Черный тюльпан
A Member of the Horticultural Society
Scarcelyhadhereachedhisanteroomwhenhecriedoutaloudonseeinghisstaircaseinvaded,uptotheverylanding-place,bythemultitude,whichwasaccompanying,orratherfollowing,ayoungman,simplycladinaviolet-colouredvelvet,embroideredwithsilver;who,withacertainaristocraticslowness,ascendedthewhitestonestepsofthehouse.
Inhiswakefollowedtwoofficers,oneofthenavy,andtheotherofthecavalry.
VanSystens,havingfoundhiswaythroughthefrighteneddomestics,begantobow,almosttoprostratehimselfbeforehisvisitor,whohadbeenthecauseofallthisstir.
“Monseigneur,”hecalledout,“Monseigneur!WhatdistinguishedhonourisyourHighnessbestowingforeveronmyhumblehousebyyourvisit?”
“DearMynheervanSystens,”saidWilliamofOrange,withaserenitywhich,withhim,tooktheplaceofasmile,“IamatrueHollander,Iamfondofthewater,ofbeer,andofflowers,sometimesevenofthatcheesetheflavourofwhichseemssogratefultotheFrench;theflowerwhichIprefertoallothersis,ofcourse,thetulip.IheardatLeydenthatthecityofHaarlematlastpossessedtheblacktulip;and,afterhavingsatisfiedmyselfofthetruthofnewswhichseemedsoincredible,IhavecometoknowallaboutitfromthePresidentoftheHorticulturalSociety.”
“Oh,Monseigneur,Monseigneur!”saidVanSystens,“whatglorytothesocietyifitsendeavoursarepleasingtoyourHighness!”
“Haveyougottheflowerhere?”saidthePrince,who,verylikely,alreadyregrettedhavingmadesuchalongspeech.
“Iamsorrytosaywehavenot.
