The Third Bulb

           Boxtel’sreturnwasscarcelyannounced,whenheenteredinpersonthedrawing-roomofMynheervanSystens,followedbytwomen,whocarriedinaboxtheirpreciousburdenanddepositeditonatable.

           ThePrince,onbeinginformed,leftthecabinet,passedintothedrawing-room,admiredtheflower,andsilentlyresumedhisseatinthedarkcorner,wherehehadhimselfplacedhischair.

           Rosa,trembling,paleandterrified,expectedtobeinvitedinherturntoseethetulip.

           ShenowheardthevoiceofBoxtel.

           “Itishe!”sheexclaimed.

           ThePrincemadeherasigntogoandlookthroughtheopendoorintothedrawing-room.

           “Itismytulip,”criedRosa,“Irecogniseit.Oh,mypoorCornelius!”

           Andsayingthissheburstintotears.

           ThePrincerosefromhisseat,wenttothedoor,wherehestoodforsometimewiththefulllightfallinguponhisfigure.

           AsRosa’seyesnowresteduponhim,shefeltmorethaneverconvincedthatthiswasnotthefirsttimeshehadseenthestranger.

           “MasterBoxtel,”saidthePrince,“comeinhere,ifyouplease.”

           Boxteleagerlyapproached,and,findinghimselffacetofacewithWilliamofOrange,startedback.

           “HisHighness!”hecalledout.

           “HisHighness!”Rosarepeatedindismay.

           Hearingthisexclamationonhisleft,Boxtelturnedround,andperceivedRosa.

           Atthissightthewholeframeofthethiefshookasifundertheinfluenceofagalvanicshock.

           “Ah!”mutteredthePrincetohimself,“heisconfused.”

           ButBoxtel,makingaviolentefforttocontrolhisfeelings,wasalreadyhimselfagain.