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for the President to put himself to some trouble。 He will
come himself to Loewestein to see the tulip。〃
Then； suddenly checking himself； he said； with a faltering
voice；
〃Rosa； Rosa； if after all it should not flower black！〃
〃Oh； surely； surely； you will know to…morrow； or the day
after。〃
〃And to wait until evening to know it； Rosa！ I shall die
with impatience。 Could we not agree about a signal？〃
〃I shall do better than that。〃
〃What will you do？〃
〃If it opens at night； I shall come and tell you myself。 If
it is day； I shall pass your door； and slip you a note
either under the door； or through the grating； during the
time between my father's first and second inspection。〃
〃Yes； Rosa； let it be so。 One word of yours； announcing this
news to me； will be a double happiness。〃
〃There； ten o'clock strikes；〃 said Rosa； 〃I must now leave
you。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Cornelius； 〃go； Rosa； go！〃
Rosa withdrew； almost melancholy； for Cornelius had all but
sent her away。
It is true that he did so in order that she might watch over
his black tulip。
Chapter 22
The Opening of the Flower
The night passed away very sweetly for Cornelius； although
in great agitation。 Every instant he fancied he heard the
gentle voice of Rosa calling him。 He then started up； went
to the door； and looked through the grating； but no one was
behind it； and the lobby was empty。
Rosa； no doubt； would be watching too； but； happier than he；
she watched over the tulip； she had before her eyes that
noble flower； that wonder of wonders。 which not only was
unknown； but was not even thought possible until then。
What would the world say when it heard that the black tulip
was found； that it existed and that it was the prisoner Van
Baerle who had found it？
How Cornelius would have spurned the offer of his liberty in
exchange for his tulip！
Day came； without any news； the tulip was not yet in flower。
The day passed as the night。 Night came； and with it Rosa；
joyous and cheerful as a bird。
〃Well？〃 asked Cornelius。
〃Well； all is going on prosperously。 This night； without any
doubt； our tulip will be in flower。〃
〃And will it flower black？〃
〃Black as jet。〃
〃Without a speck of any other colour。〃
〃Without one speck。〃
〃Good Heavens！ my dear Rosa； I have been dreaming all night；
in the first place of you；〃 （Rosa made a sign of
incredulity；） 〃and then of what we must do。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； and I will tell you now what I have decided on。 The
tulip once being in flower； and it being quite certain that
it is perfectly black； you must find a messenger。〃
〃If it is no more than that； I have a messenger quite
ready。〃
〃Is he safe？〃
〃One for whom I will answer； he is one of my lovers。〃
〃I hope not Jacob。〃
〃No； be quiet； it is the ferryman of Loewestein； a smart
young man of twenty…five。〃
〃By Jove！〃
〃Be quiet；〃 said Rosa； smiling； 〃he is still under age； as
you have yourself fixed it from twenty…six to twenty…eight。〃
〃In fine； do you think you may rely on this young man？〃
〃As on myself； he would throw himself into the Waal or the
Meuse if I bade him。〃
〃Well； Rosa； this lad may be at Haarlem in ten hours； you
will give me paper and pencil； and； perhaps better still；
pen and ink； and I will write； or rather； on second
thoughts； you will； for if I did； being a poor prisoner；
people might； like your father； see a conspiracy in it。 You
will write to the President of the Horticultural Society；
and I am sure he will come。〃
〃But if he tarries？〃
〃Well； let us suppose that he tarries one day； or even two；
but it is impossible。 A tulip…fancier like him will not
tarry one hour； not one minute； not one second； to set out
to see the eighth wonder of the world。 But； as I said； if he
tarried one or even two days； the tulip will still be in its
full splendour。 The flower once being seen by the President；
and the protocol being drawn up； all is in order； you will
only keep a duplicate of the protocol； and intrust the tulip
to him。 Ah！ if we had been able to carry it ourselves； Rosa；
it would never have left my hands but to pass into yours；
but this is a dream； which we must not entertain；〃 continued
Cornelius with a sigh； 〃the eyes of strangers will see it
flower to the last。 And above all； Rosa； before the
President has seen it； let it not be seen by any one。 Alas！
if any one saw the black tulip； it would be stolen。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃Did you not tell me yourself of what you apprehended from
your lover Jacob？ People will steal one guilder； why not a
hundred thousand？〃
〃I shall watch； be quiet。〃
〃But if it opened whilst you were here？〃
〃The whimsical little thing would indeed be quite capable of
playing such a trick；〃 said Rosa。
〃And if on your return you find it open？〃
〃Well？〃
〃Oh； Rosa； whenever it opens； remember that not a moment
must be lost in apprising the President。〃
〃And in apprising you。 Yes； I understand。〃
Rosa sighed； yet without any bitter feeling； but rather like
a woman who begins to understand a foible； and to accustom
herself to it。
〃I return to your tulip； Mynheer van Baerle； and as soon as
it opens I will give you news； which being done the
messenger will set out immediately。〃
〃Rosa； Rosa； I don't know to what wonder under the sun I
shall compare you。〃
〃Compare me to the black tulip； and I promise you I shall
feel very much flattered。 Good night； then； till we meet
again； Mynheer Cornelius。〃
〃Oh； say 'Good night； my friend。'〃
〃Good night； my friend；〃 said Rosa； a little consoled。
〃Say； 'My very dear friend。'〃
〃Oh； my friend 〃
〃Very dear friend； I entreat you； say 'very dear；' Rosa；
very dear。〃
〃Very dear； yes； very dear；〃 said Rosa； with a beating
heart； beyond herself with happiness。
〃And now that you have said 'very dear；' dear Rosa； say also
'most happy'： say 'happier and more blessed than ever man
was under the sun。' I only lack one thing； Rosa。〃
〃And that is？〃
〃Your cheek； your fresh cheek； your soft； rosy cheek。 Oh；
Rosa； give it me of your own free will； and not by chance。
Ah！〃
The prisoner's prayer ended in a sigh of ecstasy； his lips
met those of the maiden； not by chance； nor by stratagem；
but as Saint…Preux's was to meet the lips of Julie a hundred
years later。
Rosa made her escape。
Cornelius stood with his heart upon his lips； and his face
glued to the wicket in the door。
He was fairly choking with happiness and joy。 He opened his
window； and gazed long； with swelling heart； at the
cloudless vault of heaven； and the moon； which shone like
silver upon the two…fold stream f