Черный тюльпан
The Black Tulip changes Masters
Hisheadwasheavy,hiseyesalmoststartedfromtheirsockets,andhefellheavilyonthefloorofhiscell,muttering,—
“Stolen!ithasbeenstolenfromme!”
DuringthistimeBoxtelhadleftthefortressbythedoorwhichRosaherselfhadopened.Hecarriedtheblacktulipwrappedupinacloak,and,throwinghimselfintoacoach,whichwaswaitingforhimatGorcum,hedroveoff,without,asmaywellbeimagined,havinginformedhisfriendGryphusofhissuddendeparture.
Andnow,aswehaveseenhimenterhiscoach,weshallwiththeconsentofthereader,followhimtotheendofhisjourney.
Heproceededbutslowly,astheblacktulipcouldnotbeartravellingpost-haste.
ButBoxtel,fearingthathemightnotarriveearlyenough,procuredatDelftabox,linedallroundwithfreshmoss,inwhichhepackedthetulip.Theflowerwassolightlypresseduponallsides,withasupplyofairfromabove,thatthecoachcouldnowtravelfullspeedwithoutanypossibilityofinjurytothetulip.
HearrivednextmorningatHaarlem,fatiguedbuttriumphant;and,todoawaywitheverytraceofthetheft,hetransplantedthetulip,and,breakingtheoriginalflower-pot,threwthepiecesintothecanal.AfterwhichhewrotethePresidentoftheHorticulturalSocietyaletter,inwhichheannouncedtohimthathehadjustarrivedatHaarlemwithaperfectlyblacktulip;and,withhisflowerallsafe,tookuphisquartersatagoodhotelinthetown,andtherehewaited.
