Черный тюльпан
The President van Systens
Themanhadonlyatwo-wheelchaise,andthiswasthevehiclewhichBoxtelhadhiredsincelastevening,andinwhichhewasnowdrivingalongtheroadtoDelft;fortheroadfromLoewesteintoHaarlem,owingtothemanycanals,rivers,andrivuletsintersectingthecountry,isexceedinglycircuitous.
Notbeingabletoprocureavehicle,Rosawasobligedtotakeahorse,withwhichthestable-keeperreadilyintrustedher,knowinghertobethedaughterofthejailerofthefortress.
Rosahopedtoovertakehermessenger,akind-heartedandhonestlad,whomshewouldtakewithher,andwhomightatthesametimeserveherasaguideandaprotector.
Andinfactshehadnotproceededmorethanaleaguebeforeshesawhimhasteningalongoneofthesidepathsofaveryprettyroadbytheriver.Settingherhorseoffatacanter,shesooncameupwithhim.
Thehonestladwasnotawareoftheimportantcharacterofhismessage;nevertheless,heusedasmuchspeedasifhehadknownit;andinlessthananhourhehadalreadygonealeagueandahalf.
Rosatookfromhimthenote,whichhadnowbecomeuseless,andexplainedtohimwhatshewantedhimtodoforher.Theboatmanplacedhimselfentirelyatherdisposal,promisingtokeeppacewiththehorseifRosawouldallowhimtotakeholdofeitherthecrouporthebridleofherhorse.Thetwotravellershadbeenontheirwayforfivehours,andmademorethaneightleagues,andyetGryphushadnottheleastsuspicionofhisdaughterhavingleftthefortress.
