upon great criminals of every sort。
But whilst he was about to withdraw； Cornelius asked； 〃By
the bye； Mr。 Recorder； what day is the thing you know
what I mean to take place？〃
〃Why； to…day；〃 answered the Recorder； a little surprised by
the self…possession of the condemned man。
A sob was heard behind the door； and Cornelius turned round
to look from whom it came； but Rosa； who had foreseen this
movement； had fallen back。
〃And；〃 continued Cornelius； 〃what hour is appointed？〃
〃Twelve o'clock； sir。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Cornelius； 〃I think I heard the clock strike
ten about twenty minutes ago； I have not much time to
spare。〃
〃Indeed you have not； if you wish to make your peace with
God；〃 said the Recorder； bowing to the ground。 〃You may ask
for any clergyman you please。〃
Saying these words he went out backwards； and the assistant
turnkey was going to follow him； and to lock the door of
Cornelius's cell； when a white and trembling arm interposed
between him and the heavy door。
Cornelius saw nothing but the golden brocade cap； tipped
with lace； such as the Frisian girls wore； he heard nothing
but some one whispering into the ear of the turnkey。 But the
latter put his heavy keys into the white hand which was
stretched out to receive them； and； descending some steps；
sat down on the staircase which was thus guarded above by
himself； and below by the dog。 The head…dress turned round；
and Cornelius beheld the face of Rosa； blanched with grief；
and her beautiful eyes streaming with tears。
She went up to Cornelius； crossing her arms on her heaving
breast。
〃Oh； sir； sir！〃 she said； but sobs choked her utterance。
〃My good girl；〃 Cornelius replied with emotion； 〃what do you
wish？ I may tell you that my time on earth is short。〃
〃I come to ask a favour of you；〃 said Rosa； extending her
arms partly towards him and partly towards heaven。
〃Don't weep so； Rosa；〃 said the prisoner； 〃for your tears go
much more to my heart than my approaching fate； and you
know； the less guilty a prisoner is； the more it is his duty
to die calmly； and even joyfully； as he dies a martyr。 Come；
there's a dear； don't cry any more； and tell me what you
want； my pretty Rosa。〃
She fell on her knees。 〃Forgive my father；〃 she said。
〃Your father； your father！〃 said Cornelius； astonished。
〃Yes； he has been so harsh to you； but it is his nature； he
is so to every one； and you are not the only one whom he has
bullied。〃
〃He is punished； my dear Rosa； more than punished； by the
accident that has befallen him； and I forgive him。〃
〃I thank you； sir；〃 said Rosa。 〃And now tell me oh； tell
me can I do anything for you？〃
〃You can dry your beautiful eyes； my dear child；〃 answered
Cornelius； with a good…tempered smile。
〃But what can I do for you； for you I mean？〃
〃A man who has only one hour longer to live must be a great
Sybarite still to want anything； my dear Rosa。〃
〃The clergyman whom they have proposed to you？〃
〃I have worshipped God all my life； I have worshipped Him in
His works； and praised Him in His decrees。 I am at peace
with Him and do not wish for a clergyman。 The last thought
which occupies my mind； however has reference to the glory
of the Almighty； and； indeed； my dear； I should ask you to
help me in carrying out this last thought。〃
〃Oh； Mynheer Cornelius； speak； speak！〃 exclaimed Rosa； still
bathed in tears。
〃Give me your hand； and promise me not to laugh； my dear
child。〃
〃Laugh；〃 exclaimed Rosa； frantic with grief； 〃laugh at this
moment！ do you not see my tears？〃
〃Rosa； you are no stranger to me。 I have not seen much of
you； but that little is enough to make me appreciate your
character。 I have never seen a woman more fair or more pure
than you are； and if from this moment I take no more notice
of you； forgive me； it is only because； on leaving this
world； I do not wish to have any further regret。〃
Rosa felt a shudder creeping over her frame； for； whilst the
prisoner pronounced these words； the belfry clock of the
Buytenhof struck eleven。
Cornelius understood her。 〃Yes； yes； let us make haste；〃 he
said； 〃you are right； Rosa。〃
Then； taking the paper with the three suckers from his
breast； where he had again put it； since he had no longer
any fear of being searched； he said： 〃My dear girl； I have
been very fond of flowers。 That was at a time when I did not
know that there was anything else to be loved。 Don't blush；
Rosa； nor turn away； and even if I were making you a
declaration of love； alas！ poor dear； it would be of no more
consequence。 Down there in the yard； there is an instrument
of steel； which in sixty minutes will put an end to my
boldness。 Well； Rosa； I loved flowers dearly； and I have
found； or at least I believe so； the secret of the great
black tulip； which it has been considered impossible to
grow； and for which； as you know； or may not know； a prize
of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the
Horticultural Society of Haarlem。 These hundred thousand
guilders and Heaven knows I do not regret them these
hundred thousand guilders I have here in this paper； for
they are won by the three bulbs wrapped up in it； which you
may take； Rosa； as I make you a present of them。〃
〃Mynheer Cornelius！〃
〃Yes； yes； Rosa； you may take them； you are not wronging any
one； my child。 I am alone in this world； my parents are
dead； I never had a sister or a brother。 I have never had a
thought of loving any one with what is called love； and if
any one has loved me； I have not known it。 However； you see
well； Rosa； that I am abandoned by everybody； as in this sad
hour you alone are with me in my prison； consoling and
assisting me。〃
〃But； sir； a hundred thousand guilders！〃
〃Well； let us talk seriously； my dear child： those hundred
thousand guilders will be a nice marriage portion； with your
pretty face； you shall have them； Rosa； dear Rosa； and I ask
nothing in return but your promise that you will marry a
fine young man； whom you love； and who will love you； as
dearly as I loved my flowers。 Don't interrupt me； Rosa dear；
I have only a few minutes more。〃
The poor girl was nearly choking with her sobs。
Cornelius took her by the hand。
〃Listen to me；〃 he continued： 〃I'll tell you how to manage
it。 Go to Dort and ask Butruysheim； my gardener； for soil
from my border number six； fill a deep box with it； and
plant in it these three bulbs。 They will flower next May；
that is to say； in seven months； and； when you see the
flower forming on the stem； be careful at night to protect
them from the wind； and by day to screen them from the sun。
They will flower black； I am quite sure of it。 You are then
to apprise the President of the Haarlem Society。 He will
cause the color of the flower to be proved before a
committee and these hundred thousand guilders will be paid
to you。〃
Rosa heaved a deep sigh。
〃And now；〃 continued Cornelius； wiping away a tear which
was glistening in his eye； and which was shed much more for
that marvellous black tulip which he was not to see than for
the life which he was about to lose； 〃I have no wish
left； except that the tulip should be called Rosa
Barlaensis； that is to say； that its name should combine
yours and mine； and as； of course； you do not understand
Latin； and might therefore forget this name； try to get for
me pencil and paper； that I may write it down for you。〃
Rosa sobbed afresh； and handed to him a book； bound in
shagreen； which bore the initials C。 W。
〃What is this？〃 asked the prisoner。
〃Alas！〃 replied Rosa； 〃it is the Bible of your poor
godfather； Cornelius de Witt。 From it he derived strength to
endure the torture； and to bear his sentence without
flinching。 I found it in this cell； after the death of the
martyr； and have preserved it as a relic。 To…day I brought
it to you； for it seemed to me that this book must possess
in itself a divine power。 Write in it what you have to
write； Mynheer Cornelius； and though； unfortunately； I am
not able to read； I will take care that what you write shall
be accomplished。〃
Cornelius took the Bible； and kissed it reverently。
〃With what shall I write？〃 asked Cornelius。
〃There is a pencil in the Bible；〃 said Rosa。
This was the pencil which John de Witt had lent to his
brother； and which he had forgotten to take away with him。
Cornelius took it； and on the second fly leaf （for it will
be remembered that the first was torn out）； drawing near his
end like his godfather； he wrote with a no less firm hand：
〃On this day； the 23d of August； 1672； being on the point of
rendering； although innocent； my soul to God on the
scaffold； I bequeath to Rosa Gryphus the only worldly goods
which remain to me of all that I have possessed in this
world； the rest having been confiscated； I bequeath； I say；
to Rosa Gryphus three bulbs； which I am convinced must
produce； in the next May； the Grand Black Tulip for which a
prize of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the
Haarlem Society； requesting th