Черный тюльпан
The Third Bulb
Doyoudenyhavingfollowedmeintothegarden,onthedaywhenIpreparedtheborderwhereIwastoplantit?DoyoudenyhavingfollowedmeintothegardenwhenIpretendedtoplantit?Doyoudenythat,onthatevening,yourushedaftermydeparturetothespotwhereyouhopedtofindthebulb?Doyoudenyhavingduginthegroundwithyourhands—but,thankGod!invain,asitwasastratagemtodiscoveryourintentions.Say,doyoudenyallthis?”
Boxteldidnotdeemitfittoanswertheseseveralcharges,but,turningtothePrince,continued,—
“IhavenowfortwentyyearsgrowntulipsatDort.Ihaveevenacquiredsomereputationinthisart;oneofmyhybridsisenteredinthecatalogueunderthenameofanillustriouspersonage.IhavededicatedittotheKingofPortugal.ThetruthinthematterisasIshallnowtellyourHighness.ThisdamselknewthatIhadproducedtheblacktulip,and,inconcertwithaloverofhersinthefortressofLoewestein,sheformedtheplanofruiningmebyappropriatingtoherselftheprizeofahundredthousandguilders,which,withthehelpofyourHighness’sjustice,Ihopetogain.”
“Yah!”criedRosa,beyondherselfwithanger.
“Silence!”saidthePrince.
Then,turningtoBoxtel,hesaid,—
“Andwhoisthatprisonertowhomyoualludeastheloverofthisyoungwoman?”
Rosanearlyswooned,forCorneliuswasdesignatedasadangerousprisoner,andrecommendedbythePrincetotheespecialsurveillanceofthejailer.
NothingcouldhavebeenmoreagreeabletoBoxtelthanthisquestion.
