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〃Down there on the throne； don't you see？〃
〃I do see it。〃
〃Come along； sir；〃 said the officer。 〃Now we must drive
off。〃
〃Oh； have pity； have mercy； sir！〃 said Van Baerle； 〃don't
take me away！ Let me look once more！ Is what I see down
there the black tulip？ Quite black？ Is it possible？ Oh； sir；
have you seen it？ It must have specks； it must be imperfect；
it must only be dyed black。 Ah！ if I were there； I should
see it at once。 Let me alight； let me see it close； I beg of
you。〃
〃Are you mad； Sir？ How could I allow such a thing？〃
〃I implore you。〃
〃But you forget that you are a prisoner。〃
〃It is true I am a prisoner； but I am a man of honour； and I
promise you on my word that I will not run away； I will not
attempt to escape； only let me see the flower。〃
〃But my orders； Sir； my orders。〃 And the officer again made
the driver a sign to proceed。
Cornelius stopped him once more。
〃Oh； be forbearing； be generous！ my whole life depends upon
your pity。 Alas！ perhaps it will not be much longer。 You
don't know； sir； what I suffer。 You don't know the struggle
going on in my heart and mind。 For after all；〃 Cornelius
cried in despair； 〃if this were my tulip； if it were the one
which has been stolen from Rosa！ Oh； I must alight； sir！ I
must see the flower！ You may kill me afterwards if you like；
but I will see it； I must see it。〃
〃Be quiet； unfortunate man； and come quickly back into the
carriage； for here is the escort of his Highness the
Stadtholder； and if the Prince observed any disturbance； or
heard any noise； it would be ruin to me； as well as to you。〃
Van Baerle； more afraid for his companion than himself；
threw himself back into the carriage； but he could only keep
quiet for half a minute； and the first twenty horsemen had
scarcely passed when he again leaned out of the carriage
window； gesticulating imploringly towards the Stadtholder at
the very moment when he passed。
William； impassible and quiet as usual； was proceeding to
the green to fulfil his duty as chairman。 He held in his
hand the roll of parchment； which； on this festive day； had
become his baton。
Seeing the man gesticulate with imploring mien； and perhaps
also recognising the officer who accompanied him； his
Highness ordered his carriage to stop。
In an instant his snorting steeds stood still； at a distance
of about six yards from the carriage in which Van Baerle was
caged。
〃What is this？〃 the Prince asked the officer； who at the
first order of the Stadtholder had jumped out of the
carriage； and was respectfully approaching him。
〃Monseigneur；〃 he cried； 〃this is the prisoner of state whom
I have fetched from Loewestein； and whom I have brought to
Haarlem according to your Highness's command。〃
〃What does he want？〃
〃He entreats for permission to stop here for minute。〃
〃To see the black tulip； Monseigneur；〃 said Van Baerle；
clasping his hands； 〃and when I have seen it； when I have
seen what I desire to know； I am quite ready to die； if die
I must； but in dying I shall bless your Highness's mercy for
having allowed me to witness the glorification of my work。〃
It was； indeed； a curious spectacle to see these two men at
the windows of their several carriages； the one surrounded
by his guards； and all powerful； the other a prisoner and
miserable； the one going to mount a throne； the other
believing himself to be on his way to the scaffold。
William； looking with his cold glance on Cornelius； listened
to his anxious and urgent request。
Then addressing himself to the officer； he said；
〃Is this person the mutinous prisoner who has attempted to
kill his jailer at Loewestein？〃
Cornelius heaved a sigh and hung his head。 His good…tempered
honest face turned pale and red at the same instant。 These
words of the all…powerful Prince； who by some secret
messenger unavailable to other mortals had already been
apprised of his crime； seemed to him to forebode not only
his doom； but also the refusal of his last request。
He did not try to make a struggle； or to defend himself； and
he presented to the Prince the affecting spectacle of
despairing innocence； like that of a child； a spectacle
which was fully understood and felt by the great mind and
the great heart of him who observed it。
〃Allow the prisoner to alight； and let him see the black
tulip； it is well worth being seen once。〃
〃Thank you； Monseigneur； thank you；〃 said Cornelius； nearly
swooning with joy； and staggering on the steps of his
carriage； had not the officer supported him； our poor friend
would have made his thanks to his Highness prostrate on his
knees with his forehead in the dust。
After having granted this permission； the Prince proceeded
on his way over the green amidst the most enthusiastic
acclamations。
He soon arrived at the platform； and the thunder of cannon
shook the air。
Chapter 33
Conclusion
Van Baerle； led by four guards； who pushed their way through
the crowd； sidled up to the black tulip； towards which his
gaze was attracted with increasing interest the nearer he
approached to it。
He saw it at last； that unique flower； which he was to see
once and no more。 He saw it at the distance of six paces；
and was delighted with its perfection and gracefulness； he
saw it surrounded by young and beautiful girls； who formed；
as it were； a guard of honour for this queen of excellence
and purity。 And yet； the more he ascertained with his own
eyes the perfection of the flower； the more wretched and
miserable he felt。 He looked all around for some one to whom
he might address only one question； but his eyes everywhere
met strange faces； and the attention of all was directed
towards the chair of state； on which the Stadtholder had
seated himself。
William rose； casting a tranquil glance over the
enthusiastic crowd； and his keen eyes rested by turns on the
three extremities of a triangle formed opposite to him by
three persons of very different interests and feelings。
At one of the angles； Boxtel； trembling with impatience； and
quite absorbed in watching the Prince； the guilders； the
black tulip； and the crowd。
At the other； Cornelius； panting for breath； silent； and his
attention； his eyes； his life； his heart； his love； quite
concentrated on the black tulip。
And thirdly； standing on a raised step among the maidens of
Haarlem； a beautiful Frisian girl； dressed in fine scarlet
woollen cloth； embroidered with silver； and covered with a
lace veil； which fell in rich folds from her head…dress of
gold brocade； in one word； Rosa； who； faint and with
swimming eyes； was leaning on the arm of one of the officers
of William。
The Prince then slowly unfolded the parchment