Черный тюльпан
A Member of the Horticultural Society
”
Therewassuchanexpressionoftruthinthetoneofhervoice,thatVanSystensandthePrinceansweredsimultaneouslybyanaffirmativemovementoftheirheads.
“Well,then,Iamnotanexperiencedflorist;Iamonlyapoorgirl,oneofthepeople,who,threemonthsago,knewneitherhowtoreadnorhowtowrite.No,theblacktuliphasnotbeenfoundbymyself.”
“Butbywhomelse?”
“ByapoorprisonerofLoewestein.”
“ByaprisonerofLoewestein?”repeatedthePrince.
ThetoneofhisvoicestartledRosa,whowassureshehadhearditbefore.
“Byaprisonerofstate,then,”continuedthePrince,“astherearenoneelsethere.”
Havingsaidthishebegantoreadagain,atleastinappearance.
“Yes,”saidRosa,withafalteringvoice,“yes,byaprisonerofstate.”
VanSystenstrembledasheheardsuchaconfessionmadeinthepresenceofsuchawitness.
“Continue,”saidWilliamdryly,tothePresidentoftheHorticulturalSociety.
“Ah,sir,”saidRosa,addressingthepersonwhomshethoughttobeherrealjudge,“Iamgoingtoincriminatemyselfveryseriously.”
“Certainly,”saidVanSystens,“theprisonerofstateoughttobekeptincloseconfinementatLoewestein.”
“Alas!sir.”
“Andfromwhatyoutellmeyoutookadvantageofyourposition,asdaughterofthejailer,tocommunicatewithaprisonerofstateaboutthecultivationofflowers.”
“Soitis,sir,”Rosamurmuredindismay;“yes,Iamboundtoconfess,Isawhimeveryday.”
“Unfortunategirl!”exclaimedVanSystens.
