按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
concerned； the real interest of the situation； the
fascinating； dramatic interest； is not to be found here。
Our interest is in a smiling； sparkling face to be seen amid
the members of the Horticultural Committee； in the person
with a flower in his belt； combed and brushed； and all clad
in scarlet； a colour which makes his black hair and
yellow skin stand out in violent contrast。
This hero； radiant with rapturous joy； who had the
distinguished honour of making the people forget the speech
of Van Systens； and even the presence of the Stadtholder；
was Isaac Boxtel； who saw； carried on his right before him；
the black tulip； his pretended daughter； and on his left； in
a large purse； the hundred thousand guilders in glittering
gold pieces； towards which he was constantly squinting；
fearful of losing sight of them for one moment。
Now and then Boxtel quickened his step to rub elbows for a
moment with Van Systens。 He borrowed a little importance
from everybody to make a kind of false importance for
himself； as he had stolen Rosa's tulip to effect his own
glory； and thereby make his fortune。
Another quarter of an hour and the Prince will arrive and
the procession will halt for the last time； after the tulip
is placed on its throne； the Prince； yielding precedence to
this rival for the popular adoration； will take a
magnificently emblazoned parchment； on which is written the
name of the grower； and his Highness； in a loud and audible
tone； will proclaim him to be the discoverer of a wonder；
that Holland； by the instrumentality of him； Boxtel； has
forced Nature to produce a black flower； which shall
henceforth be called Tulipa nigra Boxtellea。
From time to time； however； Boxtel withdrew his eyes for a
moment from the tulip and the purse； timidly looking among
the crowd； for more than anything he dreaded to descry there
the pale face of the pretty Frisian girl。
She would have been a spectre spoiling the joy of the
festival for him； just as Banquo's ghost did that of
Macbeth。
And yet； if the truth must be told； this wretch； who had
stolen what was the boast of man； and the dowry of a woman；
did not consider himself as a thief。 He had so intently
watched this tulip； followed it so eagerly from the drawer
in Cornelius's dry…room to the scaffold of the Buytenhof；
and from the scaffold to the fortress of Loewestein； he had
seen it bud and grow in Rosa's window； and so often warmed
the air round it with his breath； that he felt as if no one
had a better right to call himself its producer than he had；
and any one who would now take the black tulip from him
would have appeared to him as a thief。
Yet he did not perceive Rosa； his joy therefore was not
spoiled。
In the centre of a circle of magnificent trees； which were
decorated with garlands and inscriptions； the procession
halted； amidst the sounds of lively music； and the young
damsels of Haarlem made their appearance to escort the tulip
to the raised seat which it was to occupy on the platform；
by the side of the gilded chair of his Highness the
Stadtholder。
And the proud tulip； raised on its pedestal； soon overlooked
the assembled crowd of people； who clapped their hands； and
made the old town of Haarlem re…echo with their tremendous
cheers。
Chapter 32
A Last Request
At this solemn moment； and whilst the cheers still
resounded； a carriage was driving along the road on the
outskirts of the green on which the scene occurred； it
pursued its way slowly； on account of the flocks of children
who were pushed out of the avenue by the crowd of men and
women。
This carriage； covered with dust； and creaking on its axles；
the result of a long journey； enclosed the unfortunate Van
Baerle； who was just beginning to get a glimpse through the
open window of the scene which we have tried with poor
success； no doubt to present to the eyes of the reader。
The crowd and the noise and the display of artificial and
natural magnificence were as dazzling to the prisoner as a
ray of light flashing suddenly into his dungeon。
Notwithstanding the little readiness which his companion had
shown in answering his questions concerning his fate； he
ventured once more to ask the meaning of all this bustle；
which at first sight seemed to be utterly disconnected with
his own affairs。
〃What is all this； pray； Mynheer Lieutenant？〃 he asked of
his conductor。
〃As you may see； sir；〃 replied the officer； 〃it is a feast。〃
〃Ah； a feast；〃 said Cornelius； in the sad tone of
indifference of a man to whom no joy remains in this world。
Then； after some moments； silence； during which the carriage
had proceeded a few yards； he asked once more；
〃The feast of the patron saint of Haarlem？ as I see so many
flowers。〃
〃It is； indeed； a feast in which flowers play a principal
part。〃
〃Oh； the sweet scents！ oh； the beautiful colours！〃 cried
Cornelius。
〃Stop； that the gentleman may see；〃 said the officer； with
that frank kindliness which is peculiar to military men； to
the soldier who was acting as postilion。
〃Oh； thank you； Sir； for your kindness；〃 replied Van Baerle；
in a melancholy tone； 〃the joy of others pains me； please
spare me this pang。〃
〃Just as you wish。 Drive on！ I ordered the driver to stop
because I thought it would please you； as you are said to
love flowers； and especially that the feast of which is
celebrated to…day。〃
〃And what flower is that？〃
〃The tulip。〃
〃The tulip！〃 cried Van Baerle； 〃is to…day the feast of
tulips？〃
〃Yes； sir； but as this spectacle displeases you； let us
drive on。〃
The officer was about to give the order to proceed； but
Cornelius stopped him； a painful thought having struck him。
He asked； with faltering voice；
〃Is the prize given to…day； sir？〃
〃Yes； the prize for the black tulip。〃
Cornelius's cheek flushed； his whole frame trembled； and the
cold sweat stood on his brow。
〃Alas！ sir；〃 he said； 〃all these good people will be as
unfortunate as myself； for they will not see the solemnity
which they have come to witness； or at least they will see
it incompletely。〃
〃What is it you mean to say？〃
〃I mean to say。〃 replied Cornelius； throwing himself back in
the carriage； 〃that the black tulip will not be found；
except by one whom I know。〃
〃In this case；〃 said the officer； 〃the person whom you know
has found it； for the thing which the whole of Haarlem is
looking at at this moment is neither more nor less than the
black tulip。〃
〃The black tulip！〃 replied Van Baerle； thrusting half his
body out of the carriage window。 〃Where is it？ where is it？〃
〃Down there on the throne； don't you see？〃
〃I do see it。〃
〃Come along； sir；〃 sa