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〃At Loewestein。〃
〃You are from Loewestein？〃
〃I am the daughter of the jailer of the fortress。〃
The Prince made a little movement； as much as to say； 〃Well；
that's it； I remember now。〃
And； all the while feigning to be engaged with his book； he
watched Rosa with even more attention than he had before。
〃And you are fond of flowers？〃 continued Mynheer van
Systens。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Then you are an experienced florist； I dare say？〃
Rosa hesitated a moment； then with a tone which came from
the depth of her heart； she said；
〃Gentlemen； I am speaking to men of honor。〃
There was such an expression of truth in the tone of her
voice； that Van Systens and the Prince answered
simultaneously by an affirmative movement of their heads。
〃Well； then； I am not an experienced florist； I am only a
poor girl； one of the people； who； three months ago； knew
neither how to read nor how to write。 No； the black tulip
has not been found by myself。〃
〃But by whom else？〃
〃By a poor prisoner of Loewestein。〃
〃By a prisoner of Loewestein？〃 repeated the Prince。
The tone of his voice startled Rosa； who was sure she had
heard it before。
〃By a prisoner of state； then；〃 continued the Prince； 〃as
there are none else there。〃
Having said this he began to read again； at least in
appearance。
〃Yes；〃 said Rosa； with a faltering voice； 〃yes； by a
prisoner of state。〃
Van Systens trembled as he heard such a confession made in
the presence of such a witness。
〃Continue；〃 said William dryly； to the President of the
Horticultural Society。
〃Ah； sir；〃 said Rosa； addressing the person whom she thought
to be her real judge； 〃I am going to incriminate myself very
seriously。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Van Systens； 〃the prisoner of state ought
to be kept in close confinement at Loewestein。〃
〃Alas！ sir。〃
〃And from what you tell me you took advantage of your
position； as daughter of the jailer； to communicate with a
prisoner of state about the cultivation of flowers。〃
〃So it is； sir；〃 Rosa murmured in dismay； 〃yes； I am bound
to confess； I saw him every day。〃
〃Unfortunate girl！〃 exclaimed Van Systens。
The Prince； observing the fright of Rosa and the pallor of
the President； raised his head； and said； in his clear and
decided tone；
〃This cannot signify anything to the members of the
Horticultural Society； they have to judge on the black
tulip； and have no cognizance to take of political offences。
Go on； young woman； go on。〃
Van Systens； by means of an eloquent glance； offered； in the
name of the tulip； his thanks to the new member of the
Horticultural Society。
Rosa； reassured by this sort of encouragement which the
stranger was giving her； related all that had happened for
the last three months； all that she had done； and all that
she had suffered。 She described the cruelty of Gryphus； the
destruction of the first bulb； the grief of the prisoner；
the precautions taken to insure the success of the second
bulb； the patience of the prisoner and his anxiety during
their separation； how he was about to starve himself because
he had no longer any news of his tulip； his joy when she
went to see him again； and； lastly； their despair when they
found that the tulip which had come into flower was stolen
just one hour after it had opened。
All this was detailed with an accent of truth which；
although producing no change in the impassible mien of the
Prince； did not fail to take effect on Van Systens。
〃But；〃 said the Prince； 〃it cannot be long since you knew
the prisoner。〃
Rosa opened her large eyes and looked at the stranger； who
drew back into the dark corner； as if he wished to escape
her observation。
〃Why； sir？〃 she asked him。
〃Because it is not yet four months since the jailer Gryphus
and his daughter were removed to Loewestein。〃
〃That is true； sir。〃
〃Otherwise； you must have solicited the transfer of your
father； in order to be able to follow some prisoner who may
have been transported from the Hague to Loewestein。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Rosa； blushing。
〃Finish what you have to say；〃 said William。
〃I confess I knew the prisoner at the Hague。〃
〃Happy prisoner！〃 said William； smiling。
At this moment the officer who had been sent for Boxtel
returned； and announced to the Prince that the person whom
he had been to fetch was following on his heels with his tulip。
Chapter 27
The Third Bulb
Boxtel's return was scarcely announced； when he entered in
person the drawing…room of Mynheer van Systens； followed by
two men； who carried in a box their precious burden and
deposited it on a table。
The Prince； on being informed； left the cabinet； passed into
the drawing…room； admired the flower； and silently resumed
his seat in the dark corner； where he had himself placed his
chair。
Rosa； trembling； pale and terrified； expected to be invited
in her turn to see the tulip。
She now heard the voice of Boxtel。
〃It is he！〃 she exclaimed。
The Prince made her a sign to go and look through the open
door into the drawing…room。
〃It is my tulip；〃 cried Rosa； 〃I recognise it。 Oh； my poor
Cornelius！〃
And saying this she burst into tears。
The Prince rose from his seat； went to the door； where he
stood for some time with the full light falling upon his
figure。
As Rosa's eyes now rested upon him； she felt more than ever
convinced that this was not the first time she had seen the
stranger。
〃Master Boxtel；〃 said the Prince； 〃come in here； if you
please。〃
Boxtel eagerly approached； and； finding himself face to face
with William of Orange； started back。
〃His Highness！〃 he called out。
〃His Highness！〃 Rosa repeated in dismay。
Hearing this exclamation on his left； Boxtel turned round；
and perceived Rosa。
At this sight the whole frame of the thief shook as if under
the influence of a galvanic shock。
〃Ah！〃 muttered the Prince to himself； 〃he is confused。〃
But Boxtel； making a violent effort to control his feelings；
was already himself again。
〃Master Boxtel；〃 said William； 〃you seem to have discovered
the secret of growing the black tulip？〃
〃Yes； your Highness；〃 answered Boxtel； in a voice which
still betrayed some confusion。
It is true his agitation might have been attributable to the
emotion which the man must have felt on suddenly recognising
the Prince。
〃But；〃 continued the Stadtholder； 〃here is a young damsel
who also pretends to have found it。〃
Boxtel； with a disdainful smile； shrugged his shoulders。
William watched all his movements with evident interest and
curiosity。
〃Then you don't know this young girl？〃 sai