Черный тюльпан
The Third Bulb
Ontheeveofthedaywhentheflowerwasexpectedtoopen,thetulipwastakenawaybythisyoungwoman.Shecarriedittoherroom,fromwhichIhadthegoodlucktorecoveritattheverymomentwhenshehadtheimpudencetodespatchamessengertoannouncetothemembersoftheHorticulturalSocietythatshehadproducedthegrandblacktulip.Butshedidnotstopthere.Thereisnodoubtthat,duringthefewhourswhichshekepttheflowerinherroom,sheshowedittosomepersonswhomshemaynowcallaswitnesses.But,fortunately,yourHighnesshasnowbeenwarnedagainstthisimpostorandherwitnesses.”
“Oh,myGod,myGod!whatinfamousfalsehoods!”saidRosa,burstingintotears,andthrowingherselfatthefeetoftheStadtholder,who,althoughthinkingherguilty,feltpityforherdreadfulagony.
“Youhavedoneverywrong,mychild,”hesaid,“andyourlovershallbepunishedforhavingthusbadlyadvisedyou.Foryouaresoyoung,andhavesuchanhonestlook,thatIaminclinedtobelievethemischieftohavebeenhisdoing,andnotyours.”
“Monseigneur!Monseigneur!”criedRosa,“Corneliusisnotguilty.”
Williamstarted.
“Notguiltyofhavingadvisedyou?that’swhatyouwanttosay,isitnot?”
“WhatIwishtosay,yourHighness,isthatCorneliusisaslittleguiltyofthesecondcrimeimputedtohimashewasofthefirst.”
“Ofthefirst?Anddoyouknowwhatwashisfirstcrime?Doyouknowofwhathewasaccusedandconvicted?Ofhaving,asanaccompliceofCorneliusdeWitt,concealedthecorrespondenceoftheGrandPensionaryandtheMarquisdeLouvois.
