oh, sir, sir!" said Rosa, imploringly. + +"Only, my child," continued Van Systens, "as you are young +and pretty, and as there may be still some good in you, I'll +give you some good advice. Be prudent in this matter, for we +have a court of justice and a prison here at Haarlem, and, +moreover, we are exceedingly ticklish as far as the honour +of our tulips is concerned. Go, my child, go, remember, +Master Isaac Boxtel at the White Swan Inn." + +And Mynheer van Systens, taking up his fine pen, resumed his +report, which had been interrupted by Rosa's visit. + + + + +Chapter 26 + +A Member of the Horticultural Society + + +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 of affairs, and was not afraid of any +encounter; only he had orders, in such a case, to spare the +tulip. + +But on arriving in the great market-place Rosa at once +stopped, a sudden thought had struck her, just as Homer's +Minerva seizes Achilles by the hair at the moment when he is +about to be carried away by his anger. + +"Good Heaven!" she muttered to herself, "I have made a +grievous blunder; it may be I have ruined Cornelius, the +tulip, and myself. I have given the alarm, and perhaps +awakened suspicion. I am but a woman; these men may league +themselves against me, and then I shall be lost. If I am +lost that matters nothing, -- but Cornelius and the tulip!" + +She reflected for a moment. + +"If I go to that Boxtel, and do not know him; if that Boxtel +is not my Jacob, but another fancier, who has also +discovered the black tulip; or if my tulip has been stolen +by some one else, or has already passed into the hands of a +third person; -- if I do not recognize the man, only the +tulip, how shall I prove that it belongs to me? On the other +hand, if I recognise this Boxtel as Jacob, who knows what +will come out of it? whilst we are contesting with each +other, the tulip will die." + +In the meanwhile, a great noise was heard, like the distant +roar of the sea, at the other extremity of the market-place. +People were running about, doors opening and shutting, Rosa +alone was unconscious of all this hubbub among the +multitude. + +"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 Mynheer van Systens, who with his best pen in his +finest hand continued to draw up his report. + +Everywhere on her way Rosa heard people speaking only of the +black tulip, and the prize of a hundred thousand guilders. +The news had spread like wildfire through the town. + +Rosa had not a little difficulty is penetrating a second +time into the office of Mynheer van Systens, who, however, +was again moved by the magic name of the black tulip. + +But when he recognised Rosa, whom in his own mind he had set +down as mad, or even worse, he grew angry, and wanted to +send her away. + +Rosa, however, clasped her hands, and said with that tone of +honest truth which generally finds its way to the hearts of +men, -- + +"For Heaven's sake, sir, do not turn me away; listen to what +I have to tell you, and if it be not possible for you to do +me justice, at least you will not one day have to reproach +yourself before God for having made yourself the accomplice +of a bad action." + +Van Systens stamped his foot with impatience; it was the +second time that Rosa interrupted him in the midst of a +composition which stimulated his vanity, both as a +burgomaster and as President of the Horticultural Society. + +"But my report!" he cried, -- "my report on the black +tulip!" + +"Mynheer van Systens," Rosa continued, with the firmness of +innocence and truth, "your report on the black tulip will, +if you don't hear me, be based on crime or on falsehood. I +implore you, sir, let this Master Boxtel, whom I assert to +be Master Jacob, be brought here before you and me, and I +swear that I will leave him in undisturbed possession of the +tulip if I do not recognise the flower and its holder." + +"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 would you feel if one day you found out that +you had given the prize to a man for something which he not +only had not produced, but which he had even stolen?" + +Rosa's speech seemed to have brought a certain conviction +into the heart of Van Systens, and he was going to answer +her in a gentler tone, when at once a great noise was heard +in the street, and loud cheers shook the house. + +"What is this?" cried the burgomaster; "what is this? Is it +possible? have I heard aright?" + +And he rushed towards his anteroom, without any longer +heeding Rosa, whom he left in his cabinet. + +Scarcely had he reached his anteroom when he cried out aloud +on seeing his staircase invaded, up to the very +landing-place, by the multitude, which was accompanying, or +rather following, a young man, simply clad in a +violet-coloured velvet, embroidered with silver; who, with a +certain aristocratic slowness, ascended the white stone +steps of the house. + +In his wake followed two officers, one of the navy, and the +other of the cavalry. + +Van Systens, having found his way through the frightened +domestics, began to bow, almost to prostrate himself before +his visitor, who had been the cause of all this stir. + +"Monseigneur," he called out, "Monseigneur! What +distinguished honour is your Highness bestowing for ever on +my humble house by your visit?" + +"Dear Mynheer van Systens," said William of Orange, with a +serenity which, with him, took the place of a smile, "I am a +true Hollander, I am fond of the water, of beer, and of +flowers, sometimes even of that cheese the flavour of which +seems so grateful to the French; the flower which I prefer +to all others is, of course, the tulip. I heard at Leyden +that the city of Haarlem at last possessed the black tulip; +and, after having satisfied myself of the truth of news +which seemed so incredible, I have come to know all about it +from the President of the Horticultural Society." + +"Oh, Monseigneur, Monseigneur!" said Van Systens, "what +glory to the society if its endeavours are pleasing to your +Highness!" + +"Have you got the flower here?" said the Prince, who, very +likely, already regretted having made such a long speech. + +"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 Highness will do me the honour of stepping +into my drawing-room, he will be sure -- knowing that your +Highness is here -- to lose no time in bringing his tulip." + +"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 presented itself." + +"What difficulty?" + +"This tulip has already been claimed by usurpers. It's true +that it is worth a hundred thousand guilders." + +"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 the room close by." + +"And what do you think of her?" + +"I think, Monseigneur, that the bait of a hundred thousand +guilders may have tempted her." + +"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 magistrate of the country; I will hear the case and +administer justice." + +"I have found my King Solomon," said Van Systens, bowing, +and showing the way to the Prince. + +His Highness was just going to walk ahead, but, suddenly +recollecting himself he said -- + +"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 looking through the panes into the garden. + +"Ah! a Frisian girl," said the Prince, as he observed Rosa's +gold brocade headdress and red petticoat. + +At the noise of their footsteps she turned round, but +scarcely saw the Prince, who seated himself in the darkest +corner of the apartment. + +All her attention, as may be easily imagined, was fixed on +that important person who was called Van Systens, so that +she had no time to notice the humble stranger who was +following the master of the house, and who, for aught she +knew, might be somebody or nobody. + +The humble stranger took a book down from the shelf, and +made Van Systens a sign to commence the examination +forthwith. + +Van Systens, likewise at the invitation of the young man in +the violet coat, sat down in his turn, and, quite happy and +proud of the importance thus cast upon him, began, -- + +"My child, you promise to tell me the truth and the entire +truth concerning this tulip?" + +"I promise." + +"Well, then, speak before this gentleman; this gentleman is +one of the members of the Horticultural Society." + +"What am I to tell you, sir," said Rosa, "beside that which +I have told you already." + +"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 not recognise it as mine I will frankly tell +it; but if I do recognise it I will reclaim it, even if I go +before his Highness the Stadtholder himself, with my proofs +in my hands." + +"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 of Rosa, seemed to try to remember her, as if it +were not for the first time that this sweet voice rang in +his ears. + +An officer went off to fetch Boxtel, and Van Systens in the +meanwhile continued his examination. + +"And with what do you support your assertion that you are +the real owner of the black tulip?" + +"With the very simple fact of my having planted and grown it +in my own chamber." + +"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, I remember now." + +And, all the while feigning to be engaged with his book, he +watched Rosa with even more attention than he had before. + +"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 her heart, she said, -- + +"Gentlemen, I am speaking to men of honor." + +There was such an expression of truth in the tone of her +voice, that Van Systens and the Prince answered +simultaneously by an affirmative movement of their heads. + +"Well, then, I am not an experienced florist; I am only a +poor girl, one of the people, who, three months ago, knew +neither how to read nor how to write. No, the black tulip +has not been found by myself." + +"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 before. + +"By a prisoner of state, then," continued the Prince, "as +there are none else there." + +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 of such a witness. + +"Continue," said William dryly, to the President of the +Horticultural Society. + +"Ah, sir," said Rosa, addressing the person whom she thought +to be her real judge, "I am going to incriminate myself very +seriously." + +"Certainly," said Van Systens, "the prisoner of state ought +to be kept in close confinement at Loewestein." + +"Alas! sir." + +"And from what you tell me you took advantage of your +position, as daughter of the jailer, to communicate with a +prisoner of state about the cultivation of flowers." + +"So it is, sir," Rosa murmured in dismay; "yes, I am bound +to confess, I saw him every day." + +"Unfortunate girl!" exclaimed Van Systens. + +The Prince, observing the fright of Rosa and the pallor of +the President, raised his head, and said, in his clear and +decided tone, -- + +"This cannot signify anything to the members of the +Horticultural Society; they have to judge on the black +tulip, and have no cognizance to take of political offences. +Go on, young woman, go on." + +Van Systens, by means of an eloquent glance, offered, in the +name of the tulip, his thanks to the new member of the +Horticultural Society. + +Rosa, reassured by this sort of encouragement which the +stranger was giving her, related all that had happened for +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 you? that's what you want to +say, is it not?" + +"What I wish to say, your Highness, is that Cornelius is as +little guilty of the second crime imputed to him as he was +of the first." + +"Of the first? And do you know what was his first crime? Do +you know of what he was accused and convicted? Of having, as +an accomplice of Cornelius de Witt, concealed the +correspondence of the Grand Pensionary and the Marquis de +Louvois." + +"Well, sir, he was ignorant of this correspondence being +deposited with him; completely ignorant. I am as certain as +of my life, that, if it were not so, he would have told me; +for how could that pure mind have harboured a secret without +revealing it to me? No, no, your Highness, I repeat it, and +even at the risk of incurring your displeasure, Cornelius is +no more guilty of the first crime than of the second; and of +the second no more than of the first. Oh, would to Heaven +that you knew my Cornelius; Monseigneur!" + +"He is a De Witt!" cried Boxtel. "His Highness knows only +too much of him, having once granted him his life." + +"Silence!" said the Prince; "all these affairs of state, as +I have already said, are completely out of the province of +the Horticultural Society of Haarlem." + +Then, knitting his brow, he added, -- + +"As to the tulip, make yourself easy, Master Boxtel, you +shall have justice done to you." + +Boxtel bowed with a heart full of joy, and received the +congratulations of the President. + +"You, my child," William of Orange continued, "you were +going to commit a crime. I will not punish you; but the real +evil-doer shall pay the penalty for both. A man of his name +may be a conspirator, and even a traitor, but he ought not +to be a thief." + +"A thief!" cried Rosa. "Cornelius a thief? Pray, your +Highness, do not say such a word, it would kill him, if he +knew it. If theft there has been, I swear to you, Sir, no +one else but this man has committed it." + +"Prove it," Boxtel coolly remarked. + +"I shall prove it. With God's help I shall." + +Then, turning towards Boxtel, she asked, -- + +"The tulip is yours?" + +"It is." + +"How many bulbs were there of it?" + +Boxtel hesitated for a moment, but after a short +consideration he came to the conclusion that she would not +ask this question if there were none besides the two bulbs +of which he had known already. He therefore answered, -- + +"Three." + +"What has become of these bulbs?" + +"Oh! what has become of them? Well, one has failed; the +second has produced the black tulip." + +"And the third?" + +"The third!" + +"The third, -- where is it?" + +"I have it at home," said Boxtel, quite confused. + +"At home? Where? At Loewestein, or at Dort?" + +"At Dort," said Boxtel. + +"You lie!" cried Rosa. "Monseigneur," she continued, whilst +turning round to the Prince, "I will tell you the true story +of these three bulbs. The first was crushed by my father in +the prisoner's cell, and this man is quite aware of it, for +he himself wanted to get hold of it, and, being balked in +his hope, he very nearly fell out with my father, who had +been the cause of his disappointment. The second bulb, +planted by me, has produced the black tulip, and the third +and last" -- saying this, she drew it from her bosom -- +"here it is, in the very same paper in which it was wrapped +up together with the two others. When about to be led to the +scaffold, Cornelius van Baerle gave me all the three. Take +it, Monseigneur, take it." + +And Rosa, unfolding the paper, offered the bulb to the +Prince, who took it from her hands and examined it. + +"But, Monseigneur, this young woman may have stolen the +bulb, as she did the tulip," Boxtel said, with a faltering +voice, and evidently alarmed at the attention with which the +Prince examined the bulb; and even more at the movements of +Rosa, who was reading some lines written on the paper which +remained in her hands. + +Her eyes suddenly lighted up; she read, with breathless +anxiety, the mysterious paper over and over again; and at +last, uttering a cry, held it out to the Prince and said, +"Read, Monseigneur, for Heaven's sake, read!" + +William handed the third bulb to Van Systens, took the +paper, and read. + +No sooner had he looked at it than he began to stagger; his +hand trembled, and very nearly let the paper fall to the +ground; and the expression of pain and compassion in his +features was really frightful to see. + +It was that fly-leaf, taken from the Bible, which Cornelius +de Witt had sent to Dort by Craeke, the servant of his +brother John, to request Van Baerle to burn the +correspondence of the Grand Pensionary with the Marquis de +Louvois. + +This request, as the reader may remember, was couched in the +following terms: -- + +"My Dear Godson, -- + +"Burn the parcel which I have intrusted to you. Burn it +without looking at it, and without opening it, so that its +contents may for ever remain unknown to yourself. Secrets of +this description are death to those with whom they are +deposited. Burn it, and you will have saved John and +Cornelius de Witt. + +"Farewell, and love me. + +Cornelius de Witt. + +"August 20, 1672." + +This slip of paper offered the proofs both of Van Baerle's +innocence and of his claim to the property of the tulip. + +Rosa and the Stadtholder exchanged one look only. + +That of Rosa was meant to express, "Here, you see yourself." + +That of the Stadtholder signified, "Be quiet, and wait." + +The Prince wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and +slowly folded up the paper, whilst his thoughts were +wandering in that labyrinth without a goal and without a +guide, which is called remorse and shame for the past. + +Soon, however, raising his head with an effort, he said, in +his usual voice, -- + +"Go, Mr. Boxtel; justice shall be done, I promise you." + +Then, turning to the President, he added, -- + +"You, my dear Mynheer van Systens, take charge of this young +woman and of the tulip. Good-bye." + +All bowed, and the Prince left, among the deafening cheers +of the crowd outside. + +Boxtel returned to his inn, rather puzzled and uneasy, +tormented by misgivings about that paper which William had +received from the hand of Rosa, and which his Highness had +read, folded up, and so carefully put in his pocket. What +was the meaning of all this? + +Rosa went up to the tulip, tenderly kissed its leaves and, +with a heart full of happiness and confidence in the ways of +God, broke out in the words, -- + +"Thou knowest best for what end Thou madest my good +Cornelius teach me to read." + + + + +Chapter 28 + +The Hymn of the Flowers + + +Whilst the events we have described in our last chapter were +taking place, the unfortunate Van Baerle, forgotten in his +cell in the fortress of Loewestein, suffered at the hands of +Gryphus all that a prisoner can suffer when his jailer has +formed the determination of playing the part of hangman. + +Gryphus, not having received any tidings of Rosa or of +Jacob, persuaded himself that all that had happened was the +devil's work, and that Dr. Cornelius van Baerle had been +sent on earth by Satan. + +The result of it was, that, one fine morning, the third +after the disappearance of Jacob and Rosa, he went up to the +cell of Cornelius in even a greater rage than usual. + +The latter, leaning with his elbows on the window-sill and +supporting his head with his two hands, whilst his eyes +wandered over the distant hazy horizon where the windmills +of Dort were turning their sails, was breathing the fresh +air, in order to be able to keep down his tears and to +fortify himself in his philosophy. + +The pigeons were still there, but hope was not there; there +was no future to look forward to. + +Alas! Rosa, being watched, was no longer able to come. Could +she not write? and if so, could she convey her letters to +him? + +No, no. He had seen during the two preceding days too much +fury and malignity in the eyes of old Gryphus to expect that +his vigilance would relax, even for one moment. Moreover, +had not she to suffer even worse torments than those of +seclusion and separation? Did this brutal, blaspheming, +drunken bully take revenge on his daughter, like the +ruthless fathers of the Greek drama? And when the Genievre +had heated his brain, would it not give to his arm, which +had been only too well set by Cornelius, even double force? + +The idea that Rosa might perhaps be ill-treated nearly drove +Cornelius mad. + +He then felt his own powerlessness. He asked himself whether +God was just in inflicting so much tribulation on two +innocent creatures. And certainly in these moments he began +to doubt the wisdom of Providence. It is one of the curses +of misfortune that it thus begets doubt. + +Van Baerle had proposed to write to Rosa, but where was she? + +He also would have wished to write to the Hague to be +beforehand with Gryphus, who, he had no doubt, would by +denouncing him do his best to bring new storms on his head. + +But how should he write? Gryphus had taken the paper and +pencil from him, and even if he had both, he could hardly +expect Gryphus to despatch his letter. + +Then Cornelius revolved in his mind all those stratagems +resorted to by unfortunate prisoners. + +He had thought of an attempt to escape, a thing which never +entered his head whilst he could see Rosa every day; but the +more he thought of it, the more clearly he saw the +impracticability of such an attempt. He was one of those +choice spirits who abhor everything that is common, and who +often lose a good chance through not taking the way of the +vulgar, that high road of mediocrity which leads to +everything. + +"How is it possible," said Cornelius to himself, "that I +should escape from Loewestein, as Grotius has done the same +thing before me? Has not every precaution been taken since? +Are not the windows barred? Are not the doors of double and +even of treble strength, and the sentinels ten times more +watchful? And have not I, besides all this, an Argus so much +the more dangerous as he has the keen eyes of hatred? +Finally, is there not one fact which takes away all my +spirit, I mean Rosa's absence? But suppose I should waste +ten years of my life in making a file to file off my bars, +or in braiding cords to let myself down from the window, or +in sticking wings on my shoulders to fly, like Daedalus? But +luck is against me now. The file would get dull, the rope +would break, or my wings would melt in the sun; I should +surely kill myself, I should be picked up maimed and +crippled; I should be labelled, and put on exhibition in the +museum at the Hague between the blood-stained doublet of +William the Taciturn and the female walrus captured at +Stavesen, and the only result of my enterprise will have +been to procure me a place among the curiosities of Holland. + +"But no; and it is much better so. Some fine day Gryphus +will commit some atrocity. I am losing my patience, since I +have lost the joy and company of Rosa, and especially since +I have lost my tulip. Undoubtedly, some day or other Gryphus +will attack me in a manner painful to my self-respect, or to +my love, or even threaten my personal safety. I don't know +how it is, but since my imprisonment I feel a strange and +almost irresistible pugnacity. Well, I shall get at the +throat of that old villain, and strangle him." + +Cornelius at these words stopped for a moment, biting his +lips and staring out before him; then, eagerly returning to +an idea which seemed to possess a strange fascination for +him, he continued, -- + +"Well, and once having strangled him, why should I not take +his keys from him, why not go down the stairs as if I had +done the most virtuous action, why not go and fetch Rosa +from her room, why not tell her all, and jump from her +window into the Waal? I am expert enough as a swimmer to +save both of us. Rosa, -- but, oh Heaven, Gryphus is her +father! Whatever may be her affection for me, she will never +approve of my having strangled her father, brutal and +malicious as he has been. + +"I shall have to enter into an argument with her; and in the +midst of my speech some wretched turnkey who has found +Gryphus with the death-rattle in his throat, or perhaps +actually dead, will come along and put his hand on my +shoulder. Then I shall see the Buytenhof again, and the +gleam of that infernal sword, -- which will not stop +half-way a second time, but will make acquaintance with the +nape of my neck. + +"It will not do, Cornelius, my fine fellow, -- it is a bad +plan. But, then, what is to become of me, and how shall I +find Rosa again?" + +Such were the cogitations of Cornelius three days after the +sad scene of separation from Rosa, at the moment when we +find him standing at the window. + +And at that very moment Gryphus entered. + +He held in his hand a huge stick, his eyes glistening with +spiteful thoughts, a malignant smile played round his lips, +and the whole of his carriage, and even all his movements, +betokened bad and malicious intentions. + +Cornelius heard him enter, and guessed that it was he, but +did not turn round, as he knew well that Rosa was not coming +after him. + +There is nothing more galling to angry people than the +coolness of those on whom they wish to vent their spleen. + +The expense being once incurred, one does not like to lose +it; one's passion is roused, and one's blood boiling, so it +would be labour lost not to have at least a nice little row. + +Gryphus, therefore, on seeing that Cornelius did not stir, +tried to attract his attention by a loud -- + +"Umph, umph!" + +Cornelius was humming between his teeth the "Hymn of +Flowers," -- a sad but very charming song, -- + + +"We are the daughters of the secret fire +Of the fire which runs through the veins of the earth; +We are the daughters of Aurora and of the dew; +We are the daughters of the air; +We are the daughters of the water; +But we are, above all, the daughters of heaven." + + +This song, the placid melancholy of which was still +heightened by its calm and sweet melody, exasperated Gryphus. + +He struck his stick on the stone pavement of the cell, +and called out, -- + +"Halloa! my warbling gentleman, don't you hear me?" + +Cornelius turned round, merely saying, "Good morning," and +then began his song again: -- + + +"Men defile us and kill us while loving us, +We hang to the earth by a thread; +This thread is our root, that is to say, our life, +But we raise on high our arms towards heaven." + + +"Ah, you accursed sorcerer! you are making game of me, I +believe," roared Gryphus. + +Cornelius continued: -- + + +"For heaven is our home, +Our true home, as from thence comes our soul, +As thither our soul returns, -- +Our soul, that is to say, our perfume." + + +Gryphus went up to the prisoner and said, -- + +"But you don't see that I have taken means to get you under, +and to force you to confess your crimes." + +"Are you mad, my dear Master Gryphus?" asked Cornelius. + +And, as he now for the first time observed the frenzied +features, the flashing eyes, and foaming mouth of the old +jailer, he said, -- + +"Bless the man, he is more than mad, he is furious." + +Gryphus flourished his stick above his head, but Van Baerle +moved not, and remained standing with his arms akimbo. + +"It seems your intention to threaten me, Master Gryphus." + +"Yes, indeed, I threaten you," cried the jailer. + +"And with what?" + +"First of all, look at what I have in my hand." + +"I think that's a stick," said Cornelius calmly, "but I +don't suppose you will threaten me with that." + +"Oh, you don't suppose! why not?" + +"Because any jailer who strikes a prisoner is liable to two +penalties, -- the first laid down in Article 9 of the +regulations at Loewestein: -- + +"'Any jailer, inspector, or turnkey who lays hands upon any +prisoner of State will be dismissed.'" + +"Yes, who lays hands," said Gryphus, mad with rage, "but +there is not a word about a stick in the regulation." + +"And the second," continued Cornelius, "which is not written +in the regulation, but which is to be found elsewhere: -- + +"'Whosoever takes up the stick will be thrashed by the +stick.'" + +Gryphus, growing more and more exasperated by the calm and +sententious tone of Cornelius, brandished his cudgel, but at +the moment when he raised it Cornelius rushed at him, +snatched it from his hands, and put it under his own arm. + +Gryphus fairly bellowed with rage. + +"Hush, hush, my good man," said Cornelius, "don't do +anything to lose your place." + +"Ah, you sorcerer! I'll pinch you worse," roared Gryphus. + +"I wish you may." + +"Don't you see my hand is empty?" + +"Yes, I see it, and I am glad of it." + +"You know that it is not generally so when I come upstairs +in the morning." + +"It's true, you generally bring me the worst soup, and the +most miserable rations one can imagine. But that's not a +punishment to me; I eat only bread, and the worse the bread +is to your taste, the better it is to mine." + +"How so?" + +"Oh, it's a very simple thing." + +"Well, tell it me," said Gryphus. + +"Very willingly. I know that in giving me bad bread you +think you do me harm." + +"Certainly; I don't give it you to please you, you brigand." + +"Well, then, I, who am a sorcerer, as you know, change your +bad into excellent bread, which I relish more than the best +cake; and then I have the double pleasure of eating +something that gratifies my palate, and of doing something +that puts you in a rage. + +Gryphus answered with a growl. + +"Oh! you confess, then, that you are a sorcerer." + +"Indeed, I am one. I don't say it before all the world, +because they might burn me for it, but as we are alone, I +don't mind telling you." + +"Well, well, well," answered Gryphus. "But if a sorcerer can +change black bread into white, won't he die of hunger if he +has no bread at all?" + +"What's that?" said Cornelius. + +"Consequently, I shall not bring you any bread at all, and +we shall see how it will be after eight days." + +Cornelius grew pale. + +"And," continued Gryphus, "we'll begin this very day. As you +are such a clever sorcerer, why, you had better change the +furniture of your room into bread; as to myself, I shall +pocket the eighteen sous which are paid to me for your +board." + +"But that's murder," cried Cornelius, carried away by the +first impulse of the very natural terror with which this +horrible mode of death inspired him. + +"Well," Gryphus went on, in his jeering way, "as you are a +sorcerer, you will live, notwithstanding." + +Cornelius put on a smiling face again, and said, -- + +"Have you not seen me make the pigeons come here from Dort?" + +"Well?" said Gryphus. + +"Well, a pigeon is a very dainty morsel, and a man who eats +one every day would not starve, I think." + +"And how about the fire?" said Gryphus. + +"Fire! but you know that I'm in league with the devil. Do +you think the devil will leave me without fire? Why, fire is +his proper element." + +"A man, however healthy his appetite may be, would not eat a +pigeon every day. Wagers have been laid to do so, and those +who made them gave them up." + +"Well, but when I am tired of pigeons, I shall make the fish +of the Waal and of the Meuse come up to me." + +Gryphus opened his large eyes, quite bewildered. + +"I am rather fond of fish," continued Cornelius; "you never +let me have any. Well, I shall turn your starving me to +advantage, and regale myself with fish." + +Gryphus nearly fainted with anger and with fright, but he +soon rallied, and said, putting his hand in his pocket, -- + +"Well, as you force me to it," and with these words he drew +forth a clasp-knife and opened it. + +"Halloa! a knife?" said Cornelius, preparing to defend +himself with his stick. + + + + +Chapter 29 + +In which Van Baerle, before leaving Loewestein, +settles Accounts with Gryphus + + +The two remained silent for some minutes, Gryphus on the +offensive, and Van Baerle on the defensive. + +Then, as the situation might be prolonged to an indefinite +length, Cornelius, anxious to know something more of the +causes which had so fiercely exasperated his jailer, spoke +first by putting the question, -- + +"Well, what do you want, after all?" + +"I'll tell you what I want," answered Gryphus; "I want you to +restore to me my daughter Rosa." + +"Your daughter?" cried Van Baerle. + +"Yes, my daughter Rosa, whom you have taken from me by your +devilish magic. Now, will you tell me where she is?" + +And the attitude of Gryphus became more and more +threatening. + +"Rosa is not at Loewestein?" cried Cornelius. + +"You know well she is not. Once more, will you restore her +to me?" + +"I see," said Cornelius, "this is a trap you are laying for +me." + +"Now, for the last time, will you tell me where my daughter +is?" + +"Guess it, you rogue, if you don't know it." + +"Only wait, only wait," growled Gryphus, white with rage, +and with quivering lips, as his brain began to turn. "Ah, +you will not tell me anything? Well, I'll unlock your +teeth!" + +He advanced a step towards Cornelius, and said, showing him +the weapon which he held in his hands, -- + +"Do you see this knife? Well, I have killed more than fifty +black cocks with it, and I vow I'll kill their master, the +devil, as well as them." + +"But, you blockhead," said Cornelius, "will you really kill +me?" + +"I shall open your heart to see in it the place where you +hide my daughter." + +Saying this, Gryphus in his frenzy rushed towards Cornelius, +who had barely time to retreat behind his table to avoid the +first thrust; but as Gryphus continued, with horrid threats, +to brandish his huge knife, and as, although out of the +reach of his weapon, yet, as long as it remained in the +madman's hand, the ruffian might fling it at him, Cornelius +lost no time, and availing himself of the stick, which he +held tight under his arm, dealt the jailer a vigorous blow +on the wrist of that hand which held the knife. + +The knife fell to the ground, and Cornelius put his foot on +it. + +Then, as Gryphus seemed bent upon engaging in a struggle +which the pain in his wrist, and shame for having allowed +himself to be disarmed, would have made desperate, Cornelius +took a decisive step, belaboring his jailer with the most +heroic self-possession, and selecting the exact spot for +every blow of the terrible cudgel. + +It was not long before Gryphus begged for mercy. But before +begging for mercy, he had lustily roared for help, and his +cries had roused all the functionaries of the prison. Two +turnkeys, an inspector, and three or four guards, made their +appearance all at once, and found Cornelius still using the +stick, with the knife under his foot. + +At the sight of these witnesses, who could not know all the +circumstances which had provoked and might justify his +offence, Cornelius felt that he was irretrievably lost. + +In fact, appearances were sadly against him. + +In one moment Cornelius was disarmed, and Gryphus raised and +supported; and, bellowing with rage and pain, he was able to +count on his back and shoulders the bruises which were +beginning to swell like the hills dotting the slopes of a +mountain ridge. + +A protocol of the violence practiced by the prisoner against +his jailer was immediately drawn up, and as it was made on +the depositions of Gryphus, it certainly could not be said +to be too tame; the prisoner being charged with neither more +nor less than with an attempt to murder, for a long time +premeditated, with open rebellion. + +Whilst the charge was made out against Cornelius, Gryphus, +whose presence was no longer necessary after having made his +depositions, was taken down by his turnkeys to his lodge, +groaning and covered with bruises. + +During this time, the guards who had seized Cornelius busied +themselves in charitably informing their prisoner of the +usages and customs of Loewestein, which however he knew as +well as they did. The regulations had been read to him at +the moment of his entering the prison, and certain articles +in them remained fixed in his memory. + +Among other things they told him that this regulation had +been carried out to its full extent in the case of a +prisoner named Mathias, who in 1668, that is to say, five +years before, had committed a much less violent act of +rebellion than that of which Cornelius was guilty. He had +found his soup too hot, and thrown it at the head of the +chief turnkey, who in consequence of this ablution had been +put to the inconvenience of having his skin come off as he +wiped his face. + +Mathias was taken within twelve hours from his cell, then +led to the jailer's lodge, where he was registered as +leaving Loewestein, then taken to the Esplanade, from which +there is a very fine prospect over a wide expanse of +country. There they fettered his hands, bandaged his eyes, +and let him say his prayers. + +Hereupon he was invited to go down on his knees, and the +guards of Loewestein, twelve in number, at a sign from a +sergeant, very cleverly lodged a musket-ball each in his +body. + +In consequence of this proceeding, Mathias incontinently did +then and there die. + +Cornelius listened with the greatest attention to this +delightful recital, and then said, -- + +"Ah! ah! within twelve hours, you say?" + +"Yes, the twelfth hour had not even struck, if I remember +right," said the guard who had told him the story. + +"Thank you," said Cornelius. + +The guard still had the smile on his face with which he +accompanied and as it were accentuated his tale, when +footsteps and a jingling of spurs were heard ascending the +stair-case. + +The guards fell back to allow an officer to pass, who +entered the cell of Cornelius at the moment when the clerk +of Loewestein was still making out his report. + +"Is this No. 11?" he asked. + +"Yes, Captain," answered a non-commissioned officer. + +"Then this is the cell of the prisoner Cornelius van +Baerle?" + +"Exactly, Captain." + +"Where is the prisoner?" + +"Here I am, sir," answered Cornelius, growing rather pale, +notwithstanding all his courage. + +"You are Dr. Cornelius van Baerle?" asked he, this time +addressing the prisoner himself. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then follow me." + +"Oh! oh!" said Cornelius, whose heart felt oppressed by the +first dread of death. "What quick work they make here in the +fortress of Loewestein. And the rascal talked to me of +twelve hours!" + +"Ah! what did I tell you?" whispered the communicative guard +in the ear of the culprit. + +"A lie." + +"How so?" + +"You promised me twelve hours." + +"Ah, yes, but here comes to you an aide-de-camp of his +Highness, even one of his most intimate companions Van +Deken. Zounds! they did not grant such an honour to poor +Mathias." + +"Come, come!" said Cornelius, drawing a long breath. "Come, +I'll show to these people that an honest burgher, godson of +Cornelius de Witt, can without flinching receive as many +musket-balls as that Mathias." + +Saying this, he passed proudly before the clerk, who, being +interrupted in his work, ventured to say to the officer, -- + +"But, Captain van Deken, the protocol is not yet finished." + +"It is not worth while finishing it," answered the officer. + +"All right," replied the clerk, philosophically putting up +his paper and pen into a greasy and well-worn writing-case. + +"It was written," thought poor Cornelius, "that I should not +in this world give my name either to a child to a flower, or +to a book, -- the three things by which a man's memory is +perpetuated." + +Repressing his melancholy thoughts, he followed the officer +with a resolute heart, and carrying his head erect. + +Cornelius counted the steps which led to the Esplanade, +regretting that he had not asked the guard how many there +were of them, which the man, in his official complaisance, +would not have failed to tell him. + +What the poor prisoner was most afraid of during this walk, +which he considered as leading him to the end of the journey +of life, was to see Gryphus and not to see Rosa. What savage +satisfaction would glisten in the eyes of the father, and +what sorrow dim those of the daughter! + +How Gryphus would glory in his punishment! Punishment? +Rather savage vengeance for an eminently righteous deed, +which Cornelius had the satisfaction of having performed as +a bounden duty. + +But Rosa, poor girl! must he die without a glimpse of her, +without an opportunity to give her one last kiss, or even to +say one last word of farewell? + +And, worst of all, must he die without any intelligence of +the black tulip, and regain his consciousness in heaven with +no idea in what direction he should look to find it? + +In truth, to restrain his tears at such a crisis the poor +wretch's heart must have been encased in more of the aes +triplex -- "the triple brass" -- than Horace bestows upon +the sailor who first visited the terrifying Acroceraunian +shoals. + +In vain did Cornelius look to the right and to the left; he +saw no sign either of Rosa or Gryphus. + +On reaching the Esplanade, he bravely looked about for the +guards who were to be his executioners, and in reality saw a +dozen soldiers assembled. But they were not standing in +line, or carrying muskets, but talking together so gayly +that Cornelius felt almost shocked. + +All at once, Gryphus, limping, staggering, and supporting +himself on a crooked stick, came forth from the jailer's +lodge; his old eyes, gray as those of a cat, were lit up by +a gleam in which all his hatred was concentrated. He then +began to pour forth such a torrent of disgusting +imprecations against Cornelius, that the latter, addressing +the officer, said, -- + +"I do not think it very becoming sir, that I should be thus +insulted by this man, especially at a moment like this." + +"Well! hear me," said the officer, laughing, "it is quite +natural that this worthy fellow should bear you a grudge, -- +you seem to have given it him very soundly." + +"But, sir, it was only in self-defence." + +"Never mind," said the Captain, shrugging his shoulders like +a true philosopher, "let him talk; what does it matter to +you now?" + +The cold sweat stood on the brow of Cornelius at this +answer, which he looked upon somewhat in the light of brutal +irony, especially as coming from an officer of whom he had +heard it said that he was attached to the person of the +Prince. + +The unfortunate tulip-fancier then felt that he had no more +resources, and no more friends, and resigned himself to his +fate. + +"God's will be done," he muttered, bowing his head; then, +turning towards the officer, who seemed complacently to wait +until he had finished his meditations he asked, -- + +"Please, sir, tell me now, where am I to go?" + +The officer pointed to a carriage, drawn by four horses, +which reminded him very strongly of that which, under +similar circumstances, had before attracted his attention at +Buytenhof. + +"Enter," said the officer. + +"Ah!" muttered Cornelius to himself, "it seems they are not +going to treat me to the honours of the Esplanade." + +He uttered these words loud enough for the chatty guard, who +was at his heels, to overhear him. + +That kind soul very likely thought it his duty to give +Cornelius some new information; for, approaching the door of +the carriage, whilst the officer, with one foot on the step, +was still giving some orders, he whispered to Van Baerle, -- + +"Condemned prisoners have sometimes been taken to their own +town to be made an example of, and have then been executed +before the door of their own house. It's all according to +circumstances." + +Cornelius thanked him by signs, and then said to himself, -- + +"Well, here is a fellow who never misses giving consolation +whenever an opportunity presents itself. In truth, my +friend, I'm very much obliged to you. Goodbye." + +The carriage drove away. + +"Ah! you villain, you brigand," roared Gryphus, clinching +his fists at the victim who was escaping from his clutches, +"is it not a shame that this fellow gets off without having +restored my daughter to me?" + +"If they take me to Dort," thought Cornelius, "I shall see, +in passing my house, whether my poor borders have been much +spoiled." + + + + +Chapter 30 + +Wherein the Reader begins to guess the Kind of Execution that +was awaiting Van Baerle + + +The carriage rolled on during the whole day; it passed on +the right of Dort, went through Rotterdam, and reached +Delft. At five o'clock in the evening, at least twenty +leagues had been travelled. + +Cornelius addressed some questions to the officer, who was +at the same time his guard and his companion; but, cautious +as were his inquiries, he had the disappointment of +receiving no answer. + +Cornelius regretted that he had no longer by his side the +chatty soldier, who would talk without being questioned. + +That obliging person would undoubtedly have given him as +pleasant details and exact explanations concerning this +third strange part of his adventures as he had done +concerning the first two. + +The travellers passed the night in the carriage. On the +following morning at dawn Cornelius found himself beyond +Leyden, having the North Sea on his left, and the Zuyder Zee +on his right. + +Three hours after, he entered Haarlem. + +Cornelius was not aware of what had passed at Haarlem, and +we shall leave him in ignorance of it until the course of +events enlightens him. + +But the reader has a right to know all about it even before +our hero, and therefore we shall not make him wait. + +We have seen that Rosa and the tulip, like two orphan +sisters, had been left by Prince William of Orange at the +house of the President van Systens. + +Rosa did not hear again from the Stadtholder until the +evening of that day on which she had seen him face to face. + +Toward evening, an officer called at Van Systen's house. He +came from his Highness, with a request for Rosa to appear at +the Town Hall. + +There, in the large Council Room into which she was ushered, +she found the Prince writing. + +He was alone, with a large Frisian greyhound at his feet, +which looked at him with a steady glance, as if the faithful +animal were wishing to do what no man could do, -- read the +thoughts of his master in his face. + +William continued his writing for a moment; then, raising +his eyes, and seeing Rosa standing near the door, he said, +without laying down his pen, -- + +"Come here, my child." + +Rosa advanced a few steps towards the table. + +"Sit down," he said. + +Rosa obeyed, for the Prince was fixing his eyes upon her, +but he had scarcely turned them again to his paper when she +bashfully retired to the door. + +The Prince finished his letter. + +During this time, the greyhound went up to Rosa, surveyed +her and began to caress her. + +"Ah, ah!" said William to his dog, "it's easy to see that +she is a countrywoman of yours, and that you recognise her." + +Then, turning towards Rosa, and fixing on her his +scrutinising, and at the same time impenetrable glance, he +said, -- + +"Now, my child." + +The Prince was scarcely twenty-three, and Rosa eighteen or +twenty. He might therefore perhaps better have said, My +sister. + +"My child," he said, with that strangely commanding accent +which chilled all those who approached him, "we are alone; +let us speak together." + +Rosa began to tremble, and yet there was nothing but +kindness in the expression of the Prince's face. + +"Monseigneur," she stammered. + +"You have a father at Loewestein?" + +"Yes, your Highness." + +"You do not love him?" + +"I do not; at least, not as a daughter ought to do, +Monseigneur." + +"It is not right not to love one's father, but it is right +not to tell a falsehood." + +Rosa cast her eyes to the ground. + +"What is the reason of your not loving your father?" + +"He is wicked." + +"In what way does he show his wickedness?" + +"He ill-treats the prisoners." + +"All of them?" + +"All." + +"But don't you bear him a grudge for ill-treating some one +in particular?" + +"My father ill-treats in particular Mynheer van Baerle, who +---- " + +"Who is your lover?" + +Rosa started back a step. + +"Whom I love, Monseigneur," she answered proudly. + +"Since when?" asked the Prince. + +"Since the day when I first saw him." + +"And when was that?" + +"The day after that on which the Grand Pensionary John and +his brother Cornelius met with such an awful death." + +The Prince compressed his lips, and knit his brow and his +eyelids dropped so as to hide his eyes for an instant. After +a momentary silence, he resumed the conversation. + +"But to what can it lead to love a man who is doomed to live +and die in prison?" + +"It will lead, if he lives and dies in prison, to my aiding +him in life and in death." + +"And would you accept the lot of being the wife of a +prisoner?" + +"As the wife of Mynheer van Baerle, I should, under any +circumstances, be the proudest and happiest woman in the +world; but ---- " + +"But what?" + +"I dare not say, Monseigneur." + +"There is something like hope in your tone; what do you +hope?" + +She raised her moist and beautiful eyes, and looked at +William with a glance full of meaning, which was calculated +to stir up in the recesses of his heart the clemency which +was slumbering there. + +"Ah, I understand you," he said. + +Rosa, with a smile, clasped her hands. + +"You hope in me?" said the Prince. + +"Yes, Monseigneur." + +"Umph!" + +The Prince sealed the letter which he had just written, and +summoned one of his officers, to whom he said, -- + +"Captain van Deken, carry this despatch to Loewestein; you +will read the orders which I give to the Governor, and +execute them as far as they regard you." + +The officer bowed, and a few minutes afterwards the gallop +of a horse was heard resounding in the vaulted archway. + +"My child," continued the Prince, "the feast of the tulip +will be on Sunday next, that is to say, the day after +to-morrow. Make yourself smart with these five hundred +guilders, as I wish that day to be a great day for you." + +"How does your Highness wish me to be dressed?" faltered +Rosa. + +"Take the costume of a Frisian bride." said William; "it +will suit you very well indeed." + + + + +Chapter 31 + +Haarlem + + +Haarlem, whither, three days ago, we conducted our gentle +reader, and whither we request him to follow us once more in +the footsteps of the prisoner, is a pleasant city, which +justly prides itself on being one of the most shady in all +the Netherlands. + +While other towns boast of the magnificence of their +arsenals and dock-yards, and the splendour of their shops +and markets, Haarlem's claims to fame rest upon her +superiority to all other provincial cities in the number and +beauty of her spreading elms, graceful poplars, and, more +than all, upon her pleasant walks, shaded by the lovely +arches of magnificent oaks, lindens, and chestnuts. + +Haarlem, -- just as her neighbour, Leyden, became the centre +of science, and her queen, Amsterdam, that of commerce, -- +Haarlem preferred to be the agricultural, or, more strictly +speaking, the horticultural metropolis. + +In fact, girt about as she was, breezy and exposed to the +sun's hot rays, she seemed to offer to gardeners so many +more guarantees of success than other places, with their +heavy sea air, and their scorching heat. + +On this account all the serene souls who loved the earth and +its fruits had gradually gathered together at Haarlem, just +as all the nervous, uneasy spirits, whose ambition was for +travel and commerce, had settled in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, +and all the politicians and selfish worldlings at the Hague. + +We have observed that Leyden overflowed with scholars. In +like manner Haarlem was devoted to the gentle pursuits of +peace, -- to music and painting, orchards and avenues, +groves and parks. Haarlem went wild about flowers, and +tulips received their full share of worship. + +Haarlem offered prizes for tulip-growing; and this fact +brings us in the most natural manner to that celebration +which the city intended to hold on May 15th, 1673 in honour +of the great black tulip, immaculate and perfect, which +should gain for its discoverer one hundred thousand +guilders! + +Haarlem, having placed on exhibition its favourite, having +advertised its love of flowers in general and of tulips in +particular, at a period when the souls of men were filled +with war and sedition, -- Haarlem, having enjoyed the +exquisite pleasure of admiring the very purest ideal of +tulips in full bloom, -- Haarlem, this tiny town, full of +trees and of sunshine, of light and shade, had determined +that the ceremony of bestowing the prize should be a fete +which should live for ever in the memory of men. + +So much the more reason was there, too, in her +determination, in that Holland is the home of fetes; never +did sluggish natures manifest more eager energy of the +singing and dancing sort than those of the good republicans +of the Seven Provinces when amusement was the order of the +day. + +Study the pictures of the two Teniers. + +It is certain that sluggish folk are of all men the most +earnest in tiring themselves, not when they are at work, but +at play. + +Thus Haarlem was thrice given over to rejoicing, for a +three-fold celebration was to take place. + +In the first place, the black tulip had been produced; +secondly, the Prince William of Orange, as a true Hollander, +had promised to be present at the ceremony of its +inauguration; and, thirdly, it was a point of honour with +the States to show to the French, at the conclusion of such +a disastrous war as that of 1672, that the flooring of the +Batavian Republic was solid enough for its people to dance +on it, with the accompaniment of the cannon of their fleets. + +The Horticultural Society of Haarlem had shown itself worthy +of its fame by giving a hundred thousand guilders for the +bulb of a tulip. The town, which did not wish to be outdone, +voted a like sum, which was placed in the hands of that +notable body to solemnise the auspicious event. + +And indeed on the Sunday fixed for this ceremony there was +such a stir among the people, and such an enthusiasm among +the townsfolk, that even a Frenchman, who laughs at +everything at all times, could not have helped admiring the +character of those honest Hollanders, who were equally ready +to spend their money for the construction of a man-of-war -- +that is to say, for the support of national honour -- as +they were to reward the growth of a new flower, destined to +bloom for one day, and to serve during that day to divert +the ladies, the learned, and the curious. + +At the head of the notables and of the Horticultural +Committee shone Mynheer van Systens, dressed in his richest +habiliments. + +The worthy man had done his best to imitate his favourite +flower in the sombre and stern elegance of his garments; and +we are bound to record, to his honour, that he had perfectly +succeeded in his object. + +Dark crimson velvet, dark purple silk, and jet-black cloth, +with linen of dazzling whiteness, composed the festive dress +of the President, who marched at the head of his Committee +carrying an enormous nosegay, like that which a hundred and +twenty-one years later, Monsieur de Robespierre displayed at +the festival of "The Supreme Being." + +There was, however, a little difference between the two; +very different from the French tribune, whose heart was so +full of hatred and ambitious vindictiveness, was the honest +President, who carried in his bosom a heart as innocent as +the flowers which he held in his hand. + +Behind the Committee, who were as gay as a meadow, and as +fragrant as a garden in spring, marched the learned +societies of the town, the magistrates, the military, the +nobles and the boors. + +The people, even among the respected republicans of the +Seven Provinces, had no place assigned to them in the +procession; they merely lined the streets. + +This is the place for the multitude, which with true +philosophic spirit, waits until the triumphal pageants have +passed, to know what to say of them, and sometimes also to +know what to do. + +This time, however, there was no question either of the +triumph of Pompey or of Caesar; neither of the defeat of +Mithridates, nor of the conquest of Gaul. The procession was +as placid as the passing of a flock of lambs, and as +inoffensive as a flight of birds sweeping through the air. + +Haarlem had no other triumphers, except its gardeners. +Worshipping flowers, Haarlem idolised the florist. + +In the centre of this pacific and fragrant cortege the black +tulip was seen, carried on a litter, which was covered with +white velvet and fringed with gold. + +The handles of the litter were supported by four men, who +were from time to time relieved by fresh relays, -- even as +the bearers of Mother Cybele used to take turn and turn +about at Rome in the ancient days, when she was brought from +Etruria to the Eternal City, amid the blare of trumpets and +the worship of a whole nation. + +This public exhibition of the tulip was an act of adoration +rendered by an entire nation, unlettered and unrefined, to +the refinement and culture of its illustrious and devout +leaders, whose blood had stained the foul pavement of the +Buytenhof, reserving the right at a future day to inscribe +the names of its victims upon the highest stone of the Dutch +Pantheon. + +It was arranged that the Prince Stadtholder himself should +give the prize of a hundred thousand guilders, which +interested the people at large, and it was thought that +perhaps he would make a speech which interested more +particularly his friends and enemies. + +For in the most insignificant words of men of political +importance their friends and their opponents always +endeavour to detect, and hence think they can interpret, +something of their true thoughts. + +As if your true politician's hat were not a bushel under +which he always hides his light! + +At length the great and long-expected day -- May 15, 1673 -- +arrived; and all Haarlem, swelled by her neighbours, was +gathered in the beautiful tree-lined streets, determined on +this occasion not to waste its applause upon military +heroes, or those who had won notable victories in the field +of science, but to reserve their applause for those who had +overcome Nature, and had forced the inexhaustible mother to +be delivered of what had theretofore been regarded as +impossible, -- a completely black tulip. + +Nothing however, is more fickle than such a resolution of +the people. When a crowd is once in the humour to cheer, it +is just the same as when it begins to hiss. It never knows +when to stop. + +It therefore, in the first place, cheered Van Systens and +his nosegay, then the corporation, then followed a cheer for +the people; and, at last, and for once with great justice, +there was one for the excellent music with which the +gentlemen of the town councils generously treated the +assemblage at every halt. + +Every eye was looking eagerly for the heroine of the +festival, -- that is to say, the black tulip, -- and for its +hero in the person of the one who had grown it. + +In case this hero should make his appearance after the +address we have seen worthy Van Systens at work on so +conscientiously, he would not fail to make as much of a +sensation as the Stadtholder himself. + +But the interest of the day's proceedings for us is centred +neither in the learned discourse of our friend Van Systens, +however eloquent it might be, nor in the young dandies, +resplendent in their Sunday clothes, and munching their +heavy cakes; nor in the poor young peasants, gnawing smoked +eels as if they were sticks of vanilla sweetmeat; neither is +our interest in the lovely Dutch girls, with red cheeks and +ivory bosoms; nor in the fat, round mynheers, who had never +left their homes before; nor in the sallow, thin travellers +from Ceylon or Java; nor in the thirsty crowds, who quenched +their thirst with pickled cucumbers; -- no, so far as we are +concerned, the real interest of the situation, the +fascinating, dramatic interest, is not to be found here. + +Our interest is in a smiling, sparkling face to be seen amid +the members of the Horticultural Committee; in the person +with a flower in his belt, combed and brushed, and all clad +in scarlet, -- a colour which makes his black hair and +yellow skin stand out in violent contrast. + +This hero, radiant with rapturous joy, who had the +distinguished honour of making the people forget the speech +of Van Systens, and even the presence of the Stadtholder, +was Isaac Boxtel, who saw, carried on his right before him, +the black tulip, his pretended daughter; and on his left, in +a large purse, the hundred thousand guilders in glittering +gold pieces, towards which he was constantly squinting, +fearful of losing sight of them for one moment. + +Now and then Boxtel quickened his step to rub elbows for a +moment with Van Systens. He borrowed a little importance +from everybody to make a kind of false importance for +himself, as he had stolen Rosa's tulip to effect his own +glory, and thereby make his fortune. + +Another quarter of an hour and the Prince will arrive and +the procession will halt for the last time; after the tulip +is placed on its throne, the Prince, yielding precedence to +this rival for the popular adoration, will take a +magnificently emblazoned parchment, on which is written the +name of the grower; and his Highness, in a loud and audible +tone, will proclaim him to be the discoverer of a wonder; +that Holland, by the instrumentality of him, Boxtel, has +forced Nature to produce a black flower, which shall +henceforth be called Tulipa nigra Boxtellea. + +From time to time, however, Boxtel withdrew his eyes for a +moment from the tulip and the purse, timidly looking among +the crowd, for more than anything he dreaded to descry there +the pale face of the pretty Frisian girl. + +She would have been a spectre spoiling the joy of the +festival for him, just as Banquo's ghost did that of +Macbeth. + +And yet, if the truth must be told, this wretch, who had +stolen what was the boast of man, and the dowry of a woman, +did not consider himself as a thief. He had so intently +watched this tulip, followed it so eagerly from the drawer +in Cornelius's dry-room to the scaffold of the Buytenhof, +and from the scaffold to the fortress of Loewestein; he had +seen it bud and grow in Rosa's window, and so often warmed +the air round it with his breath, that he felt as if no one +had a better right to call himself its producer than he had; +and any one who would now take the black tulip from him +would have appeared to him as a thief. + +Yet he did not perceive Rosa; his joy therefore was not +spoiled. + +In the centre of a circle of magnificent trees, which were +decorated with garlands and inscriptions, the procession +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 arrived at the platform, and the thunder of cannon +shook the air. + + + + +Chapter 33 + +Conclusion + + +Van Baerle, led by four guards, who pushed their way through +the crowd, sidled up to the black tulip, towards which his +gaze was attracted with increasing interest the nearer he +approached to it. + +He saw it at last, that unique flower, which he was to see +once and no more. He saw it at the distance of six paces, +and was delighted with its perfection and gracefulness; he +saw it surrounded by young and beautiful girls, who formed, +as it were, a guard of honour for this queen of excellence +and purity. And yet, the more he ascertained with his own +eyes the perfection of the flower, the more wretched and +miserable he felt. He looked all around for some one to whom +he might address only one question, but his eyes everywhere +met strange faces, and the attention of all was directed +towards the chair of state, on which the Stadtholder had +seated himself. + +William rose, casting a tranquil glance over the +enthusiastic crowd, and his keen eyes rested by turns on the +three extremities of a triangle formed opposite to him by +three persons of very different interests and feelings. + +At one of the angles, Boxtel, trembling with impatience, and +quite absorbed in watching the Prince, the guilders, the +black tulip, and the crowd. + +At the other, Cornelius, panting for breath, silent, and his +attention, his eyes, his life, his heart, his love, quite +concentrated on the black tulip. + +And thirdly, standing on a raised step among the maidens of +Haarlem, a beautiful Frisian girl, dressed in fine scarlet +woollen cloth, embroidered with silver, and covered with a +lace veil, which fell in rich folds from her head-dress of +gold brocade; in one word, Rosa, who, faint and with +swimming eyes, was leaning on the arm of one of the officers +of William. + +The Prince then slowly unfolded the parchment, and said, +with a calm clear voice, which, although low, made itself +perfectly heard amidst the respectful silence, which all at +once arrested the breath of fifty thousand spectators. -- + +"You know what has brought us here? + +"A prize of one hundred thousand guilders has been promised +to whosoever should grow the black tulip. + +"The black tulip has been grown; here it is before your +eyes, coming up to all the conditions required by the +programme of the Horticultural Society of Haarlem. + +"The history of its production, and the name of its grower, +will be inscribed in the book of honour of the city. + +"Let the person approach to whom the black tulip belongs." + +In pronouncing these words, the Prince, to judge of the +effect they produced, surveyed with his eagle eye the three +extremities of the triangle. + +He saw Boxtel rushing forward. He saw Cornelius make an +involuntary movement; and lastly he saw the officer who was +taking care of Rosa lead, or rather push her forward towards +him. + +At the sight of Rosa, a double cry arose on the right and +left of the Prince. + +Boxtel, thunderstruck, and Cornelius, in joyful amazement, +both exclaimed, -- + +"Rosa! Rosa!" + +"This tulip is yours, is it not, my child?" said the Prince. + +"Yes, Monseigneur," stammered Rosa, whose striking beauty +excited a general murmur of applause. + +"Oh!" muttered Cornelius, "she has then belied me, when she +said this flower was stolen from her. Oh! that's why she +left Loewestein. Alas! am I then forgotten, betrayed by her +whom I thought my best friend on earth?" + +"Oh!" sighed Boxtel, "I am lost." + +"This tulip," continued the Prince, "will therefore bear the +name of its producer, and figure in the catalogue under the +title, Tulipa nigra Rosa Barlaensis, because of the name Van +Baerle, which will henceforth be the name of this damsel." + +And at the same time William took Rosa's hand, and placed it +in that of a young man, who rushed forth, pale and beyond +himself with joy, to the foot of the throne saluting +alternately the Prince and his bride; and who with a +grateful look to heaven, returned his thanks to the Giver of +all this happiness. + +At the same moment there fell at the feet of the President +van Systens another man, struck down by a very different +emotion. + +Boxtel, crushed by the failure of his hopes, lay senseless +on the ground. + +When they raised him, and examined his pulse and his heart, +he was quite dead. + +This incident did not much disturb the festival, as neither +the Prince nor the President seemed to mind it much. + +Cornelius started back in dismay, when in the thief, in the +pretended Jacob, he recognised his neighbour, Isaac Boxtel, +whom, in the innocence of his heart, he had not for one +instant suspected of such a wicked action. + +Then, to the sound of trumpets, the procession marched back +without any change in its order, except that Boxtel was now +dead, and that Cornelius and Rosa were walking triumphantly +side by side and hand in hand. + +On their arriving at the Hotel de Ville, the Prince, +pointing with his finger to the purse with the hundred +thousand guilders, said to Cornelius, -- + +"It is difficult to say by whom this money is gained, by you +or by Rosa; for if you have found the black tulip, she has +nursed it and brought it into flower. It would therefore be +unjust to consider it as her dowry; it is the gift of the +town of Haarlem to the tulip." + +Cornelius wondered what the Prince was driving at. The +latter continued, -- + +"I give to Rosa the sum of a hundred thousand guilders, +which she has fairly earned, and which she can offer to you. +They are the reward of her love, her courage, and her +honesty. As to you, Sir -- thanks to Rosa again, who has +furnished the proofs of your innocence ---- " + +And, saying these words, the Prince handed to Cornelius that +fly-leaf of the Bible on which was written the letter of +Cornelius de Witt, and in which the third bulb had been +wrapped, -- + +"As to you, it has come to light that you were imprisoned +for a crime which you had not committed. This means, that +you are not only free, but that your property will be +restored to you; as the property of an innocent man cannot +be confiscated. Cornelius van Baerle, you are the godson of +Cornelius de Witt and the friend of his brother John. Remain +worthy of the name you have received from one of them, and +of the friendship you have enjoyed with the other. The two +De Witts, wrongly judged and wrongly punished in a moment of +popular error, were two great citizens, of whom Holland is +now proud." + +The Prince, after these last words, which contrary to his +custom, he pronounced with a voice full of emotion, gave his +hands to the lovers to kiss, whilst they were kneeling +before him. + +Then heaving a sigh, he said, -- + +"Alas! you are very happy, who, dreaming only of what +perhaps is the true glory of Holland, and forms especially +her true happiness, do not attempt to acquire for her +anything beyond new colours of tulips." + +And, casting a glance towards that point of the compass +where France lay, as if he saw new clouds gathering there, +he entered his carriage and drove off. + + + +Cornelius started on the same day for Dort with Rosa, who +sent her lover's old housekeeper as a messenger to her +father, to apprise him of all that had taken place. + +Those who, thanks to our description, have learned the +character of old Gryphus, will comprehend that it was hard +for him to become reconciled to his son-in-law. He had not +yet forgotten the blows which he had received in that famous +encounter. To judge from the weals which he counted, their +number, he said, amounted to forty-one; but at last, in +order, as he declared, not to be less generous than his +Highness the Stadtholder, he consented to make his peace. + +Appointed to watch over the tulips, the old man made the +rudest keeper of flowers in the whole of the Seven +Provinces. + +It was indeed a sight to see him watching the obnoxious +moths and butterflies, killing slugs, and driving away the +hungry bees. + +As he had heard Boxtel's story, and was furious at having +been the dupe of the pretended Jacob, he destroyed the +sycamore behind which the envious Isaac had spied into the +garden; for the plot of ground belonging to him had been +bought by Cornelius, and taken into his own garden. + +Rosa, growing not only in beauty, but in wisdom also, after +two years of her married life, could read and write so well +that she was able to undertake by herself the education of +two beautiful children which she had borne in 1674 and 1675, +both in May, the month of flowers. + +As a matter of course, one was a boy, the other a girl, the +former being called Cornelius, the other Rosa. + +Van Baerle remained faithfully attached to Rosa and to his +tulips. The whole of his life was devoted to the happiness +of his wife and the culture of flowers, in the latter of +which occupations he was so successful that a great number +of his varieties found a place in the catalogue of Holland. + +The two principal ornaments of his drawing-room were those +two leaves from the Bible of Cornelius de Witt, in large +golden frames; one of them containing the letter in which +his godfather enjoined him to burn the correspondence of the +Marquis de Louvois, and the other his own will, in which he +bequeathed to Rosa his bulbs under condition that she should +marry a young man of from twenty-six to twenty-eight years, +who loved her and whom she loved, a condition which was +scrupulously fulfilled, although, or rather because, +Cornelius did not die. + +And to ward off any envious attempts of another Isaac +Boxtel, he wrote over his door the lines which Grotius had, +on the day of his flight, scratched on the walls of his +prison: -- + +"Sometimes one has suffered so much that he has the right +never to be able to say, 'I am too happy.'" + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas + |