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The Prince finished his letter。
During this time； the greyhound went up to Rosa； surveyed
her and began to caress her。
〃Ah； ah！〃 said William to his dog； 〃it's easy to see that
she is a countrywoman of yours； and that you recognise her。〃
Then； turning towards Rosa； and fixing on her his
scrutinising； and at the same time impenetrable glance； he
said；
〃Now； my child。〃
The Prince was scarcely twenty…three； and Rosa eighteen or
twenty。 He might therefore perhaps better have said； My
sister。
〃My child；〃 he said； with that strangely commanding accent
which chilled all those who approached him； 〃we are alone；
let us speak together。〃
Rosa began to tremble； and yet there was nothing but
kindness in the expression of the Prince's face。
〃Monseigneur；〃 she stammered。
〃You have a father at Loewestein？〃
〃Yes； your Highness。〃
〃You do not love him？〃
〃I do not； at least； not as a daughter ought to do；
Monseigneur。〃
〃It is not right not to love one's father； but it is right
not to tell a falsehood。〃
Rosa cast her eyes to the ground。
〃What is the reason of your not loving your father？〃
〃He is wicked。〃
〃In what way does he show his wickedness？〃
〃He ill…treats the prisoners。〃
〃All of them？〃
〃All。〃
〃But don't you bear him a grudge for ill…treating some one
in particular？〃
〃My father ill…treats in particular Mynheer van Baerle； who
〃
〃Who is your lover？〃
Rosa started back a step。
〃Whom I love； Monseigneur；〃 she answered proudly。
〃Since when？〃 asked the Prince。
〃Since the day when I first saw him。〃
〃And when was that？〃
〃The day after that on which the Grand Pensionary John and
his brother Cornelius met with such an awful death。〃
The Prince compressed his lips； and knit his brow and his
eyelids dropped so as to hide his eyes for an instant。 After
a momentary silence； he resumed the conversation。
〃But to what can it lead to love a man who is doomed to live
and die in prison？〃
〃It will lead； if he lives and dies in prison； to my aiding
him in life and in death。〃
〃And would you accept the lot of being the wife of a
prisoner？〃
〃As the wife of Mynheer van Baerle； I should； under any
circumstances； be the proudest and happiest woman in the
world； but 〃
〃But what？〃
〃I dare not say； Monseigneur。〃
〃There is something like hope in your tone； what do you
hope？〃
She raised her moist and beautiful eyes； and looked at
William with a glance full of meaning； which was calculated
to stir up in the recesses of his heart the clemency which
was slumbering there。
〃Ah； I understand you；〃 he said。
Rosa； with a smile； clasped her hands。
〃You hope in me？〃 said the Prince。
〃Yes； Monseigneur。〃
〃Umph！〃
The Prince sealed the letter which he had just written； and
summoned one of his officers； to whom he said；
〃Captain van Deken； carry this despatch to Loewestein； you
will read the orders which I give to the Governor； and
execute them as far as they regard you。〃
The officer bowed； and a few minutes afterwards the gallop
of a horse was heard resounding in the vaulted archway。
〃My child；〃 continued the Prince； 〃the feast of the tulip
will be on Sunday next； that is to say； the day after
to…morrow。 Make yourself smart with these five hundred
guilders； as I wish that day to be a great day for you。〃
〃How does your Highness wish me to be dressed？〃 faltered
Rosa。
〃Take the costume of a Frisian bride。〃 said William； 〃it
will suit you very well indeed。〃
Chapter 31
Haarlem
Haarlem； whither； three days ago； we conducted our gentle
reader； and whither we request him to follow us once more in
the footsteps of the prisoner； is a pleasant city； which
justly prides itself on being one of the most shady in all
the Netherlands。
While other towns boast of the magnificence of their
arsenals and dock…yards； and the splendour of their shops
and markets； Haarlem's claims to fame rest upon her
superiority to all other provincial cities in the number and
beauty of her spreading elms； graceful poplars； and； more
than all； upon her pleasant walks； shaded by the lovely
arches of magnificent oaks； lindens； and chestnuts。
Haarlem； just as her neighbour； Leyden； became the centre
of science； and her queen； Amsterdam； that of commerce；
Haarlem preferred to be the agricultural； or； more strictly
speaking； the horticultural metropolis。
In fact； girt about as she was； breezy and exposed to the
sun's hot rays； she seemed to offer to gardeners so many
more guarantees of success than other places； with their
heavy sea air； and their scorching heat。
On this account all the serene souls who loved the earth and
its fruits had gradually gathered together at Haarlem； just
as all the nervous； uneasy spirits； whose ambition was for
travel and commerce； had settled in Rotterdam and Amsterdam；
and all the politicians and selfish worldlings at the Hague。
We have observed that Leyden overflowed with scholars。 In
like manner Haarlem was devoted to the gentle pursuits of
peace； to music and painting； orchards and avenues；
groves and parks。 Haarlem went wild about flowers； and
tulips received their full share of worship。
Haarlem offered prizes for tulip…growing； and this fact
brings us in the most natural manner to that celebration
which the city intended to hold on May 15th； 1673 in honour
of the great black tulip； immaculate and perfect； which
should gain for its discoverer one hundred thousand
guilders！
Haarlem； having placed on exhibition its favourite； having
advertised its love of flowers in general and of tulips in
particular； at a period when the souls of men were filled
with war and sedition； Haarlem； having enjoyed the
exquisite pleasure of admiring the very purest ideal of
tulips in full bloom； Haarlem； this tiny town； full of
trees and of sunshine； of light and shade； had determined
that the ceremony of bestowing the prize should be a fete
which should live for ever in the memory of men。
So much the more reason was there； too； in her
determination； in that Holland is the home of fetes； never
did sluggish natures manifest more eager energy of the
singing and dancing sort than those of the good republicans
of the Seven Provinces when amusement was the order of the
day。
Study the pictures of the two Teniers。
It is certain that sluggish folk are of all men the most
earnest in tiring themselves； not when they are at work； but
at play。
Thus Haarlem was thrice given over to rejoicing； for a
three…fold celebration was to take place。
In the first place； the black tulip had been produced；