the tulip。
The first guilty act of Boxtel had been to climb over a wall
in order to dig up the tulip； the second； to introduce
himself into the dry…room of Cornelius； through an open
window； and the third； to enter Rosa's room by means of a
false key。
Thus envy urged Boxtel on with rapid steps in the career of
crime。
Boxtel； as we have said； was alone with the tulip。
A common thief would have taken the pot under his arm； and
carried it off。
But Boxtel was not a common thief； and he reflected。
It was not yet certain； although very probable； that the
tulip would flower black； if； therefore； he stole it now； he
not only might be committing a useless crime； but also the
theft might be discovered in the time which must elapse
until the flower should open。
He therefore as being in possession of the key； he might
enter Rosa's chamber whenever he liked thought it better
to wait and to take it either an hour before or after
opening； and to start on the instant to Haarlem； where the
tulip would be before the judges of the committee before any
one else could put in a reclamation。
Should any one then reclaim it； Boxtel would in his turn
charge him or her with theft。
This was a deep…laid scheme； and quite worthy of its author。
Thus； every evening during that delightful hour which the
two lovers passed together at the grated window； Boxtel
entered Rosa's chamber to watch the progress which the black
tulip had made towards flowering。
On the evening at which we have arrived he was going to
enter according to custom； but the two lovers； as we have
seen； only exchanged a few words before Cornelius sent Rosa
back to watch over the tulip。
Seeing Rosa enter her room ten minutes after she had left
it； Boxtel guessed that the tulip had opened； or was about
to open。
During that night； therefore； the great blow was to be
struck。 Boxtel presented himself before Gryphus with a
double supply of Genievre； that is to say； with a bottle in
each pocket。
Gryphus being once fuddled； Boxtel was very nearly master of
the house。
At eleven o'clock Gryphus was dead drunk。 At two in the
morning Boxtel saw Rosa leaving the chamber； but evidently
she held in her arms something which she carried with great
care。
He did not doubt that this was the black tulip which was in
flower。
But what was she going to do with it？ Would she set out that
instant to Haarlem with it？
It was not possible that a young girl should undertake such
a journey alone during the night。
Was she only going to show the tulip to Cornelius？ This was
more likely。
He followed Rosa in his stocking feet； walking on tiptoe。
He saw her approach the grated window。 He heard her calling
Cornelius。 By the light of the dark lantern he saw the tulip
open； and black as the night in which he was hidden。
He heard the plan concerted between Cornelius and Rosa to
send a messenger to Haarlem。 He saw the lips of the lovers
meet； and then heard Cornelius send Rosa away。
He saw Rosa extinguish the light and return to her chamber。
Ten minutes after； he saw her leave the room again； and lock
it twice。
Boxtel； who saw all this whilst hiding himself on the
landing…place of the staircase above； descended step by step
from his story as Rosa descended from hers； so that； when
she touched with her light foot the lowest step of the
staircase； Boxtel touched with a still lighter hand the lock
of Rosa's chamber。
And in that hand； it must be understood； he held the false
key which opened Rosa's door as easily as did the real one。
And this is why； in the beginning of the chapter； we said
that the poor young people were in great need of the
protection of God。
Chapter 24
The Black Tulip changes Masters
Cornelius remained standing on the spot where Rosa had left him。
He was quite overpowered with the weight of his twofold happiness。
Half an hour passed away。 Already did the first rays of the
sun enter through the iron grating of the prison； when
Cornelius was suddenly startled at the noise of steps which
came up the staircase； and of cries which approached nearer
and nearer。
Almost at the same instant he saw before him the pale and
distracted face of Rosa。
He started； and turned pale with fright。
〃Cornelius； Cornelius！〃 she screamed； gasping for breath。
〃Good Heaven！ what is it？〃 asked the prisoner。
〃Cornelius！ the tulip 〃
〃Well？〃
〃How shall I tell you？〃
〃Speak； speak； Rosa！〃
〃Some one has taken stolen it from us。〃
〃Stolen taken？〃 said Cornelius。
〃Yes；〃 said Rosa； leaning against the door to support
herself； 〃yes； taken； stolen！〃
And saying this； she felt her limbs failing her； and she
fell on her knees。
〃But how？ Tell me； explain to me。〃
〃Oh； it is not my fault； my friend。〃
Poor Rosa！ she no longer dared to call him 〃My beloved one。〃
〃You have then left it alone；〃 said Cornelius； ruefully。
〃One minute only； to instruct our messenger； who lives
scarcely fifty yards off； on the banks of the Waal。〃
〃And during that time； notwithstanding all my injunctions；
you left the key behind； unfortunate child！〃
〃No； no； no！ this is what I cannot understand。 The key was
never out of my hands； I clinched it as if I were afraid it
would take wings。〃
〃But how did it happen； then？〃
〃That's what I cannot make out。 I had given the letter to my
messenger； he started before I left his house； I came home；
and my door was locked； everything in my room was as I had
left it； except the tulip； that was gone。 Some one must
have had a key for my room； or have got a false one made on
purpose。〃
She was nearly choking with sobs； and was unable to
continue。
Cornelius； immovable and full of consternation； heard almost
without understanding； and only muttered；
〃Stolen； stolen； and I am lost！〃
〃O Cornelius； forgive me； forgive me； it will kill me！〃
Seeing Rosa's distress； Cornelius seized the iron bars of
the grating； and furiously shaking them； called out；
〃Rosa； Rosa； we have been robbed； it is true； but shall we
allow ourselves to be dejected for all that？ No； no； the
misfortune is great； but it may perhaps be remedied。 Rosa；
we know the thief！〃
〃Alas！ what can I say about it？〃
〃But I say that it is no one else but that infamous Jacob。
Shall we allow him to carry to Haarlem the fruit of our
labour； the fruit of our sleepless nights； the child of our
love？ Rosa； we must pursue； we must overtake him！〃
〃But how can we do all this； my friend； without letting my
father know we were in communication with each other？ How
should I； a poor girl； with so little knowledge of the world
and its ways； be able to attain this end； which perhaps you
could not attain yourself？〃
〃Rosa； Rosa； open this door to me； and you will see whether
I will not find the thief； whether I will not make him
confess his crime and beg for mercy。〃
〃Alas！〃 cried Rosa； sobbing； 〃can I open the door for you？
have I the keys？ If I had had them； would not you have been
free long ago？〃
〃Your father has them； your wicked father； who has
already crushed the first bulb of my tulip。 Oh； the wretch！
he is an accomplice of Jacob！〃
〃Don't speak so loud； for Heaven's sake！〃
〃Oh； Rosa； if you don't open the door to me；〃 Cornelius
cried in his rage； 〃I shall force these bars； and kill
everything I find in the prison。〃
〃Be merciful； be merciful； my friend！〃
〃I tell you； Rosa； that I shall demolish this prison； stone
for stone！〃 and the unfortunate man； whose strength was
increased tenfold by his rage； began to shake the door with
a great noise； little heeding that the thunder of his voice
was re…echoing through the spiral staircase。
Rosa； in her fright； made vain attempts to check this
furious outbreak。
〃I tell you that I shall kill that infamous Gryphus？〃 roared
Cornelius。 〃I tell you I shall shed his blood as he did that
of my black tulip。〃
The wretched prisoner began really to rave。
〃Well； then； yes；〃 said Rosa； all in a tremble。 〃Yes； yes；
only be quiet。 Yes； yes； I will take his keys； I will open
the door for you！ Yes； only be quiet； my own dear
Cornelius。〃
She did not finish her speech； as a growl by her side
interrupted her。
〃My father！〃 cried Rosa。
〃Gryphus！〃 roared Van Baerle。 〃Oh； you villain！〃
Old Gryphus； in the midst of all the noise； had ascended the
staircase without being heard。
He rudely seized his daughter by the wrist。
〃So you will take my keys？〃 he said； in a voice choked with
rage。 〃Ah！ this dastardly fellow； this monster； this
gallows…bird of a conspirator； is your own dear Cornelius；
is he？ Ah！ Missy has communications with prisoners of state。
Ah！ won't I teach you won't I？〃
Rosa clasped her hands in despair。
〃Ah！〃 Gryphus continued； passing from the madness of anger
to the cool irony of a man who has got the better of his
enemy； 〃Ah； you innocent tulip…fancier； you gentle
scholar； you will kill me； and drink my blood！ Very well！
very well！ And you have my daughter for an a