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The Black Tulip
by Alexandre Dumas
5une) !223 "Etext 267%
Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
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The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
&hapter !
A Grateful People
:n the C8th of August) !63C) the city of the 0ague) al'ays
so li(ely) so neat) and so trim that one might belie(e e(ery
day to be 1unday) 'ith its shady park) 'ith its tall trees)
spreading o(er its Gothic houses) 'ith its canals like large
mirrors) in 'hich its steeples and its almost Eastern
cupolas are reflected) DD the city of the 0ague) the capital
of the 1e(en <nited Pro(inces) 'as s'elling in all its
arteries 'ith a black and red stream of hurried) panting)
and restless citi9ens) 'ho) 'ith their kni(es in their
girdles) muskets on their shoulders) or sticks in their
hands) 'ere pushing on to the Buytenhof) a terrible prison)
the grated 'indo's of 'hich are still sho'n) 'here) on the
charge of attempted murder preferred against him by the
surgeon Tyckelaer) &ornelius de ,itt) the brother of the
Grand Pensionary of 0olland 'as confined+
4f the history of that time) and especially that of the year
in the middle of 'hich our narrati(e commences) 'ere not
indissolubly connected 'ith the t'o names just mentioned)
the fe' explanatory pages 'hich 'e are about to add might
appear Juite supererogatoryR but 'e 'ill) from the (ery
first) apprise the reader DD our old friend) to 'hom 'e are
'ont on the first page to promise amusement) and 'ith 'hom
'e al'ays try to keep our 'ord as 'ell as is in our po'er DD
that this explanation is as indispensable to the right
understanding of our story as to that of the great e(ent
itself on 'hich it is based+
&ornelius de ,itt) /uart de Pulten) that is to say) 'arden
of the dikes) exDburgomaster of Dort) his nati(e to'n) and
member of the Assembly of the 1tates of 0olland) 'as
fortyDnine years of age) 'hen the Dutch people) tired of the
/epublic such as 5ohn de ,itt) the Grand Pensionary of
0olland) understood it) at once concei(ed a most (iolent
affection for the 1tadtholderate) 'hich had been abolished
for e(er in 0olland by the KPerpetual EdictK forced by 5ohn
de ,itt upon the <nited Pro(inces+
As it rarely happens that public opinion) in its 'himsical
flights) does not identify a principle 'ith a man) thus the
people sa' the personification of the /epublic in the t'o
stern figures of the brothers De ,itt) those /omans of
0olland) spurning to pander to the fancies of the mob) and
'edding themsel(es 'ith unbending fidelity to liberty
'ithout licentiousness) and prosperity 'ithout the 'aste of
superfluityR on the other hand) the 1tadtholderate recalled
to the popular mind the gra(e and thoughtful image of the
young Prince ,illiam of :range+
The brothers De ,itt humoured >ouis O4.+) 'hose moral
influence 'as felt by the 'hole of Europe) and the pressure
of 'hose material po'er 0olland had been made to feel in
that mar(ellous campaign on the /hine) 'hich) in the space
of three months) had laid the po'er of the <nited Pro(inces
prostrate+
>ouis O4.+ had long been the enemy of the Dutch) 'ho
insulted or ridiculed him to their hearts' content) although
it must be said that they generally used $rench refugees for
the mouthpiece of their spite+ Their national pride held him
up as the =ithridates of the /epublic+ The brothers De ,itt)
therefore) had to stri(e against a double difficulty) DD
against the force of national antipathy) and) besides)
against the feeling of 'eariness 'hich is natural to all
(anJuished people) 'hen they hope that a ne' chief 'ill be
able to sa(e them from ruin and shame+
This ne' chief) Juite ready to appear on the political
stage) and to measure himself against >ouis O4.+) ho'e(er
gigantic the fortunes of the Grand =onarch loomed in the
future) 'as ,illiam) Prince of :range) son of ,illiam 44+)
and grandson) by his mother 0enrietta 1tuart) of &harles 4+
of England+ ,e ha(e mentioned him before as the person by
'hom the people expected to see the office of 1tadtholder
restored+
This young man 'as) in !63C) t'entyDt'o years of age+ 5ohn
de ,itt) 'ho 'as his tutor) had brought him up 'ith the (ie'
of making him a good citi9en+ >o(ing his country better than
he did his disciple) the master had) by the Perpetual Edict)
extinguished the hope 'hich the young Prince might ha(e
entertained of one day becoming 1tadtholder+ But God laughs
at the presumption of man) 'ho 'ants to raise and prostrate
the po'ers on earth 'ithout consulting the Ting abo(eR and
the fickleness and caprice of the Dutch combined 'ith the
terror inspired by >ouis O4.+) in repealing the Perpetual
Edict) and reDestablishing the office of 1tadtholder in
fa(our of ,illiam of :range) for 'hom the hand of Pro(idence
had traced out ulterior destinies on the hidden map of the
future+
The Grand Pensionary bo'ed before the 'ill of his fello'
citi9ensR &ornelius de ,itt) ho'e(er) 'as more obstinate)
and not'ithstanding all the threats of death from the
:rangist rabble) 'ho besieged him in his house at Dort) he
stoutly refused to sign the act by 'hich the office of
1tadtholder 'as restored+ =o(ed by the tears and entreaties
of his 'ife) he at last complied) only adding to his
signature the t'o letters .+ &+ @.i &oactusA) notifying
thereby that he only yielded to force+
4t 'as a real miracle that on that day he escaped from the
doom intended for him+
5ohn de ,itt deri(ed no ad(antage from his ready compliance
'ith the 'ishes of his fello' citi9ens+ :nly a fe' days
after) an attempt 'as made to stab him) in 'hich he 'as
se(erely although not mortally 'ounded+
This by no means suited the (ie's of the :range faction+ The
life of the t'o brothers being a constant obstacle to their
plans) they changed their tactics) and tried to obtain by
calumny 'hat they had not been able to effect by the aid of
the poniard+
0o' rarely does it happen that) in the right moment) a great
man is found to head the execution of (ast and noble
designsR and for that reason) 'hen such a pro(idential
concurrence of circumstances does occur) history is prompt
to record the name of the chosen one) and to hold him up to
the admiration of posterity+ But 'hen 1atan interposes in
human affairs to cast a shado' upon some happy existence) or
to o(erthro' a kingdom) it seldom happens that he does not
find at his side some miserable tool) in 'hose ear he has
but to 'hisper a 'ord to set him at once about his task+
The 'retched tool 'ho 'as at hand to be the agent of this
dastardly plot 'as one Tyckelaer 'hom 'e ha(e already
mentioned) a surgeon by profession+
0e lodged an information against &ornelius de ,itt) setting
forth that the 'arden DD 'ho) as he had sho'n by the letters
added to his signature) 'as fuming at the repeal of the
Perpetual Edict DD had) from hatred against ,illiam of
:range) hired an assassin to deli(er the ne' /epublic of its
ne' 1tadtholderR and he) Tyckelaer 'as the person thus
chosenR but that) horrified at the bare idea of the act
'hich he 'as asked to perpetrate) he had preferred rather to
re(eal the crime than to commit it+
This disclosure 'as) indeed) 'ell calculated to call forth a
furious outbreak among the :range faction+ The Attorney
General caused) on the !6th of August) !63C) &ornelius de
,itt to be arrestedR and the noble brother of 5ohn de ,itt
had) like the (ilest criminal) to undergo) in one of the
apartments of the to'n prison) the preparatory degrees of
torture) by means of 'hich his judges expected to force from
him the confession of his alleged plot against ,illiam of
:range+
But &ornelius 'as not only possessed of a great mind) but
also of a great heart+ 0e belonged to that race of martyrs
'ho) indissolubly 'edded to their political con(ictions as
their ancestors 'ere to their faith) are able to smile on
pain? 'hile being stretched on the rack) he recited 'ith a
firm (oice) and scanning the lines according to measure) the
first strophe of the K5ustum ac tenacemK of 0orace) and)
making no confession) tired not only the strength) but e(en
the fanaticism) of his executioners+
The judges) not'ithstanding) acJuitted Tyckelaer from e(ery
chargeR at the same time sentencing &ornelius to be deposed
from all his offices and dignitiesR to pay all the costs of
the trialR and to be banished from the soil of the /epublic
for e(er+
This judgment against not only an innocent) but also a great
man) 'as indeed some gratification to the passions of the
people) to 'hose interests &ornelius de ,itt had al'ays
de(oted himself? but) as 'e shall soon see) it 'as not
enough+
The Athenians) 'ho indeed ha(e left behind them a pretty
tolerable reputation for ingratitude) ha(e in this respect
to yield precedence to the Dutch+ They) at least in the case
of Aristides) contented themsel(es 'ith banishing him+
5ohn de ,itt) at the first intimation of the charge brought
against his brother) had resigned his office of Grand
Pensionary+ 0e too recei(ed a noble recompense for his
de(otedness to the best interests of his country) taking
'ith him into the retirement of pri(ate life the hatred of a
host of enemies) and the fresh scars of 'ounds inflicted by
assassins) only too often the sole guerdon obtained by
honest people) 'ho are guilty of ha(ing 'orked for their
country) and of ha(ing forgotten their o'n pri(ate
interests+
4n the mean'hile ,illiam of :range urged on the course of
e(ents by e(ery means in his po'er) eagerly 'aiting for the
time 'hen the people) by 'hom he 'as idolised) should ha(e
made of the bodies of the brothers the t'o steps o(er 'hich
he might ascend to the chair of 1tadtholder+
Thus) then) on the C8th of August) !63C) as 'e ha(e already
stated in the beginning of this chapter) the 'hole to'n 'as
cro'ding to'ards the Buytenhof) to 'itness the departure of
&ornelius de ,itt from prison) as he 'as going to exileR and
to see 'hat traces the torture of the rack had left on the
noble frame of the man 'ho kne' his 0orace so 'ell+
Qet all this multitude 'as not cro'ding to the Buytenhof
'ith the innocent (ie' of merely feasting their eyes 'ith
the spectacleR there 'ere many 'ho 'ent there to play an
acti(e part in it) and to take upon themsel(es an office
'hich they concei(ed had been badly filled) DD that of the
executioner+
There 'ere) indeed) others 'ith less hostile intentions+ All
that they cared for 'as the spectacle) al'ays so attracti(e
to the mob) 'hose instincti(e pride is flattered by it) DD
the sight of greatness hurled do'n into the dust+
K0as not)K they 'ould say) Kthis &ornelius de ,itt been
locked up and broken by the rackP 1hall 'e not see him pale)
streaming 'ith blood) co(ered 'ith shamePK And 'as not this
a s'eet triumph for the burghers of the 0ague) 'hose en(y
e(en beat that of the common rabbleR a triumph in 'hich
e(ery honest citi9en and to'nsman might be expected to
shareP
K=oreo(er)K hinted the :range agitators interspersed through
the cro'd) 'hom they hoped to manage like a sharpDedged and
at the same time crushing instrument) DD Kmoreo(er) 'ill
there not) from the Buytenhof to the gate of the to'n) a
nice little opportunity present itself to thro' some
handfuls of dirt) or a fe' stones) at this &ornelius de
,itt) 'ho not only conferred the dignity of 1tadtholder on
the Prince of :range merely (i coactus) but 'ho also
intended to ha(e him assassinatedPK
KBesides 'hich)K the fierce enemies of $rance chimed in) Kif
the 'ork 'ere done 'ell and bra(ely at the 0ague) &ornelius
'ould certainly not be allo'ed to go into exile) 'here he
'ill rene' his intrigues 'ith $rance) and li(e 'ith his big
scoundrel of a brother) 5ohn) on the gold of the =arJuis de
>ou(ois+K
Being in such a temper) people generally 'ill run rather
than 'alkR 'hich 'as the reason 'hy the inhabitants of the
0ague 'ere hurrying so fast to'ards the Buytenhof+
0onest Tyckelaer) 'ith a heart full of spite and malice) and
'ith no particular plan settled in his mind) 'as one of the
foremost) being paraded about by the :range party like a
hero of probity) national honour) and &hristian charity+
This daring miscreant detailed) 'ith all the embellishments
and flourishes suggested by his base mind and his ruffianly
imagination) the attempts 'hich he pretended &ornelius de
,itt had made to corrupt himR the sums of money 'hich 'ere
promised) and all the diabolical stratagems planned
beforehand to smooth for him) Tyckelaer) all the
difficulties in the path of murder+
And e(ery phase of his speech) eagerly listened to by the
populace) called forth enthusiastic cheers for the Prince of
:range) and groans and imprecations of blind fury against
the brothers De ,itt+
The mob e(en began to (ent its rage by in(eighing against
the iniJuitous judges) 'ho had allo'ed such a detestable
criminal as the (illain &ornelius to get off so cheaply+
1ome of the agitators 'hispered) K0e 'ill be off) he 'ill
escape from us*K
:thers replied) KA (essel is 'aiting for him at 1che(ening)
a $rench craft+ Tyckelaer has seen her+K
K0onest Tyckelaer* 0urrah for Tyckelaer*K the mob cried in
chorus+
KAnd let us not forget)K a (oice exclaimed from the cro'd)
Kthat at the same time 'ith &ornelius his brother 5ohn) 'ho
is as rascally a traitor as himself) 'ill like'ise make his
escape+K
KAnd the t'o rogues 'ill in $rance make merry 'ith our
money) 'ith the money for our (essels) our arsenals) and our
dockyards) 'hich they ha(e sold to >ouis O4.+K
K,ell) then) don't let us allo' them to depart*K ad(ised one
of the patriots 'ho had gained the start of the others+
K$or'ard to the prison) to the prison*K echoed the cro'd+
Amid these cries) the citi9ens ran along faster and faster)
cocking their muskets) brandishing their hatchets) and
looking death and defiance in all directions+
;o (iolence) ho'e(er) had as yet been committedR and the
file of horsemen 'ho 'ere guarding the approaches of the
Buytenhof remained cool) unmo(ed) silent) much more
threatening in their impassibility than all this cro'd of
burghers) 'ith their cries) their agitation) and their
threats+ The men on their horses) indeed) stood like so many
statues) under the eye of their chief) &ount Tilly) the
captain of the mounted troops of the 0ague) 'ho had his
s'ord dra'n) but held it 'ith its point do'n'ards) in a line
'ith the straps of his stirrup+
This troop) the only defence of the prison) o(era'ed by its
firm attitude not only the disorderly riotous mass of the
populace) but also the detachment of the burgher guard)
'hich) being placed opposite the Buytenhof to support the
soldiers in keeping order) ga(e to the rioters the example
of seditious cries) shouting) DD
K0urrah for :range* Do'n 'ith the traitors*K
The presence of Tilly and his horsemen) indeed) exercised a
salutary check on these ci(ic 'arriorsR but by degrees they
'axed more and more angry by their o'n shouts) and as they
'ere not able to understand ho' any one could ha(e courage
'ithout sho'ing it by cries) they attributed the silence of
the dragoons to pusillanimity) and ad(anced one step to'ards
the prison) 'ith all the turbulent mob follo'ing in their
'ake+
4n this moment) &ount Tilly rode forth to'ards them
singleDhanded) merely lifting his s'ord and contracting his
bro' 'hilst he addressed them? DD
K,ell) gentlemen of the burgher guard) 'hat are you
ad(ancing for) and 'hat do you 'ishPK
The burghers shook their muskets) repeating their cry) DD
K0urrah for :range* Death to the traitors*K
K'0urrah for :range*' all 'ell and good*K replied Tilly)
Kalthough 4 certainly am more partial to happy faces than to
gloomy ones+ 'Death to the traitors*' as much of it as you
like) as long as you sho' your 'ishes only by cries+ But) as
to putting them to death in good earnest) 4 am here to
pre(ent that) and 4 shall pre(ent it+K
Then) turning round to his men) he ga(e the 'ord of command)
DD
K1oldiers) ready*K
The troopers obeyed orders 'ith a precision 'hich
immediately caused the burgher guard and the people to fall
back) in a degree of confusion 'hich excited the smile of
the ca(alry officer+
K0olloa*K he exclaimed) 'ith that bantering tone 'hich is
peculiar to men of his professionR Kbe easy) gentlemen) my
soldiers 'ill not fire a shotR but) on the other hand) you
'ill not ad(ance by one step to'ards the prison+K
KAnd do you kno') sir) that 'e ha(e musketsPK roared the
commandant of the burghers+
K4 must kno' it) by 5o(e) you ha(e made them glitter enough
before my eyesR but 4 beg you to obser(e also that 'e on our
side ha(e pistols) that the pistol carries admirably to a
distance of fifty yards) and that you are only t'entyDfi(e
from us+K
KDeath to the traitors*K cried the exasperated burghers+
KGo along 'ith you)K gro'led the officer) Kyou al'ays cry
the same thing o(er again+ 4t is (ery tiresome+K
,ith this) he took his post at the head of his troops)
'hilst the tumult gre' fiercer and fiercer about the
Buytenhof+
And yet the fuming cro'd did not kno' that) at that (ery
moment 'hen they 'ere tracking the scent of one of their
(ictims) the other) as if hurrying to meet his fate) passed)
at a distance of not more than a hundred yards) behind the
groups of people and the dragoons) to betake himself to the
Buytenhof+
5ohn de ,itt) indeed) had alighted from his coach 'ith his
ser(ant) and Juietly 'alked across the courtyard of the
prison+
=entioning his name to the turnkey) 'ho ho'e(er kne' him) he
said) DD
KGood morning) GryphusR 4 am coming to take a'ay my brother)
'ho) as you kno') is condemned to exile) and to carry him
out of the to'n+K
,hereupon the jailer) a sort of bear) trained to lock and
unlock the gates of the prison) had greeted him and admitted
him into the building) the doors of 'hich 'ere immediately
closed again+
Ten yards farther on) 5ohn de ,itt met a lo(ely young girl)
of about se(enteen or eighteen) dressed in the national
costume of the $risian 'omen) 'ho) 'ith pretty demureness)
dropped a curtesy to him+ &hucking her under the chin) he
said to her) DD
KGood morning) my good and fair /osaR ho' is my brotherPK
K:h) =ynheer 5ohn*K the young girl replied) K4 am not afraid
of the harm 'hich has been done to him+ That's all o(er
no'+K
KBut 'hat is it you are afraid ofPK
K4 am afraid of the harm 'hich they are going to do to him+K
K:h) yes)K said De ,itt) Kyou mean to speak of the people
do'n belo') don't youPK
KDo you hear themPK
KThey are indeed in a state of great excitementR but 'hen
they see us perhaps they 'ill gro' calmer) as 'e ha(e ne(er
done them anything but good+K
KThat's unfortunately no reason) except for the contrary)K
muttered the girl) as) on an imperati(e sign from her
father) she 'ithdre'+
K4ndeed) child) 'hat you say is only too true+K
Then) in pursuing his 'ay) he said to himself) DD
K0ere is a damsel 'ho (ery likely does not kno' ho' to read)
'ho conseJuently has ne(er read anything) and yet 'ith one
'ord she has just told the 'hole history of the 'orld+K
And 'ith the same calm mien) but more melancholy than he had
been on entering the prison) the Grand Pensionary proceeded
to'ards the cell of his brother+
&hapter C
The T'o Brothers
As the fair /osa) 'ith foreboding doubt) had foretold) so it
happened+ ,hilst 5ohn de ,itt 'as climbing the narro'
'inding stairs 'hich led to the prison of his brother
&ornelius) the burghers did their best to ha(e the troop of
Tilly) 'hich 'as in their 'ay) remo(ed+
1eeing this disposition) Ting =ob) 'ho fully appreciated the
laudable intentions of his o'n belo(ed militia) shouted most
lustily) DD
K0urrah for the burghers*K
As to &ount Tilly) 'ho 'as as prudent as he 'as firm) he
began to parley 'ith the burghers) under the protection of
the cocked pistols of his dragoons) explaining to the
(aliant to'nsmen) that his order from the 1tates commanded
him to guard the prison and its approaches 'ith three
companies+
K,herefore such an orderP ,hy guard the prisonPK cried the
:rangists+
K1top)K replied the &ount) Kthere you at once ask me more
than 4 can tell you+ 4 'as told) 'Guard the prison)' and 4
guard it+ Qou) gentlemen) 'ho are almost military men
yoursel(es) you are a'are that an order must ne(er be
gainsaid+K
KBut this order has been gi(en to you that the traitors may
be enabled to lea(e the to'n+K
K.ery possibly) as the traitors are condemned to exile)K
replied Tilly+
KBut 'ho has gi(en this orderPK
KThe 1tates) to be sure*K
KThe 1tates are traitors+K
K4 don't kno' anything about that*K
KAnd you are a traitor yourself*K
K4PK
KQes) you+K
K,ell) as to that) let us understand each other gentlemen+
,hom should 4 betrayP The 1tatesP ,hy) 4 cannot betray them)
'hilst) being in their pay) 4 faithfully obey their orders+K
As the &ount 'as so indisputably in the right that it 'as
impossible to argue against him) the mob ans'ered only by
redoubled clamour and horrible threats) to 'hich the &ount
opposed the most perfect urbanity+
KGentlemen)K he said) Kuncock your muskets) one of them may
go off by accidentR and if the shot chanced to 'ound one of
my men) 'e should knock o(er a couple of hundreds of yours)
for 'hich 'e should) indeed) be (ery sorry) but you e(en
more soR especially as such a thing is neither contemplated
by you nor by myself+K
K4f you did that)K cried the burghers) K'e should ha(e a pop
at you) too+K
K:f course you 'ouldR but suppose you killed e(ery man 5ack
of us) those 'hom 'e should ha(e killed 'ould not) for all
that) be less dead+K
KThen lea(e the place to us) and you 'ill perform the part
of a good citi9en+K
K$irst of all)K said the &ount) K4 am not a citi9en) but an
officer) 'hich is a (ery different thingR and secondly) 4 am
not a 0ollander) but a $renchman) 'hich is more different
still+ 4 ha(e to do 'ith no one but the 1tates) by 'hom 4 am
paidR let me see an order from them to lea(e the place to
you) and 4 shall only be too glad to 'heel off in an
instant) as 4 am confoundedly bored here+K
KQes) yes*K cried a hundred (oicesR the din of 'hich 'as
immediately s'elled by fi(e hundred othersR Klet us march to
the To'nDhallR let us go and see the deputies* &ome along*
come along*K
KThat's it)K Tilly muttered bet'een his teeth) as he sa' the
most (iolent among the cro'd turning a'ayR Kgo and ask for a
meanness at the To'nDhall) and you 'ill see 'hether they
'ill grant itR go) my fine fello's) go*K
The 'orthy officer relied on the honour of the magistrates)
'ho) on their side) relied on his honour as a soldier+
K4 say) &aptain)K the first lieutenant 'hispered into the
ear of the &ount) K4 hope the deputies 'ill gi(e these
madmen a flat refusalR but) after all) it 'ould do no harm
if they 'ould send us some reinforcement+K
4n the mean'hile) 5ohn de ,itt) 'hom 'e left climbing the
stairs) after the con(ersation 'ith the jailer Gryphus and
his daughter /osa) had reached the door of the cell) 'here
on a mattress his brother &ornelius 'as resting) after
ha(ing undergone the preparatory degrees of the torture+ The
sentence of banishment ha(ing been pronounced) there 'as no
occasion for inflicting the torture extraordinary+
&ornelius 'as stretched on his couch) 'ith broken 'rists and
crushed fingers+ 0e had not confessed a crime of 'hich he
'as not guiltyR and no') after three days of agony) he once
more breathed freely) on being informed that the judges)
from 'hom he had expected death) 'ere only condemning him to
exile+
Endo'ed 'ith an iron frame and a stout heart) ho' 'ould he
ha(e disappointed his enemies if they could only ha(e seen)
in the dark cell of the Buytenhof) his pale face lit up by
the smile of the martyr) 'ho forgets the dross of this earth
after ha(ing obtained a glimpse of the bright glory of
hea(en+
The 'arden) indeed) had already reco(ered his full strength)
much more o'ing to the force of his o'n strong 'ill than to
actual aidR and he 'as calculating ho' long the formalities
of the la' 'ould still detain him in prison+
This 'as just at the (ery moment 'hen the mingled shouts of
the burgher guard and of the mob 'ere raging against the t'o
brothers) and threatening &aptain Tilly) 'ho ser(ed as a
rampart to them+ This noise) 'hich roared outside of the
'alls of the prison) as the surf dashing against the rocks)
no' reached the ears of the prisoner+
But) threatening as it sounded) &ornelius appeared not to
dream it 'orth his 'hile to inJuire after its causeR nor did
he get up to look out of the narro' grated 'indo') 'hich
ga(e access to the light and to the noise of the 'orld
'ithout+
0e 'as so absorbed in his ne(erDceasing pain that it had
almost become a habit 'ith him+ 0e felt 'ith such delight
the bonds 'hich connected his immortal being 'ith his
perishable frame gradually loosening) that it seemed to him
as if his spirit) freed from the trammels of the body) 'ere
ho(ering abo(e it) like the expiring flame 'hich rises from
the halfDextinguished embers+
0e also thought of his brotherR and 'hilst the latter 'as
thus (i(idly present to his mind the door opened) and 5ohn
entered) hurrying to the bedside of the prisoner) 'ho
stretched out his broken limbs and his hands tied up in
bandages to'ards that glorious brother) 'hom he no'
excelled) not in ser(ices rendered to the country) but in
the hatred 'hich the Dutch bore him+
5ohn tenderly kissed his brother on the forehead) and put
his sore hands gently back on the mattress+
K&ornelius) my poor brother) you are suffering great pain)
are you notPK
K4 am suffering no longer) since 4 see you) my brother+K
K:h) my poor dear &ornelius* 4 feel most 'retched to see you
in such a state+K
KAnd) indeed) 4 ha(e thought more of you than of myselfR and
'hilst they 'ere torturing me) 4 ne(er thought of uttering a
complaint) except once) to say) 'Poor brother*' But no' that
you are here) let us forget all+ Qou are coming to take me
a'ay) are you notPK
K4 am+K
K4 am Juite healedR help me to get up) and you shall see ho'
4 can 'alk+K
KQou 'ill not ha(e to 'alk far) as 4 ha(e my coach near the
pond) behind Tilly's dragoons+K
KTilly's dragoons* ,hat are they near the pond forPK
K,ell)K said the Grand Pensionary 'ith a melancholy smile
'hich 'as habitual to him) Kthe gentlemen at the To'nDhall
expect that the people at the 0ague 'ould like to see you
depart) and there is some apprehension of a tumult+K
K:f a tumultPK replied &ornelius) fixing his eyes on his
perplexed brotherR Ka tumultPK
KQes) &ornelius+K
K:h* that's 'hat 4 heard just no')K said the prisoner) as if
speaking to himself+ Then) turning to his brother) he
continued) DD
KAre there many persons do'n before the prison+K
KQes) my brother) there are+K
KBut then) to come here to me DDDD K
K,ellPK
K0o' is it that they ha(e allo'ed you to passPK
KQou kno' 'ell that 'e are not (ery popular) &ornelius)K
said the Grand Pensionary) 'ith gloomy bitterness+ K4 ha(e
made my 'ay through all sorts of bystreets and alleys+K
KQou hid yourself) 5ohnPK
K4 'ished to reach you 'ithout loss of time) and 4 did 'hat
people 'ill do in politics) or on the sea 'hen the 'ind is
against them) DD 4 tacked+K
At this moment the noise in the sJuare belo' 'as heard to
roar 'ith increasing fury+ Tilly 'as parleying 'ith the
burghers+
K,ell) 'ell)K said &ornelius) Kyou are a (ery skilful pilot)
5ohnR but 4 doubt 'hether you 'ill as safely guide your
brother out of the Buytenhof in the midst of this gale) and
through the raging surf of popular hatred) as you did the
fleet of .an Tromp past the shoals of the 1cheldt to
Ant'erp+K
K,ith the help of God) &ornelius) 'e'll at least try)K
ans'ered 5ohnR Kbut) first of all) a 'ord 'ith you+K
K1peak*K
The shouts began ane'+
K0ark) hark*K continued &ornelius) Kho' angry those people
are* 4s it against you) or against mePK
K4 should say it is against us both) &ornelius+ 4 told you)
my dear brother) that the :range party) 'hile assailing us
'ith their absurd calumnies) ha(e also made it a reproach
against us that 'e ha(e negotiated 'ith $rance+K
K,hat blockheads they are*K
KBut) indeed) they reproach us 'ith it+K
KAnd yet) if these negotiations had been successful) they
'ould ha(e pre(ented the defeats of /ees) :rsay) ,esel) and
/heinbergR the /hine 'ould not ha(e been crossed) and
0olland might still consider herself in(incible in the midst
of her marshes and canals+K
KAll this is Juite true) my dear &ornelius) but still more
certain it is) that if at this moment our correspondence
'ith the =arJuis de >ou(ois 'ere disco(ered) skilful pilot
as 4 am) 4 should not be able to sa(e the frail barJue 'hich
is to carry the brothers De ,itt and their fortunes out of
0olland+ That correspondence) 'hich might pro(e to honest
people ho' dearly 4 lo(e my country) and 'hat sacrifices 4
ha(e offered to make for its liberty and glory) 'ould be
ruin to us if it fell into the hands of the :range party+ 4
hope you ha(e burned the letters before you left Dort to
join me at the 0ague+K
K=y dear brother)K &ornelius ans'ered) Kyour correspondence
'ith =+ de >ou(ois affords ample proof of your ha(ing been
of late the greatest) most generous) and most able citi9en
of the 1e(en <nited Pro(inces+ 4 rejoice in the glory of my
countryR and particularly do 4 rejoice in your glory) 5ohn+
4 ha(e taken good care not to burn that correspondence+K
KThen 'e are lost) as far as this life is concerned)K
Juietly said the Grand Pensionary) approaching the 'indo'+
K;o) on the contrary) 5ohn) 'e shall at the same time sa(e
our li(es and regain our popularity+K
KBut 'hat ha(e you done 'ith these lettersPK
K4 ha(e intrusted them to the care of &ornelius (an Baerle)
my godson) 'hom you kno') and 'ho li(es at Dort+K
KPoor honest .an Baerle* 'ho kno's so much) and yet thinks
of nothing but of flo'ers and of God 'ho made them+ Qou ha(e
intrusted him 'ith this fatal secretR it 'ill be his ruin)
poor soul*K
K0is ruinPK
KQes) for he 'ill either be strong or he 'ill be 'eak+ 4f he
is strong) he 'ill) 'hen he hears of 'hat has happened to
us) boast of our acJuaintanceR if he is 'eak) he 'ill be
afraid on account of his connection 'ith us? if he is
strong) he 'ill betray the secret by his boldnessR if he is
'eak) he 'ill allo' it to be forced from him+ 4n either case
he is lost) and so are 'e+ >et us) therefore) fly) fly) as
long as there is still time+K
&ornelius de ,itt) raising himself on his couch) and
grasping the hand of his brother) 'ho shuddered at the touch
of his linen bandages) replied) DD
KDo not 4 kno' my godsonP ha(e not 4 been enabled to read
e(ery thought in .an Baerle's mind) and e(ery sentiment in
his heartP Qou ask 'hether he is strong or 'eak+ 0e is
neither the one nor the otherR but that is not no' the
Juestion+ The principal point is) that he is sure not to
di(ulge the secret) for the (ery good reason that he does
not kno' it himself+K
5ohn turned round in surprise+
KQou must kno') my dear brother) that 4 ha(e been trained in
the school of that distinguished politician 5ohn de ,ittR
and 4 repeat to you) that .an Baerle is not a'are of the
nature and importance of the deposit 'hich 4 ha(e intrusted
to him+K
KSuick then)K cried 5ohn) Kas there is still time) let us
con(ey to him directions to burn the parcel+K
KThrough 'homPK
KThrough my ser(ant &raeke) 'ho 'as to ha(e accompanied us
on horseback) and 'ho has entered the prison 'ith me) to
assist you do'nstairs+K
K&onsider 'ell before ha(ing those precious documents burnt)
5ohn*K
K4 consider) abo(e all things) that the brothers De ,itt
must necessarily sa(e their li(es) to be able to sa(e their
character+ 4f 'e are dead) 'ho 'ill defend usP ,ho 'ill ha(e
fully understood our intentionsPK
KQou expect) then) that they 'ould kill us if those papers
'ere foundPK
5ohn) 'ithout ans'ering) pointed 'ith his hand to the
sJuare) 'hence) at that (ery moment) fierce shouts and
sa(age yells made themsel(es heard+
KQes) yes)K said &ornelius) K4 hear these shouts (ery
plainly) but 'hat is their meaningPK
5ohn opened the 'indo'+
KDeath to the traitors*K ho'led the populace+
KDo you hear no') &orneliusPK
KTo the traitors* that means us*K said the prisoner) raising
his eyes to hea(en and shrugging his shoulders+
KQes) it means us)K repeated 5ohn+
K,here is &raekePK
KAt the door of your cell) 4 suppose+K
K>et him enter then+K
5ohn opened the doorR the faithful ser(ant 'as 'aiting on
the threshold+
K&ome in) &raeke) and mind 'ell 'hat my brother 'ill tell
you+K
K;o) 5ohnR it 'ill not suffice to send a (erbal messageR
unfortunately) 4 shall be obliged to 'rite+K
KAnd 'hy thatPK
KBecause .an Baerle 'ill neither gi(e up the parcel nor burn
it 'ithout a special command to do so+K
KBut 'ill you be able to 'rite) poor old fello'PK 5ohn
asked) 'ith a look on the scorched and bruised hands of the
unfortunate sufferer+
K4f 4 had pen and ink you 'ould soon see)K said &ornelius+
K0ere is a pencil) at any rate+K
K0a(e you any paperP for they ha(e left me nothing+K
K0ere) take this Bible) and tear out the flyDleaf+K
K.ery 'ell) that 'ill do+K
KBut your 'riting 'ill be illegible+K
K5ust lea(e me alone for that)K said &ornelius+ KThe
executioners ha(e indeed pinched me badly enough) but my
hand 'ill not tremble once in tracing the fe' lines 'hich
are reJuisite+K
And really &ornelius took the pencil and began to 'rite)
'hen through the 'hite linen bandages drops of blood oo9ed
out 'hich the pressure of the fingers against the pencil
sJuee9ed from the ra' flesh+
A cold s'eat stood on the bro' of the Grand Pensionary+
&ornelius 'rote? DD
K=y dear Godson) DD
KBurn the parcel 'hich 4 ha(e intrusted to you+ Burn it
'ithout looking at it) and 'ithout opening it) so that its
contents may for e(er remain unkno'n to yourself+ 1ecrets of
this description are death to those 'ith 'hom they are
deposited+ Burn it) and you 'ill ha(e sa(ed 5ohn and
&ornelius de ,itt+
K$are'ell) and lo(e me+
K&ornelius de ,itt
KAugust C8th) !63C+K
5ohn) 'ith tears in his eyes) 'iped off a drop of the noble
blood 'hich had soiled the leaf) and) after ha(ing handed
the despatch to &raeke 'ith a last direction) returned to
&ornelius) 'ho seemed o(ercome by intense pain) and near
fainting+
K;o')K said he) K'hen honest &raeke sounds his coxs'ain's
'histle) it 'ill be a signal of his being clear of the
cro'd) and of his ha(ing reached the other side of the pond+
And then it 'ill be our turn to depart+K
$i(e minutes had not elapsed) before a long and shrill
'histle 'as heard through the din and noise of the sJuare of
the Buytenhof+
5ohn gratefully raised his eyes to hea(en+
KAnd no')K said he) Klet us off) &ornelius+K
&hapter H
The Pupil of 5ohn de ,itt
,hilst the clamour of the cro'd in the sJuare of Buytenhof)
'hich gre' more and more menacing against the t'o brothers)
determined 5ohn de ,itt to hasten the departure of his
brother &ornelius) a deputation of burghers had gone to the
To'nDhall to demand the 'ithdra'al of Tilly's horse+
4t 'as not far from the Buytenhof to 0oogstraet @0igh
1treetAR and a stranger) 'ho since the beginning of this
scene had 'atched all its incidents 'ith intense interest)
'as seen to 'end his 'ay 'ith) or rather in the 'ake of) the
others to'ards the To'nDhall) to hear as soon as possible
the current ne's of the hour+
This stranger 'as a (ery young man) of scarcely t'entyDt'o
or three) 'ith nothing about him that bespoke any great
energy+ 0e e(idently had his good reasons for not making
himself kno'n) as he hid his face in a handkerchief of fine
$risian linen) 'ith 'hich he incessantly 'iped his bro' or
his burning lips+
,ith an eye keen as that of a bird of prey) DD 'ith a long
aJuiline nose) a finely cut mouth) 'hich he generally kept
open) or rather 'hich 'as gaping like the edges of a 'ound)
DD this man 'ould ha(e presented to >a(ater) if >a(ater had
li(ed at that time) a subject for physiognomical
obser(ations 'hich at the first blush 'ould not ha(e been
(ery fa(ourable to the person in Juestion+
K,hat difference is there bet'een the figure of the
conJueror and that of the piratePK said the ancients+ The
difference only bet'een the eagle and the (ulture) DD
serenity or restlessness+
And indeed the sallo' physiognomy) the thin and sickly body)
and the pro'ling 'ays of the stranger) 'ere the (ery type of
a suspecting master) or an unJuiet thiefR and a police
officer 'ould certainly ha(e decided in fa(our of the latter
supposition) on account of the great care 'hich the
mysterious person e(idently took to hide himself+
0e 'as plainly dressed) and apparently unarmedR his arm 'as
lean but 'iry) and his hands dry) but of an aristocratic
'hiteness and delicacy) and he leaned on the shoulder of an
officer) 'ho) 'ith his hand on his s'ord) had 'atched the
scenes in the Buytenhof 'ith eager curiosity) (ery natural
in a military man) until his companion dre' him a'ay 'ith
him+
:n arri(ing at the sJuare of the 0oogstraet) the man 'ith
the sallo' face pushed the other behind an open shutter)
from 'hich corner he himself began to sur(ey the balcony of
the To'nDhall+
At the sa(age yells of the mob) the 'indo' of the To'nDhall
opened) and a man came forth to address the people+
K,ho is that on the balconyPK asked the young man) glancing
at the orator+
K4t is the Deputy Bo'elt)K replied the officer+
K,hat sort of a man is heP Do you kno' anything of himPK
KAn honest manR at least 4 belie(e so) =onseigneur+K
0earing this character gi(en of Bo'elt) the young man sho'ed
signs of such a strange disappointment and e(ident
dissatisfaction that the officer could not but remark it)
and therefore added) DD
KAt least people say so) =onseigneur+ 4 cannot say anything
about it myself) as 4 ha(e no personal acJuaintance 'ith
=ynheer Bo'elt+K
KAn honest man)K repeated he 'ho 'as addressed as
=onseigneurR Kdo you mean to say that he is an honest man
@bra(e hommeA) or a bra(e one @homme bra(eAPK
KAh) =onseigneur must excuse meR 4 'ould not presume to dra'
such a fine distinction in the case of a man 'hom) 4 assure
your 0ighness once more) 4 kno' only by sight+K
K4f this Bo'elt is an honest man)K his 0ighness continued)
Khe 'ill gi(e to the demand of these furibund petitioners a
(ery Jueer reception+K
The ner(ous Jui(er of his hand) 'hich mo(ed on the shoulder
of his companion as the fingers of a player on the keys of a
harpsichord) betrayed his burning impatience) so ill
concealed at certain times) and particularly at that moment)
under the icy and sombre expression of his face+
The chief of the deputation of the burghers 'as then heard
addressing an interpellation to =ynheer Bo'elt) 'hom he
reJuested to let them kno' 'here the other deputies) his
colleagues) 'ere+
KGentlemen)K Bo'elt repeated for the second time) K4 assure
you that in this moment 4 am here alone 'ith =ynheer
d'Asperen) and 4 cannot take any resolution on my o'n
responsibility+K
KThe order* 'e 'ant the order*K cried se(eral thousand
(oices+
=ynheer Bo'elt 'ished to speak) but his 'ords 'ere not
heard) and he 'as only seen mo(ing his arms in all sorts of
gestures) 'hich plainly sho'ed that he felt his position to
be desperate+ ,hen) at last) he sa' that he could not make
himself heard) he turned round to'ards the open 'indo') and
called =ynheer d'Asperen+
The latter gentleman no' made his appearance on the balcony)
'here he 'as saluted 'ith shouts e(en more energetic than
those 'ith 'hich) ten minutes before) his colleague had been
recei(ed+
This did not pre(ent him from undertaking the difficult task
of haranguing the mobR but the mob preferred forcing the
guard of the 1tates DD 'hich) ho'e(er) offered no resistance
to the so(ereign people DD to listening to the speech of
=ynheer d'Asperen+
K;o') then)K the young man coolly remarked) 'hilst the cro'd
'as rushing into the principal gate of the To'nDhall) Kit
seems the Juestion 'ill be discussed indoors) &aptain+ &ome
along) and let us hear the debate+K
K:h) =onseigneur* =onseigneur* take care*K
K:f 'hatPK
KAmong these deputies there are many 'ho ha(e had dealings
'ith you) and it 'ould be sufficient) that one of them
should recogni9e your 0ighness+K
KQes) that 4 might be charged 'ith ha(ing been the
instigator of all this 'ork) indeed) you are right)K said
the young man) blushing for a moment from regret of ha(ing
betrayed so much eagerness+ K$rom this place 'e shall see
them return 'ith or 'ithout the order for the 'ithdra'al of
the dragoons) then 'e may judge 'hich is greater) =ynheer
Bo'elt's honesty or his courage+K
KBut)K replied the officer) looking 'ith astonishment at the
personage 'hom he addressed as =onseigneur) Kbut your
0ighness surely does not suppose for one instant that the
deputies 'ill order Tilly's horse to Juit their postPK
K,hy notPK the young man Juietly retorted+
KBecause doing so 'ould simply be signing the death 'arrant
of &ornelius and 5ohn de ,itt+K
K,e shall see)K his 0ighness replied) 'ith the most perfect
coolnessR KGod alone kno's 'hat is going on 'ithin the
hearts of men+K
The officer looked askance at the impassible figure of his
companion) and gre' pale? he 'as an honest man as 'ell as a
bra(e one+
$rom the spot 'here they stood) his 0ighness and his
attendant heard the tumult and the hea(y tramp of the cro'd
on the staircase of the To'nDhall+ The noise thereupon
sounded through the 'indo's of the hall) on the balcony of
'hich =ynheers Bo'elt and D'Asperen had presented
themsel(es+ These t'o gentlemen had retired into the
building) (ery likely from fear of being forced o(er the
balustrade by the pressure of the cro'd+
After this) fluctuating shado's in tumultuous confusion 'ere
seen flitting to and fro across the 'indo's? the council
hall 'as filling+
1uddenly the noise subsided) and as suddenly again it rose
'ith redoubled intensity) and at last reached such a pitch
that the old building shook to the (ery roof+
At length) the li(ing stream poured back through the
galleries and stairs to the arched gate'ay) from 'hich it
'as seen issuing like 'aters from a spout+
At the head of the first group) man 'as flying rather than
running) his face hideously distorted 'ith satanic glee?
this man 'as the surgeon Tyckelaer+
K,e ha(e it* 'e ha(e it*K he cried) brandishing a paper in
the air+
KThey ha(e got the order*K muttered the officer in
ama9ement+
K,ell) then)K his 0ighness Juietly remarked) Kno' 4 kno'
'hat to belie(e 'ith regard to =ynheer Bo'elt's honesty and
courage? he has neither the one nor the other+K
Then) looking 'ith a steady glance after the cro'd 'hich 'as
rushing along before him) he continued) DD
K>et us no' go to the Buytenhof) &aptainR 4 expect 'e shall
see a (ery strange sight there+K
The officer bo'ed) and) 'ithout making any reply) follo'ed
in the steps of his master+
There 'as an immense cro'd in the sJuare and about the
neighbourhood of the prison+ But the dragoons of Tilly still
kept it in check 'ith the same success and 'ith the same
firmness+
4t 'as not long before the &ount heard the increasing din of
the approaching multitude) the first ranks of 'hich rushed
on 'ith the rapidity of a cataract+
At the same time he obser(ed the paper) 'hich 'as 'a(ing
abo(e the surface of clenched fists and glittering arms+
K0alloa*K he said) rising in his stirrups) and touching his
lieutenant 'ith the knob of his s'ordR K4 really belie(e
those rascals ha(e got the order+K
KDastardly ruffians they are)K cried the lieutenant+
4t 'as indeed the order) 'hich the burgher guard recei(ed
'ith a roar of triumph+ They immediately sallied forth) 'ith
lo'ered arms and fierce shouts) to meet &ount Tilly's
dragoons+
But the &ount 'as not the man to allo' them to approach
'ithin an incon(enient distance+
K1top*K he cried) Kstop) and keep off from my horse) or 4
shall gi(e the 'ord of command to ad(ance+K
K0ere is the order*K a hundred insolent (oices ans'ered at
once+
0e took it in ama9ement) cast a rapid glance on it) and said
Juite aloud) DD
KThose 'ho ha(e signed this order are the real murderers of
&ornelius de ,itt+ 4 'ould rather ha(e my t'o hands cut off
than ha(e 'ritten one single letter of this infamous order+K
And) pushing back 'ith the hilt of his s'ord the man 'ho
'anted to take it from him) he added) DD
K,ait a minute) papers like this are of importance) and are
to be kept+K
1aying this) he folded up the document) and carefully put it
in the pocket of his coat+
Then) turning round to'ards his troop) he ga(e the 'ord of
command) DD
KTilly's dragoons) 'heel to the right*K
After this) he added) in an undertone) yet loud enough for
his 'ords to be not altogether lost to those about him) DD
KAnd no') ye butchers) do your 'ork*K
A sa(age yell) in 'hich all the keen hatred and ferocious
triumph rife in the precincts of the prison simultaneously
burst forth) and accompanied the departure of the dragoons)
as they 'ere Juietly filing off+
The &ount tarried behind) facing to the last the infuriated
populace) 'hich ad(anced at the same rate as the &ount
retired+
5ohn de ,itt) therefore) had by no means exaggerated the
danger) 'hen) assisting his brother in getting up) he
hurried his departure+ &ornelius) leaning on the arm of the
ExDGrand Pensionary) descended the stairs 'hich led to the
courtyard+ At the bottom of the staircase he found little
/osa) trembling all o(er+
K:h) =ynheer 5ohn)K she said) K'hat a misfortune*K
K,hat is it) my childPK asked De ,itt+
KThey say that they are gone to the To'nDhall to fetch the
order for Tilly's horse to 'ithdra'+K
KQou do not say so*K replied 5ohn+ K4ndeed) my dear child)
if the dragoons are off) 'e shall be in a (ery sad plight+K
K4 ha(e some ad(ice to gi(e you)K /osa said) trembling e(en
more (iolently than before+
K,ell) let us hear 'hat you ha(e to say) my child+ ,hy
should not God speak by your mouthPK
K;o') then) =ynheer 5ohn) if 4 'ere in your place) 4 should
not go out through the main street+K
KAnd 'hy so) as the dragoons of Tilly are still at their
postPK
KQes) but their order) as long as it is not re(oked) enjoins
them to stop before the prison+K
K<ndoubtedly+K
K0a(e you got an order for them to accompany you out of the
to'nPK
K,e ha(e notPK
K,ell) then) in the (ery moment 'hen you ha(e passed the
ranks of the dragoons you 'ill fall into the hands of the
people+K
KBut the burgher guardPK
KAlas* the burgher guard are the most enraged of all+K
K,hat are 'e to do) thenPK
K4f 4 'ere in your place) =ynheer 5ohn)K the young girl
timidly continued) K4 should lea(e by the postern) 'hich
leads into a deserted byDlane) 'hilst all the people are
'aiting in the 0igh 1treet to see you come out by the
principal entrance+ $rom there 4 should try to reach the
gate by 'hich you intend to lea(e the to'n+K
KBut my brother is not able to 'alk)K said 5ohn+
K4 shall try)K &ornelius said) 'ith an expression of most
sublime fortitude+
KBut ha(e you not got your carriagePK asked the girl+
KThe carriage is do'n near the great entrance+K
K;ot so)K she replied+ K4 considered your coachman to be a
faithful man) and 4 told him to 'ait for you at the
postern+K
The t'o brothers looked first at each other) and then at
/osa) 'ith a glance full of the most tender gratitude+
KThe Juestion is no')K said the Grand Pensionary) K'hether
Gryphus 'ill open this door for us+K
K4ndeed) he 'ill do no such thing)K said /osa+
K,ell) and ho' thenPK
K4 ha(e foreseen his refusal) and just no' 'hilst he 'as
talking from the 'indo' of the porter's lodge 'ith a
dragoon) 4 took a'ay the key from his bunch+K
KAnd you ha(e got itPK
K0ere it is) =ynheer 5ohn+K
K=y child)K said &ornelius) K4 ha(e nothing to gi(e you in
exchange for the ser(ice you are rendering us but the Bible
'hich you 'ill find in my roomR it is the last gift of an
honest manR 4 hope it 'ill bring you good luck+K
K4 thank you) =aster &ornelius) it shall ne(er lea(e me)K
replied /osa+
And then) 'ith a sigh) she said to herself) K,hat a pity
that 4 do not kno' ho' to read*K
KThe shouts and cries are gro'ing louder and louder)K said
5ohnR Kthere is not a moment to be lost+K
K&ome along) gentlemen)K said the girl) 'ho no' led the t'o
brothers through an inner lobby to the back of the prison+
Guided by her) they descended a staircase of about a do9en
stepsR tra(ersed a small courtyard) 'hich 'as surrounded by
castellated 'allsR and) the arched door ha(ing been opened
for them by /osa) they emerged into a lonely street 'here
their carriage 'as ready to recei(e them+
KSuick) Juick) my masters* do you hear themPK cried the
coachman) in a deadly fright+
Qet) after ha(ing made &ornelius get into the carriage
first) the Grand Pensionary turned round to'ards the girl)
to 'hom he said) DD
KGoodDbye) my child* 'ords could ne(er express our
gratitude+ God 'ill re'ard you for ha(ing sa(ed the li(es of
t'o men+K
/osa took the hand 'hich 5ohn de ,itt proffered to her) and
kissed it 'ith e(ery sho' of respect+
KGo* for 0ea(en's sake) go*K she saidR Kit seems they are
going to force the gate+K
5ohn de ,itt hastily got in) sat himself do'n by the side of
his brother) and) fastening the apron of the carriage)
called out to the coachman) DD
KTo the TolD0ek*K
The TolD0ek 'as the iron gate leading to the harbor of
1che(ening) in 'hich a small (essel 'as 'aiting for the t'o
brothers+
The carriage dro(e off 'ith the fugiti(es at the full speed
of a pair of spirited $lemish horses+ /osa follo'ed them
'ith her eyes until they turned the corner of the street)
upon 'hich) closing the door after her) she 'ent back and
thre' the key into a cell+
The noise 'hich had made /osa suppose that the people 'ere
forcing the prison door 'as indeed o'ing to the mob
battering against it after the sJuare had been left by the
military+
1olid as the gate 'as) and although Gryphus) to do him
justice) stoutly enough refused to open it) yet e(idently it
could not resist much longer) and the jailer) gro'ing (ery
pale) put to himself the Juestion 'hether it 'ould not be
better to open the door than to allo' it to be forced) 'hen
he felt some one gently pulling his coat+
0e turned round and sa' /osa+
KDo you hear these madmenPK he said+
K4 hear them so 'ell) my father) that in your place DDDD K
KQou 'ould open the doorPK
K;o) 4 should allo' it to be forced+K
KBut they 'ill kill me*K
KQes) if they see you+K
K0o' shall they not see mePK
K0ide yourself+K
K,herePK
K4n the secret dungeon+K
KBut you) my childPK
K4 shall get into it 'ith you+ ,e shall lock the door and
'hen they ha(e left the prison) 'e shall again come forth
from our hiding place+K
KWounds) you are right) there*K cried GryphusR Kit's
surprising ho' much sense there is in such a little head*K
Then) as the gate began to gi(e 'ay amidst the triumphant
shouts of the mob) she opened a little trapDdoor) and said)
DD
K&ome along) come along) father+K
KBut our prisonersPK
KGod 'ill 'atch o(er them) and 4 shall 'atch o(er you+K
Gryphus follo'ed his daughter) and the trapDdoor closed o(er
his head) just as the broken gate ga(e admittance to the
populace+
The dungeon 'here /osa had induced her father to hide
himself) and 'here for the present 'e must lea(e the t'o)
offered to them a perfectly safe retreat) being kno'n only
to those in po'er) 'ho used to place there important
prisoners of state) to guard against a rescue or a re(olt+
The people rushed into the prison) 'ith the cry DD
KDeath to the traitors* To the gallo's 'ith &ornelius de
,itt* Death* death*K
&hapter E
The =urderers
The young man 'ith his hat slouched o(er his eyes) still
leaning on the arm of the officer) and still 'iping from
time to time his bro' 'ith his handkerchief) 'as 'atching in
a corner of the Buytenhof) in the shade of the o(erhanging
'eatherDboard of a closed shop) the doings of the infuriated
mob) a spectacle 'hich seemed to dra' near its catastrophe+
K4ndeed)K said he to the officer) Kindeed) 4 think you 'ere
right) .an DekenR the order 'hich the deputies ha(e signed
is truly the deathD'arrant of =aster &ornelius+ Do you hear
these peopleP They certainly bear a sad grudge to the t'o De
,itts+K
K4n truth)K replied the officer) K4 ne(er heard such
shouts+K
KThey seem to ha(e found out the cell of the man+ >ook)
look* is not that the 'indo' of the cell 'here &ornelius 'as
locked upPK
A man had sei9ed 'ith both hands and 'as shaking the iron
bars of the 'indo' in the room 'hich &ornelius had left only
ten minutes before+
K0alloa) halloa*K the man called out) Khe is gone+K
K0o' is thatP gonePK asked those of the mob 'ho had not been
able to get into the prison) cro'ded as it 'as 'ith the mass
of intruders+
KGone) gone)K repeated the man in a rage) Kthe bird has
flo'n+K
K,hat does this man sayPK asked his 0ighness) gro'ing Juite
pale+
K:h) =onseigneur) he says a thing 'hich 'ould be (ery
fortunate if it should turn out true*K
K&ertainly it 'ould be fortunate if it 'ere true)K said the
young manR Kunfortunately it cannot be true+K
K0o'e(er) look*K said the officer+
And indeed) some more faces) furious and contorted 'ith
rage) sho'ed themsel(es at the 'indo's) crying) DD
KEscaped) gone) they ha(e helped them off*K
And the people in the street repeated) 'ith fearful
imprecations) DD
KEscaped gone* After them) and catch them*K
K=onseigneur) it seems that =ynheer &ornelius has really
escaped)K said the officer+
KQes) from prison) perhaps) but not from the to'nR you 'ill
see) .an Deken) that the poor fello' 'ill find the gate
closed against him 'hich he hoped to find open+K
K0as an order been gi(en to close the to'n gates)
=onseigneurPK
K;o) DD at least 4 do not think soR 'ho could ha(e gi(en
such an orderPK
K4ndeed) but 'hat makes your 0ighness supposePK
KThere are fatalities)K =onseigneur replied) in an offhand
mannerR Kand the greatest men ha(e sometimes fallen (ictims
to such fatalities+K
At these 'ords the officer felt his blood run cold) as
someho' or other he 'as con(inced that the prisoner 'as
lost+
At this moment the roar of the multitude broke forth like
thunder) for it 'as no' Juite certain that &ornelius de ,itt
'as no longer in the prison+
&ornelius and 5ohn) after dri(ing along the pond) had taken
the main street) 'hich leads to the TolD0ek) gi(ing
directions to the coachman to slacken his pace) in order not
to excite any suspicion+
But 'hen) on ha(ing proceeded halfD'ay do'n that street) the
man felt that he had left the prison and death behind) and
before him there 'as life and liberty) he neglected e(ery
precaution) and set his horses off at a gallop+
All at once he stopped+
K,hat is the matterPK asked 5ohn) putting his head out of
the coach 'indo'+
K:h) my masters*K cried the coachman) Kit is DDDD K
Terror choked the (oice of the honest fello'+
K,ell) say 'hat you ha(e to say*K urged the Grand
Pensionary+
KThe gate is closed) that's 'hat it is+K
K0o' is thisP 4t is not usual to close the gate by day+K
K5ust look*K
5ohn de ,itt leaned out of the 'indo') and indeed sa' that
the man 'as right+
K;e(er mind) but dri(e on)K said 5ohn) K4 ha(e 'ith me the
order for the commutation of the punishment) the gateDkeeper
'ill let us through+K
The carriage mo(ed along) but it 'as e(ident that the dri(er
'as no longer urging his horses 'ith the same degree of
confidence+
=oreo(er) as 5ohn de ,itt put his head out of the carriage
'indo') he 'as seen and recogni9ed by a bre'er) 'ho) being
behind his companions) 'as just shutting his door in all
haste to join them at the Buytenhof+ 0e uttered a cry of
surprise) and ran after t'o other men before him) 'hom he
o(ertook about a hundred yards farther on) and told them
'hat he had seen+ The three men then stopped) looking after
the carriage) being ho'e(er not yet Juite sure as to 'hom it
contained+
The carriage in the mean'hile arri(ed at the TolD0ek+
K:pen*K cried the coachman+
K:pen*K echoed the gatekeeper) from the threshold of his
lodgeR Kit's all (ery 'ell to say ':pen*' but 'hat am 4 to
do it 'ithPK
K,ith the key) to be sure*K said the coachman+
K,ith the key* :h) yes* but if you ha(e not got itPK
K0o' is thatP 0a(e not you got the keyPK asked the coachman+
K;o) 4 ha(en't+K
K,hat has become of itPK
K,ell) they ha(e taken it from me+K
K,hoPK
K1ome one) 4 dare say) 'ho had a mind that no one should
lea(e the to'n+K
K=y good man)K said the Grand Pensionary) putting out his
head from the 'indo') and risking all for gaining allR Kmy
good man) it is for me) 5ohn de ,itt) and for my brother
&ornelius) 'ho 4 am taking a'ay into exile+K
K:h) =ynheer de ,itt* 4 am indeed (ery much grie(ed)K said
the gatekeeper) rushing to'ards the carriageR Kbut) upon my
sacred 'ord) the key has been taken from me+K
K,henPK
KThis morning+K
KBy 'homPK
KBy a pale and thin young man) of about t'entyDt'o+K
KAnd 'herefore did you gi(e it up to himPK
KBecause he sho'ed me an order) signed and sealed+K
KBy 'homPK
KBy the gentlemen of the To'nDhall+K
K,ell) then)K said &ornelius calmly) Kour doom seems to be
fixed+K
KDo you kno' 'hether the same precaution has been taken at
the other gatesPK
K4 do not+K
K;o' then)K said 5ohn to the coachman) KGod commands man to
do all that is in his po'er to preser(e his lifeR go) and
dri(e to another gate+K
And 'hilst the ser(ant 'as turning round the (ehicle the
Grand Pensionary said to the gatekeeper) DD
KTake our thanks for your good intentionsR the 'ill must
count for the deedR you had the 'ill to sa(e us) and that)
in the eyes of the >ord) is as if you had succeeded in doing
so+K
KAlas*K said the gatekeeper) Kdo you see do'n therePK
KDri(e at a gallop through that group)K 5ohn called out to
the coachman) Kand take the street on the leftR it is our
only chance+K
The group 'hich 5ohn alluded to had) for its nucleus) those
three men 'hom 'e left looking after the carriage) and 'ho)
in the mean'hile) had been joined by se(en or eight others+
These ne'Dcomers e(idently meant mischief 'ith regard to the
carriage+
,hen they sa' the horses galloping do'n upon them) they
placed themsel(es across the street) brandishing cudgels in
their hands) and calling out) DD
K1top* stop*K
The coachman) on his side) lashed his horses into increased
speed) until the coach and the men encountered+
The brothers De ,itt) enclosed 'ithin the body of the
carriage) 'ere not able to see anythingR but they felt a
se(ere shock) occasioned by the rearing of the horses+ The
'hole (ehicle for a moment shook and stoppedR but
immediately after) passing o(er something round and elastic)
'hich seemed to be the body of a prostrate man set off again
amidst a (olley of the fiercest oaths+
KAlas*K said &ornelius) K4 am afraid 'e ha(e hurt some one+K
KGallop* gallop*K called 5ohn+
But) not'ithstanding this order) the coachman suddenly came
to a stop+
K;o') then) 'hat is the matter againPK asked 5ohn+
K>ook there*K said the coachman+
5ohn looked+ The 'hole mass of the populace from the
Buytenhof appeared at the extremity of the street along
'hich the carriage 'as to proceed) and its stream mo(ed
roaring and rapid) as if lashed on by a hurricane+
K1top and get off)K said 5ohn to the coachmanR Kit is
useless to go any fartherR 'e are lost*K
K0ere they are* here they are*K fi(e hundred (oices 'ere
crying at the same time+
KQes) here they are) the traitors) the murderers) the
assassins*K ans'ered the men 'ho 'ere running after the
carriage to the people 'ho 'ere coming to meet it+ The
former carried in their arms the bruised body of one of
their companions) 'ho) trying to sei9e the reins of the
horses) had been trodden do'n by them+
This 'as the object o(er 'hich the t'o brothers had felt
their carriage pass+
The coachman stopped) but) ho'e(er strongly his master urged
him) he refused to get off and sa(e himself+
4n an instant the carriage 'as hemmed in bet'een those 'ho
follo'ed and those 'ho met it+ 4t rose abo(e the mass of
mo(ing heads like a floating island+ But in another instant
it came to a dead stop+ A blacksmith had 'ith his hammer
struck do'n one of the horses) 'hich fell in the traces+
At this moment) the shutter of a 'indo' opened) and
disclosed the sallo' face and the dark eyes of the young
man) 'ho 'ith intense interest 'atched the scene 'hich 'as
preparing+ Behind him appeared the head of the officer)
almost as pale as himself+
KGood hea(ens) =onseigneur) 'hat is going on therePK
'hispered the officer+
K1omething (ery terrible) to a certainty)K replied the
other+
KDon't you see) =onseigneur) they are dragging the Grand
Pensionary from the carriage) they strike him) they tear him
to pieces*K
K4ndeed) these people must certainly be prompted by a most
(iolent indignation)K said the young marl) 'ith the same
impassible tone 'hich he had preser(ed all along+
KAnd here is &ornelius) 'hom they no' like'ise drag out of
the carriage) DD &ornelius) 'ho is already Juite broken and
mangled by the torture+ :nly look) look*K
K4ndeed) it is &ornelius) and no mistake+K
The officer uttered a feeble cry) and turned his head a'ayR
the brother of the Grand Pensionary) before ha(ing set foot
on the ground) 'hilst still on the bottom step of the
carriage) 'as struck do'n 'ith an iron bar 'hich broke his
skull+ 0e rose once more) but immediately fell again+
1ome fello's then sei9ed him by the feet) and dragged him
into the cro'd) into the middle of 'hich one might ha(e
follo'ed his bloody track) and he 'as soon closed in among
the sa(age yells of malignant exultation+
The young man DD a thing 'hich 'ould ha(e been thought
impossible DD gre' e(en paler than before) and his eyes 'ere
for a moment (eiled behind the lids+
The officer sa' this sign of compassion) and) 'ishing to
a(ail himself of this softened tone of his feelings)
continued) DD
K&ome) come) =onseigneur) for here they are also going to
murder the Grand Pensionary+K
But the young man had already opened his eyes again+
KTo be sure)K he said+ KThese people are really implacable+
4t does no one good to offend them+K
K=onseigneur)K said the officer) Kmay not one sa(e this poor
man) 'ho has been your 0ighness's instructorP 4f there be
any means) name it) and if 4 should perish in the attempt
DDDD K
,illiam of :range DD for he it 'as DD knit his bro's in a
(ery forbidding manner) restrained the glance of gloomy
malice 'hich glistened in his halfDclosed eye) and ans'ered)
DD
K&aptain .an Deken) 4 reJuest you to go and look after my
troops) that they may be armed for any emergency+K
KBut am 4 to lea(e your 0ighness here) alone) in the
presence of all these murderersPK
KGo) and don't you trouble yourself about me more than 4 do
myself)K the Prince gruffly replied+
The officer started off 'ith a speed 'hich 'as much less
o'ing to his sense of military obedience than to his
pleasure at being relie(ed from the necessity of 'itnessing
the shocking spectacle of the murder of the other brother+
0e had scarcely left the room) 'hen 5ohn DD 'ho) 'ith an
almost superhuman effort) had reached the stone steps of a
house nearly opposite that 'here his former pupil concealed
himself DD began to stagger under the blo's 'hich 'ere
inflicted on him from all sides) calling out) DD
K=y brother* 'here is my brotherPK
:ne of the ruffians knocked off his hat 'ith a blo' of his
clenched fist+
Another sho'ed to him his bloody handsR for this fello' had
ripped open &ornelius and disembo'elled him) and 'as no'
hastening to the spot in order not to lose the opportunity
of ser(ing the Grand Pensionary in the same manner) 'hilst
they 'ere dragging the dead body of &ornelius to the gibbet+
5ohn uttered a cry of agony and grief) and put one of his
hands before his eyes+
K:h) you close your eyes) do youPK said one of the soldiers
of the burgher guardR K'ell) 4 shall open them for you+K
And saying this he stabbed him 'ith his pike in the face)
and the blood spurted forth+
K=y brother*K cried 5ohn de ,itt) trying to see through the
stream of blood 'hich blinded him) 'hat had become of
&orneliusR Kmy brother) my brother*K
KGo and run after him*K bello'ed another murderer) putting
his musket to his temples and pulling the trigger+
But the gun did not go off+
The fello' then turned his musket round) and) taking it by
the barrel 'ith both hands) struck 5ohn de ,itt do'n 'ith
the buttDend+ 5ohn staggered and fell do'n at his feet) but)
raising himself 'ith a last effort) he once more called out)
DD
K=y brother*K 'ith a (oice so full of anguish that the young
man opposite closed the shutter+
There remained little more to seeR a third murderer fired a
pistol 'ith the mu99le to his faceR and this time the shot
took effect) blo'ing out his brains+ 5ohn de ,itt fell to
rise no more+
:n this) e(ery one of the miscreants) emboldened by his
fall) 'anted to fire his gun at him) or strike him 'ith
blo's of the sledgeDhammer) or stab him 'ith a knife or
s'ords) e(ery one 'anted to dra' a drop of blood from the
fallen hero) and tear off a shred from his garments+
And after ha(ing mangled) and torn) and completely stripped
the t'o brothers) the mob dragged their naked and bloody
bodies to an extemporised gibbet) 'here amateur executioners
hung them up by the feet+
Then came the most dastardly scoundrels of all) 'ho not
ha(ing dared to strike the li(ing flesh) cut the dead in
pieces) and then 'ent about the to'n selling small slices of
the bodies of 5ohn and &ornelius at ten sous a piece+
,e cannot take upon oursel(es to say 'hether) through the
almost imperceptible chink of the shutter) the young man
'itnessed the conclusion of this shocking sceneR but at the
(ery moment 'hen they 'ere hanging the t'o martyrs on the
gibbet he passed through the terrible mob) 'hich 'as too
much absorbed in the task) so grateful to its taste) to take
any notice of him) and thus he reached unobser(ed the
TolD0ek) 'hich 'as still closed+
KAh* sir)K said the gatekeeper) Kdo you bring me the keyPK
KQes) my man) here it is+K
K4t is most unfortunate that you did not bring me that key
only one Juarter of an hour sooner)K said the gatekeeper)
'ith a sigh+
KAnd 'hy thatPK asked the other+
KBecause 4 might ha(e opened the gate to =ynheers de ,ittR
'hereas) finding the gate locked) they 'ere obliged to
retrace their steps+K
KGate* gate*K cried a (oice 'hich seemed to be that of a man
in a hurry+
The Prince) turning round) obser(ed &aptain .an Deken+
K4s that you) &aptainPK he said+ KQou are not yet out of the
0agueP This is executing my orders (ery slo'ly+K
K=onseigneur)K replied the &aptain) Kthis is the third gate
at 'hich 4 ha(e presented myselfR the other t'o 'ere
closed+K
K,ell) this good man 'ill open this one for youR do it) my
friend+K
The last 'ords 'ere addressed to the gatekeeper) 'ho stood
Juite thunderstruck on hearing &aptain .an Deken addressing
by the title of =onseigneur this pale young man) to 'hom he
himself had spoken in such a familiar 'ay+
As it 'ere to make up for his fault) he hastened to open the
gate) 'hich s'ung creaking on its hinges+
K,ill =onseigneur a(ail himself of my horsePK asked the
&aptain+
K4 thank you) &aptain) 4 shall use my o'n steed) 'hich is
'aiting for me close at hand+K
And taking from his pocket a golden 'histle) such as 'as
generally used at that time for summoning the ser(ants) he
sounded it 'ith a shrill and prolonged call) on 'hich an
eJuerry on horseback speedily made his appearance) leading
another horse by the bridle+
,illiam) 'ithout touching the stirrup) (aulted into the
saddle of the led horse) and) setting his spurs into its
flanks) started off for the >eyden road+ 0a(ing reached it)
he turned round and beckoned to the &aptain 'ho 'as far
behind) to ride by his side+
KDo you kno')K he then said) 'ithout stopping) Kthat those
rascals ha(e killed 5ohn de ,itt as 'ell as his brotherPK
KAlas* =onseigneur)K the &aptain ans'ered sadly) K4 should
like it much better if these t'o difficulties 'ere still in
your 0ighness's 'ay of becoming de facto 1tadtholder of
0olland+K
K&ertainly) it 'ould ha(e been better)K said ,illiam) Kif
'hat did happen had not happened+ But it cannot be helped
no') and 'e ha(e had nothing to do 'ith it+ >et us push on)
&aptain) that 'e may arri(e at Alphen before the message
'hich the 1tatesDGeneral are sure to send to me to the
camp+K
The &aptain bo'ed) allo'ed the Prince to ride ahead and) for
the remainder of the journey) kept at the same respectful
distance as he had done before his 0ighness called him to
his side+
K0o' 4 should 'ish)K ,illiam of :range malignantly muttered
to himself) 'ith a dark fro'n and setting the spurs to his
horse) Kto see the figure 'hich >ouis 'ill cut 'hen he is
apprised of the manner in 'hich his dear friends De ,itt
ha(e been ser(ed* :h thou 1un* thou 1un* as truly as 4 am
called ,illiam the 1ilent) thou 1un) thou hadst best look to
thy rays*K
And the young Prince) the relentless ri(al of the Great
Ting) sped a'ay upon his fiery steed) DD this future
1tadtholder 'ho had been but the day before (ery uncertainly
established in his ne' po'er) but for 'hom the burghers of
the 0ague had built a staircase 'ith the bodies of 5ohn and
&ornelius) t'o princes as noble as he in the eyes of God and man+
&hapter 7
The TulipDfancier and his ;eighbour
,hilst the burghers of the 0ague 'ere tearing in pieces the
bodies of 5ohn and &ornelius de ,itt) and 'hilst ,illiam of
:range) after ha(ing made sure that his t'o antagonists 'ere
really dead) 'as galloping o(er the >eyden road) follo'ed by
&aptain (an Deken) 'hom he found a little too compassionate
to honour him any longer 'ith his confidence) &raeke) the
faithful ser(ant) mounted on a good horse) and little
suspecting 'hat terrible e(ents had taken place since his
departure) proceeded along the high road lined 'ith trees)
until he 'as clear of the to'n and the neighbouring
(illages+
Being once safe) he left his horse at a li(ery stable in
order not to arouse suspicion) and tranJuilly continued his
journey on the canalDboats) 'hich con(eyed him by easy
stages to Dort) pursuing their 'ay under skilful guidance by
the shortest possible routes through the 'indings of the
ri(er) 'hich held in its 'atery embrace so many enchanting
little islands) edged 'ith 'illo's and rushes) and abounding
in luxurious (egetation) 'hereon flocks of fat sheep bro'sed
in peaceful sleepiness+ &raeke from afar off recognised
Dort) the smiling city) at the foot of a hill dotted 'ith
'indmills+ 0e sa' the fine red brick houses) mortared in
'hite lines) standing on the edge of the 'ater) and their
balconies) open to'ards the ri(er) decked out 'ith silk
tapestry embroidered 'ith gold flo'ers) the 'onderful
manufacture of 4ndia and &hinaR and near these brilliant
stuffs) large lines set to catch the (oracious eels) 'hich
are attracted to'ards the houses by the garbage thro'n e(ery
day from the kitchens into the ri(er+
&raeke) standing on the deck of the boat) sa') across the
mo(ing sails of the 'indmills) on the slope of the hill) the
red and pink house 'hich 'as the goal of his errand+ The
outlines of its roof 'ere merging in the yello' foliage of a
curtain of poplar trees) the 'hole habitation ha(ing for
background a dark gro(e of gigantic elms+ The mansion 'as
situated in such a 'ay that the sun) falling on it as into a
funnel) dried up) 'armed) and fertilised the mist 'hich the
(erdant screen could not pre(ent the ri(er 'ind from
carrying there e(ery morning and e(ening+
0a(ing disembarked unobser(ed amid the usual bustle of the
city) &raeke at once directed his steps to'ards the house
'hich 'e ha(e just described) and 'hich DD 'hite) trim) and
tidy) e(en more cleanly scoured and more carefully 'axed in
the hidden corners than in the places 'hich 'ere exposed to
(ie' DD enclosed a truly happy mortal+
This happy mortal) rara a(is) 'as Dr+ (an Baerle) the godson
of &ornelius de ,itt+ 0e had inhabited the same house e(er
since his childhood) for it 'as the house in 'hich his
father and grandfather) old established princely merchants
of the princely city of Dort) 'ere born+
=ynheer (an Baerle the father had amassed in the 4ndian
trade three or four hundred thousand guilders) 'hich =ynheer
(an Baerle the son) at the death of his dear and 'orthy
parents) found still Juite ne') although one set of them
bore the date of coinage of !6E8) and the other that of
!6!8) a fact 'hich pro(ed that they 'ere guilders of .an
Baerle the father and of .an Baerle the grandfatherR but 'e
'ill inform the reader at once that these three or four
hundred thousand guilders 'ere only the pocket money) or
sort of purse) for &ornelius (an Baerle) the hero of this
story) as his landed property in the pro(ince yielded him an
income of about ten thousand guilders a year+
,hen the 'orthy citi9en) the father of &ornelius) passed
from time into eternity) three months after ha(ing buried
his 'ife) 'ho seemed to ha(e departed first to smooth for
him the path of death as she had smoothed for him the path
of life) he said to his son) as he embraced him for the last
time) DD
KEat) drink) and spend your money) if you 'ish to kno' 'hat
life really is) for as to toiling from morn to e(ening on a
'ooden stool) or a leathern chair) in a countingDhouse or a
laboratory) that certainly is not li(ing+ Qour time to die
'ill also comeR and if you are not then so fortunate as to
ha(e a son) you 'ill let my name gro' extinct) and my
guilders) 'hich no one has e(er fingered but my father)
myself) and the coiner) 'ill ha(e the surprise of passing to
an unkno'n master+ And least of all) imitate the example of
your godfather) &ornelius de ,itt) 'ho has plunged into
politics) the most ungrateful of all careers) and 'ho 'ill
certainly come to an untimely end+K
0a(ing gi(en utterance to this paternal ad(ice) the 'orthy
=ynheer (an Baerle died) to the intense grief of his son
&ornelius) 'ho cared (ery little for the guilders) and (ery
much for his father+
&ornelius then remained alone in his large house+ 4n (ain
his godfather offered to him a place in the public ser(ice)
DD in (ain did he try to gi(e him a taste for glory) DD
although &ornelius) to gratify his godfather) did embark
'ith De /uyter upon KThe 1e(en Pro(inces)K the flagship of a
fleet of one hundred and thirtyDnine sail) 'ith 'hich the
famous admiral set out to contend singlehanded against the
combined forces of $rance and England+ ,hen) guided by the
pilot >eger) he had come 'ithin musketDshot of the KPrince)K
'ith the Duke of Qork @the English king's brotherA aboard)
upon 'hich De /uyter) his mentor) made so sharp and 'ell
directed an attack that the Duke) percei(ing that his (essel
'ould soon ha(e to strike) made the best of his 'ay aboard
the K1aint =ichaelKR 'hen he had seen the K1aint =ichael)K
riddled and shattered by the Dutch broadside) drift out of
the lineR 'hen he had 'itnessed the sinking of the KEarl of
1and'ich)K and the death by fire or dro'ning of four hundred
sailorsR 'hen he reali9ed that the result of all this
destruction DD after t'enty ships had been blo'n to pieces)
three thousand men killed and fi(e thousand injured DD 'as
that nothing 'as decided) that both sides claimed the
(ictory) that the fighting 'ould soon begin again) and that
just one more name) that of 1outh'old Bay) had been added to
the list of battlesR 'hen he had estimated ho' much time is
lost simply in shutting his eyes and ears by a man 'ho likes
to use his reflecti(e po'ers e(en 'hile his fello' creatures
are cannonading one anotherR DD &ornelius bade fare'ell to
De /uyter) to the /uart de Pulten) and to glory) kissed the
knees of the Grand Pensionary) for 'hom he entertained the
deepest (eneration) and retired to his house at Dort) rich
in his 'ellDearned repose) his t'entyDeight years) an iron
constitution and keen perceptions) and his capital of more
than four hundred thousands of florins and income of ten
thousand) con(inced that a man is al'ays endo'ed by 0ea(en
'ith too much for his o'n happiness) and just enough to make
him miserable+
&onseJuently) and to indulge his o'n idea of happiness)
&ornelius began to be interested in the study of plants and
insects) collected and classified the $lora of all the Dutch
islands) arranged the 'hole entomology of the pro(ince) on
'hich he 'rote a treatise) 'ith plates dra'n by his o'n
handsR and at last) being at a loss 'hat to do 'ith his
time) and especially 'ith his money) 'hich 'ent on
accumulating at a most alarming rate) he took it into his
head to select for himself) from all the follies of his
country and of his age) one of the most elegant and
expensi(e) DD he became a tulipDfancier+
4t 'as the time 'hen the Dutch and the Portuguese) ri(alling
each other in this branch of horticulture) had begun to
'orship that flo'er) and to make more of a cult of it than
e(er naturalists dared to make of the human race for fear of
arousing the jealousy of God+
1oon people from Dort to =ons began to talk of =ynheer (an
Baerle's tulipsR and his beds) pits) dryingDrooms) and
dra'ers of bulbs 'ere (isited) as the galleries and
libraries of Alexandria 'ere by illustrious /oman
tra(ellers+
.an Baerle began by expending his yearly re(enue in laying
the ground'ork of his collection) after 'hich he broke in
upon his ne' guilders to bring it to perfection+ 0is
exertions) indeed) 'ere cro'ned 'ith a most magnificent
result? he produced three ne' tulips) 'hich he called the
K5ane)K after his motherR the K.an Baerle)K after his
fatherR and the K&ornelius)K after his godfatherR the other
names ha(e escaped us) but the fanciers 'ill be sure to find
them in the catalogues of the times+
4n the beginning of the year !63C) &ornelius de ,itt came to
Dort for three months) to li(e at his old family mansionR
for not only 'as he born in that city) but his family had
been resident there for centuries+
&ornelius) at that period) as ,illiam of :range said) began
to enjoy the most perfect unpopularity+ To his fello'
citi9ens) the good burghers of Dort) ho'e(er) he did not
appear in the light of a criminal 'ho deser(ed to be hung+
4t is true) they did not particularly like his some'hat
austere republicanism) but they 'ere proud of his (alourR
and 'hen he made his entrance into their to'n) the cup of
honour 'as offered to him) readily enough) in the name of
the city+
After ha(ing thanked his fello' citi9ens) &ornelius
proceeded to his old paternal house) and ga(e directions for
some repairs) 'hich he 'ished to ha(e executed before the
arri(al of his 'ife and childrenR and thence he 'ended his
'ay to the house of his godson) 'ho perhaps 'as the only
person in Dort as yet unacJuainted 'ith the presence of
&ornelius in the to'n+
4n the same degree as &ornelius de ,itt had excited the
hatred of the people by so'ing those e(il seeds 'hich are
called political passions) .an Baerle had gained the
affections of his fello' citi9ens by completely shunning the
pursuit of politics) absorbed as he 'as in the peaceful
pursuit of culti(ating tulips+
.an Baerle 'as truly belo(ed by his ser(ants and labourersR
nor had he any conception that there 'as in this 'orld a man
'ho 'ished ill to another+
And yet it must be said) to the disgrace of mankind) that
&ornelius (an Baerle) 'ithout being a'are of the fact) had a
much more ferocious) fierce) and implacable enemy than the
Grand Pensionary and his brother had among the :range party)
'ho 'ere most hostile to the de(oted brothers) 'ho had ne(er
been sundered by the least misunderstanding during their
li(es) and by their mutual de(otion in the face of death
made sure the existence of their brotherly affection beyond
the gra(e+
At the time 'hen &ornelius (an Baerle began to de(ote
himself to tulipDgro'ing) expending on this hobby his yearly
re(enue and the guilders of his father) there 'as at Dort)
li(ing next door to him) a citi9en of the name of 4saac
Boxtel 'ho from the age 'hen he 'as able to think for
himself had indulged the same fancy) and 'ho 'as in
ecstasies at the mere mention of the 'ord Ktulban)K 'hich
@as 'e are assured by the K$loriste $rancaise)K the most
highly considered authority in matters relating to this
flo'erA is the first 'ord in the &ingalese tongue 'hich 'as
e(er used to designate that masterpiece of floriculture
'hich is no' called the tulip+
Boxtel had not the good fortune of being rich) like .an
Baerle+ 0e had therefore) 'ith great care and patience) and
by dint of strenuous exertions) laid out near his house at
Dort a garden fit for the culture of his cherished flo'erR
he had mixed the soil according to the most appro(ed
prescriptions) and gi(en to his hotbeds just as much heat
and fresh air as the strictest rules of horticulture exact+
4saac kne' the temperature of his frames to the t'entieth
part of a degree+ 0e kne' the strength of the current of
air) and tempered it so as to adapt it to the 'a(e of the
stems of his flo'ers+ 0is productions also began to meet
'ith the fa(our of the public+ They 'ere beautiful) nay)
distinguished+ 1e(eral fanciers had come to see Boxtel's
tulips+ At last he had e(en started amongst all the
>innaeuses and Tourneforts a tulip 'hich bore his name) and
'hich) after ha(ing tra(elled all through $rance) had found
its 'ay into 1pain) and penetrated as far as PortugalR and
the Ting) Don Alfonso .4+ DD 'ho) being expelled from
>isbon) had retired to the island of Terceira) 'here he
amused himself) not) like the great &onde) 'ith 'atering his
carnations) but 'ith gro'ing tulips DD had) on seeing the
Boxtel tulip) exclaimed) K;ot so bad) by any means*K
All at once) &ornelius (an Baerle) 'ho) after all his
learned pursuits) had been sei9ed 'ith the tulipomania) made
some changes in his house at Dort) 'hich) as 'e ha(e stated)
'as next door to that of Boxtel+ 0e raised a certain
building in his courtDyard by a story) 'hich shutting out
the sun) took half a degree of 'armth from Boxtel's garden)
and) on the other hand) added half a degree of cold in
'interR not to mention that it cut the 'ind) and disturbed
all the horticultural calculations and arrangements of his
neighbour+
After all) this mishap appeared to Boxtel of no great
conseJuence+ .an Baerle 'as but a painter) a sort of fool
'ho tried to reproduce and disfigure on can(as the 'onders
of nature+ The painter) he thought) had raised his studio by
a story to get better light) and thus far he had only been
in the right+ =ynheer (an Baerle 'as a painter) as =ynheer
Boxtel 'as a tulipDgro'erR he 'anted some'hat more sun for
his paintings) and he took half a degree from his
neighbour's tulips+
The la' 'as for .an Baerle) and Boxtel had to abide by it+
Besides) 4saac had made the disco(ery that too much sun 'as
injurious to tulips) and that this flo'er gre' Juicker) and
had a better colouring) 'ith the temperate 'armth of
morning) than 'ith the po'erful heat of the midday sun+ 0e
therefore felt almost grateful to &ornelius (an Baerle for
ha(ing gi(en him a screen gratis+
=aybe this 'as not Juite in accordance 'ith the true state
of things in general) and of 4saac Boxtel's feelings in
particular+ 4t is certainly astonishing 'hat rich comfort
great minds) in the midst of momentous catastrophes) 'ill
deri(e from the consolations of philosophy+
But alas* ,hat 'as the agony of the unfortunate Boxtel on
seeing the 'indo's of the ne' story set out 'ith bulbs and
seedlings of tulips for the border) and tulips in potsR in
short) 'ith e(erything pertaining to the pursuits of a
tulipDmonomaniac*
There 'ere bundles of labels) cupboards) and dra'ers 'ith
compartments) and 'ire guards for the cupboards) to allo'
free access to the air 'hilst keeping out slugs) mice)
dormice) and rats) all of them (ery curious fanciers of
tulips at t'o thousand francs a bulb+
Boxtel 'as Juite ama9ed 'hen he sa' all this apparatus) but
he 'as not as yet a'are of the full extent of his
misfortune+ .an Baerle 'as kno'n to be fond of e(erything
that pleases the eye+ 0e studied ;ature in all her aspects
for the benefit of his paintings) 'hich 'ere as minutely
finished as those of Gerard Do') his master) and of =ieris)
his friend+ ,as it not possible) that) ha(ing to paint the
interior of a tulipDgro'er's) he had collected in his ne'
studio all the accessories of decorationP
Qet) although thus consoling himself 'ith illusory
suppositions) Boxtel 'as not able to resist the burning
curiosity 'hich 'as de(ouring him+ 4n the e(ening)
therefore) he placed a ladder against the partition 'all
bet'een their gardens) and) looking into that of his
neighbour .an Baerle) he con(inced himself that the soil of
a large sJuare bed) 'hich had formerly been occupied by
different plants) 'as remo(ed) and the ground disposed in
beds of loam mixed 'ith ri(er mud @a combination 'hich is
particularly fa(ourable to the tulipA) and the 'hole
surrounded by a border of turf to keep the soil in its
place+ Besides this) sufficient shade to temper the noonday
heatR aspect southDsouth'estR 'ater in abundant supply) and
at handR in short) e(ery reJuirement to insure not only
success but also progress+ There could not be a doubt that
.an Baerle had become a tulipDgro'er+
Boxtel at once pictured to himself this learned man) 'ith a
capital of four hundred thousand and a yearly income of ten
thousand guilders) de(oting all his intellectual and
financial resources to the culti(ation of the tulip+ 0e
foresa' his neighbour's success) and he felt such a pang at
the mere idea of this success that his hands dropped
po'erless) his knees trembled) and he fell in despair from
the ladder+
And thus it 'as not for the sake of painted tulips) but for
real ones) that .an Baerle took from him half a degree of
'armth+ And thus .an Baerle 'as to ha(e the most admirably
fitted aspect) and) besides) a large) airy) and 'ell
(entilated chamber 'here to preser(e his bulbs and
seedlingsR 'hile he) Boxtel) had been obliged to gi(e up for
this purpose his bedroom) and) lest his sleeping in the same
apartment might injure his bulbs and seedlings) had taken up
his abode in a miserable garret+
Boxtel) then) 'as to ha(e next door to him a ri(al and
successful competitorR and his ri(al) instead of being some
unkno'n) obscure gardener) 'as the godson of =ynheer
&ornelius de ,itt) that is to say) a celebrity+
Boxtel) as the reader may see) 'as not possessed of the
spirit of Porus) 'ho) on being conJuered by Alexander)
consoled himself 'ith the celebrity of his conJueror+
And no' if .an Baerle produced a ne' tulip) and named it the
5ohn de ,itt) after ha(ing named one the &orneliusP 4t 'as
indeed enough to choke one 'ith rage+
Thus Boxtel) 'ith jealous foreboding) became the prophet of
his o'n misfortune+ And) after ha(ing made this melancholy
disco(ery) he passed the most 'retched night imaginable+
&hapter 6
The 0atred of a TulipDfancier
$rom that moment Boxtel's interest in tulips 'as no longer a
stimulus to his exertions) but a deadening anxiety+
0enceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury 'hich
his neighbour 'ould cause him) and thus his fa(ourite
occupation 'as changed into a constant source of misery to him+
.an Baerle) as may easily be imagined) had no sooner begun
to apply his natural ingenuity to his ne' fancy) than he
succeeded in gro'ing the finest tulips+ 4ndeedR he kne'
better than any one else at 0aarlem or >eyden DD the t'o
to'ns 'hich boast the best soil and the most congenial
climate DD ho' to (ary the colours) to modify the shape) and
to produce ne' species+
0e belonged to that natural) humorous school 'ho took for
their motto in the se(enteenth century the aphorism uttered
by one of their number in !67H) DD KTo despise flo'ers is to
offend God+K
$rom that premise the school of tulipDfanciers) the most
exclusi(e of all schools) 'orked out the follo'ing syllogism
in the same year? DD
KTo despise flo'ers is to offend God+
KThe more beautiful the flo'er is) the more does one offend
God in despising it+
KThe tulip is the most beautiful of all flo'ers+
KTherefore) he 'ho despises the tulip offends God beyond
measure+K
By reasoning of this kind) it can be seen that the four or
fi(e thousand tulipDgro'ers of 0olland) $rance) and
Portugal) lea(ing out those of &eylon and &hina and the
4ndies) might) if so disposed) put the 'hole 'orld under the
ban) and condemn as schismatics and heretics and deser(ing
of death the se(eral hundred millions of mankind 'hose hopes
of sal(ation 'ere not centred upon the tulip+
,e cannot doubt that in such a cause Boxtel) though he 'as
.an Baerle's deadly foe) 'ould ha(e marched under the same
banner 'ith him+
=ynheer (an Baerle and his tulips) therefore) 'ere in the
mouth of e(erybodyR so much so) that Boxtel's name
disappeared for e(er from the list of the notable
tulipDgro'ers in 0olland) and those of Dort 'ere no'
represented by &ornelius (an Baerle) the modest and
inoffensi(e sa(ant+
Engaging) heart and soul) in his pursuits of so'ing)
planting) and gathering) .an Baerle) caressed by the 'hole
fraternity of tulipDgro'ers in Europe) entertained nor the
least suspicion that there 'as at his (ery door a pretender
'hose throne he had usurped+
0e 'ent on in his career) and conseJuently in his triumphsR
and in the course of t'o years he co(ered his borders 'ith
such mar(ellous productions as no mortal man) follo'ing in
the tracks of the &reator) except perhaps 1hakespeare and
/ubens) ha(e eJualled in point of numbers+
And also) if Dante had 'ished for a ne' type to be added to
his characters of the 4nferno) he might ha(e chosen Boxtel
during the period of .an Baerle's successes+ ,hilst
&ornelius 'as 'eeding) manuring) 'atering his beds) 'hilst)
kneeling on the turf border) he analysed e(ery (ein of the
flo'ering tulips) and meditated on the modifications 'hich
might be effected by crosses of colour or other'ise) Boxtel)
concealed behind a small sycamore 'hich he had trained at
the top of the partition 'all in the shape of a fan)
'atched) 'ith his eyes starting from their sockets and 'ith
foaming mouth) e(ery step and e(ery gesture of his
neighbourR and 'hene(er he thought he sa' him look happy) or
descried a smile on his lips) or a flash of contentment
glistening in his eyes) he poured out to'ards him such a
(olley of maledictions and furious threats as to make it
indeed a matter of 'onder that this (enomous breath of en(y
and hatred did not carry a blight on the innocent flo'ers
'hich had excited it+
,hen the e(il spirit has once taken hold of the heart of
man) it urges him on) 'ithout letting him stop+ Thus Boxtel
soon 'as no longer content 'ith seeing .an Baerle+ 0e 'anted
to see his flo'ers) tooR he had the feelings of an artist)
the masterDpiece of a ri(al engrossed his interest+
0e therefore bought a telescope) 'hich enabled him to 'atch
as accurately as did the o'ner himself e(ery progressi(e
de(elopment of the flo'er) from the moment 'hen) in the
first year) its pale seedDleaf begins to peep from the
ground) to that glorious one) 'hen) after fi(e years) its
petals at last re(eal the hidden treasures of its chalice+
0o' often had the miserable) jealous man to obser(e in .an
Baerle's beds tulips 'hich da99led him by their beauty) and
almost choked him by their perfection*
And then) after the first blush of the admiration 'hich he
could not help feeling) he began to be tortured by the pangs
of en(y) by that slo' fe(er 'hich creeps o(er the heart and
changes it into a nest of (ipers) each de(ouring the other
and e(er born ane'+ 0o' often did Boxtel) in the midst of
tortures 'hich no pen is able fully to describe) DD ho'
often did he feel an inclination to jump do'n into the
garden during the night) to destroy the plants) to tear the
bulbs 'ith his teeth) and to sacrifice to his 'rath the
o'ner himself) if he should (enture to stand up for the
defence of his tulips*
But to kill a tulip 'as a horrible crime in the eyes of a
genuine tulipDfancierR as to killing a man) it 'ould not
ha(e mattered so (ery much+
Qet .an Baerle made such progress in the noble science of
gro'ing tulips) 'hich he seemed to master 'ith the true
instinct of genius) that Boxtel at last 'as maddened to such
a degree as to think of thro'ing stones and sticks into the
flo'erDstands of his neighbour+ But) remembering that he
'ould be sure to be found out) and that he 'ould not only be
punished by la') but also dishonoured for e(er in the face
of all the tulipDgro'ers of Europe) he had recourse to
stratagem) and) to gratify his hatred) tried to de(ise a
plan by means of 'hich he might gain his ends 'ithout being
compromised himself+
0e considered a long time) and at last his meditations 'ere
cro'ned 'ith success+
:ne e(ening he tied t'o cats together by their hind legs
'ith a string about six feet in length) and thre' them from
the 'all into the midst of that noble) that princely) that
royal bed) 'hich contained not only the K&ornelius de ,itt)K
but also the KBeauty of Brabant)K milkD'hite) edged 'ith
purple and pink) the K=arble of /otterdam)K colour of flax)
blossoms feathered red and flesh colour) the K,onder of
0aarlem)K the K&olombin obscur)K and the K&olumbin clair
terni+K
The frightened cats) ha(ing alighted on the ground) first
tried to fly each in a different direction) until the string
by 'hich they 'ere tied together 'as tightly stretched
across the bedR then) ho'e(er) feeling that they 'ere not
able to get off) they began to pull to and fro) and to 'heel
about 'ith hideous cater'aulings) mo'ing do'n 'ith their
string the flo'ers among 'hich they 'ere struggling) until)
after a furious strife of about a Juarter of an hour) the
string broke and the combatants (anished+
Boxtel) hidden behind his sycamore) could not see anything)
as it 'as pitchDdarkR but the piercing cries of the cats
told the 'hole tale) and his heart o(erflo'ing 'ith gall no'
throbbed 'ith triumphant joy+
Boxtel 'as so eager to ascertain the extent of the injury)
that he remained at his post until morning to feast his eyes
on the sad state in 'hich the t'o cats had left the
flo'erDbeds of his neighbour+ The mists of the morning
chilled his frame) but he did not feel the cold) the hope of
re(enge keeping his blood at fe(er heat+ The chagrin of his
ri(al 'as to pay for all the incon(enience 'hich he incurred
himself+
At the earliest da'n the door of the 'hite house opened) and
.an Baerle made his appearance) approaching the flo'erDbeds
'ith the smile of a man 'ho has passed the night comfortably
in his bed) and has had happy dreams+
All at once he percei(ed furro's and little mounds of earth
on the beds 'hich only the e(ening before had been as smooth
as a mirror) all at once he percei(ed the symmetrical ro's
of his tulips to be completely disordered) like the pikes of
a battalion in the midst of 'hich a shell has fallen+
0e ran up to them 'ith blanched cheek+
Boxtel trembled 'ith joy+ $ifteen or t'enty tulips) torn and
crushed) 'ere lying about) some of them bent) others
completely broken and already 'ithering) the sap oo9ing from
their bleeding bulbs? ho' gladly 'ould .an Baerle ha(e
redeemed that precious sap 'ith his o'n blood*
But 'hat 'ere his surprise and his delight* 'hat 'as the
disappointment of his ri(al* ;ot one of the four tulips
'hich the latter had meant to destroy 'as injured at all+
They raised proudly their noble heads abo(e the corpses of
their slain companions+ This 'as enough to console .an
Baerle) and enough to fan the rage of the horticultural
murderer) 'ho tore his hair at the sight of the effects of
the crime 'hich he had committed in (ain+
.an Baerle could not imagine the cause of the mishap) 'hich)
fortunately) 'as of far less conseJuence than it might ha(e
been+ :n making inJuiries) he learned that the 'hole night
had been disturbed by terrible cater'aulings+ 0e besides
found traces of the cats) their footmarks and hairs left
behind on the battleDfieldR to guard) therefore) in future
against a similar outrage) he ga(e orders that henceforth
one of the under gardeners should sleep in the garden in a
sentryDbox near the flo'erDbeds+
Boxtel heard him gi(e the order) and sa' the sentryDbox put
up that (ery dayR but he deemed himself lucky in not ha(ing
been suspected) and) being more than e(er incensed against
the successful horticulturist) he resol(ed to bide his time+
5ust then the Tulip 1ociety of 0aarlem offered a pri9e for
the disco(ery @'e dare not say the manufactureA of a large
black tulip 'ithout a spot of colour) a thing 'hich had not
yet been accomplished) and 'as considered impossible) as at
that time there did not exist a flo'er of that species
approaching e(en to a dark nut bro'n+ 4t 'as) therefore)
generally said that the founders of the pri9e might just as
'ell ha(e offered t'o millions as a hundred thousand
guilders) since no one 'ould be able to gain it+
The tulipDgro'ing 'orld) ho'e(er) 'as thro'n by it into a
state of most acti(e commotion+ 1ome fanciers caught at the
idea 'ithout belie(ing it practicable) but such is the po'er
of imagination among florists) that although considering the
undertaking as certain to fail) all their thoughts 'ere
engrossed by that great black tulip) 'hich 'as looked upon
to be as chimerical as the black s'an of 0orace or the 'hite
ra(en of $rench tradition+
.an Baerle 'as one of the tulipDgro'ers 'ho 'ere struck 'ith
the ideaR Boxtel thought of it in the light of a
speculation+ .an Baerle) as soon as the idea had once taken
root in his clear and ingenious mind) began slo'ly the
necessary planting and crossDbreeding to reduce the tulips
'hich he had gro'n already from red to bro'n) and from bro'n
to dark bro'n+
By the next year he had obtained flo'ers of a perfect
nutDbro'n) and Boxtel espied them in the border) 'hereas he
had himself as yet only succeeded in producing the light
bro'n+
4t might perhaps be interesting to explain to the gentle
reader the beautiful chain of theories 'hich go to pro(e
that the tulip borro's its colors from the elementsR perhaps
'e should gi(e him pleasure if 'e 'ere to maintain and
establish that nothing is impossible for a florist 'ho
a(ails himself 'ith judgment and discretion and patience of
the sun's heatR the clear 'ater) the juices of the earth)
and the cool bree9es+ But this is not a treatise upon tulips
in generalR it is the story of one particular tulip 'hich 'e
ha(e undertaken to 'rite) and to that 'e limit oursel(es)
ho'e(er alluring the subject 'hich is so closely allied to
ours+
Boxtel) once more 'orsted by the superiority of his hated
ri(al) 'as no' completely disgusted 'ith tulipDgro'ing) and)
being dri(en half mad) de(oted himself entirely to
obser(ation+
The house of his ri(al 'as Juite open to (ie'R a garden
exposed to the sunR cabinets 'ith glass 'alls) shel(es)
cupboards) boxes) and ticketed pigeonDholes) 'hich could
easily be sur(eyed by the telescope+ Boxtel allo'ed his
bulbs to rot in the pits) his seedlings to dry up in their
cases) and his tulips to 'ither in the borders and
hencefor'ard occupied himself 'ith nothing else but the
doings at .an Baerle's+ 0e breathed through the stalks of
.an Baerle's tulips) Juenched his thirst 'ith the 'ater he
sprinkled upon them) and feasted on the fine soft earth
'hich his neighbour scattered upon his cherished bulbs+
But the most curious part of the operations 'as not
performed in the garden+
4t might be one o'clock in the morning 'hen .an Baerle 'ent
up to his laboratory) into the gla9ed cabinet 'hither
Boxtel's telescope had such an easy accessR and here) as
soon as the lamp illuminated the 'alls and 'indo's) Boxtel
sa' the in(enti(e genius of his ri(al at 'ork+
0e beheld him sifting his seeds) and soaking them in liJuids
'hich 'ere destined to modify or to deepen their colours+ 0e
kne' 'hat &ornelius meant 'hen heating certain grains) then
moistening them) then combining them 'ith others by a sort
of grafting) DD a minute and mar(ellously delicate
manipulation) DD and 'hen he shut up in darkness those 'hich
'ere expected to furnish the black colour) exposed to the
sun or to the lamp those 'hich 'ere to produce red) and
placed bet'een the endless reflections of t'o 'aterDmirrors
those intended for 'hite) the pure representation of the
limpid element+
This innocent magic) the fruit at the same time of
childDlike musings and of manly genius DD this patient
untiring labour) of 'hich Boxtel kne' himself to be
incapable DD made him) gna'ed as he 'as 'ith en(y) centre
all his life) all his thoughts) and all his hopes in his
telescope+
$or) strange to say) the lo(e and interest of horticulture
had not deadened in 4saac his fierce en(y and thirst of
re(enge+ 1ometimes) 'hilst co(ering .an Baerle 'ith his
telescope) he deluded himself into a belief that he 'as
le(elling a ne(erDfailing musket at himR and then he 'ould
seek 'ith his finger for the trigger to fire the shot 'hich
'as to ha(e killed his neighbour+ But it is time that 'e
should connect 'ith this epoch of the operations of the one)
and the espionage of the other) the (isit 'hich &ornelius de
,itt came to pay to his nati(e to'n+
&hapter 3
The 0appy =an makes AcJuaintance 'ith =isfortune
&ornelius de ,itt) after ha(ing attended to his family
affairs) reached the house of his godson) &ornelius (an
Baerle) one e(ening in the month of 5anuary) !63C+
De ,itt) although being (ery little of a horticulturist or
of an artist) 'ent o(er the 'hole mansion) from the studio
to the greenDhouse) inspecting e(erything) from the pictures
do'n to the tulips+ 0e thanked his godson for ha(ing joined
him on the deck of the admiral's ship KThe 1e(en Pro(inces)K
during the battle of 1outh'old Bay) and for ha(ing gi(en his
name to a magnificent tulipR and 'hilst he thus) 'ith the
kindness and affability of a father to a son) (isited .an
Baerle's treasures) the cro'd gathered 'ith curiosity) and
e(en respect) before the door of the happy man+
All this hubbub excited the attention of Boxtel) 'ho 'as
just taking his meal by his fireside+ 0e inJuired 'hat it
meant) and) on being informed of the cause of all this stir)
climbed up to his post of obser(ation) 'here in spite of the
cold) he took his stand) 'ith the telescope to his eye+
This telescope had not been of great ser(ice to him since
the autumn of !63!+ The tulips) like true daughters of the
East) a(erse to cold) do not abide in the open ground in
'inter+ They need the shelter of the house) the soft bed on
the shel(es) and the congenial 'armth of the sto(e+ .an
Baerle) therefore) passed the 'hole 'inter in his
laboratory) in the midst of his books and pictures+ 0e 'ent
only rarely to the room 'here he kept his bulbs) unless it
'ere to allo' some occasional rays of the sun to enter) by
opening one of the mo(able sashes of the glass front+
:n the e(ening of 'hich 'e are speaking) after the t'o
&orneliuses had (isited together all the apartments of the
house) 'hilst a train of domestics follo'ed their steps) De
,itt said in a lo' (oice to .an Baerle) DD
K=y dear son) send these people a'ay) and let us be alone
for some minutes+K
The younger &ornelius) bo'ing assent) said aloud) DD
K,ould you no') sir) please to see my dryDroomPK
The dryDroom) this pantheon) this sanctum sanctorum of the
tulipDfancier) 'as) as Delphi of old) interdicted to the
profane uninitiated+
;e(er had any of his ser(ants been bold enough to set his
foot there+ &ornelius admitted only the inoffensi(e broom of
an old $risian housekeeper) 'ho had been his nurse) and 'ho
from the time 'hen he had de(oted himself to the culture of
tulips (entured no longer to put onions in his ste's) for
fear of pulling to pieces and mincing the idol of her foster
child+
At the mere mention of the dryDroom) therefore) the ser(ants
'ho 'ere carrying the lights respectfully fell back+
&ornelius) taking the candlestick from the hands of the
foremost) conducted his godfather into that room) 'hich 'as
no other than that (ery cabinet 'ith a glass front into
'hich Boxtel 'as continually prying 'ith his telescope+
The en(ious spy 'as 'atching more intently than e(er+
$irst of all he sa' the 'alls and 'indo's lit up+
Then t'o dark figures appeared+
:ne of them) tall) majestic) stern) sat do'n near the table
on 'hich .an Baerle had placed the taper+
4n this figure) Boxtel recognised the pale features of
&ornelius de ,itt) 'hose long hair) parted in front) fell
o(er his shoulders+
De ,itt) after ha(ing said some fe' 'ords to &ornelius) the
meaning of 'hich the prying neighbour could not read in the
mo(ement of his lips) took from his breast pocket a 'hite
parcel) carefully sealed) 'hich Boxtel) judging from the
manner in 'hich &ornelius recei(ed it) and placed it in one
of the presses) supposed to contain papers of the greatest
importance+
0is first thought 'as that this precious deposit enclosed
some ne'ly imported bulbs from Bengal or &eylonR but he soon
reflected that &ornelius de ,itt 'as (ery little addicted to
tulipDgro'ing) and that he only occupied himself 'ith the
affairs of man) a pursuit by far less peaceful and agreeable
than that of the florist+ 0e therefore came to the
conclusion that the parcel contained simply some papers) and
that these papers 'ere relating to politics+
But 'hy should papers of political import be intrusted to
.an Baerle) 'ho not only 'as) but also boasted of being) an
entire stranger to the science of go(ernment) 'hich) in his
opinion) 'as more occult than alchemy itselfP
4t 'as undoubtedly a deposit 'hich &ornelius de ,itt)
already threatened by the unpopularity 'ith 'hich his
countrymen 'ere going to honour him) 'as placing in the
hands of his godsonR a contri(ance so much the more cle(erly
de(ised) as it certainly 'as not at all likely that it
should be searched for at the house of one 'ho had al'ays
stood aloof from e(ery sort of intrigue+
And) besides) if the parcel had been made up of bulbs)
Boxtel kne' his neighbour too 'ell not to expect that .an
Baerle 'ould not ha(e lost one moment in satisfying his
curiosity and feasting his eyes on the present 'hich he had
recei(ed+
But) on the contrary) &ornelius had recei(ed the parcel from
the hands of his godfather 'ith e(ery mark of respect) and
put it by 'ith the same respectful manner in a dra'er)
sto'ing it a'ay so that it should not take up too much of
the room 'hich 'as reser(ed to his bulbs+
The parcel thus being secreted) &ornelius de ,itt got up)
pressed the hand of his godson) and turned to'ards the door)
.an Baerle sei9ing the candlestick) and lighting him on his
'ay do'n to the street) 'hich 'as still cro'ded 'ith people
'ho 'ished to see their great fello' citi9en getting into
his coach+
Boxtel had not been mistaken in his supposition+ The deposit
intrusted to .an Baerle) and carefully locked up by him) 'as
nothing more nor less than 5ohn de ,itt's correspondence
'ith the =arJuis de >ou(ois) the 'ar minister of the Ting of
$ranceR only the godfather forbore gi(ing to his godson the
least intimation concerning the political importance of the
secret) merely desiring him not to deli(er the parcel to any
one but to himself) or to 'homsoe(er he should send to claim
it in his name+
And .an Baerle) as 'e ha(e seen) locked it up 'ith his most
precious bulbs) to think no more of it) after his godfather
had left himR (ery unlike Boxtel) 'ho looked upon this
parcel as a cle(er pilot does on the distant and scarcely
perceptible cloud 'hich is increasing on its 'ay and 'hich
is fraught 'ith a storm+
>ittle dreaming of the jealous hatred of his neighbour) .an
Baerle had proceeded step by step to'ards gaining the pri9e
offered by the 0orticultural 1ociety of 0aarlem+ 0e had
progressed from ha9elDnut shade to that of roasted coffee)
and on the (ery day 'hen the frightful e(ents took place at
the 0ague 'hich 'e ha(e related in the preceding chapters)
'e find him) about one o'clock in the day) gathering from
the border the young suckers raised from tulips of the
colour of roasted coffeeR and 'hich) being expected to
flo'er for the first time in the spring of !637) 'ould
undoubtedly produce the large black tulip reJuired by the
0aarlem 1ociety+
:n the C8th of August) !63C) at one o'clock) &ornelius 'as
therefore in his dryDroom) 'ith his feet resting on the
footDbar of the table) and his elbo's on the co(er) looking
'ith intense delight on three suckers 'hich he had just
detached from the mother bulb) pure) perfect) and entire)
and from 'hich 'as to gro' that 'onderful produce of
horticulture 'hich 'ould render the name of &ornelius (an
Baerle for e(er illustrious+
K4 shall find the black tulip)K said &ornelius to himself)
'hilst detaching the suckers+ K4 shall obtain the hundred
thousand guilders offered by the 1ociety+ 4 shall distribute
them among the poor of DortR and thus the hatred 'hich e(ery
rich man has to encounter in times of ci(il 'ars 'ill be
soothed do'n) and 4 shall be able) 'ithout fearing any harm
either from /epublicans or :rangists) to keep as heretofore
my borders in splendid condition+ 4 need no more be afraid
lest on the day of a riot the shopkeepers of the to'n and
the sailors of the port should come and tear out my bulbs)
to boil them as onions for their families) as they ha(e
sometimes Juietly threatened 'hen they happened to remember
my ha(ing paid t'o or three hundred guilders for one bulb+
4t is therefore settled 4 shall gi(e the hundred thousand
guilders of the 0aarlem pri9e toDthe poor+ And yet DDDD K
0ere &ornelius stopped and hea(ed a sigh+ KAnd yet)K he
continued) Kit 'ould ha(e been so (ery delightful to spend
the hundred thousand guilders on the enlargement of my
tulipDbed or e(en on a journey to the East) the country of
beautiful flo'ers+ But) alas* these are no thoughts for the
present times) 'hen muskets) standards) proclamations) and
beating of drums are the order of the day+K
.an Baerle raised his eyes to hea(en and sighed again+ Then
turning his glance to'ards his bulbs) DD objects of much
greater importance to him than all those muskets) standards)
drums) and proclamations) 'hich he concei(ed only to be fit
to disturb the minds of honest people) DD he said? DD
KThese are) indeed) beautiful bulbsR ho' smooth they are)
ho' 'ell formedR there is that air of melancholy about them
'hich promises to produce a flo'er of the colour of ebony+
:n their skin you cannot e(en distinguish the circulating
(eins 'ith the naked eye+ &ertainly) certainly) not a light
spot 'ill disfigure the tulip 'hich 4 ha(e called into
existence+ And by 'hat name shall 'e call this offspring of
my sleepless nights) of my labour and my thoughtP Tulipa
nigra BarlaensisP
KQes Barlaensis? a fine name+ All the tulipDfanciers DD that
is to say) all the intelligent people of Europe DD 'ill feel
a thrill of excitement 'hen the rumour spreads to the four
Juarters of the globe? The grand black tulip is found* '0o'
is it calledP' the fanciers 'ill ask+ DD 'Tulipa nigra
Barlaensis*' DD ',hy BarlaensisP' DD 'After its gro'er) .an
Baerle)' 'ill be the ans'er+ DD 'And 'ho is this .an
BaerleP' DD '4t is the same 'ho has already produced fi(e
ne' tulips? the 5ane) the 5ohn de ,itt) the &ornelius de
,itt) etc+' ,ell) that is 'hat 4 call my ambition+ 4t 'ill
cause tears to no one+ And people 'ill talk of my Tulipa
nigra Barlaensis 'hen perhaps my godfather) this sublime
politician) is only kno'n from the tulip to 'hich 4 ha(e
gi(en his name+
K:h* these darling bulbs*
K,hen my tulip has flo'ered)K Baerle continued in his
soliloJuy) Kand 'hen tranJuillity is restored in 0olland) 4
shall gi(e to the poor only fifty thousand guilders) 'hich)
after all) is a goodly sum for a man 'ho is under no
obligation 'hate(er+ Then) 'ith the remaining fifty thousand
guilders) 4 shall make experiments+ ,ith them 4 shall
succeed in imparting scent to the tulip+ Ah* if 4 succeed in
gi(ing it the odour of the rose or the carnation) or) 'hat
'ould be still better) a completely ne' scentR if 4 restored
to this Jueen of flo'ers its natural distincti(e perfume)
'hich she has lost in passing from her Eastern to her
European throne) and 'hich she must ha(e in the 4ndian
peninsula at Goa) Bombay) and =adras) and especially in that
island 'hich in olden times) as is asserted) 'as the
terrestrial paradise) and 'hich is called &eylon) DD oh)
'hat glory* 4 must say) 4 'ould then rather be &ornelius (an
Baerle than Alexander) &aesar) or =aximilian+
K:h the admirable bulbs*K
Thus &ornelius indulged in the delights of contemplation)
and 'as carried a'ay by the s'eetest dreams+
1uddenly the bell of his cabinet 'as rung much more
(iolently than usual+
&ornelius) startled) laid his hands on his bulbs) and turned
round+
K,ho is herePK he asked+
K1ir)K ans'ered the ser(ant) Kit is a messenger from the
0ague+K
KA messenger from the 0ague* ,hat does he 'antPK
K1ir) it is &raeke+K
K&raeke* the confidential ser(ant of =ynheer 5ohn de ,ittP
Good) let him 'ait+K
K4 cannot 'ait)K said a (oice in the lobby+
And at the same time forcing his 'ay in) &raeke rushed into
the dryDroom+
This abrupt entrance 'as such an infringement on the
established rules of the household of &ornelius (an Baerle)
that the latter) at the sight of &raeke) almost con(ulsi(ely
mo(ed his hand 'hich co(ered the bulbs) so that t'o of them
fell on the floor) one of them rolling under a small table)
and the other into the fireplace+
KWounds*K said &ornelius) eagerly picking up his precious
bulbs) K'hat's the matterPK
KThe matter) sir*K said &raeke) laying a paper on the large
table) on 'hich the third bulb 'as lying) DD Kthe matter is)
that you are reJuested to read this paper 'ithout losing one
moment+K
And &raeke) 'ho thought he had remarked in the streets of
Dort symptoms of a tumult similar to that 'hich he had
'itnessed before his departure from the 0ague) ran off
'ithout e(en looking behind him+
KAll right* all right* my dear &raeke)K said &ornelius)
stretching his arm under the table for the bulbR Kyour paper
shall be read) indeed it shall+K
Then) examining the bulb 'hich he held in the hollo' of his
hand) he said? K,ell) here is one of them uninjured+ That
confounded &raeke* thus to rush into my dryDroomR let us no'
look after the other+K
And 'ithout laying do'n the bulb 'hich he already held)
Baerle 'ent to the fireplace) knelt do'n and stirred 'ith
the tip of his finger the ashes) 'hich fortunately 'ere
Juite cold+
0e at once felt the other bulb+
K,ell) here it is)K he saidR and) looking at it 'ith almost
fatherly affection) he exclaimed) K<ninjured as the first*K
At this (ery instant) and 'hilst &ornelius) still on his
knees) 'as examining his pets) the door of the dryDroom 'as
so (iolently shaken) and opened in such a brusJue manner)
that &ornelius felt rising in his cheeks and his ears the
glo' of that e(il counsellor 'hich is called 'rath+
K;o') 'hat is it again)K he demandedR Kare people going mad
herePK
K:h) sir* sir*K cried the ser(ant) rushing into the dryDroom
'ith a much paler face and 'ith a much more frightened mien
than &raeke had sho'n+
K,ell*K asked &ornelius) foreboding some mischief from the
double breach of the strict rule of his house+
K:h) sir) fly* fly Juick*K cried the ser(ant+
K$ly* and 'hat forPK
K1ir) the house is full of the guards of the 1tates+K
K,hat do they 'antPK
KThey 'ant you+K
K,hat forPK
KTo arrest you+K
KArrest meP arrest me) do you sayPK
KQes) sir) and they are headed by a magistrate+K
K,hat's the meaning of all thisPK said .an Baerle) grasping
in his hands the t'o bulbs) and directing his terrified
glance to'ards the staircase+
KThey are coming up* they are coming up*K cried the ser(ant+
K:h) my dear child) my 'orthy master*K cried the old
housekeeper) 'ho no' like'ise made her appearance in the
dryDroom) Ktake your gold) your je'elry) and fly) fly*K
KBut ho' shall 4 make my escape) nursePK said .an Baerle+
K5ump out of the 'indo'+K
KT'entyDfi(e feet from the ground*K
KBut you 'ill fall on six feet of soft soil*K
KQes) but 4 should fall on my tulips+K
K;e(er mind) jump out+K
&ornelius took the third bulb) approached the 'indo' and
opened it) but seeing 'hat ha(oc he 'ould necessarily cause
in his borders) and) more than this) 'hat a height he 'ould
ha(e to jump) he called out) K;e(er*K and fell back a step+
At this moment they sa' across the banister of the staircase
the points of the halberds of the soldiers rising+
The housekeeper raised her hands to hea(en+
As to &ornelius (an Baerle) it must be stated to his honour)
not as a man) but as a tulipDfancier) his only thought 'as
for his inestimable bulbs+
>ooking about for a paper in 'hich to 'rap them up) he
noticed the flyDleaf from the Bible) 'hich &raeke had laid
upon the table) took it 'ithout in his confusion remembering
'hence it came) folded in it the three bulbs) secreted them
in his bosom) and 'aited+
At this (ery moment the soldiers) preceded by a magistrate)
entered the room+
KAre you Dr+ &ornelius (an BaerlePK demanded the magistrate
@'ho) although kno'ing the young man (ery 'ell) put his
Juestion according to the forms of justice) 'hich ga(e his
proceedings a much more dignified airA+
K4 am that person) =aster (an 1pennen)K ans'ered &ornelius)
politely) to his judge) Kand you kno' it (ery 'ell+K
KThen gi(e up to us the seditious papers 'hich you secrete
in your house+K
KThe seditious papers*K repeated &ornelius) Juite dumfounded
at the imputation+
K;o' don't look astonished) if you please+K
K4 (o' to you) =aster (an 1pennen) K&ornelius replied) Kthat
4 am completely at a loss to understand 'hat you 'ant+K
KThen 4 shall put you in the 'ay) Doctor)K said the judgeR
Kgi(e up to us the papers 'hich the traitor &ornelius de
,itt deposited 'ith you in the month of 5anuary last+K
A sudden light came into the mind of &ornelius+
K0alloa*K said .an 1pennen) Kyou begin no' to remember)
don't youPK
K4ndeed 4 do) but you spoke of seditious papers) and 4 ha(e
none of that sort+K
KQou deny it thenPK
K&ertainly 4 do+K
The magistrate turned round and took a rapid sur(ey of the
'hole cabinet+
K,here is the apartment you call your dryDroomPK he asked+
KThe (ery same 'here you no' are) =aster (an 1pennen+K
The magistrate cast a glance at a small note at the top of
his papers+
KAll right)K he said) like a man 'ho is sure of his ground+
Then) turning round to'ards &ornelius) he continued) K,ill
you gi(e up those papers to mePK
KBut 4 cannot) =aster (an 1pennenR those papers do not
belong to meR they ha(e been deposited 'ith me as a trust)
and a trust is sacred+K
KDr+ &ornelius)K said the judge) Kin the name of the 1tates)
4 order you to open this dra'er) and to gi(e up to me the
papers 'hich it contains+K
1aying this) the judge pointed 'ith his finger to the third
dra'er of the press) near the fireplace+
4n this (ery dra'er) indeed the papers deposited by the
,arden of the Dikes 'ith his godson 'ere lyingR a proof that
the police had recei(ed (ery exact information+
KAh* you 'ill not)K said .an 1pennen) 'hen he sa' &ornelius
standing immo(able and be'ildered) Kthen 4 shall open the
dra'er myself+K
And) pulling out the dra'er to its full length) the
magistrate at first alighted on about t'enty bulbs)
carefully arranged and ticketed) and then on the paper
parcel) 'hich had remained in exactly the same state as it
'as 'hen deli(ered by the unfortunate &ornelius de ,itt to
his godson+
The magistrate broke the seals) tore off the en(elope) cast
an eager glance on the first lea(es 'hich met his eye and
then exclaimed) in a terrible (oice) DD
K,ell) justice has been rightly informed after all*K
K0o')K said &ornelius) Kho' is thisPK
KDon't pretend to be ignorant) =ynheer (an Baerle)K ans'ered
the magistrate+ K$ollo' me+K
K0o''s that* follo' youPK cried the Doctor+
KQes) sir) for in the name of the 1tates 4 arrest you+K
Arrests 'ere not as yet made in the name of ,illiam of
:rangeR he had not been 1tadtholder long enough for that+
KArrest me*K cried &orneliusR Kbut 'hat ha(e 4 donePK
KThat's no affair of mine) DoctorR you 'ill explain all that
before your judges+K
K,herePK
KAt the 0ague+K
&ornelius) in mute stupefaction) embraced his old nurse) 'ho
'as in a s'oonR shook hands 'ith his ser(ants) 'ho 'ere
bathed in tears) and follo'ed the magistrate) 'ho put him in
a coach as a prisoner of state and had him dri(en at full
gallop to the 0ague+
&hapter F
An 4n(asion
The incident just related 'as) as the reader has guessed
before this) the diabolical 'ork of =ynheer 4saac Boxtel+
4t 'ill be remembered that) 'ith the help of his telescope)
not e(en the least detail of the pri(ate meeting bet'een
&ornelius de ,itt and .an Baerle had escaped him+ 0e had)
indeed) heard nothing) but he had seen e(erything) and had
rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the ,arden to
the Doctor must ha(e been of great importance) as he sa' .an
Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the dra'er 'here
he used to keep his most precious bulbs+
The upshot of all this 'as that 'hen Boxtel) 'ho 'atched the
course of political e(ents much more attenti(ely than his
neighbour &ornelius 'as used to do) heard the ne's of the
brothers De ,itt being arrested on a charge of high treason
against the 1tates) he thought 'ithin his heart that (ery
likely he needed only to say one 'ord) and the godson 'ould
be arrested as 'ell as the godfather+
Qet) full of happiness as 'as Boxtel's heart at the chance)
he at first shrank 'ith horror from the idea of informing
against a man 'hom this information might lead to the
scaffold+
But there is this terrible thing in e(il thoughts) that e(il
minds soon gro' familiar 'ith them+
Besides this) =ynheer 4saac Boxtel encouraged himself 'ith
the follo'ing sophism? DD
K&ornelius de ,itt is a bad citi9en) as he is charged 'ith
high treason) and arrested+
K4) on the contrary) am a good citi9en) as 4 am not charged
'ith anything in the 'orld) as 4 am as free as the air of
hea(en+K
K4f) therefore) &ornelius de ,itt is a bad citi9en) DD of
'hich there can be no doubt) as he is charged 'ith high
treason) and arrested) DD his accomplice) &ornelius (an
Baerle) is no less a bad citi9en than himself+
KAnd) as 4 am a good citi9en) and as it is the duty of e(ery
good citi9en to inform against the bad ones) it is my duty
to inform against &ornelius (an Baerle+K
1pecious as this mode of reasoning might sound) it 'ould not
perhaps ha(e taken so complete a hold of Boxtel) nor 'ould
he perhaps ha(e yielded to the mere desire of (engeance
'hich 'as gna'ing at his heart) had not the demon of en(y
been joined 'ith that of cupidity+
Boxtel 'as Juite a'are of the progress 'hich .an Baerle had
made to'ards producing the grand black tulip+
Dr+ &ornelius) not'ithstanding all his modesty) had not been
able to hide from his most intimate friends that he 'as all
but certain to 'in) in the year of grace !63H) the pri9e of
a hundred thousand guilders offered by the 0orticultural
1ociety of 0aarlem+
4t 'as just this certainty of &ornelius (an Baerle that
caused the fe(er 'hich raged in the heart of 4saac Boxtel+
4f &ornelius should be arrested there 'ould necessarily be a
great upset in his house) and during the night after his
arrest no one 'ould think of keeping 'atch o(er the tulips
in his garden+
;o' in that night Boxtel 'ould climb o(er the 'all and) as
he kne' the position of the bulb 'hich 'as to produce the
grand black tulip) he 'ould filch itR and instead of
flo'ering for &ornelius) it 'ould flo'er for him) 4saacR he
also) instead of .an Baerle) 'ould ha(e the pri9e of a
hundred thousand guilders) not to speak of the sublime
honour of calling the ne' flo'er Tulipa nigra Boxtellensis)
DD a result 'hich 'ould satisfy not only his (engeance) but
also his cupidity and his ambition+
A'ake) he thought of nothing but the grand black tulipR
asleep) he dreamed of it+
At last) on the !2th of August) about t'o o'clock in the
afternoon) the temptation gre' so strong) that =ynheer 4saac
'as no longer able to resist it+
Accordingly) he 'rote an anonymous information) the minute
exactness of 'hich made up for its 'ant of authenticity) and
posted his letter+
;e(er did a (enomous paper) slipped into the ja's of the
bron9e lions at .enice) produce a more prompt and terrible
effect+
:n the same e(ening the letter reached the principal
magistrate) 'ho 'ithout a moment's delay con(oked his
colleagues early for the next morning+ :n the follo'ing
morning) therefore) they assembled) and decided on .an
Baerle's arrest) placing the order for its execution in the
hands of =aster (an 1pennen) 'ho) as 'e ha(e seen) performed
his duty like a true 0ollander) and 'ho arrested the Doctor
at the (ery hour 'hen the :range party at the 0ague 'ere
roasting the bleeding shreds of flesh torn from the corpses
of &ornelius and 5ohn de ,itt+
But) 'hether from a feeling of shame or from cra(en
'eakness) 4saac Boxtel did not (enture that day to point his
telescope either at the garden) or at the laboratory) or at
the dryDroom+
0e kne' too 'ell 'hat 'as about to happen in the house of
the poor doctor to feel any desire to look into it+ 0e did
not e(en get up 'hen his only ser(ant DD 'ho en(ied the lot
of the ser(ants of &ornelius just as bitterly as Boxtel did
that of their master DD entered his bedroom+ 0e said to the
man) DD
K4 shall not get up toDday) 4 am ill+K
About nine o'clock he heard a great noise in the street
'hich made him tremble) at this moment he 'as paler than a
real in(alid) and shook more (iolently than a man in the
height of fe(er+
0is ser(ant entered the roomR Boxtel hid himself under the
counterpane+
K:h) sir*K cried the ser(ant) not 'ithout some inkling that)
'hilst deploring the mishap 'hich had befallen .an Baerle)
he 'as announcing agreeable ne's to his master) DD Koh) sir*
you do not kno') then) 'hat is happening at this momentPK
K0o' can 4 kno' itPK ans'ered Boxtel) 'ith an almost
unintelligible (oice+
K,ell) =ynheer Boxtel) at this moment your neighbour
&ornelius (an Baerle is arrested for high treason+K
K;onsense*K Boxtel muttered) 'ith a faltering (oiceR Kthe
thing is impossible+K
K$aith) sir) at any rate that's 'hat people sayR and)
besides) 4 ha(e seen 5udge (an 1pennen 'ith the archers
entering the house+K
K,ell) if you ha(e seen it 'ith your o'n eyes) that's a
different case altogether+K
KAt all e(ents)K said the ser(ant) K4 shall go and inJuire
once more+ Be you Juiet) sir) 4 shall let you kno' all about
it+K
Boxtel contented himself 'ith signifying his appro(al of the
9eal of his ser(ant by dumb sho'+
The man 'ent out) and returned in half an hour+
K:h) sir) all that 4 told you is indeed Juite true+K
K0o' soPK
K=ynheer (an Baerle is arrested) and has been put into a
carriage) and they are dri(ing him to the 0ague+K
KTo the 0ague*K
KQes) to the 0ague) and if 'hat people say is true) it 'on't
do him much good+K
KAnd 'hat do they sayPK Boxtel asked+
K$aith) sir) they say DD but it is not Juite sure DD that by
this hour the burghers must be murdering =ynheer &ornelius
and =ynheer 5ohn de ,itt+K
K:h)K muttered) or rather gro'led Boxtel) closing his eyes
from the dreadful picture 'hich presented itself to his
imagination+
K,hy) to be sure)K said the ser(ant to himself) 'hilst
lea(ing the room) K=ynheer 4saac Boxtel must be (ery sick
not to ha(e jumped from his bed on hearing such good ne's+K
And) in reality) 4saac Boxtel 'as (ery sick) like a man 'ho
has murdered another+
But he had murdered his man 'ith a double objectR the first
'as attained) the second 'as still to be attained+
;ight closed in+ 4t 'as the night 'hich Boxtel had looked
for'ard to+
As soon as it 'as dark he got up+
0e then climbed into his sycamore+
0e had calculated correctlyR no one thought of keeping 'atch
o(er the gardenR the house and the ser(ants 'ere all in the
utmost confusion+
0e heard the clock strike DD ten) ele(en) t'el(e+
At midnight) 'ith a beating heart) trembling hands) and a
li(id countenance) he descended from the tree) took a
ladder) leaned it against the 'all) mounted it to the last
step but one) and listened+
All 'as perfectly Juiet) not a sound broke the silence of
the nightR one solitary light) that of the housekeeper) 'as
burning in the house+
This silence and this darkness emboldened BoxtelR he got
astride the 'all) stopped for an instant) and) after ha(ing
ascertained that there 'as nothing to fear) he put his
ladder from his o'n garden into that of &ornelius) and
descended+
Then) kno'ing to an inch 'here the bulbs 'hich 'ere to
produce the black tulip 'ere planted) he ran to'ards the
spot) follo'ing) ho'e(er) the gra(elled 'alks in order not
to be betrayed by his footprints) and) on arri(ing at the
precise spot) he proceeded) 'ith the eagerness of a tiger)
to plunge his hand into the soft ground+
0e found nothing) and thought he 'as mistaken+
4n the mean'hile) the cold s'eat stood on his bro'+
0e felt about close by it) DD nothing+
0e felt about on the right) and on the left) DD nothing+
0e felt about in front and at the back) DD nothing+
0e 'as nearly mad) 'hen at last he satisfied himself that on
that (ery morning the earth had been disturbed+
4n fact) 'hilst Boxtel 'as lying in bed) &ornelius had gone
do'n to his garden) had taken up the mother bulb) and) as 'e
ha(e seen) di(ided it into three+
Boxtel could not bring himself to lea(e the place+ 0e dug up
'ith his hands more than ten sJuare feet of ground+
At last no doubt remained of his misfortune+ =ad 'ith rage)
he returned to his ladder) mounted the 'all) dre' up the
ladder) flung it into his o'n garden) and jumped after it+
All at once) a last ray of hope presented itself to his
mind? the seedling bulbs might be in the dryDroomR it 'as
therefore only reJuisite to make his entry there as he had
done into the garden+
There he 'ould find them) and) moreo(er) it 'as not at all
difficult) as the sashes of the dryDroom might be raised
like those of a greenhouse+ &ornelius had opened them on
that morning) and no one had thought of closing them again+
E(erything) therefore) depended upon 'hether he could
procure a ladder of sufficient length) DD one of t'entyDfi(e
feet instead of ten+
Boxtel had noticed in the street 'here he li(ed a house
'hich 'as being repaired) and against 'hich a (ery tall
ladder 'as placed+
This ladder 'ould do admirably) unless the 'orkmen had taken
it a'ay+
0e ran to the house? the ladder 'as there+ Boxtel took it)
carried it 'ith great exertion to his garden) and 'ith e(en
greater difficulty raised it against the 'all of .an
Baerle's house) 'here it just reached to the 'indo'+
Boxtel put a lighted dark lantern into his pocket) mounted
the ladder) and slipped into the dryDroom+
:n reaching this sanctuary of the florist he stopped)
supporting himself against the tableR his legs failed him)
his heart beat as if it 'ould choke him+ 0ere it 'as e(en
'orse than in the gardenR there Boxtel 'as only a
trespasser) here he 'as a thief+
0o'e(er) he took courage again? he had not gone so far to
turn back 'ith empty hands+
But in (ain did he search the 'hole room) open and shut all
the dra'ers) e(en that pri(ileged one 'here the parcel 'hich
had been so fatal to &ornelius had been depositedR he found
ticketed) as in a botanical garden) the K5ane)K the K5ohn de
,itt)K the ha9elDnut) and the roastedDcoffee coloured tulipR
but of the black tulip) or rather the seedling bulbs 'ithin
'hich it 'as still sleeping) not a trace 'as found+
And yet) on looking o(er the register of seeds and bulbs)
'hich .an Baerle kept in duplicate) if possible e(en 'ith
greater exactitude and care than the first commercial houses
of Amsterdam their ledgers) Boxtel read these lines? DD
KToDday) C8th of August) !63C) 4 ha(e taken up the mother
bulb of the grand black tulip) 'hich 4 ha(e di(ided into
three perfect suckers+K
K:h these bulbs) these bulbs*K ho'led Boxtel) turning o(er
e(erything in the dryDroom) K'here could he ha(e concealed
themPK
Then) suddenly striking his forehead in his fren9y) he
called out) K:h 'retch that 4 am* :h thrice fool Boxtel*
,ould any one be separated from his bulbsP ,ould any one
lea(e them at Dort) 'hen one goes to the 0agueP &ould one
li(e far from one's bulbs) 'hen they enclose the grand black
tulipP 0e had time to get hold of them) the scoundrel) he
has them about him) he has taken them to the 0ague*K
4t 'as like a flash of lightning 'hich sho'ed to Boxtel the
abyss of a uselessly committed crime+
Boxtel sank Juite paraly9ed on that (ery table) and on that
(ery spot 'here) some hours before) the unfortunate .an
Baerle had so leisurely) and 'ith such intense delight)
contemplated his darling bulbs+
K,ell) then) after all)K said the en(ious Boxtel) DD raising
his li(id face from his hands in 'hich it had been buried DD
Kif he has them) he can keep them only as long as he li(es)
and DDDD K
The rest of this detestable thought 'as expressed by a
hideous smile+
KThe bulbs are at the 0ague)K he said) Ktherefore) 4 can no
longer li(e at Dort? a'ay) then) for them) to the 0ague* to
the 0ague*K
And Boxtel) 'ithout taking any notice of the treasures about
him) so entirely 'ere his thoughts absorbed by another
inestimable treasure) let himself out by the 'indo') glided
do'n the ladder) carried it back to the place 'hence he had
taken it) and) like a beast of prey) returned gro'ling to
his house+
&hapter 2
The $amily &ell
4t 'as about midnight 'hen poor .an Baerle 'as locked up in
the prison of the Buytenhof+
,hat /osa foresa' had come to pass+ :n finding the cell of
&ornelius de ,itt empty) the 'rath of the people ran (ery
high) and had Gryphus fallen into the hands of those madmen
he 'ould certainly ha(e had to pay 'ith his life for the
prisoner+
But this fury had (ented itself most fully on the t'o
brothers 'hen they 'ere o(ertaken by the murderers) thanks
to the precaution 'hich ,illiam DD the man of precautions DD
had taken in ha(ing the gates of the city closed+
A momentary lull had therefore set in 'hilst the prison 'as
empty) and /osa a(ailed herself of this fa(ourable moment to
come forth from her hiding place) 'hich she also induced her
father to lea(e+
The prison 'as therefore completely deserted+ ,hy should
people remain in the jail 'hilst murder 'as going on at the
TolD0ekP
Gryphus came forth trembling behind the courageous /osa+
They 'ent to close the great gate) at least as 'ell as it
'ould close) considering that it 'as half demolished+ 4t 'as
easy to see that a hurricane of mighty fury had (ented
itself upon it+
About four o'clock a return of the noise 'as heard) but of
no threatening character to Gryphus and his daughter+ The
people 'ere only dragging in the t'o corpses) 'hich they
came back to gibbet at the usual place of execution+
/osa hid herself this time also) but only that she might not
see the ghastly spectacle+
At midnight) people again knocked at the gate of the jail)
or rather at the barricade 'hich ser(ed in its stead? it 'as
&ornelius (an Baerle 'hom they 'ere bringing+
,hen the jailer recei(ed this ne' inmate) and sa' from the
'arrant the name and station of his prisoner) he muttered
'ith his turnkey smile) DD
KGodson of &ornelius de ,itt* ,ell) young man) 'e ha(e the
family cell here) and 'e 'ill gi(e it to you+K
And Juite enchanted 'ith his joke) the ferocious :rangeman
took his cresset and his keys to conduct &ornelius to the
cell) 'hich on that (ery morning &ornelius de ,itt had left
to go into exile) or 'hat in re(olutionary times is meant
instead by those sublime philosophers 'ho lay it do'n as an
axiom of high policy) K4t is the dead only 'ho do not
return+K
:n the 'ay 'hich the despairing florist had to tra(erse to
reach that cell he heard nothing but the barking of a dog)
and sa' nothing but the face of a young girl+
The dog rushed forth from a niche in the 'all) shaking his
hea(y chain) and sniffing all round &ornelius in order so
much the better to recognise him in case he should be
ordered to pounce upon him+
The young girl) 'hilst the prisoner 'as mounting the
staircase) appeared at the narro' door of her chamber) 'hich
opened on that (ery flight of stepsR and) holding the lamp
in her right hand) she at the same time lit up her pretty
blooming face) surrounded by a profusion of rich 'a(y golden
locks) 'hilst 'ith her left she held her 'hite nightDdress
closely o(er her breast) ha(ing been roused from her first
slumber by the unexpected arri(al of .an Baerle+
4t 'ould ha(e made a fine picture) 'orthy of /embrandt) the
gloomy 'inding stairs illuminated by the reddish glare of
the cresset of Gryphus) 'ith his sco'ling jailer's
countenance at the top) the melancholy figure of &ornelius
bending o(er the banister to look do'n upon the s'eet face
of /osa) standing) as it 'ere) in the bright frame of the
door of her chamber) 'ith embarrassed mien at being thus
seen by a stranger+
And at the bottom) Juite in the shade) 'here the details are
absorbed in the obscurity) the mastiff) 'ith his eyes
glistening like carbuncles) and shaking his chain) on 'hich
the double light from the lamp of /osa and the lantern of
Gryphus thre' a brilliant glitter+
The sublime master 'ould) ho'e(er) ha(e been altogether
unable to render the sorro' expressed in the face of /osa)
'hen she sa' this pale) handsome young man slo'ly climbing
the stairs) and thought of the full import of the 'ords)
'hich her father had just spoken) KQou 'ill ha(e the family
cell+K
This (ision lasted but a moment) DD much less time than 'e
ha(e taken to describe it+ Gryphus then proceeded on his
'ay) &ornelius 'as forced to follo' him) and fi(e minutes
after'ards he entered his prison) of 'hich it is unnecessary
to say more) as the reader is already acJuainted 'ith it+
Gryphus pointed 'ith his finger to the bed on 'hich the
martyr had suffered so much) 'ho on that day had rendered
his soul to God+ Then) taking up his cresset) he Juitted the
cell+
Thus left alone) &ornelius thre' himself on his bed) but he
slept not) he kept his eye fixed on the narro' 'indo')
barred 'ith iron) 'hich looked on the BuytenhofR and in this
'ay sa' from behind the trees that first pale beam of light
'hich morning sheds on the earth as a 'hite mantle+
;o' and then during the night horses had galloped at a smart
pace o(er the Buytenhof) the hea(y tramp of the patrols had
resounded from the pa(ement) and the slo' matches of the
arJuebuses) flaring in the east 'ind) had thro'n up at
inter(als a sudden glare as far as to the panes of his
'indo'+
But 'hen the rising sun began to gild the coping stones at
the gable ends of the houses) &ornelius) eager to kno'
'hether there 'as any li(ing creature about him) approached
the 'indo') and cast a sad look round the circular yard
before him
At the end of the yard a dark mass) tinted 'ith a dingy blue
by the morning da'n) rose before him) its dark outlines
standing out in contrast to the houses already illuminated
by the pale light of early morning+
&ornelius recognised the gibbet+
:n it 'ere suspended t'o shapeless trunks) 'hich indeed 'ere
no more than bleeding skeletons+
The good people of the 0ague had chopped off the flesh of
its (ictims) but faithfully carried the remainder to the
gibbet) to ha(e a pretext for a double inscription 'ritten
on a huge placard) on 'hich &orneliusR 'ith the keen sight
of a young man of t'entyDeight) 'as able to read the
follo'ing lines) daubed by the coarse brush of a
signDpainter? DD
K0ere are hanging the great rogue of the name of 5ohn de
,itt) and the little rogue &ornelius de ,itt) his brother)
t'o enemies of the people) but great friends of the king of
$rance+K
&ornelius uttered a cry of horror) and in the agony of his
frantic terror knocked 'ith his hands and feet at the door
so (iolently and continuously) that Gryphus) 'ith his huge
bunch of keys in his hand) ran furiously up+
The jailer opened the door) 'ith terrible imprecations
against the prisoner 'ho disturbed him at an hour 'hich
=aster Gryphus 'as not accustomed to be aroused+
K,ell) no') by my soul) he is mad) this ne' De ,itt)K he
cried) Kbut all those De ,itts ha(e the de(il in them+K
K=aster) master)K cried &ornelius) sei9ing the jailer by the
arm and dragging him to'ards the 'indo') DD Kmaster) 'hat
ha(e 4 read do'n therePK
K,here do'n therePK
K:n that placard+K
And) trembling) pale) and gasping for breath) he pointed to
the gibbet at the other side of the yard) 'ith the cynical
inscription surmounting it+
Gryphus broke out into a laugh+
KEh* eh*K he ans'ered) Kso) you ha(e read it+ ,ell) my good
sir) that's 'hat people 'ill get for corresponding 'ith the
enemies of his 0ighness the Prince of :range+K
KThe brothers De ,itt are murdered*K &ornelius muttered)
'ith the cold s'eat on his bro') and sank on his bed) his
arms hanging by his side) and his eyes closed+
KThe brothers De ,itt ha(e been judged by the people)K said
GryphusR Kyou call that murdered) do youP 'ell) 4 call it
executed+K
And seeing that the prisoner 'as not only Juiet) but
entirely prostrate and senseless) he rushed from the cell)
(iolently slamming the door) and noisily dra'ing the bolts+
/eco(ering his consciousness) &ornelius found himself alone)
and recognised the room 'here he 'as) DD Kthe family cell)K
as Gryphus had called it) DD as the fatal passage leading to
ignominious death+
And as he 'as a philosopher) and) more than that) as he 'as
a &hristian) he began to pray for the soul of his godfather)
then for that of the Grand Pensionary) and at last submitted
'ith resignation to all the sufferings 'hich God might
ordain for him+
Then turning again to the concerns of earth) and ha(ing
satisfied himself that he 'as alone in his dungeon) he dre'
from his breast the three bulbs of the black tulip) and
concealed them behind a block of stone) on 'hich the
traditional 'aterDjug of the prison 'as standing) in the
darkest corner of his cell+
<seless labour of so many years* such s'eet hopes crushedR
his disco(ery 'as) after all) to lead to naught) just as his
o'n career 'as to be cut short+ 0ere) in his prison) there
'as not a trace of (egetation) not an atom of soil) not a
ray of sunshine+
At this thought &ornelius fell into a gloomy despair) from
'hich he 'as only aroused by an extraordinary circumstance+
,hat 'as this circumstanceP
,e shall inform the reader in our next chapter+
&hapter !8
The 5ailer's Daughter
:n the same e(ening Gryphus) as he brought the prisoner his
mess) slipped on the damp flags 'hilst opening the door of
the cell) and fell) in the attempt to steady himself) on his
handR but as it 'as turned the 'rong 'ay) he broke his arm
just abo(e the 'rist+
&ornelius rushed for'ard to'ards the jailer) but Gryphus)
'ho 'as not yet a'are of the serious nature of his injury)
called out to him) DD
K4t is nothing? don't you stir+K
0e then tried to support himself on his arm) but the bone
ga(e 'ayR then only he felt the pain) and uttered a cry+
,hen he became a'are that his arm 'as broken) this man) so
harsh to others) fell s'ooning on the threshold) 'here he
remained motionless and cold) as if dead+
During all this time the door of the cell stood open and
&ornelius found himself almost free+ But the thought ne(er
entered his mind of profiting by this accidentR he had seen
from the manner in 'hich the arm 'as bent) and from the
noise it made in bending) that the bone 'as fractured) and
that the patient must be in great painR and no' he thought
of nothing else but of administering relief to the sufferer)
ho'e(er little bene(olent the man had sho'n himself during
their short inter(ie'+
At the noise of Gryphus's fall) and at the cry 'hich escaped
him) a hasty step 'as heard on the staircase) and
immediately after a lo(ely apparition presented itself to
the eyes of &ornelius+
4t 'as the beautiful young $risian) 'ho) seeing her father
stretched on the ground) and the prisoner bending o(er him)
uttered a faint cry) as in the first fright she thought
Gryphus) 'hose brutality she 'ell kne') had fallen in
conseJuence of a struggle bet'een him and the prisoner+
&ornelius understood 'hat 'as passing in the mind of the
girl) at the (ery moment 'hen the suspicion arose in her
heart+
But one moment told her the true state of the case and)
ashamed of her first thoughts) she cast her beautiful eyes)
'et 'ith tears) on the young man) and said to him) DD
K4 beg your pardon) and thank you) sirR the first for 'hat 4
ha(e thought) and the second for 'hat you are doing+K
&ornelius blushed) and said) K4 am but doing my duty as a
&hristian in helping my neighbour+K
KQes) and affording him your help this e(ening) you ha(e
forgotten the abuse 'hich he heaped on you this morning+ :h)
sir* this is more than humanity) DD this is indeed &hristian
charity+K
&ornelius cast his eyes on the beautiful girl) Juite
astonished to hear from the mouth of one so humble such a
noble and feeling speech+
But he had no time to express his surprise+ Gryphus
reco(ered from his s'oon) opened his eyes) and as his
brutality 'as returning 'ith his senses) he gro'led KThat's
it) a fello' is in a hurry to bring to a prisoner his
supper) and falls and breaks his arm) and is left lying on
the ground+K
K0ush) my father)K said /osa) Kyou are unjust to this
gentleman) 'hom 4 found endea(ouring to gi(e you his aid+K
K0is aidPK Gryphus replied) 'ith a doubtful air+
K4t is Juite true) master* 4 am Juite ready to help you
still more+K
KQou*K said Gryphus) Kare you a medical manPK
K4t 'as formerly my profession+K
KAnd so you 'ould be able to set my armPK
KPerfectly+K
KAnd 'hat 'ould you need to do itP let us hear+K
KT'o splinters of 'ood) and some linen for a bandage+K
KDo you hear) /osaPK said Gryphus) Kthe prisoner is going to
set my arm) that's a sa(ingR come) assist me to get up) 4
feel as hea(y as lead+K
/osa lent the sufferer her shoulderR he put his unhurt arm
around her neck) and making an effort) got on his legs)
'hilst &ornelius) to sa(e him a 'alk) pushed a chair to'ards
him+
Gryphus sat do'nR then) turning to'ards his daughter) he
said) DD
K,ell) didn't you hearP go and fetch 'hat is 'anted+K
/osa 'ent do'n) and immediately after returned 'ith t'o
sta(es of a small barrel and a large roll of linen bandage+
&ornelius had made use of the inter(ening moments to take
off the man's coat) and to tuck up his shirt slee(e+
K4s this 'hat you reJuire) sirPK asked /osa+
KQes) mademoiselle)K ans'ered &ornelius) looking at the
things she had brought) DD Kyes) that's right+ ;o' push this
table) 'hilst 4 support the arm of your father+K
/osa pushed the table) &ornelius placed the broken arm on it
so as to make it flat) and 'ith perfect skill set the bone)
adjusted the splinters) and fastened the bandages+
At the last touch) the jailer fainted a second time+
KGo and fetch (inegar) mademoiselle)K said &orneliusR K'e
'ill bathe his temples) and he 'ill reco(er+K
But) instead of acting up to the doctor's prescription)
/osa) after ha(ing satisfied herself that her father 'as
still unconscious) approached &ornelius and said) DD
K1er(ice for ser(ice) sir+K
K,hat do you mean) my pretty childPK said &ornelius+
K4 mean to say) sir) that the judge 'ho is to examine you
toDmorro' has inJuired toDday for the room in 'hich you are
confined) and) on being told that you are occupying the cell
of =ynheer &ornelius de ,itt) laughed in a (ery strange and
(ery disagreeable manner) 'hich makes me fear that no good
a'aits you+K
KBut)K asked &ornelius) K'hat harm can they do to mePK
K>ook at that gibbet+K
KBut 4 am not guilty)K said &ornelius+
K,ere they guilty 'hom you see do'n there gibbeted) mangled)
and torn to piecesPK
KThat's true)K said &ornelius) gra(ely+
KAnd besides)K continued /osa) Kthe people 'ant to find you
guilty+ But 'hether innocent or guilty) your trial begins
toDmorro') and the day after you 'ill be condemned+ =atters
are settled (ery Juickly in these times+K
K,ell) and 'hat do you conclude from all thisPK
K4 conclude that 4 am alone) that 4 am 'eak) that my father
is lying in a s'oon) that the dog is mu99led) and that
conseJuently there is nothing to pre(ent your making your
escape+ $ly) thenR that's 'hat 4 mean+K
K,hat do you sayPK
K4 say that 4 'as not able to sa(e =ynheer &ornelius or
=ynheer 5ohn de ,itt) and that 4 should like to sa(e you+
:nly be JuickR there) my father is regaining his breath) one
minute more) and he 'ill open his eyes) and it 'ill be too
late+ Do you hesitatePK
4n fact) &ornelius stood immo(able) looking at /osa) yet
looking at her as if he did not hear her+
KDon't you understand mePK said the young girl) 'ith some
impatience+
KQes) 4 do)K said &ornelius) Kbut DDDD K
KButPK
K4 'ill not) they 'ould accuse you+K
K;e(er mind)K said /osa) blushing) Kne(er mind that+K
KQou are (ery good) my dear child)K replied &ornelius) Kbut
4 stay+K
KQou stay) oh) sir* oh) sir* don't you understand that you
'ill be condemned to death) executed on the scaffold)
perhaps assassinated and torn to pieces) just like =ynheer
5ohn and =ynheer &ornelius+ $or hea(en's sake) don't think
of me) but fly from this place) Take care) it bears ill luck
to the De ,itts*K
K0alloa*K cried the jailer) reco(ering his senses) K'ho is
talking of those rogues) those 'retches) those (illains) the
De ,ittsPK
KDon't be angry) my good man)K said &ornelius) 'ith his
goodDtempered smile) Kthe 'orst thing for a fracture is
excitement) by 'hich the blood is heated+K
Thereupon) he said in an undertone to /osa DD
K=y child) 4 am innocent) and 4 shall a'ait my trial 'ith
tranJuillity and an easy mind+K
K0ush)K said /osa+
K,hy hushPK
K=y father must not suppose that 'e ha(e been talking to
each other+K
K,hat harm 'ould that doPK
K,hat harmP 0e 'ould ne(er allo' me to come here any more)K
said /osa+
&ornelius recei(ed this innocent confidence 'ith a smileR he
felt as if a ray of good fortune 'ere shining on his path+
K;o') then) 'hat are you chattering there together aboutPK
said Gryphus) rising and supporting his right arm 'ith his
left+
K;othing)K said /osaR Kthe doctor is explaining to me 'hat
diet you are to keep+K
KDiet) diet for meP ,ell) my fine girl) 4 shall put you on
diet too+K
K:n 'hat diet) my fatherPK
K;e(er to go to the cells of the prisoners) and) if e(er you
should happen to go) to lea(e them as soon as possible+
&ome) off 'ith me) lead the 'ay) and be Juick+K
/osa and &ornelius exchanged glances+
That of /osa tried to express) DD
KThere) you seePK
That of &ornelius said) DD
K>et it be as the >ord 'ills+K
&hapter !!
&ornelius (an Baerle's ,ill
/osa had not been mistakenR the judges came on the follo'ing
day to the Buytenhof) and proceeded 'ith the trial of
&ornelius (an Baerle+ The examination) ho'e(er) did not last
long) it ha(ing appeared on e(idence that &ornelius had kept
at his house that fatal correspondence of the brothers De
,itt 'ith $rance+
0e did not deny it+
The only point about 'hich there seemed any difficulty 'as
'hether this correspondence had been intrusted to him by his
godfather) &ornelius de ,itt+
But as) since the death of those t'o martyrs) .an Baerle had
no longer any reason for 'ithholding the truth) he not only
did not deny that the parcel had been deli(ered to him by
&ornelius de ,itt himself) but he also stated all the
circumstances under 'hich it 'as done+
This confession in(ol(ed the godson in the crime of the
godfatherR manifest complicity being considered to exist
bet'een &ornelius de ,itt and &ornelius (an Baerle+
The honest doctor did not confine himself to this a(o'al)
but told the 'hole truth 'ith regard to his o'n tastes)
habits) and daily life+ 0e described his indifference to
politics) his lo(e of study) of the fine arts) of science)
and of flo'ers+ 0e explained that) since the day 'hen
&ornelius de ,itt handed to him the parcel at Dort) he
himself had ne(er touched) nor e(en noticed it+
To this it 'as objected) that in this respect he could not
possibly be speaking the truth) since the papers had been
deposited in a press in 'hich both his hands and his eyes
must ha(e been engaged e(ery day+
&ornelius ans'ered that it 'as indeed soR that) ho'e(er) he
ne(er put his hand into the press but to ascertain 'hether
his bulbs 'ere dry) and that he ne(er looked into it but to
see if they 'ere beginning to sprout+
To this again it 'as objected) that his pretended
indifference respecting this deposit 'as not to be
reasonably entertained) as he could not ha(e recei(ed such
papers from the hand of his godfather 'ithout being made
acJuainted 'ith their important character+
0e replied that his godfather &ornelius lo(ed him too 'ell)
and) abo(e all) that he 'as too considerate a man to ha(e
communicated to him anything of the contents of the parcel)
'ell kno'ing that such a confidence 'ould only ha(e caused
anxiety to him 'ho recei(ed it+
To this it 'as objected that) if De ,itt had 'ished to act
in such a 'ay) he 'ould ha(e added to the parcel) in case of
accidents) a certificate setting forth that his godson 'as
an entire stranger to the nature of this correspondence) or
at least he 'ould during his trial ha(e 'ritten a letter to
him) 'hich might be produced as his justification+
&ornelius replied that undoubtedly his godfather could not
ha(e thought that there 'as any risk for the safety of his
deposit) hidden as it 'as in a press 'hich 'as looked upon
as sacred as the tabernacle by the 'hole household of .an
BaerleR and that conseJuently he had considered the
certificate as useless+ As to a letter) he certainly had
some remembrance that some moments pre(ious to his arrest)
'hilst he 'as absorbed in the contemplation of one of the
rarest of his bulbs) 5ohn de ,itt's ser(ant entered his
dryDroom) and handed to him a paper) but the 'hole 'as to
him only like a (ague dreamR the ser(ant had disappeared)
and as to the paper) perhaps it might be found if a proper
search 'ere made+
As far as &raeke 'as concerned) it 'as impossible to find
him) as he had left 0olland+
The paper also 'as not (ery likely to be found) and no one
ga(e himself the trouble to look for it+
&ornelius himself did not much press this point) since) e(en
supposing that the paper should turn up) it could not ha(e
any direct connection 'ith the correspondence 'hich
constituted the crime+
The judges 'ished to make it appear as though they 'anted to
urge &ornelius to make a better defenceR they displayed that
bene(olent patience 'hich is generally a sign of the
magistrate's being interested for the prisoner) or of a
man's ha(ing so completely got the better of his ad(ersary
that he needs no longer any oppressi(e means to ruin him+
&ornelius did not accept of this hypocritical protection)
and in a last ans'er) 'hich he set forth 'ith the noble
bearing of a martyr and the calm serenity of a righteous
man) he said) DD
KQou ask me things) gentlemen) to 'hich 4 can ans'er only
the exact truth+ 0ear it+ The parcel 'as put into my hands
in the 'ay 4 ha(e describedR 4 (o' before God that 4 'as)
and am still) ignorant of its contents) and that it 'as not
until my arrest that 4 learned that this deposit 'as the
correspondence of the Grand Pensionary 'ith the =arJuis de
>ou(ois+ And lastly) 4 (o' and protest that 4 do not
understand ho' any one should ha(e kno'n that this parcel
'as in my houseR and) abo(e all) ho' 4 can be deemed
criminal for ha(ing recei(ed 'hat my illustrious and
unfortunate godfather brought to my house+K
This 'as .an Baerle's 'hole defenceR after 'hich the judges
began to deliberate on the (erdict+
They considered that e(ery offshoot of ci(il discord is
mischie(ous) because it re(i(es the contest 'hich it is the
interest of all to put do'n+
:ne of them) 'ho bore the character of a profound obser(er)
laid do'n as his opinion that this young man) so phlegmatic
in appearance) must in reality be (ery dangerous) as under
this icy exterior he 'as sure to conceal an ardent desire to
a(enge his friends) the De ,itts+
Another obser(ed that the lo(e of tulips agreed perfectly
'ell 'ith that of politics) and that it 'as pro(ed in
history that many (ery dangerous men 'ere engaged in
gardening) just as if it had been their profession) 'hilst
really they occupied themsel(es 'ith perfectly different
concernsR 'itness TarJuin the Elder) 'ho gre' poppies at
Gabii) and the Great &onde) 'ho 'atered his carnations at
the dungeon of .incennes at the (ery moment 'hen the former
meditated his return to /ome) and the latter his escape from
prison+
The judge summed up 'ith the follo'ing dilemma? DD
KEither &ornelius (an Baerle is a great lo(er of tulips) or
a great lo(er of politicsR in either case) he has told us a
falsehoodR first) because his ha(ing occupied himself 'ith
politics is pro(ed by the letters 'hich 'ere found at his
houseR and secondly) because his ha(ing occupied himself
'ith tulips is pro(ed by the bulbs 'hich lea(e no doubt of
the fact+ And herein lies the enormity of the case+ As
&ornelius (an Baerle 'as concerned in the gro'ing of tulips
and in the pursuit of politics at one and the same time) the
prisoner is of hybrid character) of an amphibious
organisation) 'orking 'ith eJual ardour at politics and at
tulips) 'hich pro(es him to belong to the class of men most
dangerous to public tranJuillity) and sho's a certain) or
rather a complete) analogy bet'een his character and that of
those master minds of 'hich TarJuin the Elder and the Great
&onde ha(e been felicitously Juoted as examples+K
The upshot of all these reasonings 'as) that his 0ighness
the Prince 1tadtholder of 0olland 'ould feel infinitely
obliged to the magistracy of the 0ague if they simplified
for him the go(ernment of the 1e(en Pro(inces by destroying
e(en the least germ of conspiracy against his authority+
This argument capped all the others) and) in order so much
the more effectually to destroy the germ of conspiracy)
sentence of death 'as unanimously pronounced against
&ornelius (an Baerle) as being arraigned) and con(icted) for
ha(ing) under the innocent appearance of a tulipDfancier)
participated in the detestable intrigues and abominable
plots of the brothers De ,itt against Dutch nationality and
in their secret relations 'ith their $rench enemy+
A supplementary clause 'as tacked to the sentence) to the
effect that Kthe aforesaid &ornelius (an Baerle should be
led from the prison of the Buytenhof to the scaffold in the
yard of the same name) 'here the public executioner 'ould
cut off his head+K
As this deliberation 'as a most serious affair) it lasted a
full halfDhour) during 'hich the prisoner 'as remanded to
his cell+
There the /ecorder of the 1tates came to read the sentence
to him+
=aster Gryphus 'as detained in bed by the fe(er caused by
the fracture of his arm+ 0is keys passed into the hands of
one of his assistants+ Behind this turnkey) 'ho introduced
the /ecorder) /osa) the fair $risian maid) had slipped into
the recess of the door) 'ith a handkerchief to her mouth to
stifle her sobs+
&ornelius listened to the sentence 'ith an expression rather
of surprise than sadness+
After the sentence 'as read) the /ecorder asked him 'hether
he had anything to ans'er+
K4ndeed) 4 ha(e not)K he replied+ K:nly 4 confess that)
among all the causes of death against 'hich a cautious man
may guard) 4 should ne(er ha(e supposed this to be
comprised+K
:n this ans'er) the /ecorder saluted .an Baerle 'ith all
that consideration 'hich such functionaries generally besto'
upon great criminals of e(ery sort+
But 'hilst he 'as about to 'ithdra') &ornelius asked) KBy
the bye) =r+ /ecorder) 'hat day is the thing DD you kno'
'hat 4 mean DD to take placePK
K,hy) toDday)K ans'ered the /ecorder) a little surprised by
the selfDpossession of the condemned man+
A sob 'as heard behind the door) and &ornelius turned round
to look from 'hom it cameR but /osa) 'ho had foreseen this
mo(ement) had fallen back+
KAnd)K continued &ornelius) K'hat hour is appointedPK
KT'el(e o'clock) sir+K
K4ndeed)K said &ornelius) K4 think 4 heard the clock strike
ten about t'enty minutes agoR 4 ha(e not much time to
spare+K
K4ndeed you ha(e not) if you 'ish to make your peace 'ith
God)K said the /ecorder) bo'ing to the ground+ KQou may ask
for any clergyman you please+K
1aying these 'ords he 'ent out back'ards) and the assistant
turnkey 'as going to follo' him) and to lock the door of
&ornelius's cell) 'hen a 'hite and trembling arm interposed
bet'een him and the hea(y door+
&ornelius sa' nothing but the golden brocade cap) tipped
'ith lace) such as the $risian girls 'oreR he heard nothing
but some one 'hispering into the ear of the turnkey+ But the
latter put his hea(y keys into the 'hite hand 'hich 'as
stretched out to recei(e them) and) descending some steps)
sat do'n on the staircase 'hich 'as thus guarded abo(e by
himself) and belo' by the dog+ The headDdress turned round)
and &ornelius beheld the face of /osa) blanched 'ith grief)
and her beautiful eyes streaming 'ith tears+
1he 'ent up to &ornelius) crossing her arms on her hea(ing
breast+
K:h) sir) sir*K she said) but sobs choked her utterance+
K=y good girl)K &ornelius replied 'ith emotion) K'hat do you
'ishP 4 may tell you that my time on earth is short+K
K4 come to ask a fa(our of you)K said /osa) extending her
arms partly to'ards him and partly to'ards hea(en+
KDon't 'eep so) /osa)K said the prisoner) Kfor your tears go
much more to my heart than my approaching fate) and you
kno') the less guilty a prisoner is) the more it is his duty
to die calmly) and e(en joyfully) as he dies a martyr+ &ome)
there's a dear) don't cry any more) and tell me 'hat you
'ant) my pretty /osa+K
1he fell on her knees+ K$orgi(e my father)K she said+
KQour father) your father*K said &ornelius) astonished+
KQes) he has been so harsh to youR but it is his nature) he
is so to e(ery one) and you are not the only one 'hom he has
bullied+K
K0e is punished) my dear /osa) more than punished) by the
accident that has befallen him) and 4 forgi(e him+K
K4 thank you) sir)K said /osa+ KAnd no' tell me DD oh) tell
me DD can 4 do anything for youPK
KQou can dry your beautiful eyes) my dear child)K ans'ered
&ornelius) 'ith a goodDtempered smile+
KBut 'hat can 4 do for you) DD for you 4 meanPK
KA man 'ho has only one hour longer to li(e must be a great
1ybarite still to 'ant anything) my dear /osa+K
KThe clergyman 'hom they ha(e proposed to youPK
K4 ha(e 'orshipped God all my life) 4 ha(e 'orshipped 0im in
0is 'orks) and praised 0im in 0is decrees+ 4 am at peace
'ith 0im and do not 'ish for a clergyman+ The last thought
'hich occupies my mind) ho'e(er has reference to the glory
of the Almighty) and) indeed) my dear) 4 should ask you to
help me in carrying out this last thought+K
K:h) =ynheer &ornelius) speak) speak*K exclaimed /osa) still
bathed in tears+
KGi(e me your hand) and promise me not to laugh) my dear
child+K
K>augh)K exclaimed /osa) frantic 'ith grief) Klaugh at this
moment* do you not see my tearsPK
K/osa) you are no stranger to me+ 4 ha(e not seen much of
you) but that little is enough to make me appreciate your
character+ 4 ha(e ne(er seen a 'oman more fair or more pure
than you are) and if from this moment 4 take no more notice
of you) forgi(e meR it is only because) on lea(ing this
'orld) 4 do not 'ish to ha(e any further regret+K
/osa felt a shudder creeping o(er her frame) for) 'hilst the
prisoner pronounced these 'ords) the belfry clock of the
Buytenhof struck ele(en+
&ornelius understood her+ KQes) yes) let us make haste)K he
said) Kyou are right) /osa+K
Then) taking the paper 'ith the three suckers from his
breast) 'here he had again put it) since he had no longer
any fear of being searched) he said? K=y dear girl) 4 ha(e
been (ery fond of flo'ers+ That 'as at a time 'hen 4 did not
kno' that there 'as anything else to be lo(ed+ Don't blush)
/osa) nor turn a'ayR and e(en if 4 'ere making you a
declaration of lo(e) alas* poor dear) it 'ould be of no more
conseJuence+ Do'n there in the yard) there is an instrument
of steel) 'hich in sixty minutes 'ill put an end to my
boldness+ ,ell) /osa) 4 lo(ed flo'ers dearly) and 4 ha(e
found) or at least 4 belie(e so) the secret of the great
black tulip) 'hich it has been considered impossible to
gro') and for 'hich) as you kno') or may not kno') a pri9e
of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the
0orticultural 1ociety of 0aarlem+ These hundred thousand
guilders DD and 0ea(en kno's 4 do not regret them DD these
hundred thousand guilders 4 ha(e here in this paper) for
they are 'on by the three bulbs 'rapped up in it) 'hich you
may take) /osa) as 4 make you a present of them+K
K=ynheer &ornelius*K
KQes) yes) /osa) you may take themR you are not 'ronging any
one) my child+ 4 am alone in this 'orldR my parents are
deadR 4 ne(er had a sister or a brother+ 4 ha(e ne(er had a
thought of lo(ing any one 'ith 'hat is called lo(e) and if
any one has lo(ed me) 4 ha(e not kno'n it+ 0o'e(er) you see
'ell) /osa) that 4 am abandoned by e(erybody) as in this sad
hour you alone are 'ith me in my prison) consoling and
assisting me+K
KBut) sir) a hundred thousand guilders*K
K,ell) let us talk seriously) my dear child? those hundred
thousand guilders 'ill be a nice marriage portion) 'ith your
pretty faceR you shall ha(e them) /osa) dear /osa) and 4 ask
nothing in return but your promise that you 'ill marry a
fine young man) 'hom you lo(e) and 'ho 'ill lo(e you) as
dearly as 4 lo(ed my flo'ers+ Don't interrupt me) /osa dear)
4 ha(e only a fe' minutes more+K
The poor girl 'as nearly choking 'ith her sobs+
&ornelius took her by the hand+
K>isten to me)K he continued? K4'll tell you ho' to manage
it+ Go to Dort and ask Butruysheim) my gardener) for soil
from my border number six) fill a deep box 'ith it) and
plant in it these three bulbs+ They 'ill flo'er next =ay)
that is to say) in se(en monthsR and) 'hen you see the
flo'er forming on the stem) be careful at night to protect
them from the 'ind) and by day to screen them from the sun+
They 'ill flo'er black) 4 am Juite sure of it+ Qou are then
to apprise the President of the 0aarlem 1ociety+ 0e 'ill
cause the color of the flo'er to be pro(ed before a
committee and these hundred thousand guilders 'ill be paid
to you+K
/osa hea(ed a deep sigh+
KAnd no')K continued &ornelius) DD 'iping a'ay a tear 'hich
'as glistening in his eye) and 'hich 'as shed much more for
that mar(ellous black tulip 'hich he 'as not to see than for
the life 'hich he 'as about to lose) DD K4 ha(e no 'ish
left) except that the tulip should be called /osa
Barlaensis) that is to say) that its name should combine
yours and mineR and as) of course) you do not understand
>atin) and might therefore forget this name) try to get for
me pencil and paper) that 4 may 'rite it do'n for you+K
/osa sobbed afresh) and handed to him a book) bound in
shagreen) 'hich bore the initials &+ ,+
K,hat is thisPK asked the prisoner+
KAlas*K replied /osa) Kit is the Bible of your poor
godfather) &ornelius de ,itt+ $rom it he deri(ed strength to
endure the torture) and to bear his sentence 'ithout
flinching+ 4 found it in this cell) after the death of the
martyr) and ha(e preser(ed it as a relic+ ToDday 4 brought
it to you) for it seemed to me that this book must possess
in itself a di(ine po'er+ ,rite in it 'hat you ha(e to
'rite) =ynheer &orneliusR and though) unfortunately) 4 am
not able to read) 4 'ill take care that 'hat you 'rite shall
be accomplished+K
&ornelius took the Bible) and kissed it re(erently+
K,ith 'hat shall 4 'ritePK asked &ornelius+
KThere is a pencil in the Bible)K said /osa+
This 'as the pencil 'hich 5ohn de ,itt had lent to his
brother) and 'hich he had forgotten to take a'ay 'ith him+
&ornelius took it) and on the second fly leaf @for it 'ill
be remembered that the first 'as torn outA) dra'ing near his
end like his godfather) he 'rote 'ith a no less firm hand?
DD
K:n this day) the CHd of August) !63C) being on the point of
rendering) although innocent) my soul to God on the
scaffold) 4 beJueath to /osa Gryphus the only 'orldly goods
'hich remain to me of all that 4 ha(e possessed in this
'orld) the rest ha(ing been confiscatedR 4 beJueath) 4 say)
to /osa Gryphus three bulbs) 'hich 4 am con(inced must
produce) in the next =ay) the Grand Black Tulip for 'hich a
pri9e of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the
0aarlem 1ociety) reJuesting that she may be paid the same
sum in my stead) as my sole heiress) under the only
condition of her marrying a respectable young man of about
my age) 'ho lo(es her) and 'hom she lo(es) and of her gi(ing
the black tulip) 'hich 'ill constitute a ne' species) the
name of /osa Barlaensis) that is to say) hers and mine
combined+
K1o may God grant me mercy) and to her health and long life*
K&ornelius (an Baerle+K
The prisoner then) gi(ing the Bible to /osa) said) DD
K/ead+K
KAlas*K she ans'ered) K4 ha(e already told you 4 cannot
read+K
&ornelius then read to /osa the testament that he had just
made+
The agony of the poor girl almost o(erpo'ered her+
KDo you accept my conditionsPK asked the prisoner) 'ith a
melancholy smile) kissing the trembling hands of the
afflicted girl+
K:h) 4 don't kno') sir)K she stammered+
KQou don't kno') child) and 'hy notPK
KBecause there is one condition 'hich 4 am afraid 4 cannot
keep+K
K,hichP 4 should ha(e thought that all 'as settled bet'een
us+K
KQou gi(e me the hundred thousand guilders as a marriage
portion) don't youP
KAnd under the condition of my marrying a man 'hom 4 lo(ePK
K&ertainly+K
K,ell) then) sir) this money cannot belong to me+ 4 shall
ne(er lo(e any oneR neither shall 4 marry+K
And) after ha(ing 'ith difficulty uttered these 'ords) /osa
almost s'ooned a'ay in the (iolence of her grief+
&ornelius) frightened at seeing her so pale and sinking) 'as
going to take her in his arms) 'hen a hea(y step) follo'ed
by other dismal sounds) 'as heard on the staircase) amidst
the continued barking of the dog+
KThey are coming to fetch you+ :h God* :h God*K cried /osa)
'ringing her hands+ KAnd ha(e you nothing more to tell mePK
1he fell on her knees 'ith her face buried in her hands and
became almost senseless+
K4 ha(e only to say) that 4 'ish you to preser(e these bulbs
as a most precious treasure) and carefully to treat them
according to the directions 4 ha(e gi(en you+ Do it for my
sake) and no' fare'ell) /osa+K
KQes) yes)K she said) 'ithout raising her head) K4 'ill do
anything you bid me) except marrying)K she added) in a lo'
(oice) Kfor that) oh* that is impossible for me+K
1he then put the cherished treasure next her beating heart+
The noise on the staircase 'hich &ornelius and /osa had
heard 'as caused by the /ecorder) 'ho 'as coming for the
prisoner+ 0e 'as follo'ed by the executioner) by the
soldiers 'ho 'ere to form the guard round the scaffold) and
by some curious hangersDon of the prison+
&ornelius) 'ithout sho'ing any 'eakness) but like'ise
'ithout any bra(ado) recei(ed them rather as friends than as
persecutors) and Juietly submitted to all those preparations
'hich these men 'ere obliged to make in performance of their
duty+
Then) casting a glance into the yard through the narro'
ironDbarred 'indo' of his cell) he percei(ed the scaffold)
and) at t'enty paces distant from it) the gibbet) from
'hich) by order of the 1tadtholder) the outraged remains of
the t'o brothers De ,itt had been taken do'n+
,hen the moment came to descend in order to follo' the
guards) &ornelius sought 'ith his eyes the angelic look of
/osa) but he sa') behind the s'ords and halberds) only a
form lying outstretched near a 'ooden bench) and a deathlike
face half co(ered 'ith long golden locks+
But /osa) 'hilst falling do'n senseless) still obeying her
friend) had pressed her hand on her (el(et bodice and)
forgetting e(erything in the 'orld besides) instincti(ely
grasped the precious deposit 'hich &ornelius had intrusted
to her care+
>ea(ing the cell) the young man could still see in the
con(ulsi(ely clinched fingers of /osa the yello'ish leaf
from that Bible on 'hich &ornelius de ,itt had 'ith such
difficulty and pain 'ritten these fe' lines) 'hich) if .an
Baerle had read them) 'ould undoubtedly ha(e been the sa(ing
of a man and a tulip+
&hapter !C
The Execution
&ornelius had not three hundred paces to 'alk outside the
prison to reach the foot of the scaffold+ At the bottom of
the staircase) the dog Juietly looked at him 'hilst he 'as
passingR &ornelius e(en fancied he sa' in the eyes of the
monster a certain expression as it 'ere of compassion+
The dog perhaps kne' the condemned prisoners) and only bit
those 'ho left as free men+
The shorter the 'ay from the door of the prison to the foot
of the scaffold) the more fully) of course) it 'as cro'ded
'ith curious people+
These 'ere the same 'ho) not satisfied 'ith the blood 'hich
they had shed three days before) 'ere no' cra(ing for a ne'
(ictim+
And scarcely had &ornelius made his appearance than a fierce
groan ran through the 'hole street) spreading all o(er the
yard) and reDechoing from the streets 'hich led to the
scaffold) and 'hich 'ere like'ise cro'ded 'ith spectators+
The scaffold indeed looked like an islet at the confluence
of se(eral ri(ers+
4n the midst of these threats) groans) and yells) &ornelius)
(ery likely in order not to hear them) had buried himself in
his o'n thoughts+
And 'hat did he think of in his last melancholy journeyP
;either of his enemies) nor of his judges) nor of his
executioners+
0e thought of the beautiful tulips 'hich he 'ould see from
hea(en abo(e) at &eylon) or Bengal) or else'here) 'hen he
'ould be able to look 'ith pity on this earth) 'here 5ohn
and &ornelius de ,itt had been murdered for ha(ing thought
too much of politics) and 'here &ornelius (an Baerle 'as
about to be murdered for ha(ing thought too much of tulips+
K4t is only one stroke of the axe)K said the philosopher to
himself) Kand my beautiful dream 'ill begin to be realised+K
:nly there 'as still a chance) just as it had happened
before to =+ de &halais) to =+ de Thou) and other slo(enly
executed people) that the headsman might inflict more than
one stroke) that is to say) more than one martyrdom) on the
poor tulipDfancier+
Qet) not'ithstanding all this) .an Baerle mounted the
scaffold not the less resolutely) proud of ha(ing been the
friend of that illustrious 5ohn) and godson of that noble
&ornelius de ,itt) 'hom the ruffians) 'ho 'ere no' cro'ding
to 'itness his o'n doom) had torn to pieces and burnt three
days before+
0e knelt do'n) said his prayers) and obser(ed) not 'ithout a
feeling of sincere joy) that) laying his head on the block)
and keeping his eyes open) he 'ould be able to his last
moment to see the grated 'indo' of the Buytenhof+
At length the fatal moment arri(ed) and &ornelius placed his
chin on the cold damp block+ But at this moment his eyes
closed in(oluntarily) to recei(e more resolutely the
terrible a(alanche 'hich 'as about to fall on his head) and
to engulf his life+
A gleam like that of lightning passed across the scaffold?
it 'as the executioner raising his s'ord+
.an Baerle bade fare'ell to the great black tulip) certain
of a'aking in another 'orld full of light and glorious
tints+
Three times he felt) 'ith a shudder) the cold current of air
from the knife near his neck) but 'hat a surprise* he felt
neither pain nor shock+
0e sa' no change in the colour of the sky) or of the 'orld
around him+
Then suddenly .an Baerle felt gentle hands raising him) and
soon stood on his feet again) although trembling a little+
0e looked around him+ There 'as some one by his side)
reading a large parchment) sealed 'ith a huge seal of red
'ax+
And the same sun) yello' and pale) as it behoo(es a Dutch
sun to be) 'as shining in the skiesR and the same grated
'indo' looked do'n upon him from the BuytenhofR and the same
rabble) no longer yelling) but completely thunderstruck)
'ere staring at him from the streets belo'+
.an Baerle began to be sensible to 'hat 'as going on around
him+
0is 0ighness) ,illiam) Prince of :range) (ery likely afraid
that .an Baerle's blood 'ould turn the scale of judgment
against him) had compassionately taken into consideration
his good character) and the apparent proofs of his
innocence+
0is 0ighness) accordingly) had granted him his life+
&ornelius at first hoped that the pardon 'ould be complete)
and that he 'ould be restored to his full liberty and to his
flo'er borders at Dort+
But &ornelius 'as mistaken+ To use an expression of =adame
de 1e(igne) 'ho 'rote about the same time) Kthere 'as a
postscript to the letterRK and the most important part of
the letter 'as contained in the postscript+
4n this postscript) ,illiam of :range) 1tadtholder of
0olland) condemned &ornelius (an Baerle to imprisonment for
life+ 0e 'as not sufficiently guilty to suffer death) but he
'as too much so to be set at liberty+
&ornelius heard this clause) but) the first feeling of
(exation and disappointment o(er) he said to himself) DD
K;e(er mind) all this is not lost yetR there is some good in
this perpetual imprisonmentR /osa 'ill be there) and also my
three bulbs of the black tulip are there+K
But &ornelius forgot that the 1e(en Pro(inces had se(en
prisons) one for each) and that the board of the prisoner is
any'here else less expensi(e than at the 0ague) 'hich is a
capital+
0is 0ighness) 'ho) as it seems) did not possess the means to
feed .an Baerle at the 0ague) sent him to undergo his
perpetual imprisonment at the fortress of >oe'estein) (ery
near Dort) but) alas* also (ery far from itR for >oe'estein)
as the geographers tell us) is situated at the point of the
islet 'hich is formed by the confluence of the ,aal and the
=euse) opposite Gorcum+
.an Baerle 'as sufficiently (ersed in the history of his
country to kno' that the celebrated Grotius 'as confined in
that castle after the death of Barne(eldtR and that the
1tates) in their generosity to the illustrious publicist)
jurist) historian) poet) and di(ine) had granted to him for
his daily maintenance the sum of t'entyDfour sti(ers+
K4)K said .an Baerle to himself) K4 am 'orth much less than
Grotius+ They 'ill hardly gi(e me t'el(e sti(ers) and 4
shall li(e miserablyR but ne(er mind) at all e(ents 4 shall
li(e+K
Then suddenly a terrible thought struck him+
KAh*K he exclaimed) Kho' damp and misty that part of the
country is) and the soil so bad for the tulips* And then
/osa 'ill not be at >oe'estein*K
&hapter !H
,hat 'as going on all this Time in the =ind of one of the 1pectators
,hilst &ornelius 'as engaged 'ith his o'n thoughts) a coach
had dri(en up to the scaffold+ This (ehicle 'as for the
prisoner+ 0e 'as in(ited to enter it) and he obeyed+
0is last look 'as to'ards the Buytenhof+ 0e hoped to see at
the 'indo' the face of /osa) brightening up again+
But the coach 'as dra'n by good horses) 'ho soon carried .an
Baerle a'ay from among the shouts 'hich the rabble roared in
honour of the most magnanimous 1tadtholder) mixing 'ith it a
spice of abuse against the brothers De ,itt and the godson
of &ornelius) 'ho had just no' been sa(ed from death+
This reprie(e suggested to the 'orthy spectators remarks
such as the follo'ing? DD
K4t's (ery fortunate that 'e used such speed in ha(ing
justice done to that great (illain 5ohn) and to that little
rogue &ornelius) other'ise his 0ighness might ha(e snatched
them from us) just as he has done this fello'+K
Among all the spectators 'hom .an Baerle's execution had
attracted to the Buytenhof) and 'hom the sudden turn of
affairs had disagreeably surprised) undoubtedly the one most
disappointed 'as a certain respectably dressed burgher) 'ho
from early morning had made such a good use of his feet and
elbo's that he at last 'as separated from the scaffold only
by the file of soldiers 'hich surrounded it+
=any had sho'n themsel(es eager to see the perfidious blood
of the guilty &ornelius flo') but not one had sho'n such a
keen anxiety as the indi(idual just alluded to+
The most furious had come to the Buytenhof at daybreak) to
secure a better placeR but he) outdoing e(en them) had
passed the night at the threshold of the prison) from
'hence) as 'e ha(e already said) he had ad(anced to the (ery
foremost rank) unguibus et rostro) DD that is to say)
coaxing some) and kicking the others+
And 'hen the executioner had conducted the prisoner to the
scaffold) the burgher) 'ho had mounted on the stone of the
pump the better to see and be seen) made to the executioner
a sign 'hich meant) DD
K4t's a bargain) isn't itPK
The executioner ans'ered by another sign) 'hich 'as meant to
say) DD
KBe Juiet) it's all right+K
This burgher 'as no other than =ynheer 4saac Boxtel) 'ho
since the arrest of &ornelius had come to the 0ague to try
if he could not get hold of the three bulbs of the black
tulip+
Boxtel had at first tried to gain o(er Gryphus to his
interest) but the jailer had not only the snarling
fierceness) but like'ise the fidelity) of a dog+ 0e had
therefore bristled up at Boxtel's hatred) 'hom he had
suspected to be a 'arm friend of the prisoner) making
trifling inJuiries to contri(e 'ith the more certainty some
means of escape for him+
Thus to the (ery first proposals 'hich Boxtel made to
Gryphus to filch the bulbs 'hich &ornelius (an Baerle must
be supposed to conceal) if not in his breast) at least in
some corner of his cell) the surly jailer had only ans'ered
by kicking =ynheer 4saac out) and setting the dog at him+
The piece 'hich the mastiff had torn from his hose did not
discourage Boxtel+ 0e came back to the charge) but this time
Gryphus 'as in bed) fe(erish) and 'ith a broken arm+ 0e
therefore 'as not able to admit the petitioner) 'ho then
addressed himself to /osa) offering to buy her a headDdress
of pure gold if she 'ould get the bulbs for him+ :n this)
the generous girl) although not yet kno'ing the (alue of the
object of the robbery) 'hich 'as to be so 'ell remunerated)
had directed the tempter to the executioner) as the heir of
the prisoner+
4n the mean'hile the sentence had been pronounced+ Thus
4saac had no more time to bribe any one+ 0e therefore clung
to the idea 'hich /osa had suggested? he 'ent to the
executioner+
4saac had not the least doubt that &ornelius 'ould die 'ith
the bulbs on his heart+
But there 'ere t'o things 'hich Boxtel did not calculate
upon? DD
/osa) that is to say) lo(eR
,illiam of :range) that is to say) clemency+
But for /osa and ,illiam) the calculations of the en(ious
neighbour 'ould ha(e been correct+
But for ,illiam) &ornelius 'ould ha(e died+
But for /osa) &ornelius 'ould ha(e died 'ith his bulbs on
his heart+
=ynheer Boxtel 'ent to the headsman) to 'hom he ga(e himself
out as a great friend of the condemned manR and from 'hom he
bought all the clothes of the dead man that 'as to be) for
one hundred guildersR rather an exorbitant sum) as he
engaged to lea(e all the trinkets of gold and sil(er to the
executioner+
But 'hat 'as the sum of a hundred guilders to a man 'ho 'as
all but sure to buy 'ith it the pri9e of the 0aarlem
1ocietyP
4t 'as money lent at a thousand per cent+) 'hich) as nobody
'ill deny) 'as a (ery handsome in(estment+
The headsman) on the other hand) had scarcely anything to do
to earn his hundred guilders+ 0e needed only) as soon as the
execution 'as o(er) to allo' =ynheer Boxtel to ascend the
scaffold 'ith his ser(ants) to remo(e the inanimate remains
of his friend+
The thing 'as) moreo(er) Juite customary among the Kfaithful
brethren)K 'hen one of their masters died a public death in
the yard of the Buytenhof+
A fanatic like &ornelius might (ery easily ha(e found
another fanatic 'ho 'ould gi(e a hundred guilders for his
remains+
The executioner also readily acJuiesced in the proposal)
making only one condition) DD that of being paid in ad(ance+
Boxtel) like the people 'ho enter a sho' at a fair) might be
disappointed) and refuse to pay on going out+
Boxtel paid in ad(ance) and 'aited+
After this) the reader may imagine ho' excited Boxtel 'asR
'ith 'hat anxiety he 'atched the guards) the /ecorder) and
the executionerR and 'ith 'hat intense interest he sur(eyed
the mo(ements of .an Baerle+ 0o' 'ould he place himself on
the blockP ho' 'ould he fallP and 'ould he not) in falling)
crush those inestimable bulbsP had not he at least taken
care to enclose them in a golden box) DD as gold is the
hardest of all metalsP
E(ery trifling delay irritated him+ ,hy did that stupid
executioner thus lose time in brandishing his s'ord o(er the
head of &ornelius) instead of cutting that head offP
But 'hen he sa' the /ecorder take the hand of the condemned)
and raise him) 'hilst dra'ing forth the parchment from his
pocket) DD 'hen he heard the pardon of the 1tadtholder
publicly read out) DD then Boxtel 'as no more like a human
beingR the rage and malice of the tiger) of the hyena) and
of the serpent glistened in his eyes) and (ented itself in
his yell and his mo(ements+ 0ad he been able to get at .an
Baerle) he 'ould ha(e pounced upon him and strangled him+
And so) then) &ornelius 'as to li(e) and 'as to go 'ith him
to >oe'estein) and thither to his prison he 'ould take 'ith
him his bulbsR and perhaps he 'ould e(en find a garden 'here
the black tulip 'ould flo'er for him+
Boxtel) Juite o(ercome by his fren9y) fell from the stone
upon some :rangemen) 'ho) like him) 'ere sorely (exed at the
turn 'hich affairs had taken+ They) mistaking the frantic
cries of =ynheer 4saac for demonstrations of joy) began to
belabour him 'ith kicks and cuffs) such as could not ha(e
been administered in better style by any pri9eDfighter on
the other side of the &hannel+
Blo's 'ere) ho'e(er) nothing to him+ 0e 'anted to run after
the coach 'hich 'as carrying a'ay &ornelius 'ith his bulbs+
But in his hurry he o(erlooked a pa(ingDstone in his 'ay)
stumbled) lost his centre of gra(ity) rolled o(er to a
distance of some yards) and only rose again) bruised and
begrimed) after the 'hole rabble of the 0ague) 'ith their
muddy feet) had passed o(er him+
:ne 'ould think that this 'as enough for one day) but
=ynheer Boxtel did not seem to think so) as) in addition to
ha(ing his clothes torn) his back bruised) and his hands
scratched) he inflicted upon himself the further punishment
of tearing out his hair by handfuls) as an offering to that
goddess of en(y 'ho) as mythology teaches us) 'ears a
headDdress of serpents+
&hapter !E
The Pigeons of Dort
4t 'as indeed in itself a great honour for &ornelius (an
Baerle to be confined in the same prison 'hich had once
recei(ed the learned master Grotius+
But on arri(ing at the prison he met 'ith an honour e(en
greater+ As chance 'ould ha(e it) the cell formerly
inhabited by the illustrious Barne(eldt happened to be
(acant) 'hen the clemency of the Prince of :range sent the
tulipDfancier .an Baerle there+
The cell had a (ery bad character at the castle since the
time 'hen Grotius) by means of the de(ice of his 'ife) made
escape from it in that famous bookDchest 'hich the jailers
forgot to examine+
:n the other hand) it seemed to .an Baerle an auspicious
omen that this (ery cell 'as assigned to him) for according
to his ideas) a jailer ought ne(er to ha(e gi(en to a second
pigeon the cage from 'hich the first had so easily flo'n+
The cell had an historical character+ ,e 'ill only state
here that) 'ith the exception of an alco(e 'hich 'as
contri(ed there for the use of =adame Grotius) it differed
in no respect from the other cells of the prisonR only)
perhaps) it 'as a little higher) and had a splendid (ie'
from the grated 'indo'+
&ornelius felt himself perfectly indifferent as to the place
'here he had to lead an existence 'hich 'as little more than
(egetation+ There 'ere only t'o things no' for 'hich he
cared) and the possession of 'hich 'as a happiness enjoyed
only in imagination+
A flo'er) and a 'omanR both of them) as he concei(ed) lost
to him for e(er+
$ortunately the good doctor 'as mistaken+ 4n his prison cell
the most ad(enturous life 'hich e(er fell to the lot of any
tulipDfancier 'as reser(ed for him+
:ne morning) 'hilst at his 'indo' inhaling the fresh air
'hich came from the ri(er) and casting a longing look to the
'indmills of his dear old city Dort) 'hich 'ere looming in
the distance behind a forest of chimneys) he sa' flocks of
pigeons coming from that Juarter to perch fluttering on the
pointed gables of >oe'estein+
These pigeons) .an Baerle said to himself) are coming from
Dort) and conseJuently may return there+ By fastening a
little note to the 'ing of one of these pigeons) one might
ha(e a chance to send a message there+ Then) after a fe'
moments' consideration) he exclaimed) DD
K4 'ill do it+K
A man gro's (ery patient 'ho is t'entyDeight years of age)
and condemned to a prison for life) DD that is to say) to
something like t'entyDt'o or t'entyDthree thousand days of
capti(ity+
.an Baerle) from 'hose thoughts the three bulbs 'ere ne(er
absent) made a snare for catching the pigeons) baiting the
birds 'ith all the resources of his kitchen) such as it 'as
for eight sli(ers @sixpence EnglishA a dayR and) after a
month of unsuccessful attempts) he at last caught a female
bird+
4t cost him t'o more months to catch a male birdR he then
shut them up together) and ha(ing about the beginning of the
year !63H obtained some eggs from them) he released the
female) 'hich) lea(ing the male behind to hatch the eggs in
her stead) fle' joyously to Dort) 'ith the note under her
'ing+
1he returned in the e(ening+ 1he had preser(ed the note+
Thus it 'ent on for fifteen days) at first to the
disappointment) and then to the great grief) of .an Baerle+
:n the sixteenth day) at last) she came back 'ithout it+
.an Baerle had addressed it to his nurse) the old $risian
'omanR and implored any charitable soul 'ho might find it to
con(ey it to her as safely and as speedily as possible+
4n this letter there 'as a little note enclosed for /osa+
.an Baerle's nurse had recei(ed the letter in the follo'ing
'ay+
>ea(ing Dort) =ynheer 4saac Boxtel had abandoned) not only
his house) his ser(ants) his obser(atory) and his telescope)
but also his pigeons+
The ser(ant) ha(ing been left 'ithout 'ages) first li(ed on
his little sa(ings) and then on his master's pigeons+
1eeing this) the pigeons emigrated from the roof of 4saac
Boxtel to that of &ornelius (an Baerle+
The nurse 'as a kindDhearted 'oman) 'ho could not li(e
'ithout something to lo(e+ 1he concei(ed an affection for
the pigeons 'hich had thro'n themsel(es on her hospitalityR
and 'hen Boxtel's ser(ant reclaimed them 'ith culinary
intentions) ha(ing eaten the first fifteen already) and no'
'ishing to eat the other fifteen) she offered to buy them
from him for a consideration of six sti(ers per head+
This being just double their (alue) the man 'as (ery glad to
close the bargain) and the nurse found herself in undisputed
possession of the pigeons of her master's en(ious neighbour+
4n the course of their 'anderings) these pigeons 'ith others
(isited the 0ague) >oe'estein) and /otterdam) seeking
(ariety) doubtless) in the fla(our of their 'heat or
hempseed+
&hance) or rather God) for 'e can see the hand of God in
e(erything) had 'illed that &ornelius (an Baerle should
happen to hit upon one of these (ery pigeons+
Therefore) if the en(ious 'retch had not left Dort to follo'
his ri(al to the 0ague in the first place) and then to
Gorcum or to >oe'estein) DD for the t'o places are separated
only by the confluence of the ,aal and the =euse) DD .an
Baerle's letter 'ould ha(e fallen into his hands and not the
nurse's? in 'hich e(ent the poor prisoner) like the ra(en of
the /oman cobbler) 'ould ha(e thro'n a'ay his time) his
trouble) and) instead of ha(ing to relate the series of
exciting e(ents 'hich are about to flo' from beneath our pen
like the (aried hues of a many coloured tapestry) 'e should
ha(e naught to describe but a 'eary 'aste of days) dull and
melancholy and gloomy as night's dark mantle+
The note) as 'e ha(e said) had reached .an Baerle's nurse+
And also it came to pass) that one e(ening in the beginning
of $ebruary) just 'hen the stars 'ere beginning to t'inkle)
&ornelius heard on the staircase of the little turret a
(oice 'hich thrilled through him+
0e put his hand on his heart) and listened+
4t 'as the s'eet harmonious (oice of /osa+
>et us confess it) &ornelius 'as not so stupefied 'ith
surprise) or so beyond himself 'ith joy) as he 'ould ha(e
been but for the pigeon) 'hich) in ans'er to his letter) had
brought back hope to him under her empty 'ingR and) kno'ing
/osa) he expected) if the note had e(er reached her) to hear
of her 'hom he lo(ed) and also of his three darling bulbs+
0e rose) listened once more) and bent for'ard to'ards the
door+
Qes) they 'ere indeed the accents 'hich had fallen so
s'eetly on his heart at the 0ague+
The Juestion no' 'as) 'hether /osa) 'ho had made the journey
from the 0ague to >oe'estein) and 'ho DD &ornelius did not
understand ho' DD had succeeded e(en in penetrating into the
prison) 'ould also be fortunate enough in penetrating to the
prisoner himself+
,hilst &ornelius) debating this point 'ithin himself) 'as
building all sorts of castles in the air) and 'as struggling
bet'een hope and fear) the shutter of the grating in the
door opened) and /osa) beaming 'ith joy) and beautiful in
her pretty national costume DD but still more beautiful from
the grief 'hich for the last fi(e months had blanched her
cheeks DD pressed her little face against the 'ire grating
of the 'indo') saying to him) DD
K:h) sir) sir* here 4 am*K
&ornelius stretched out his arms) and) looking to hea(en)
uttered a cry of joy) DD
K:h) /osa) /osa*K
K0ush* let us speak lo'? my father follo's on my heels)K
said the girl+
KQour fatherPK
KQes) he is in the courtyard at the bottom of the staircase)
recei(ing the instructions of the Go(ernorR he 'ill
presently come up+K
KThe instructions of the Go(ernorPK
K>isten to me) 4'll try to tell you all in a fe' 'ords+ The
1tadtholder has a countryDhouse) one league distant from
>eyden) properly speaking a kind of large dairy) and my
aunt) 'ho 'as his nurse) has the management of it+ As soon
as 4 recei(ed your letter) 'hich) alas* 4 could not read
myself) but 'hich your housekeeper read to me) 4 hastened to
my auntR there 4 remained until the Prince should come to
the dairyR and 'hen he came) 4 asked him as a fa(our to
allo' my father to exchange his post at the prison of the
0ague 'ith the jailer of the fortress of >oe'estein+ The
Prince could not ha(e suspected my objectR had he kno'n it)
he 'ould ha(e refused my reJuest) but as it is he granted
it+K
KAnd so you are herePK
KAs you see+K
KAnd thus 4 shall see you e(ery dayPK
KAs often as 4 can manage it+K
K:h) /osa) my beautiful /osa) do you lo(e me a littlePK
KA littlePK she said) Kyou make no great pretensions)
=ynheer &ornelius+K
&ornelius tenderly stretched out his hands to'ards her) but
they 'ere only able to touch each other 'ith the tips of
their fingers through the 'ire grating+
K0ere is my father)K said she+
/osa then abruptly dre' back from the door) and ran to meet
old Gryphus) 'ho made his appearance at the top of the
staircase+
&hapter !7
The >ittle Grated ,indo'
Gryphus 'as follo'ed by the mastiff+
The turnkey took the animal round the jail) so that) if
needs be) he might recogni9e the prisoners+
K$ather)K said /osa) Khere is the famous prison from 'hich
=ynheer Grotius escaped+ Qou kno' =ynheer GrotiusPK
K:h) yes) that rogue Grotius) a friend of that (illain
Barne(eldt) 'hom 4 sa' executed 'hen 4 'as a child+ Ah* so
GrotiusR and that's the chamber from 'hich he escaped+ ,ell)
4'll ans'er for it that no one shall escape after him in my
time+K
And thus opening the door) he began in the dark to talk to
the prisoner+
The dog) on his part) 'ent up to the prisoner) and)
gro'ling) smelled about his legs just as though to ask him
'hat right he had still to be ali(e) after ha(ing left the
prison in the company of the /ecorder and the executioner+
But the fair /osa called him to her side+
K,ell) my master)K said Gryphus) holding up his lantern to
thro' a little light around) Kyou see in me your ne' jailer+
4 am head turnkey) and ha(e all the cells under my care+ 4
am not (icious) but 4'm not to be trifled 'ith) as far as
discipline goes+K
K=y good =aster Gryphus) 4 kno' you perfectly 'ell)K said
the prisoner) approaching 'ithin the circle of light cast
around by the lantern+
K0alloa* that's you) =ynheer (an Baerle)K said Gryphus+
KThat's youR 'ell) 4 declare) it's astonishing ho' people do
meet+K
K:h) yesR and it's really a great pleasure to me) good
=aster Gryphus) to see that your arm is doing 'ell) as you
are able to hold your lantern 'ith it+K
Gryphus knitted his bro'+ K;o') that's just it)K he said)
Kpeople al'ays make blunders in politics+ 0is 0ighness has
granted you your lifeR 4'm sure 4 should ne(er ha(e done
so+K
KDon't say so)K replied &orneliusR K'hy notPK
KBecause you are the (ery man to conspire again+ Qou learned
people ha(e dealings 'ith the de(il+K
K;onsense) =aster Gryphus+ Are you dissatisfied 'ith the
manner in 'hich 4 ha(e set your arm) or 'ith the price that
4 asked youPK said &ornelius) laughing+
K:n the contrary)K gro'led the jailer) Kyou ha(e set it only
too 'ell+ There is some 'itchcraft in this+ After six 'eeks)
4 'as able to use it as if nothing had happened) so much so)
that the doctor of the Buytenhof) 'ho kno's his trade 'ell)
'anted to break it again) to set it in the regular 'ay) and
promised me that 4 should ha(e my blessed three months for
my money before 4 should be able to mo(e it+K
KAnd you did not 'ant thatPK
K4 said) ';ay) as long as 4 can make the sign of the cross
'ith that arm' @Gryphus 'as a /oman &atholicA) '4 laugh at
the de(il+'K
KBut if you laugh at the de(il) =aster Gryphus) you ought
'ith so much more reason to laugh at learned people+K
KAh) learned people) learned people* ,hy) 4 'ould rather
ha(e to guard ten soldiers than one scholar+ The soldiers
smoke) gu99le) and get drunkR they are gentle as lambs if
you only gi(e them brandy or =oselle) but scholars) and
drink) smoke) and fuddle DD ah) yes) that's altogether
different+ They keep sober) spend nothing) and ha(e their
heads al'ays clear to make conspiracies+ But 4 tell you) at
the (ery outset) it 'on't be such an easy matter for you to
conspire+ $irst of all) you 'ill ha(e no books) no paper)
and no conjuring book+ 4t's books that helped =ynheer
Grotius to get off+K
K4 assure you) =aster Gryphus)K replied .an Baerle) Kthat if
4 ha(e entertained the idea of escaping) 4 most decidedly
ha(e it no longer+K
K,ell) 'ell)K said Gryphus) Kjust look sharp? that's 'hat 4
shall do also+ But) for all that) 4 say his 0ighness has
made a great mistake+K
K;ot to ha(e cut off my headP thank you) =aster Gryphus+K
K5ust so) look 'hether the =ynheer de ,itt don't keep (ery
Juiet no'+K
KThat's (ery shocking 'hat you say no') =aster Gryphus)K
cried .an Baerle) turning a'ay his head to conceal his
disgust+ KQou forget that one of those unfortunate gentlemen
'as my friend) and the other my second father+K
KQes) but 4 also remember that the one) as 'ell as the
other) 'as a conspirator+ And) moreo(er) 4 am speaking from
&hristian charity+K
K:h) indeed* explain that a little to me) my good =aster
Gryphus+ 4 do not Juite understand it+K
K,ell) then) if you had remained on the block of =aster
0arbruck DDDD K
K,hatPK
KQou 'ould not suffer any longerR 'hereas) 4 'ill not
disguise it from you) 4 shall lead you a sad life of it+K
KThank you for the promise) =aster Gryphus+K
And 'hilst the prisoner smiled ironically at the old jailer)
/osa) from the outside) ans'ered by a bright smile) 'hich
carried s'eet consolation to the heart of .an Baerle+
Gryphus stepped to'ards the 'indo'+
4t 'as still light enough to see) although indistinctly)
through the gray ha9e of the e(ening) the (ast expanse of
the hori9on+
K,hat (ie' has one from herePK asked Gryphus+
K,hy) a (ery fine and pleasant one)K said &ornelius) looking
at /osa+
KQes) yes) too much of a (ie') too much+K
And at this moment the t'o pigeons) scared by the sight and
especially by the (oice of the stranger) left their nest)
and disappeared) Juite frightened in the e(ening mist+
K0alloa* 'hat's thisPK cried Gryphus+
K=y pigeons)K ans'ered &ornelius+
KQour pigeons)K cried the jailer) Kyour pigeons* has a
prisoner anything of his o'nPK
K,hy) then)K said &ornelius) Kthe pigeons 'hich a merciful
$ather in 0ea(en has lent to me+K
K1o) here 'e ha(e a breach of the rules already)K replied
Gryphus+ KPigeons* ah) young man) young man* 4'll tell you
one thing) that before toDmorro' is o(er) your pigeons 'ill
boil in my pot+K
K$irst of all you should catch them) =aster Gryphus+ Qou
'on't allo' these pigeons to be mine* ,ell) 4 (o' they are
e(en less yours than mine+K
K:mittance is no acJuittance)K gro'led the jailer) Kand 4
shall certainly 'ring their necks before t'entyDfour hours
are o(er? you may be sure of that+K
,hilst gi(ing utterance to this illDnatured promise) Gryphus
put his head out of the 'indo' to examine the nest+ This
ga(e .an Baerle time to run to the door) and sJuee9e the
hand of /osa) 'ho 'hispered to him) DD
KAt nine o'clock this e(ening+K
Gryphus) Juite taken up 'ith the desire of catching the
pigeons next day) as he had promised he 'ould do) sa' and
heard nothing of this short interludeR and) after ha(ing
closed the 'indo') he took the arm of his daughter) left the
cell) turned the key t'ice) dre' the bolts) and 'ent off to
make the same kind promise to the other prisoners+
0e had scarcely 'ithdra'n) 'hen &ornelius 'ent to the door
to listen to the sound of his footsteps) and) as soon as
they had died a'ay) he ran to the 'indo') and completely
demolished the nest of the pigeons+
/ather than expose them to the tender mercies of his
bullying jailer) he dro(e a'ay for e(er those gentle
messengers to 'hom he o'ed the happiness of ha(ing seen /osa
again+
This (isit of the jailer) his brutal threats) and the gloomy
prospect of the harshness 'ith 'hich) as he had before
experienced) Gryphus 'atched his prisoners) DD all this 'as
unable to extinguish in &ornelius the s'eet thoughts) and
especially the s'eet hope) 'hich the presence of /osa had
rea'akened in his heart+
0e 'aited eagerly to hear the clock of the to'er of
>oe'estein strike nine+
The last chime 'as still (ibrating through the air) 'hen
&ornelius heard on the staircase the light step and the
rustle of the flo'ing dress of the fair $risian maid) and
soon after a light appeared at the little grated 'indo' in
the door) on 'hich the prisoner fixed his earnest ga9e+
The shutter opened on the outside+
K0ere 4 am)K said /osa) out of breath from running up the
stairs) Khere 4 am+K
K:h) my good /osa+K
KQou are then glad to see mePK
K&an you askP But ho' did you contri(e to get hereP tell
me+K
K;o' listen to me+ =y father falls asleep e(ery e(ening
almost immediately after his supperR 4 then make him lie
do'n) a little stupefied 'ith his gin+ Don't say anything
about it) because) thanks to this nap) 4 shall be able to
come e(ery e(ening and chat for an hour 'ith you+K
K:h) 4 thank you) /osa) dear /osa+K
1aying these 'ords) &ornelius put his face so near the
little 'indo' that /osa 'ithdre' hers+
K4 ha(e brought back to you your bulbs+K
&ornelius's heart leaped 'ith joy+ 0e had not yet dared to
ask /osa 'hat she had done 'ith the precious treasure 'hich
he had intrusted to her+
K:h) you ha(e preser(ed them) thenPK
KDid you not gi(e them to me as a thing 'hich 'as dear to
youPK
KQes) but as 4 ha(e gi(en them to you) it seems to me that
they belong to you+K
KThey 'ould ha(e belonged to me after your death) but)
fortunately) you are ali(e no'+ :h ho' 4 blessed his
0ighness in my heart* 4f God grants to him all the happiness
that 4 ha(e 'ished him) certainly Prince ,illiam 'ill be the
happiest man on earth+ ,hen 4 looked at the Bible of your
godfather &ornelius) 4 'as resol(ed to bring back to you
your bulbs) only 4 did not kno' ho' to accomplish it+ 4 had)
ho'e(er) already formed the plan of going to the
1tadtholder) to ask from him for my father the appointment
of jailer of >oe'estein) 'hen your housekeeper brought me
your letter+ :h) ho' 'e 'ept together* But your letter only
confirmed me the more in my resolution+ 4 then left for
>eyden) and the rest you kno'+K
K,hat) my dear /osa) you thought) e(en before recei(ing my
letter) of coming to meet me againPK
K4f 4 thought of it)K said /osa) allo'ing her lo(e to get
the better of her bashfulness) K4 thought of nothing else+K
And) saying these 'ords) /osa looked so exceedingly pretty)
that for the second time &ornelius placed his forehead and
lips against the 'ire gratingR of course) 'e must presume
'ith the laudable desire to thank the young lady+
/osa) ho'e(er) dre' back as before+
K4n truth)K she said) 'ith that coJuetry 'hich someho' or
other is in the heart of e(ery young girl) K4 ha(e often
been sorry that 4 am not able to read) but ne(er so much so
as 'hen your housekeeper brought me your letter+ 4 kept the
paper in my hands) 'hich spoke to other people) and 'hich
'as dumb to poor stupid me+K
K1o you ha(e often regretted not being able to read)K said
&ornelius+ K4 should just like to kno' on 'hat occasions+K
KTroth)K she said) laughing) Kto read all the letters 'hich
'ere 'ritten to me+K
K:h) you recei(ed letters) /osaPK
KBy hundreds+K
KBut 'ho 'rote to youPK
K,ho* 'hy) in the first place) all the students 'ho passed
o(er the Buytenhof) all the officers 'ho 'ent to parade) all
the clerks) and e(en the merchants 'ho sa' me at my little
'indo'+K
KAnd 'hat did you do 'ith all these notes) my dear /osaPK
K$ormerly)K she ans'ered) K4 got some friend to read them to
me) 'hich 'as capital fun) but since a certain time DD 'ell)
'hat use is it to attend to all this nonsenseP DD since a
certain time 4 ha(e burnt them+K
K1ince a certain time*K exclaimed &ornelius) 'ith a look
beaming 'ith lo(e and joy+
/osa cast do'n her eyes) blushing+ 4n her s'eet confusion)
she did not obser(e the lips of &ornelius) 'hich) alas* only
met the cold 'ireDgrating+ Qet) in spite of this obstacle)
they communicated to the lips of the young girl the glo'ing
breath of the most tender kiss+
At this sudden outburst of tenderness) /osa gre' (ery pale)
DD perhaps paler than she had been on the day of the
execution+ 1he uttered a plainti(e sob) closed her fine
eyes) and fled) trying in (ain to still the beating of her
heart+
And thus &ornelius 'as again alone+
/osa had fled so precipitately) that she completely forgot
to return to &ornelius the three bulbs of the Black Tulip+
&hapter !6
=aster and Pupil
The 'orthy =aster Gryphus) as the reader may ha(e seen) 'as
far from sharing the kindly feeling of his daughter for the
godson of &ornelius de ,itt+
There being only fi(e prisoners at >oe'estein) the post of
turnkey 'as not a (ery onerous one) but rather a sort of
sinecure) gi(en after a long period of ser(ice+
But the 'orthy jailer) in his 9eal) had magnified 'ith all
the po'er of his imagination the importance of his office+
To him &ornelius had s'elled to the gigantic proportions of
a criminal of the first order+ 0e looked upon him)
therefore) as the most dangerous of all his prisoners+ 0e
'atched all his steps) and al'ays spoke to him 'ith an angry
countenanceR punishing him for 'hat he called his dreadful
rebellion against such a clement prince as the 1tadtholder+
Three times a day he entered .an Baerle's cell) expecting to
find him trespassingR but &ornelius had ceased to
correspond) since his correspondent 'as at hand+ 4t is e(en
probable that) if &ornelius had obtained his full liberty)
'ith permission to go 'here(er he liked) the prison) 'ith
/osa and his bulbs) 'ould ha(e appeared to him preferable to
any other habitation in the 'orld 'ithout /osa and his
bulbs+
/osa) in fact) had promised to come and see him e(ery
e(ening) and from the first e(ening she had kept her 'ord+
:n the follo'ing e(ening she 'ent up as before) 'ith the
same mysteriousness and the same precaution+ :nly she had
this time resol(ed 'ithin herself not to approach too near
the grating+ 4n order) ho'e(er) to engage .an Baerle in a
con(ersation from the (ery first 'hich 'ould seriously
occupy his attention) she tendered to him through the
grating the three bulbs) 'hich 'ere still 'rapped up in the
same paper+
But to the great astonishment of /osa) .an Baerle pushed
back her 'hite hand 'ith the tips of his fingers+
The young man had been considering about the matter+
K>isten to me)K he said+ K4 think 'e should risk too much by
embarking our 'hole fortune in one ship+ :nly think) my dear
/osa) that the Juestion is to carry out an enterprise 'hich
until no' has been considered impossible) namely) that of
making the great black tulip flo'er+ >et us) therefore) take
e(ery possible precaution) so that in case of a failure 'e
may not ha(e anything to reproach oursel(es 'ith+ 4 'ill no'
tell you the 'ay 4 ha(e traced out for us+K
/osa 'as all attention to 'hat he 'ould say) much more on
account of the importance 'hich the unfortunate
tulipDfancier attached to it) than that she felt interested
in the matter herself+
K4 'ill explain to you) /osa)K he said+ K4 dare say you ha(e
in this fortress a small garden) or some courtyard) or) if
not that) at least some terrace+K
K,e ha(e a (ery fine garden)K said /osa) Kit runs along the
edge of the ,aal) and is full of fine old trees+K
K&ould you bring me some soil from the garden) that 4 may
judgePK
K4 'ill do so toDmorro'+K
KTake some from a sunny spot) and some from a shady) so that
4 may judge of its properties in a dry and in a moist
state+K
KBe assured 4 shall+K
KAfter ha(ing chosen the soil) and) if it be necessary)
modified it) 'e 'ill di(ide our three bulbsR you 'ill take
one and plant it) on the day that 4 'ill tell you) in the
soil chosen by me+ 4t is sure to flo'er) if you tend it
according to my directions+K
K4 'ill not lose sight of it for a minute+K
KQou 'ill gi(e me another) 'hich 4 'ill try to gro' here in
my cell) and 'hich 'ill help me to beguile those long 'eary
hours 'hen 4 cannot see you+ 4 confess to you 4 ha(e (ery
little hope for the latter one) and 4 look beforehand on
this unfortunate bulb as sacrificed to my selfishness+
0o'e(er) the sun sometimes (isits me+ 4 'ill) besides) try
to con(ert e(erything into an artificial help) e(en the heat
and the ashes of my pipe) and lastly) 'e) or rather you)
'ill keep in reser(e the third sucker as our last resource)
in case our first t'o experiments should pro(e a failure+ 4n
this manner) my dear /osa) it is impossible that 'e should
not succeed in gaining the hundred thousand guilders for
your marriage portionR and ho' dearly shall 'e enjoy that
supreme happiness of seeing our 'ork brought to a successful
issue*K
K4 kno' it all no')K said /osa+ K4 'ill bring you the soil
toDmorro') and you 'ill choose it for your bulb and for
mine+ As to that in 'hich yours is to gro') 4 shall ha(e
se(eral journeys to con(ey it to you) as 4 cannot bring much
at a time+K
KThere is no hurry for it) dear /osaR our tulips need not be
put into the ground for a month at least+ 1o you see 'e ha(e
plenty of time before us+ :nly 4 hope that) in planting your
bulb) you 'ill strictly follo' all my instructions+K
K4 promise you 4 'ill+K
KAnd 'hen you ha(e once planted it) you 'ill communicate to
me all the circumstances 'hich may interest our nurslingR
such as change of 'eather) footprints on the 'alks) or
footprints in the borders+ Qou 'ill listen at night 'hether
our garden is not resorted to by cats+ A couple of those
unto'ard animals laid 'aste t'o of my borders at Dort+K
K4 'ill listen+K
K:n moonlight nights ha(e you e(er looked at your garden) my
dear childPK
KThe 'indo' of my sleepingDroom o(erlooks it+K
K,ell) on moonlight nights you 'ill obser(e 'hether any rats
come out from the holes in the 'all+ The rats are most
mischie(ous by their gna'ing e(erythingR and 4 ha(e heard
unfortunate tulipDgro'ers complain most bitterly of ;oah for
ha(ing put a couple of rats in the ark+K
K4 'ill obser(e) and if there are cats or rats DDDD K
KQou 'ill apprise me of it) DD that's right+ And) moreo(er)K
.an Baerle) ha(ing become mistrustful in his capti(ity)
continued) Kthere is an animal much more to be feared than
e(en the cat or the rat+K
K,hat animalPK
K=an+ Qou comprehend) my dear /osa) a man may steal a
guilder) and risk the prison for such a trifle) and)
conseJuently) it is much more likely that some one might
steal a hundred thousand guilders+K
K;o one e(er enters the garden but myself+K
KThank you) thank you) my dear /osa+ All the joy of my life
has still to come from you+K
And as the lips of .an Baerle approached the grating 'ith
the same ardor as the day before) and as) moreo(er) the hour
for retiring had struck) /osa dre' back her head) and
stretched out her hand+
4n this pretty little hand) of 'hich the coJuettish damsel
'as particularly proud) 'as the bulb+
&ornelius kissed most tenderly the tips of her fingers+ Did
he do so because the hand kept one of the bulbs of the great
black tulip) or because this hand 'as /osa'sP ,e shall lea(e
this point to the decision of 'iser heads than ours+
/osa 'ithdre' 'ith the other t'o suckers) pressing them to
her heart+
Did she press them to her heart because they 'ere the bulbs
of the great black tulip) or because she had them from
&orneliusP
This point) 'e belie(e) might be more readily decided than
the other+
0o'e(er that may ha(e been) from that moment life became
s'eet) and again full of interest to the prisoner+
/osa) as 'e ha(e seen) had returned to him one of the
suckers+
E(ery e(ening she brought to him) handful by handful) a
Juantity of soil from that part of the garden 'hich he had
found to be the best) and 'hich) indeed) 'as excellent+
A large jug) 'hich &ornelius had skilfully broken) did
ser(ice as a flo'erDpot+ 0e half filled it) and mixed the
earth of the garden 'ith a small portion of dried ri(er mud)
a mixture 'hich formed an excellent soil+
Then) at the beginning of April) he planted his first sucker
in that jug+
;ot a day passed on 'hich /osa did not come to ha(e her chat
'ith &ornelius+
The tulips) concerning 'hose culti(ation /osa 'as taught all
the mysteries of the art) formed the principal topic of the
con(ersationR but) interesting as the subject 'as) people
cannot al'ays talk about tulips+
They therefore began to chat also about other things) and
the tulipDfancier found out to his great astonishment 'hat a
(ast range of subjects a con(ersation may comprise+
:nly /osa had made it a habit to keep her pretty face
in(ariably six inches distant from the grating) ha(ing
perhaps become distrustful of herself+
There 'as one thing especially 'hich ga(e &ornelius almost
as much anxiety as his bulbs DD a subject to 'hich he al'ays
returned DD the dependence of /osa on her father+
4ndeed) .an Baerle's happiness depended on the 'him of this
man+ 0e might one day find >oe'estein dull) or the air of
the place unhealthy) or the gin bad) and lea(e the fortress)
and take his daughter 'ith him) 'hen &ornelius and /osa
'ould again be separated+
K:f 'hat use 'ould the carrier pigeons then bePK said
&ornelius to /osa) Kas you) my dear girl) 'ould not be able
to read 'hat 4 should 'rite to you) nor to 'rite to me your
thoughts in return+K
K,ell)K ans'ered /osa) 'ho in her heart 'as as much afraid
of a separation as &ornelius himself) K'e ha(e one hour
e(ery e(ening) let us make good use of it+K
K4 don't think 'e make such a bad use of it as it is+K
K>et us employ it e(en better)K said /osa) smiling+ KTeach
me to read and 'rite+ 4 shall make the best of your lessons)
belie(e meR and) in this 'ay) 'e shall ne(er be separated
any more) except by our o'n 'ill+K
K:h) then) 'e ha(e an eternity before us)K said &ornelius+
/osa smiled) and Juietly shrugged her shoulders+
K,ill you remain for e(er in prisonPK she said) Kand after
ha(ing granted you your life) 'ill not his 0ighness also
grant you your libertyP And 'ill you not then reco(er your
fortune) and be a rich man) and then) 'hen you are dri(ing
in your o'n coach) riding your o'n horse) 'ill you still
look at poor /osa) the daughter of a jailer) scarcely better
than a hangmanPK
&ornelius tried to contradict her) and certainly he 'ould
ha(e done so 'ith all his heart) and 'ith all the sincerity
of a soul full of lo(e+
1he) ho'e(er) smilingly interrupted him) saying) K0o' is
your tulip going onPK
To speak to &ornelius of his tulip 'as an expedient resorted
to by her to make him forget e(erything) e(en /osa herself+
K.ery 'ell) indeed)K he said) Kthe coat is gro'ing black)
the sprouting has commenced) the (eins of the bulb are
s'elling) in eight days hence) and perhaps sooner) 'e may
distinguish the first buds of the lea(es protruding+ And
yours /osaPK
K:h) 4 ha(e done things on a large scale) and according to
your directions+K
K;o') let me hear) /osa) 'hat you ha(e done)K said
&ornelius) 'ith as tender an anxiety as he had lately sho'n
to herself+
K,ell)K she said) smiling) for in her o'n heart she could
not help studying this double lo(e of the prisoner for
herself and for the black tulip) K4 ha(e done things on a
large scaleR 4 ha(e prepared a bed as you described it to
me) on a clear spot) far from trees and 'alls) in a soil
slightly mixed 'ith sand) rather moist than dry 'ithout a
fragment of stone or pebble+K
K,ell done) /osa) 'ell done+K
K4 am no' only 'aiting for your further orders to put in the
bulb) you kno' that 4 must be behindhand 'ith you) as 4 ha(e
in my fa(our all the chances of good air) of the sun) and
abundance of moisture+K
KAll true) all true)K exclaimed &ornelius) clapping his
hands 'ith joy) Kyou are a good pupil) /osa) and you are
sure to gain your hundred thousand guilders+K
KDon't forget)K said /osa) smiling) Kthat your pupil) as you
call me) has still other things to learn besides the
culti(ation of tulips+K
KQes) yes) and 4 am as anxious as you are) /osa) that you
should learn to read+K
K,hen shall 'e beginPK
KAt once+K
K;o) toDmorro'+K
K,hy toDmorro'PK
KBecause toDday our hour is expired) and 4 must lea(e you+K
KAlreadyP But 'hat shall 'e readPK
K:h)K said /osa) K4 ha(e a book) DD a book 'hich 4 hope 'ill
bring us luck+K
KToDmorro') then+K
KQes) toDmorro'+K
:n the follo'ing e(ening /osa returned 'ith the Bible of
&ornelius de ,itt+
&hapter !3
The $irst Bulb
:n the follo'ing e(ening) as 'e ha(e said) /osa returned
'ith the Bible of &ornelius de ,itt+
Then began bet'een the master and the pupil one of those
charming scenes 'hich are the delight of the no(elist 'ho
has to describe them+
The grated 'indo') the only opening through 'hich the t'o
lo(ers 'ere able to communicate) 'as too high for
con(eniently reading a book) although it had been Juite
con(enient for them to read each other's faces+
/osa therefore had to press the open book against the
grating edge'ise) holding abo(e it in her right hand the
lamp) but &ornelius hit upon the lucky idea of fixing it to
the bars) so as to afford her a little rest+ /osa 'as then
enabled to follo' 'ith her finger the letters and syllables)
'hich she 'as to spell for &ornelius) 'ho 'ith a stra'
pointed out the letters to his attenti(e pupil through the
holes of the grating+
The light of the lamp illuminated the rich complexion of
/osa) her blue liJuid eyes) and her golden hair under her
headDdress of gold brocade) 'ith her fingers held up) and
sho'ing in the blood) as it flo'ed do'n'ards in the (eins
that pale pink hue 'hich shines before the light o'ing to
the li(ing transparency of the flesh tint+
/osa's intellect rapidly de(eloped itself under the
animating influence of &ornelius) and 'hen the difficulties
seemed too arduous) the sympathy of t'o lo(ing hearts seemed
to smooth them a'ay+
And /osa) after ha(ing returned to her room) repeated in her
solitude the reading lessons) and at the same time recalled
all the delight 'hich she had felt 'hilst recei(ing them+
:ne e(ening she came half an hour later than usual+ This 'as
too extraordinary an instance not to call forth at once
&ornelius's inJuiries after its cause+
K:h* do not be angry 'ith me)K she said) Kit is not my
fault+ =y father has rene'ed an acJuaintance 'ith an old
crony 'ho used to (isit him at the 0ague) and to ask him to
let him see the prison+ 0e is a good sort of fello') fond of
his bottle) tells funny stories) and moreo(er is (ery free
'ith his money) so as al'ays to be ready to stand a treat+K
KQou don't kno' anything further of himPK asked &ornelius)
surprised+
K;o)K she ans'eredR Kit's only for about a fortnight that my
father has taken such a fancy to this friend 'ho is so
assiduous in (isiting him+K
KAh) so)K said &ornelius) shaking his head uneasily as e(ery
ne' incident seemed to him to forebode some catastropheR
K(ery likely some spy) one of those 'ho are sent into jails
to 'atch both prisoners and their keepers+K
K4 don't belie(e that)K said /osa) smilingR Kif that 'orthy
person is spying after any one) it is certainly not after my
father+K
KAfter 'hom) thenPK
K=e) for instance+K
KQouPK
K,hy notPK said /osa) smiling+
KAh) that's true)K &ornelius obser(ed) 'ith a sigh+ KQou
'ill not al'ays ha(e suitors in (ainR this man may become
your husband+K
K4 don't say anything to the contrary+K
K,hat cause ha(e you to entertain such a happy prospectPK
K/ather say) this fear) =ynheer &ornelius+K
KThank you) /osa) you are rightR 'ell) 4 'ill say then) this
fearPK
K4 ha(e only this reason DDDD K
KTell me) 4 am anxious to hear+K
KThis man came se(eral times before to the Buytenhof) at the
0ague+ 4 remember no') it 'as just about the time 'hen you
'ere confined there+ ,hen 4 left) he left tooR 'hen 4 came
here) he came after me+ At the 0ague his pretext 'as that he
'anted to see you+K
K1ee mePK
KQes) it must ha(e undoubtedly been only a pretext for no')
'hen he could plead the same reason) as you are my father's
prisoner again) he does not care any longer for youR Juite
the contrary) DD 4 heard him say to my father only yesterday
that he did not kno' you+K
KGo on) /osa) pray do) that 4 may guess 'ho that man is) and
'hat he 'ants+K
KAre you Juite sure) =ynheer &ornelius) that none of your
friends can interest himself for youPK
K4 ha(e no friends) /osaR 4 ha(e only my old nurse) 'hom you
kno') and 'ho kno's you+ Alas) poor 1ue* she 'ould come
herself) and use no roundabout 'ays+ 1he 'ould at once say
to your father) or to you) '=y good sir) or my good miss) my
child is hereR see ho' grie(ed 4 amR let me see him only for
one hour) and 4'll pray for you as long as 4 li(e+' ;o) no)K
continued &orneliusR K'ith the exception of my poor old 1ue)
4 ha(e no friends in this 'orld+K
KThen 4 come back to 'hat 4 thought beforeR and the more so
as last e(ening at sunset) 'hilst 4 'as arranging the border
'here 4 am to plant your bulb) 4 sa' a shado' gliding
bet'een the alder trees and the aspens+ 4 did not appear to
see him) but it 'as this man+ 0e concealed himself and sa'
me digging the ground) and certainly it 'as me 'hom he
follo'ed) and me 'hom he 'as spying after+ 4 could not mo(e
my rake) or touch one atom of soil) 'ithout his noticing
it+K
K:h) yes) yes) he is in lo(e 'ith you)K said &ornelius+ K4s
he youngP 4s he handsomePK
1aying this he looked anxiously at /osa) eagerly 'aiting for
her ans'er+
KQoungP handsomePK cried /osa) bursting into a laugh+ K0e is
hideous to look atR crooked) nearly fifty years of age) and
ne(er dares to look me in the face) or to speak) except in
an undertone+K
KAnd his namePK
K5acob Gisels+K
K4 don't kno' him+K
KThen you see that) at all e(ents) he does not come after
you+K
KAt any rate) if he lo(es you) /osa) 'hich is (ery likely)
as to see you is to lo(e you) at least you don't lo(e him+K
KTo be sure 4 don't+K
KThen you 'ish me to keep my mind easyPK
K4 should certainly ask you to do so+K
K,ell) then) no' as you begin to kno' ho' to read you 'ill
read all that 4 'rite to you of the pangs of jealousy and of
absence) 'on't you) /osaPK
K4 shall read it) if you 'rite 'ith good big letters+K
Then) as the turn 'hich the con(ersation took began to make
/osa uneasy) she asked) DD
KBy the bye) ho' is your tulip going onPK
K:h) /osa) only imagine my joy) this morning 4 looked at it
in the sun) and after ha(ing mo(ed the soil aside 'hich
co(ers the bulb) 4 sa' the first sprouting of the lea(es+
This small germ has caused me a much greater emotion than
the order of his 0ighness 'hich turned aside the s'ord
already raised at the Buytenhof+K
KQou hope) thenPK said /osa) smiling+
KQes) yes) 4 hope+K
KAnd 4) in my turn) 'hen shall 4 plant my bulbPK
K:h) the first fa(ourable day 4 'ill tell youR but) 'hate(er
you do) let nobody help you) and don't confide your secret
to any one in the 'orldR do you see) a connoisseur by merely
looking at the bulb 'ould be able to distinguish its (alueR
and so) my dearest /osa) be careful in locking up the third
sucker 'hich remains to you+K
K4t is still 'rapped up in the same paper in 'hich you put
it) and just as you ga(e it me+ 4 ha(e laid it at the bottom
of my chest under my point lace) 'hich keeps it dry) 'ithout
pressing upon it+ But good night) my poor capti(e
gentleman+K
K0o'P alreadyPK
K4t must be) it must be+K
K&oming so late and going so soon+K
K=y father might gro' impatient not seeing me return) and
that precious lo(er might suspect a ri(al+K
0ere she listened uneasily+
K,hat is itPK asked .an Baerle+ K4 thought 4 heard
something+K
K,hat) thenPK
K1omething like a step) creaking on the staircase+K
K1urely)K said the prisoner) Kthat cannot be =aster Gryphus)
he is al'ays heard at a distanceK
K;o) it is not my father) 4 am Juite sure) but DDDD K
KButPK
KBut it might be =ynheer 5acob+K
/osa rushed to'ard the staircase) and a door 'as really
heard rapidly to close before the young damsel had got do'n
the first ten steps+
&ornelius 'as (ery uneasy about it) but it 'as after all
only a prelude to greater anxieties+
The flo'ing day passed 'ithout any remarkable incident+
Gryphus made his three (isits) and disco(ered nothing+ 0e
ne(er came at the same hours as he hoped thus to disco(er
the secrets of the prisoner+ .an Baerle) therefore) had
de(ised a contri(ance) a sort of pulley) by means of 'hich
he 'as able to lo'er or to raise his jug belo' the ledge of
tiles and stone before his 'indo'+ The strings by 'hich this
'as effected he had found means to co(er 'ith that moss
'hich generally gro's on tiles) or in the crannies of the
'alls+
Gryphus suspected nothing) and the de(ice succeeded for
eight days+ :ne morning) ho'e(er) 'hen &ornelius) absorbed
in the contemplation of his bulb) from 'hich a germ of
(egetation 'as already peeping forth) had not heard old
Gryphus coming upstairs as a gale of 'ind 'as blo'ing 'hich
shook the 'hole to'er) the door suddenly opened+
Gryphus) percei(ing an unkno'n and conseJuently a forbidden
object in the hands of his prisoner) pounced upon it 'ith
the same rapidity as the ha'k on its prey+
As ill luck 'ould ha(e it) his coarse) hard hand) the same
'hich he had broken) and 'hich &ornelius (an Baerle had set
so 'ell) grasped at once in the midst of the jug) on the
spot 'here the bulb 'as lying in the soil+
K,hat ha(e you got herePK he roared+ KAh* ha(e 4 caught
youPK and 'ith this he grabbed in the soil+
K4P nothing) nothing)K cried &ornelius) trembling+
KAh* ha(e 4 caught youP a jug and earth in it There is some
criminal secret at the bottom of all this+K
K:h) my good =aster Gryphus)K said .an Baerle) imploringly)
and anxious as the partridge robbed of her young by the
reaper+
4n fact) Gryphus 'as beginning to dig the soil 'ith his
crooked fingers+
KTake care) sir) take care)K said &ornelius) gro'ing Juite
pale+
K&are of 'hatP Wounds* of 'hatPK roared the jailer+
KTake care) 4 say) you 'ill crush it) =aster Gryphus+K
And 'ith a rapid and almost frantic mo(ement he snatched the
jug from the hands of Gryphus) and hid it like a treasure
under his arms+
But Gryphus) obstinate) like an old man) and more and more
con(inced that he 'as disco(ering here a conspiracy against
the Prince of :range) rushed up to his prisoner) raising his
stickR seeing) ho'e(er) the impassible resolution of the
capti(e to protect his flo'erDpot he 'as con(inced that
&ornelius trembled much less for his head than for his jug+
0e therefore tried to 'rest it from him by force+
K0alloa*K said the jailer) furious) Khere) you see) you are
rebelling+K
K>ea(e me my tulip)K cried .an Baerle+
KAh) yes) tulip)K replied the old man) K'e kno' 'ell the
shifts of prisoners+K
KBut 4 (o' to you DDDD K
K>et go)K repeated Gryphus) stamping his foot) Klet go) or 4
shall call the guard+K
K&all 'hoe(er you like) but you shall not ha(e this flo'er
except 'ith my life+K
Gryphus) exasperated) plunged his finger a second time into
the soil) and no' he dre' out the bulb) 'hich certainly
looked Juite blackR and 'hilst .an Baerle) Juite happy to
ha(e sa(ed the (essel) did not suspect that the ad(ersary
had possessed himself of its precious contents) Gryphus
hurled the softened bulb 'ith all his force on the flags)
'here almost immediately after it 'as crushed to atoms under
his hea(y shoe+
.an Baerle sa' the 'ork of destruction) got a glimpse of the
juicy remains of his darling bulb) and) guessing the cause
of the ferocious joy of Gryphus) uttered a cry of agony)
'hich 'ould ha(e melted the heart e(en of that ruthless
jailer 'ho some years before killed Pelisson's spider+
The idea of striking do'n this spiteful bully passed like
lightning through the brain of the tulipDfancier+ The blood
rushed to his bro') and seemed like fire in his eyes) 'hich
blinded him) and he raised in his t'o hands the hea(y jug
'ith all the no' useless earth 'hich remained in it+ :ne
instant more) and he 'ould ha(e flung it on the bald head of
old Gryphus+
But a cry stopped himR a cry of agony) uttered by poor /osa)
'ho) trembling and pale) 'ith her arms raised to hea(en)
made her appearance behind the grated 'indo') and thus
interposed bet'een her father and her friend+
Gryphus then understood the danger 'ith 'hich he had been
threatened) and he broke out in a (olley of the most
terrible abuse+
K4ndeed)K said &ornelius to him) Kyou must be a (ery mean
and spiteful fello' to rob a poor prisoner of his only
consolation) a tulip bulb+K
K$or shame) my father)K /osa chimed in) Kit is indeed a
crime you ha(e committed here+K
KAh) is that you) my little chatterDboxPK the old man cried)
boiling 'ith rage and turning to'ards herR Kdon't you meddle
'ith 'hat don't concern you) but go do'n as Juickly as
possible+K
K<nfortunate me)K continued &ornelius) o(er'helmed 'ith
grief+
KAfter all) it is but a tulip)K Gryphus resumed) as he began
to be a little ashamed of himself+ KQou may ha(e as many
tulips as you like? 4 ha(e three hundred of them in my
loft+K
KTo the de(il 'ith your tulips*K cried &orneliusR Kyou are
'orthy of each other? had 4 a hundred thousand millions of
them) 4 'ould gladly gi(e them for the one 'hich you ha(e
just destroyed+K
K:h) so*K Gryphus said) in a tone of triumphR Kno' there 'e
ha(e it+ 4t 'as not your tulip you cared for+ There 'as in
that false bulb some 'itchcraft) perhaps some means of
correspondence 'ith conspirators against his 0ighness 'ho
has granted you your life+ 4 al'ays said they 'ere 'rong in
not cutting your head off+K
K$ather) father*K cried /osa+
KQes) yes* it is better as it is no')K repeated Gryphus)
gro'ing 'armR K4 ha(e destroyed it) and 4'll do the same
again) as often as you repeat the trick+ Didn't 4 tell you)
my fine fello') that 4 'ould make your life a hard onePK
KA curse on you*K &ornelius exclaimed) Juite beyond himself
'ith despair) as he gathered) 'ith his trembling fingers)
the remnants of that bulb on 'hich he had rested so many
joys and so many hopes+
K,e shall plant the other toDmorro') my dear =ynheer
&ornelius)K said /osa) in a lo' (oice) 'ho understood the
intense grief of the unfortunate tulipDfancier) and 'ho)
'ith the pure sacred lo(e of her innocent heart) poured
these kind 'ords) like a drop of balm) on the bleeding
'ounds of &ornelius+
&hapter !F
/osa's >o(er
/osa had scarcely pronounced these consolatory 'ords 'hen a
(oice 'as heard from the staircase asking Gryphus ho'
matters 'ere going on+
KDo you hear) fatherPK said /osa+
K,hatPK
K=aster 5acob calls you) he is uneasy+K
KThere 'as such a noise)K said GryphusR K'ouldn't you ha(e
thought he 'ould murder me) this doctorP They are al'ays
(ery troublesome fello's) these scholars+K
Then) pointing 'ith his finger to'ards the staircase) he
said to /osa? K5ust lead the 'ay) =iss+K
After this he locked the door and called out? K4 shall be
'ith you directly) friend 5acob+K
Poor &ornelius) thus left alone 'ith his bitter grief)
muttered to himself) DD
KAh) you old hangman* it is me you ha(e trodden under footR
you ha(e murdered meR 4 shall not sur(i(e it+K
And certainly the unfortunate prisoner 'ould ha(e fallen ill
but for the counterpoise 'hich Pro(idence had granted to his
grief) and 'hich 'as called /osa+
4n the e(ening she came back+ 0er first 'ords announced to
&ornelius that henceforth her father 'ould make no objection
to his culti(ating flo'ers+
KAnd ho' do you kno' thatPK the prisoner asked) 'ith a
doleful look+
K4 kno' it because he has said so+K
KTo decei(e me) perhaps+K
K;o) he repents+K
KAh yes* but too late+K
KThis repentance is not of himself+K
KAnd 'ho put it into himPK
K4f you only kne' ho' his friend scolded him*K
KAh) =aster 5acobR he does not lea(e you) then) that =aster
5acobPK
KAt any rate) he lea(es us as little as he can help+K
1aying this) she smiled in such a 'ay that the little cloud
of jealousy 'hich had darkened the bro' of &ornelius
speedily (anished+
K0o' 'as itPK asked the prisoner+
K,ell) being asked by his friend) my father told at supper
the 'hole story of the tulip) or rather of the bulb) and of
his o'n fine exploit of crushing it+K
&ornelius hea(ed a sigh) 'hich might ha(e been called a
groan+
K0ad you only seen =aster 5acob at that moment*K continued
/osa+ K4 really thought he 'ould set fire to the castleR his
eyes 'ere like t'o flaming torches) his hair stood on end)
and he clinched his fist for a momentR 4 thought he 'ould
ha(e strangled my father+K
K'Qou ha(e done that)' he cried) 'you ha(e crushed the
bulbP'
K'4ndeed 4 ha(e+'
K'4t is infamous)' said =aster 5acob) 'it is odious* Qou
ha(e committed a great crime*'
K=y father 'as Juite dumbfounded+
K'Are you mad) tooP' he asked his friend+K
K:h) 'hat a 'orthy man is this =aster 5acob*K muttered
&ornelius) DD Kan honest soul) an excellent heart that he
is+K
KThe truth is) that it is impossible to treat a man more
rudely than he did my fatherR he 'as really Juite in
despair) repeating o(er and o(er again) DD
K'&rushed) crushed the bulb* my God) my God* crushed*'
KThen) turning to'ard me) he asked) 'But it 'as not the only
one that he hadP'K
KDid he ask thatPK inJuired &ornelius) 'ith some anxiety+
K'Qou think it 'as not the only oneP' said my father+ '.ery
'ell) 'e shall search for the others+'
K'Qou 'ill search for the othersP' cried 5acob) taking my
father by the collarR but he immediately loosed him+ Then)
turning to'ards me) he continued) asking 'And 'hat did that
poor young man sayP'
K4 did not kno' 'hat to ans'er) as you had so strictly
enjoined me ne(er to allo' any one to guess the interest
'hich you are taking in the bulb+ $ortunately) my father
sa(ed me from the difficulty by chiming in) DD
K',hat did he sayP Didn't he fume and fretP'
K4 interrupted him) saying) ',as it not natural that be
should be furious) you 'ere so unjust and brutal) fatherP'
K',ell) no') are you madP' cried my fatherR ''hat immense
misfortune is it to crush a tulip bulbP Qou may buy a
hundred of them in the market of Gorcum+'
K'Perhaps some less precious one than that 'as*' 4 Juite
incautiously replied+K
KAnd 'hat did 5acob say or do at these 'ordsPK asked
&ornelius+
KAt these 'ords) if 4 must say it) his eyes seemed to flash
like lightning+K
KBut)K said &ornelius) Kthat 'as not allR 4 am sure he said
something in his turn+K
K'1o) then) my pretty /osa)' he said) 'ith a (oice as s'eet
a honey) DD 'so you think that bulb to ha(e been a precious
oneP'
K4 sa' that 4 had made a blunder+
K',hat do 4 kno'P' 4 said) negligentlyR 'do 4 understand
anything of tulipsP 4 only kno' DD as unfortunately it is
our lot to li(e 'ith prisoners DD that for them any pastime
is of (alue+ This poor =ynheer (an Baerle amused himself
'ith this bulb+ ,ell) 4 think it (ery cruel to take from him
the only thing that he could ha(e amused himself 'ith+'
K'But) first of all)' said my father) ''e ought to kno' ho'
he has contri(ed to procure this bulb+'
K4 turned my eyes a'ay to a(oid my father's lookR but 4 met
those of 5acob+
K4t 'as as if he had tried to read my thoughts at the bottom
of my heart+
K1ome little sho' of anger sometimes sa(es an ans'er+ 4
shrugged my shoulders) turned my back) and ad(anced to'ards
the door+
KBut 4 'as kept by something 'hich 4 heard) although it 'as
uttered in a (ery lo' (oice only+
K5acob said to my father) DD
K'4t 'ould not be so difficult to ascertain that+'
K'0o' soP'
K'Qou need only search his person? and if he has the other
bulbs) 'e shall find them) as there usually are three
suckers*'K
KThree suckers*K cried &ornelius+ KDid you say that 4 ha(e
threePK
KThe 'ord certainly struck me just as much as it does you+ 4
turned round+ They 'ere both of them so deeply engaged in
their con(ersation that they did not obser(e my mo(ement+
K'But)' said my father) 'perhaps he has not got his bulbs
about himP'
K'Then take him do'n) under some pretext or other and 4 'ill
search his cell in the mean'hile+'K
K0alloa) halloa*K said &ornelius+ KBut this =r+ 5acob of
yours is a (illain) it seems+K
K4 am afraid he is+K
KTell me) /osa)K continued &ornelius) 'ith a pensi(e air+
K,hatPK
KDid you not tell me that on the day 'hen you prepared your
borders this man follo'ed youPK
K1o he did+K
KThat he glided like a shado' behind the elder treesPK
K&ertainly+K
KThat not one of your mo(ements escaped himPK
K;ot one) indeed+K
K/osa)K said &ornelius) gro'ing Juite pale+
K,ellPK
K4t 'as not you he 'as after+K
K,ho else) thenPK
K4t is not you that he 'as in lo(e 'ith*K
KBut 'ith 'hom elsePK
K0e 'as after my bulb) and is in lo(e 'ith my tulip*K
KQou don't say so* And yet it is (ery possible)K said /osa+
K,ill you make sure of itPK
K4n 'hat mannerPK
K:h) it 'ould be (ery easy*K
KTell me+K
KGo toDmorro' into the gardenR manage matters so that 5acob
may kno') as he did the first time) that you are going
there) and that he may follo' you+ $eign to put the bulb
into the groundR lea(e the garden) but look through the
keyhole of the door and 'atch him+K
K,ell) and 'hat thenPK
K,hat thenP ,e shall do as he does+K
K:h*K said /osa) 'ith a sigh) Kyou are (ery fond of your
bulbs+K
KTo tell the truth)K said the prisoner) sighing like'ise)
Ksince your father crushed that unfortunate bulb) 4 feel as
if part of my o'n self had been paraly9ed+K
K;o' just hear me)K said /osaR K'ill you try something
elsePK
K,hatPK
K,ill you accept the proposition of my fatherPK
K,hich propositionPK
KDid not he offer to you tulip bulbs by hundredsPK
K4ndeed he did+K
KAccept t'o or three) and) along 'ith them) you may gro' the
third sucker+K
KQes) that 'ould do (ery 'ell)K said &ornelius) knitting his
bro'R Kif your father 'ere alone) but there is that =aster
5acob) 'ho 'atches all our 'ays+K
K,ell) that is trueR but only think* you are depri(ing
yourself) as 4 can easily see) of a (ery great pleasure+K
1he pronounced these 'ords 'ith a smile) 'hich 'as not
altogether 'ithout a tinge of irony+
&ornelius reflected for a momentR he e(idently 'as
struggling against some (ehement desire+
K;o*K he cried at last) 'ith the stoicism of a /oman of old)
Kit 'ould be a 'eakness) it 'ould be a folly) it 'ould be a
meanness* 4f 4 thus gi(e up the only and last resource 'hich
'e possess to the uncertain chances of the bad passions of
anger and en(y) 4 should ne(er deser(e to be forgi(en+ ;o)
/osa) noR toDmorro' 'e shall come to a conclusion as to the
spot to be chosen for your tulipR you 'ill plant it
according to my instructionsR and as to the third sucker)K
DD &ornelius here hea(ed a deep sigh) DD K'atch o(er it as a
miser o(er his first or last piece of goldR as the mother
o(er her childR as the 'ounded o(er the last drop of blood
in his (einsR 'atch o(er it) /osa* 1ome (oice 'ithin me
tells me that it 'ill be our sa(ing) that it 'ill be a
source of good to us+K
KBe easy) =ynheer &ornelius)K said /osa) 'ith a s'eet
mixture of melancholy and gra(ity) Kbe easyR your 'ishes are
commands to me+K
KAnd e(en)K continued .an Baerle) 'arming more and more 'ith
his subject) Kif you should percei(e that your steps are
'atched) and that your speech has excited the suspicion of
your father and of that detestable =aster 5acob) DD 'ell)
/osa) don't hesitate for one moment to sacrifice me) 'ho am
only still li(ing through you) DD me) 'ho ha(e no one in the
'orld but youR sacrifice me) DD don't come to see me any
more+K
/osa felt her heart sink 'ithin her) and her eyes 'ere
filling 'ith tears+
KAlas*K she said+
K,hat is itPK asked &ornelius+
K4 see one thing+K
K,hat do you seePK
K4 see)K said she) bursting out in sobs) K4 see that you
lo(e your tulips 'ith such lo(e as to ha(e no more room in
your heart left for other affections+K
1aying this) she fled+
&ornelius) after this) passed one of the 'orst nights he
e(er had in his life+
/osa 'as (exed 'ith him) and 'ith good reason+ Perhaps she
'ould ne(er return to see the prisoner) and then he 'ould
ha(e no more ne's) either of /osa or of his tulips+
,e ha(e to confess) to the disgrace of our hero and of
floriculture) that of his t'o affections he felt most
strongly inclined to regret the loss of /osaR and 'hen) at
about three in the morning) he fell asleep o(ercome 'ith
fatigue) and harassed 'ith remorse) the grand black tulip
yielded precedence in his dreams to the s'eet blue eyes of
the fair maid of $riesland+
&hapter !2
The =aid and the $lo'er

But poor /osa) in her secluded chamber) could not ha(e kno'n
of 'hom or of 'hat &ornelius 'as dreaming+
$rom 'hat he had said she 'as more ready to belie(e that he
dreamed of the black tulip than of herR and yet /osa 'as
mistaken+
But as there 'as no one to tell her so) and as the 'ords of
&ornelius's thoughtless speech had fallen upon her heart
like drops of poison) she did not dream) but she 'ept+
The fact 'as) that) as /osa 'as a highDspirited creature) of
no mean perception and a noble heart) she took a (ery clear
and judicious (ie' of her o'n social position) if not of her
moral and physical Jualities+
&ornelius 'as a scholar) and 'as 'ealthy) DD at least he had
been before the confiscation of his propertyR &ornelius
belonged to the merchantDbourgeoisie) 'ho 'ere prouder of
their richly embla9oned shop signs than the hereditary
nobility of their heraldic bearings+ Therefore) although he
might find /osa a pleasant companion for the dreary hours of
his capti(ity) 'hen it came to a Juestion of besto'ing his
heart it 'as almost certain that he 'ould besto' it upon a
tulip) DD that is to say) upon the proudest and noblest of
flo'ers) rather than upon poor /osa) the jailer's lo'ly
child+
Thus /osa understood &ornelius's preference of the tulip to
herself) but 'as only so much the more unhappy therefor+
During the 'hole of this terrible night the poor girl did
not close an eye) and before she rose in the morning she had
come to the resolution of making her appearance at the
grated 'indo' no more+
But as she kne' 'ith 'hat ardent desire &ornelius looked
for'ard to the ne's about his tulipR and as) not'ithstanding
her determination not to see any more a man her pity for
'hose fate 'as fast gro'ing into lo(e) she did not) on the
other hand) 'ish to dri(e him to despair) she resol(ed to
continue by herself the reading and 'riting lessonsR and)
fortunately) she had made sufficient progress to dispense
'ith the help of a master 'hen the master 'as not to be
&ornelius+
/osa therefore applied herself most diligently to reading
poor &ornelius de ,itt's Bible) on the second fly leaf of
'hich the last 'ill of &ornelius (an Baerle 'as 'ritten+
KAlas*K she muttered) 'hen perusing again this document)
'hich she ne(er finished 'ithout a tear) the pearl of lo(e)
rolling from her limpid eyes on her pale cheeks DD Kalas* at
that time 4 thought for one moment he lo(ed me+K
Poor /osa* she 'as mistaken+ ;e(er had the lo(e of the
prisoner been more sincere than at the time at 'hich 'e are
no' arri(ed) 'hen in the contest bet'een the black tulip and
/osa the tulip had had to yield to her the first and
foremost place in &ornelius's heart+
But /osa 'as not a'are of it+
0a(ing finished reading) she took her pen) and began 'ith as
laudable diligence the by far more difficult task of
'riting+
As) ho'e(er) /osa 'as already able to 'rite a legible hand
'hen &ornelius so uncautiously opened his heart) she did not
despair of progressing Juickly enough to 'rite) after eight
days at the latest) to the prisoner an account of his tulip+
1he had not forgotten one 'ord of the directions gi(en to
her by &ornelius) 'hose speeches she treasured in her heart)
e(en 'hen they did not take the shape of directions+
0e) on his part) a'oke deeper in lo(e than e(er+ The tulip)
indeed) 'as still a luminous and prominent object in his
mindR but he no longer looked upon it as a treasure to 'hich
he ought to sacrifice e(erything) and e(en /osa) but as a
mar(ellous combination of nature and art 'ith 'hich he 'ould
ha(e been happy to adorn the bosom of his belo(ed one+
Qet during the 'hole of that day he 'as haunted 'ith a (ague
uneasiness) at the bottom of 'hich 'as the fear lest /osa
should not come in the e(ening to pay him her usual (isit+
This thought took more and more hold of him) until at the
approach of e(ening his 'hole mind 'as absorbed in it+
0o' his heart beat 'hen darkness closed in* The 'ords 'hich
he had said to /osa on the e(ening before and 'hich had so
deeply afflicted her) no' came back to his mind more (i(idly
than e(er) and he asked himself ho' he could ha(e told his
gentle comforter to sacrifice him to his tulip) DD that is
to say) to gi(e up seeing him) if need be) DD 'hereas to him
the sight of /osa had become a condition of life+
4n &ornelius's cell one heard the chimes of the clock of the
fortress+ 4t struck se(en) it struck eight) it struck nine+
;e(er did the metal (oice (ibrate more forcibly through the
heart of any man than did the last stroke) marking the ninth
hour) through the heart of &ornelius+
All 'as then silent again+ &ornelius put his hand on his
heart) to repress as it 'ere its (iolent palpitation) and
listened+
The noise of her footstep) the rustling of her go'n on the
staircase) 'ere so familiar to his ear) that she had no
sooner mounted one step than he used to say to himself) DD
K0ere comes /osa+K
This e(ening none of those little noises broke the silence
of the lobby) the clock struck nine) and a JuarterR the
halfDhour) then a Juarter to ten) and at last its deep tone
announced) not only to the inmates of the fortress) but also
to all the inhabitants of >oe'estein) that it 'as ten+
This 'as the hour at 'hich /osa generally used to lea(e
&ornelius+ The hour had struck) but /osa had not come+
Thus then his foreboding had not decei(ed himR /osa) being
(exed) shut herself up in her room and left him to himself+
KAlas*K he thought) K4 ha(e deser(ed all this+ 1he 'ill come
no more) and she is right in staying a'ayR in her place 4
should do just the same+K
Qet not'ithstanding all this) &ornelius listened) 'aited)
and hoped until midnight) then he thre' himself upon the
bed) 'ith his clothes on+
4t 'as a long and sad night for him) and the day brought no
hope to the prisoner+
At eight in the morning) the door of his cell openedR but
&ornelius did not e(en turn his headR he had heard the hea(y
step of Gryphus in the lobby) but this step had perfectly
satisfied the prisoner that his jailer 'as coming alone+
Thus &ornelius did not e(en look at Gryphus+
And yet he 'ould ha(e been so glad to dra' him out) and to
inJuire about /osa+ 0e e(en (ery nearly made this inJuiry)
strange as it 'ould needs ha(e appeared to her father+ To
tell the truth) there 'as in all this some selfish hope to
hear from Gryphus that his daughter 'as ill+
Except on extraordinary occasions) /osa ne(er came during
the day+ &ornelius therefore did not really expect her as
long as the day lasted+ Qet his sudden starts) his listening
at the door) his rapid glances at e(ery little noise to'ards
the grated 'indo') sho'ed clearly that the prisoner
entertained some latent hope that /osa 'ould) someho' or
other) break her rule+
At the second (isit of Gryphus) &ornelius) contrary to all
his former habits) asked the old jailer) 'ith the most
'inning (oice) about her healthR but Gryphus contented
himself 'ith gi(ing the laconical ans'er) DD
KAll's 'ell+K
At the third (isit of the day) &ornelius changed his former
inJuiry? DD
K4 hope nobody is ill at >oe'esteinPK
K;obody)K replied) e(en more laconically) the jailer)
shutting the door before the nose of the prisoner+
Gryphus) being little used to this sort of ci(ility on the
part of &ornelius) began to suspect that his prisoner 'as
about to try and bribe him+
&ornelius 'as no' alone once moreR it 'as se(en o'clock in
the e(ening) and the anxiety of yesterday returned 'ith
increased intensity+
But another time the hours passed a'ay 'ithout bringing the
s'eet (ision 'hich lighted up) through the grated 'indo')
the cell of poor &ornelius) and 'hich) in retiring) left
light enough in his heart to last until it came back again+
.an Baerle passed the night in an agony of despair+ :n the
follo'ing day Gryphus appeared to him e(en more hideous)
brutal) and hateful than usualR in his mind) or rather in
his heart) there had been some hope that it 'as the old man
'ho pre(ented his daughter from coming+
4n his 'rath he 'ould ha(e strangled Gryphus) but 'ould not
this ha(e separated him for e(er from /osaP
The e(ening closing in) his despair changed into melancholy)
'hich 'as the more gloomy as) in(oluntarily) .an Baerle
mixed up 'ith it the thought of his poor tulip+ 4t 'as no'
just that 'eek in April 'hich the most experienced gardeners
point out as the precise time 'hen tulips ought to be
planted+ 0e had said to /osa) DD
K4 shall tell you the day 'hen you are to put the bulb in
the ground+K
0e had intended to fix) at the (ainly hoped for inter(ie')
the follo'ing day as the time for that momentous operation+
The 'eather 'as propitiousR the air) though still damp)
began to be tempered by those pale rays of the April sun
'hich) being the first) appear so congenial) although so
pale+ 0o' if /osa allo'ed the right moment for planting the
bulb to pass by) DD if) in addition to the grief of seeing
her no more) he should ha(e to deplore the misfortune of
seeing his tulip fail on account of its ha(ing been planted
too late) or of its not ha(ing been planted at all*
These t'o (exations combined might 'ell make him lea(e off
eating and drinking+
This 'as the case on the fourth day+
4t 'as pitiful to see &ornelius) dumb 'ith grief) and pale
from utter prostration) stretch out his head through the
iron bars of his 'indo') at the risk of not being able to
dra' it back again) to try and get a glimpse of the garden
on the left spoken of by /osa) 'ho had told him that its
parapet o(erlooked the ri(er+ 0e hoped that perhaps he might
see) in the light of the April sun) /osa or the tulip) the
t'o lost objects of his lo(e+
4n the e(ening) Gryphus took a'ay the breakfast and dinner
of &ornelius) 'ho had scarcely touched them+
:n the follo'ing day he did not touch them at all) and
Gryphus carried the dishes a'ay just as he had brought them+
&ornelius had remained in bed the 'hole day+
K,ell)K said Gryphus) coming do'n from the last (isit) K4
think 'e shall soon get rid of our scholar+K
/osa 'as startled+
K;onsense*K said 5acob+ K,hat do you meanPK
K0e doesn't drink) he doesn't eat) he doesn't lea(e his bed+
0e 'ill get out of it) like =ynheer Grotius) in a chest)
only the chest 'ill be a coffin+K
/osa gre' pale as death+
KAh*K she said to herself) Khe is uneasy about his tulip+K
And) rising 'ith a hea(y heart) she returned to her chamber)
'here she took a pen and paper) and during the 'hole of that
night busied herself 'ith tracing letters+
:n the follo'ing morning) 'hen &ornelius got up to drag
himself to the 'indo') he percei(ed a paper 'hich had been
slipped under the door+
0e pounced upon it) opened it) and read the follo'ing 'ords)
in a hand'riting 'hich he could scarcely ha(e recogni9ed as
that of /osa) so much had she impro(ed during her short
absence of se(en days) DD
KBe easyR your tulip is going on 'ell+K
Although these fe' 'ords of /osa's some'hat soothed the
grief of &ornelius) yet he felt not the less the irony 'hich
'as at the bottom of them+ /osa) then) 'as not ill) she 'as
offendedR she had not been forcibly pre(ented from coming)
but had (oluntarily stayed a'ay+ Thus /osa) being at
liberty) found in her o'n 'ill the force not to come and see
him) 'ho 'as dying 'ith grief at not ha(ing seen her+
&ornelius had paper and a pencil 'hich /osa had brought to
him+ 0e guessed that she expected an ans'er) but that she
'ould not come before the e(ening to fetch it+ 0e therefore
'rote on a piece of paper) similar to that 'hich he had
recei(ed) DD
K4t 'as not my anxiety about the tulip that has made me ill)
but the grief at not seeing you+K
After Gryphus had made his last (isit of the day) and
darkness had set in) he slipped the paper under the door)
and listened 'ith the most intense attention) but he neither
heard /osa's footsteps nor the rustling of her go'n+
0e only heard a (oice as feeble as a breath) and gentle like
a caress) 'hich 'hispered through the grated little 'indo'
in the door the 'ord) DD
KToDmorro'*K
;o' toDmorro' 'as the eighth day+ $or eight days &ornelius
and /osa had not seen each other+
&hapter C8
The E(ents 'hich took place during those Eight Days
:n the follo'ing e(ening) at the usual hour) .an Baerle
heard some one scratch at the grated little 'indo') just as
/osa had been in the habit of doing in the heyday of their
friendship+
&ornelius being) as may easily be imagined) not far off from
the door) percei(ed /osa) 'ho at last 'as 'aiting again for
him 'ith her lamp in her hand+
1eeing him so sad and pale) she 'as startled) and said) DD
KQou are ill) =ynheer &orneliusPK
KQes) 4 am)K he ans'ered) as indeed he 'as suffering in mind
and in body+
K4 sa' that you did not eat)K said /osaR Kmy father told me
that you remained in bed all day+ 4 then 'rote to calm your
uneasiness concerning the fate of the most precious object
of your anxiety+K
KAnd 4)K said &ornelius) K4 ha(e ans'ered+ 1eeing your
return) my dear /osa) 4 thought you had recei(ed my letter+K
K4t is trueR 4 ha(e recei(ed it+K
KQou cannot this time excuse yourself 'ith not being able to
read+ ;ot only do you read (ery fluently) but also you ha(e
made mar(ellous progress in 'riting+K
K4ndeed) 4 ha(e not only recei(ed) but also read your note+
Accordingly 4 am come to see 'hether there might not be some
remedy to restore you to health+K
K/estore me to healthPK cried &orneliusR Kbut ha(e you any
good ne's to communicate to mePK
1aying this) the poor prisoner looked at /osa) his eyes
sparkling 'ith hope+
,hether she did not) or 'ould not) understand this look)
/osa ans'ered gra(ely) DD
K4 ha(e only to speak to you about your tulip) 'hich) as 4
'ell kno') is the object uppermost in your mind+K
/osa pronounced those fe' 'ords in a free9ing tone) 'hich
cut deeply into the heart of &ornelius+ 0e did not suspect
'hat lay hidden under this appearance of indifference 'ith
'hich the poor girl affected to speak of her ri(al) the
black tulip+
K:h*K muttered &ornelius) Kagain* again* 0a(e 4 not told
you) /osa) that 4 thought but of youP that it 'as you alone
'hom 4 regretted) you 'hom 4 missed) you 'hose absence 4
felt more than the loss of liberty and of life itselfPK
/osa smiled 'ith a melancholy air+
KAh*K she said) Kyour tulip has been in such danger+K
&ornelius trembled in(oluntarily) and sho'ed himself clearly
to be caught in the trap) if e(er the remark 'as meant as
such+
KDanger*K he cried) Juite alarmedR K'hat dangerPK
/osa looked at him 'ith gentle compassionR she felt that
'hat she 'ished 'as beyond the po'er of this man) and that
he must be taken as he 'as) 'ith his little foible+
KQes)K she said) Kyou ha(e guessed the truthR that suitor
and amorous s'ain) 5acob) did not come on my account+K
KAnd 'hat did he come forPK &ornelius anxiously asked+
K0e came for the sake of the tulip+K
KAlas*K said &ornelius) gro'ing e(en paler at this piece of
information than he had been 'hen /osa) a fortnight before)
had told him that 5acob 'as coming for her sake+
/osa sa' this alarm) and &ornelius guessed) from the
expression of her face) in 'hat direction her thoughts 'ere
running+
K:h) pardon me) /osa*K he said) K4 kno' you) and 4 am 'ell
a'are of the kindness and sincerity of your heart+ To you
God has gi(en the thought and strength for defending
yourselfR but to my poor tulip) 'hen it is in danger) God
has gi(en nothing of the sort+K
/osa) 'ithout replying to this excuse of the prisoner)
continued) DD
K$rom the moment 'hen 4 first kne' that you 'ere uneasy on
account of the man 'ho follo'ed me) and in 'hom 4 had
recogni9ed 5acob) 4 'as e(en more uneasy myself+ :n the day)
therefore) after that on 'hich 4 sa' you last) and on 'hich
you said DD K
&ornelius interrupted her+
K:nce more) pardon me) /osa*K he cried+ K4 'as 'rong in
saying to you 'hat 4 said+ 4 ha(e asked your pardon for that
unfortunate speech before+ 4 ask it again? shall 4 al'ays
ask it in (ainPK
K:n the follo'ing day)K /osa continued) Kremembering 'hat
you had told me about the stratagem 'hich 4 'as to employ to
ascertain 'hether that odious man 'as after the tulip) or
after me DDDD K
KQes) yes) odious+ Tell me)K he said) Kdo you hate that
manPK
K4 do hate him)K said /osa) Kas he is the cause of all the
unhappiness 4 ha(e suffered these eight days+K
KQou) too) ha(e been unhappy) /osaP 4 thank you a thousand
times for this kind confession+K
K,ell) on the day after that unfortunate one) 4 'ent do'n
into the garden and proceeded to'ards the border 'here 4 'as
to plant your tulip) looking round all the 'hile to see
'hether 4 'as again follo'ed as 4 'as last time+K
KAnd thenPK &ornelius asked+
KAnd then the same shado' glided bet'een the gate and the
'all) and once more disappeared behind the elderDtrees+K
KQou feigned not to see him) didn't youPK &ornelius asked)
remembering all the details of the ad(ice 'hich he had gi(en
to /osa+
KQes) and 4 stooped o(er the border) in 'hich 4 dug 'ith a
spade) as if 4 'as going to put the bulb in+K
KAnd he) DD 'hat did he do during all this timePK
K4 sa' his eyes glisten through the branches of the tree
like those of a tiger+K
KThere you see) there you see*K cried &ornelius+
KThen) after ha(ing finished my makeDbelie(e 'ork) 4
retired+K
KBut only behind the garden door) 4 dare say) so that you
might see through the keyhole 'hat he 'as going to do 'hen
you had leftPK
K0e 'aited for a moment) (ery likely to make sure of my not
coming back) after 'hich he sneaked forth from his
hidingDplace) and approached the border by a long
roundDaboutR at last) ha(ing reached his goal) that is to
say) the spot 'here the ground 'as ne'ly turned) he stopped
'ith a careless air) looking about in all directions) and
scanning e(ery corner of the garden) e(ery 'indo' of the
neighbouring houses) and e(en the skyR after 'hich) thinking
himself Juite alone) Juite isolated) and out of e(erybody's
sight) he pounced upon the border) plunged both his hands
into the soft soil) took a handful of the mould) 'hich he
gently frittered bet'een his fingers to see 'hether the bulb
'as in it) and repeated the same thing t'ice or three times)
until at last he percei(ed that he 'as out'itted+ Then)
keeping do'n the agitation 'hich 'as raging in his breast)
he took up the rake) smoothed the ground) so as to lea(e it
on his retiring in the same state as he had found it) and)
Juite abashed and rueful) 'alked back to the door) affecting
the unconcerned air of an ordinary (isitor of the garden+K
K:h) the 'retch*K muttered &ornelius) 'iping the cold s'eat
from his bro'+ K:h) the 'retch* 4 guessed his intentions+
But the bulb) /osaR 'hat ha(e you done 'ith itP 4t is
already rather late to plant it+K
KThe bulbP 4t has been in the ground for these six days+K
K,hereP and ho'PK cried &ornelius+ KGood 0ea(en) 'hat
imprudence* ,hat is itP 4n 'hat sort of soil is itP 4t 'hat
aspectP Good or badP 4s there no risk of ha(ing it filched
by that detestable 5acobPK
KThere is no danger of its being stolen)K said /osa) Kunless
5acob 'ill force the door of my chamber+K
K:h* then it is 'ith you in your bedroomPK said &ornelius)
some'hat relie(ed+ KBut in 'hat soilP in 'hat (esselP Qou
don't let it gro') 4 hope) in 'ater like those good ladies
of 0aarlem and Dort) 'ho imagine that 'ater could replace
the earthPK
KQou may make yourself comfortable on that score)K said
/osa) smilingR Kyour bulb is not gro'ing in 'ater+K
K4 breathe again+K
K4t is in a good) sound stone pot) just about the si9e of
the jug in 'hich you had planted yours+ The soil is composed
of three parts of common mould) taken from the best spot of
the garden) and one of the s'eepings of the road+ 4 ha(e
heard you and that detestable 5acob) as you call him) so
often talk about 'hat is the soil best fitted for gro'ing
tulips) that 4 kno' it as 'ell as the first gardener of
0aarlem+K
KAnd no' 'hat is the aspect) /osaPK
KAt present it has the sun all day long) DD that is to say
'hen the sun shines+ But 'hen it once peeps out of the
ground) 4 shall do as you ha(e done here) dear =ynheer
&ornelius? 4 shall put it out of my 'indo' on the eastern
side from eight in the morning until ele(en and in my 'indo'
to'ards the 'est from three to fi(e in the afternoon+K
KThat's it* that's it*K cried &orneliusR Kand you are a
perfect gardener) my pretty /osa+ But 4 am afraid the
nursing of my tulip 'ill take up all your time+K
KQes) it 'ill)K said /osaR Kbut ne(er mind+ Qour tulip is my
daughter+ 4 shall de(ote to it the same time as 4 should to
a child of mine) if 4 'ere a mother+ :nly by becoming its
mother)K /osa added) smilingly) Kcan 4 cease to be its
ri(al+K
K=y kind and pretty /osa*K muttered &ornelius casting on her
a glance in 'hich there 'as much more of the lo(er than of
the gardener) and 'hich afforded /osa some consolation+
Then) after a silence of some moments) during 'hich
&ornelius had grasped through the openings of the grating
for the receding hand of /osa) he said) DD
KDo you mean to say that the bulb has no' been in the ground
for six daysPK
KQes) six days) =ynheer &ornelius)K she ans'ered+
KAnd it does not yet sho' leafK
K;o) but 4 think it 'ill toDmorro'+K
K,ell) then) toDmorro' you 'ill bring me ne's about it) and
about yourself) 'on't you) /osaP 4 care (ery much for the
daughter) as you called it just no') but 4 care e(en much
more for the mother+K
KToDmorro'PK said /osa) looking at &ornelius askance+ K4
don't kno' 'hether 4 shall be able to come toDmorro'+K
KGood hea(ens*K said &ornelius) K'hy can't you come
toDmorro'PK
K=ynheer &ornelius) 4 ha(e lots of things to do+K
KAnd 4 ha(e only one)K muttered &ornelius+
KQes)K said /osa) Kto lo(e your tulip+K
KTo lo(e you) /osa+K
/osa shook her head) after 'hich follo'ed a pause+
K,ell)K DD &ornelius at last broke the silence) DD K'ell)
/osa) e(erything changes in the realm of natureR the flo'ers
of spring are succeeded by other flo'ersR and the bees)
'hich so tenderly caressed the (iolets and the 'allDflo'ers)
'ill flutter 'ith just as much lo(e about the honeyDsuckles)
the rose) the jessamine) and the carnation+K
K,hat does all this meanPK asked /osa+
KQou ha(e abandoned me) =iss /osa) to seek your pleasure
else'here+ Qou ha(e done 'ell) and 4 'ill not complain+ ,hat
claim ha(e 4 to your fidelityPK
K=y fidelity*K /osa exclaimed) 'ith her eyes full of tears)
and 'ithout caring any longer to hide from &ornelius this
de' of pearls dropping on her cheeks) Kmy fidelity* ha(e 4
not been faithful to youPK
KDo you call it faithful to desert me) and to lea(e me here
to diePK
KBut) =ynheer &ornelius)K said /osa) Kam 4 not doing
e(erything for you that could gi(e you pleasureP ha(e 4 not
de(oted myself to your tulipPK
KQou are bitter) /osa) you reproach me 'ith the only
unalloyed pleasure 'hich 4 ha(e had in this 'orld+K
K4 reproach you 'ith nothing) =ynheer &ornelius) except)
perhaps) 'ith the intense grief 'hich 4 felt 'hen people
came to tell me at the Buytenhof that you 'ere about to be
put to death+K
KQou are displeased) /osa) my s'eet girl) 'ith my lo(ing
flo'ers+K
K4 am not displeased 'ith your lo(ing them) =ynheer
&ornelius) only it makes me sad to think that you lo(e them
better than you do me+K
K:h) my dear) dear /osa* look ho' my hands trembleR look at
my pale cheek) hear ho' my heart beats+ 4t is for you) my
lo(e) not for the black tulip+ Destroy the bulb) destroy the
germ of that flo'er) extinguish the gentle light of that
innocent and delightful dream) to 'hich 4 ha(e accustomed
myselfR but lo(e me) /osa) lo(e meR for 4 feel deeply that 4
lo(e but you+K
KQes) after the black tulip)K sighed /osa) 'ho at last no
longer coyly 'ithdre' her 'arm hands from the grating) as
&ornelius most affectionately kissed them+
KAbo(e and before e(erything in this 'orld) /osa+K
K=ay 4 belie(e youPK
KAs you belie(e in your o'n existence+K
K,ell) then) be it soR but lo(ing me does not bind you too
much+K
K<nfortunately) it does not bind me more than 4 am boundR
but it binds you) /osa) you+K
KTo 'hatPK
K$irst of all) not to marry+K
1he smiled+
KThat's your 'ay)K she saidR Kyou are tyrants all of you+
Qou 'orship a certain beauty) you think of nothing but her+
Then you are condemned to death) and 'hilst 'alking to the
scaffold) you de(ote to her your last sighR and no' you
expect poor me to sacrifice to you all my dreams and my
happiness+K
KBut 'ho is the beauty you are talking of) /osaPK said
&ornelius) trying in (ain to remember a 'oman to 'hom /osa
might possibly be alluding+
KThe dark beauty 'ith a slender 'aist) small feet) and a
noble headR in short) 4 am speaking of your flo'er+K
&ornelius smiled+
KThat is an imaginary lady lo(e) at all e(entsR 'hereas)
'ithout counting that amorous 5acob) you by your o'n account
are surrounded 'ith all sorts of s'ains eager to make lo(e
to you+ Do you remember /osa) 'hat you told me of the
students) officers) and clerks of the 0agueP Are there no
clerks) officers) or students at >oe'esteinPK
K4ndeed there are) and lots of them+K
K,ho 'rite lettersPK
KThey do 'rite+K
KAnd no') as you kno' ho' to read DDDD K
0ere &ornelius hea(ed a sigh at the thought) that) poor
capti(e as he 'as) to him alone /osa o'ed the faculty of
reading the lo(eDletters 'hich she recei(ed+
KAs to that)K said /osa) K4 think that in reading the notes
addressed to me) and passing the different s'ains in re(ie'
'ho send them to me) 4 am only follo'ing your instructions+K
K0o' soP =y instructionsPK
K4ndeed) your instructions) sir)K said /osa) sighing in her
turnR Kha(e you forgotten the 'ill 'ritten by your hand on
the Bible of &ornelius de ,ittP 4 ha(e not forgotten itR for
no') as 4 kno' ho' to read) 4 read it e(ery day o(er and
o(er again+ 4n that 'ill you bid me to lo(e and marry a
handsome young man of t'entyDsix or eight years+ 4 am on the
lookDout for that young man) and as the 'hole of my day is
taken up 'ith your tulip) you must needs lea(e me the
e(enings to find him+K
KBut) /osa) the 'ill 'as made in the expectation of death)
and) thanks to 0ea(en) 4 am still ali(e+K
K,ell) then) 4 shall not be after the handsome young man)
and 4 shall come to see you+K
KThat's it) /osa) come* come*K
K<nder one condition+K
KGranted beforehand*K
KThat the black tulip shall not be mentioned for the next
three days+K
K4t shall ne(er be mentioned any more) if you 'ish it)
/osa+K
K;o) no)K the damsel said) laughing) K4 'ill not ask for
impossibilities+K
And) saying this) she brought her fresh cheek) as if
unconsciously) so near the iron grating) that &ornelius 'as
able to touch it 'ith his lips+
/osa uttered a little scream) 'hich) ho'e(er) 'as full of
lo(e) and disappeared+
&hapter C!
The 1econd Bulb
The night 'as a happy one) and the 'hole of the next day
happier still+
During the last fe' days) the prison had been hea(y) dark)
and lo'ering) as it 'ere) 'ith all its 'eight on the
unfortunate capti(e+ 4ts 'alls 'ere black) its air chilling)
the iron bars seemed to exclude e(ery ray of light+
But 'hen &ornelius a'oke next morning) a beam of the morning
sun 'as playing about those iron barsR pigeons 'ere ho(ering
about 'ith outspread 'ings) 'hilst others 'ere lo(ingly
cooing on the roof or near the still closed 'indo'+
&ornelius ran to that 'indo' and opened itR it seemed to him
as if ne' life) and joy) and liberty itself 'ere entering
'ith this sunbeam into his cell) 'hich) so dreary of late)
'as no' cheered and irradiated by the light of lo(e+
,hen Gryphus) therefore) came to see his prisoner in the
morning) he no longer found him morose and lying in bed) but
standing at the 'indo') and singing a little ditty+
K0alloa*K exclaimed the jailer+
K0o' are you this morningPK asked &ornelius+
Gryphus looked at him 'ith a sco'l+
KAnd ho' is the dog) and =aster 5acob) and our pretty /osaPK
Gryphus ground his teeth) saying+ DD
K0ere is your breakfast+K
KThank you) friend &erberus)K said the prisonerR Kyou are
just in timeR 4 am (ery hungry+K
K:h* you are hungry) are youPK said Gryphus+
KAnd 'hy notPK asked .an Baerle+
KThe conspiracy seems to thri(e)K remarked Gryphus+
K,hat conspiracyPK
K.ery 'ell) 4 kno' 'hat 4 kno') =aster 1cholarR just be
Juiet) 'e shall be on our guard+K
KBe on your guard) friend GryphusR be on your guard as long
as you pleaseR my conspiracy) as 'ell as my person) is
entirely at your ser(ice+K
K,e'll see that at noon+K
1aying this) Gryphus 'ent out+
KAt noonPK repeated &orneliusR K'hat does that meanP ,ell)
let us 'ait until the clock strikes t'el(e) and 'e shall
see+K
4t 'as (ery easy for &ornelius to 'ait for t'el(e at midday)
as he 'as already 'aiting for nine at night+
4t struck t'el(e) and there 'ere heard on the staircase not
only the steps of Gryphus) but also those of three or four
soldiers) 'ho 'ere coming up 'ith him+
The door opened+ Gryphus entered) led his men in) and shut
the door after them+
KThere) no' search*K
They searched not only the pockets of &ornelius) but e(en
his personR yet they found nothing+
They then searched the sheets) the mattress) and the stra'
mattress of his bedR and again they found nothing+
;o') &ornelius rejoiced that he had not taken the third
sucker under his o'n care+ Gryphus 'ould ha(e been sure to
ferret it out in the search) and 'ould then ha(e treated it
as he did the first+
And certainly ne(er did prisoner look 'ith greater
complacency at a search made in his cell than &ornelius+
Gryphus retired 'ith the pencil and the t'o or three lea(es
of 'hite paper 'hich /osa had gi(en to .an Baerle) this 'as
the only trophy brought back from the expedition+
At six Gryphus came back again) but aloneR &ornelius tried
to propitiate him) but Gryphus gro'led) sho'ed a large tooth
like a tusk) 'hich he had in the corner of his mouth) and
'ent out back'ards) like a man 'ho is afraid of being
attacked from behind+
&ornelius burst out laughing) to 'hich Gryphus ans'ered
through the grating) DD
K>et him laugh that 'ins+K
The 'inner that day 'as &orneliusR /osa came at nine+
1he 'as 'ithout a lantern+ 1he needed no longer a light) as
she could no' read+ =oreo(er) the light might betray her) as
5acob 'as dogging her steps more than e(er+ And lastly) the
light 'ould ha(e sho'n her blushes+
:f 'hat did the young people speak that e(eningP :f those
matters of 'hich lo(ers speak at the house doors in $rance)
or from a balcony into the street in 1pain) or do'n from a
terrace into a garden in the East+
They spoke of those things 'hich gi(e 'ings to the hoursR
they spoke of e(erything except the black tulip+
At last) 'hen the clock struck ten) they parted as usual+
&ornelius 'as happy) as thoroughly happy as a tulipDfancier
'ould be to 'hom one has not spoken of his tulip+
0e found /osa pretty) good) graceful) and charming+
But 'hy did /osa object to the tulip being spoken ofP
This 'as indeed a great defect in /osa+
&ornelius confessed to himself) sighing) that 'oman 'as not
perfect+
Part of the night he thought of this imperfectionR that is
to say) so long as he 'as a'ake he thought of /osa+
After ha(ing fallen asleep) he dreamed of her+
But the /osa of his dreams 'as by far more perfect than the
/osa of real life+ ;ot only did the /osa of his dreams speak
of the tulip) but also brought to him a black one in a china
(ase+
&ornelius then a'oke) trembling 'ith joy) and muttering) DD
K/osa) /osa) 4 lo(e you+K
And as it 'as already day) he thought it right not to fall
asleep again) and he continued follo'ing up the line of
thought in 'hich his mind 'as engaged 'hen he a'oke+
Ah* if /osa had only con(ersed about the tulip) &ornelius
'ould ha(e preferred her to Sueen 1emiramis) to Sueen
&leopatra) to Sueen Eli9abeth) to Sueen Anne of AustriaR
that is to say) to the greatest or most beautiful Jueens
'hom the 'orld has seen+
But /osa had forbidden it under pain of not returningR /osa
had forbidden the least mention of the tulip for three days+
That meant se(entyDt'o hours gi(en to the lo(er to be sureR
but it 'as se(entyDt'o hours stolen from the horticulturist+
There 'as one consolation? of the se(entyDt'o hours during
'hich /osa 'ould not allo' the tulip to be mentioned)
thirtyDsix had passed alreadyR and the remaining thirtyDsix
'ould pass Juickly enough? eighteen 'ith 'aiting for the
e(ening's inter(ie') and eighteen 'ith rejoicing in its
remembrance+
/osa came at the same hour) and &ornelius submitted most
heroically to the pangs 'hich the compulsory silence
concerning the tulip ga(e him+
0is fair (isitor) ho'e(er) 'as 'ell a'are that) to command
on the one point) people must yield on anotherR she
therefore no longer dre' back her hands from the grating)
and e(en allo'ed &ornelius tenderly to kiss her beautiful
golden tresses+
Poor girl* she had no idea that these playful little lo(ers'
tricks 'ere much more dangerous than speaking of the tulip
'asR but she became a'are of the fact as she returned 'ith a
beating heart) 'ith glo'ing cheeks) dry lips) and moist
eyes+
And on the follo'ing e(ening) after the first exchange of
salutations) she retired a step) looking at him 'ith a
glance) the expression of 'hich 'ould ha(e rejoiced his
heart could he but ha(e seen it+
K,ell)K she said) Kshe is up+K
K1he is up* ,hoP ,hatPK asked &ornelius) 'ho did not (enture
on a belief that /osa 'ould) of her o'n accord) ha(e
abridged the term of his probation+
K1heP ,ell) my daughter) the tulip)K said /osa+
K,hat*K cried &ornelius) Kyou gi(e me permission) thenPK
K4 do)K said /osa) 'ith the tone of an affectionate mother
'ho grants a pleasure to her child+
KAh) /osa*K said &ornelius) putting his lips to the grating
'ith the hope of touching a cheek) a hand) a forehead) DD
anything) in short+
0e touched something much better) DD t'o 'arm and half open
lips+
/osa uttered a slight scream+
&ornelius understood that he must make haste to continue the
con(ersation+ 0e guessed that this unexpected kiss had
frightened /osa+
K4s it gro'ing up straightPK
K1traight as a rocket)K said /osa+
K0o' highPK
KAt least t'o inches+K
K:h) /osa) take good care of it) and 'e shall soon see it
gro' Juickly+K
K&an 4 take more care of itPK said she+ K4ndeed) 4 think of
nothing else but the tulip+K
K:f nothing else) /osaP ,hy) no' 4 shall gro' jealous in my
turn+K
K:h) you kno' that to think of the tulip is to think of youR
4 ne(er lose sight of it+ 4 see it from my bed) on a'aking
it is the first object that meets my eyes) and on falling
asleep the last on 'hich they rest+ During the day 4 sit and
'ork by its side) for 4 ha(e ne(er left my chamber since 4
put it there+K
KQou are right /osa) it is your do'ry) you kno'+K
KQes) and 'ith it 4 may marry a young man of t'entyDsix or
t'entyDeight years) 'hom 4 shall be in lo(e 'ith+K
KDon't talk in that 'ay) you naughty girl+K
That e(ening &ornelius 'as one of the happiest of men+ /osa
allo'ed him to press her hand in his) and to keep it as long
as he 'ould) besides 'hich he might talk of his tulip as
much as he liked+
$rom that hour e(ery day marked some progress in the gro'th
of the tulip and in the affection of the t'o young people+
At one time it 'as that the lea(es had expanded) and at
another that the flo'er itself had formed+
Great 'as the joy of &ornelius at this ne's) and his
Juestions succeeded one another 'ith a rapidity 'hich ga(e
proof of their importance+
K$ormed*K exclaimed &ornelius) Kis it really formedPK
K4t is)K repeated /osa+
&ornelius trembled 'ith joy) so much so that he 'as obliged
to hold by the grating+
KGood hea(ens*K he exclaimed+
Then) turning again to /osa) he continued his Juestions+
K4s the o(al regularP the cylinder fullP and are the points
(ery greenPK
KThe o(al is almost one inch long) and tapers like a needle)
the cylinder s'ells at the sides) and the points are ready
to open+K
T'o days after /osa announced that they 'ere open+
K:pen) /osa*K cried &ornelius+ K4s the in(olucrum openP but
then one may see and already distinguish DDDD K
0ere the prisoner paused) anxiously taking breath+
KQes)K ans'ered /osa) Kone may already distinguish a thread
of different colour) as thin as a hair+K
KAnd its colourPK asked &ornelius) trembling+
K:h)K ans'ered /osa) Kit is (ery dark*K
KBro'nPK
KDarker than that+K
KDarker) my good /osa) darkerP Thank you+ Dark as DDDD K
KDark as the ink 'ith 'hich 4 'rote to you+K
&ornelius uttered a cry of mad joy+
Then) suddenly stopping and clasping his hands) he said) DD
K:h) there is not an angel in hea(en that may be compared to
you) /osa*K
K4ndeed*K said /osa) smiling at his enthusiasm+
K/osa) you ha(e 'orked 'ith such ardour) DD you ha(e done so
much for me* /osa) my tulip is about to flo'er) and it 'ill
flo'er black* /osa) /osa) you are the most perfect being on
earth*K
KAfter the tulip) though+K
KAh* be Juiet) you malicious little creature) be Juiet* $or
shame* Do not spoil my pleasure+ But tell me) /osa) DD as
the tulip is so far ad(anced) it 'ill flo'er in t'o or three
days) at the latestPK
KToDmorro') or the day after+K
KAh* and 4 shall not see it)K cried &ornelius) starting
back) K4 shall not kiss it) as a 'onderful 'ork of the
Almighty) as 4 kiss your hand and your cheek) /osa) 'hen by
chance they are near the grating+K
/osa dre' near) not by accident) but intentionally) and
&ornelius kissed her tenderly+
K$aith) 4 shall cull it) if you 'ish it+K
K:h) no) no) /osa* 'hen it is open) place it carefully in
the shade) and immediately send a message to 0aarlem) to the
President of the 0orticultural 1ociety) that the grand black
tulip is in flo'er+ 4 kno' 'ell it is far to 0aarlem) but
'ith money you 'ill find a messenger+ 0a(e you any money)
/osaPK
/osa smiled+
K:h) yes*K she said+
KEnoughPK said &ornelius+
K4 ha(e three hundred guilders+K
K:h) if you ha(e three hundred guilders) you must not send a
messenger) /osa) but you must go to 0aarlem yourself+K
KBut 'hat in the meantime is to become of the flo'erPK
K:h) the flo'er* you must take it 'ith you+ Qou understand
that you must not separate from it for an instant+K
KBut 'hilst 4 am not separating from it) 4 am separating
from you) =ynheer &ornelius+K
KAh* that's true) my s'eet /osa+ :h) my God* ho' 'icked men
are* ,hat ha(e 4 done to offend them) and 'hy ha(e they
depri(ed me of my libertyP Qou are right) /osa) 4 cannot
li(e 'ithout you+ ,ell) you 'ill send some one to 0aarlem)
DD that's settledR really) the matter is 'onderful enough
for the President to put himself to some trouble+ 0e 'ill
come himself to >oe'estein to see the tulip+K
Then) suddenly checking himself) he said) 'ith a faltering
(oice) DD
K/osa) /osa) if after all it should not flo'er black*K
K:h) surely) surely) you 'ill kno' toDmorro') or the day
after+K
KAnd to 'ait until e(ening to kno' it) /osa* 4 shall die
'ith impatience+ &ould 'e not agree about a signalPK
K4 shall do better than that+K
K,hat 'ill you doPK
K4f it opens at night) 4 shall come and tell you myself+ 4f
it is day) 4 shall pass your door) and slip you a note
either under the door) or through the grating) during the
time bet'een my father's first and second inspection+K
KQes) /osa) let it be so+ :ne 'ord of yours) announcing this
ne's to me) 'ill be a double happiness+K
KThere) ten o'clock strikes)K said /osa) K4 must no' lea(e
you+K
KQes) yes)K said &ornelius) Kgo) /osa) go*K
/osa 'ithdre') almost melancholy) for &ornelius had all but
sent her a'ay+
4t is true that he did so in order that she might 'atch o(er
his black tulip+
&hapter CC
The :pening of the $lo'er
The night passed a'ay (ery s'eetly for &ornelius) although
in great agitation+ E(ery instant he fancied he heard the
gentle (oice of /osa calling him+ 0e then started up) 'ent
to the door) and looked through the grating) but no one 'as
behind it) and the lobby 'as empty+
/osa) no doubt) 'ould be 'atching too) but) happier than he)
she 'atched o(er the tulipR she had before her eyes that
noble flo'er) that 'onder of 'onders+ 'hich not only 'as
unkno'n) but 'as not e(en thought possible until then+
,hat 'ould the 'orld say 'hen it heard that the black tulip
'as found) that it existed and that it 'as the prisoner .an
Baerle 'ho had found itP
0o' &ornelius 'ould ha(e spurned the offer of his liberty in
exchange for his tulip*
Day came) 'ithout any ne'sR the tulip 'as not yet in flo'er+
The day passed as the night+ ;ight came) and 'ith it /osa)
joyous and cheerful as a bird+
K,ellPK asked &ornelius+
K,ell) all is going on prosperously+ This night) 'ithout any
doubt) our tulip 'ill be in flo'er+K
KAnd 'ill it flo'er blackPK
KBlack as jet+K
K,ithout a speck of any other colour+K
K,ithout one speck+K
KGood 0ea(ens* my dear /osa) 4 ha(e been dreaming all night)
in the first place of you)K @/osa made a sign of
incredulity)A Kand then of 'hat 'e must do+K
K,ellPK
K,ell) and 4 'ill tell you no' 'hat 4 ha(e decided on+ The
tulip once being in flo'er) and it being Juite certain that
it is perfectly black) you must find a messenger+K
K4f it is no more than that) 4 ha(e a messenger Juite
ready+K
K4s he safePK
K:ne for 'hom 4 'ill ans'er) DD he is one of my lo(ers+K
K4 hope not 5acob+K
K;o) be Juiet) it is the ferryman of >oe'estein) a smart
young man of t'entyDfi(e+K
KBy 5o(e*K
KBe Juiet)K said /osa) smiling) Khe is still under age) as
you ha(e yourself fixed it from t'entyDsix to t'entyDeight+K
K4n fine) do you think you may rely on this young manPK
KAs on myselfR he 'ould thro' himself into the ,aal or the
=euse if 4 bade him+K
K,ell) /osa) this lad may be at 0aarlem in ten hoursR you
'ill gi(e me paper and pencil) and) perhaps better still)
pen and ink) and 4 'ill 'rite) or rather) on second
thoughts) you 'ill) for if 4 did) being a poor prisoner)
people might) like your father) see a conspiracy in it+ Qou
'ill 'rite to the President of the 0orticultural 1ociety)
and 4 am sure he 'ill come+K
KBut if he tarriesPK
K,ell) let us suppose that he tarries one day) or e(en t'oR
but it is impossible+ A tulipDfancier like him 'ill not
tarry one hour) not one minute) not one second) to set out
to see the eighth 'onder of the 'orld+ But) as 4 said) if he
tarried one or e(en t'o days) the tulip 'ill still be in its
full splendour+ The flo'er once being seen by the President)
and the protocol being dra'n up) all is in orderR you 'ill
only keep a duplicate of the protocol) and intrust the tulip
to him+ Ah* if 'e had been able to carry it oursel(es) /osa)
it 'ould ne(er ha(e left my hands but to pass into yoursR
but this is a dream) 'hich 'e must not entertain)K continued
&ornelius 'ith a sigh) Kthe eyes of strangers 'ill see it
flo'er to the last+ And abo(e all) /osa) before the
President has seen it) let it not be seen by any one+ Alas*
if any one sa' the black tulip) it 'ould be stolen+K
K:h*K
KDid you not tell me yourself of 'hat you apprehended from
your lo(er 5acobP People 'ill steal one guilder) 'hy not a
hundred thousandPK
K4 shall 'atchR be Juiet+K
KBut if it opened 'hilst you 'ere herePK
KThe 'himsical little thing 'ould indeed be Juite capable of
playing such a trick)K said /osa+
KAnd if on your return you find it openPK
K,ellPK
K:h) /osa) 'hene(er it opens) remember that not a moment
must be lost in apprising the President+K
KAnd in apprising you+ Qes) 4 understand+K
/osa sighed) yet 'ithout any bitter feeling) but rather like
a 'oman 'ho begins to understand a foible) and to accustom
herself to it+
K4 return to your tulip) =ynheer (an Baerle) and as soon as
it opens 4 'ill gi(e you ne's) 'hich being done the
messenger 'ill set out immediately+K
K/osa) /osa) 4 don't kno' to 'hat 'onder under the sun 4
shall compare you+K
K&ompare me to the black tulip) and 4 promise you 4 shall
feel (ery much flattered+ Good night) then) till 'e meet
again) =ynheer &ornelius+K
K:h) say 'Good night) my friend+'K
KGood night) my friend)K said /osa) a little consoled+
K1ay) '=y (ery dear friend+'K
K:h) my friend DD K
K.ery dear friend) 4 entreat you) say '(ery dear)' /osa)
(ery dear+K
K.ery dear) yes) (ery dear)K said /osa) 'ith a beating
heart) beyond herself 'ith happiness+
KAnd no' that you ha(e said '(ery dear)' dear /osa) say also
'most happy'? say 'happier and more blessed than e(er man
'as under the sun+' 4 only lack one thing) /osa+K
KAnd that isPK
KQour cheek) DD your fresh cheek) your soft) rosy cheek+ :h)
/osa) gi(e it me of your o'n free 'ill) and not by chance+
Ah*K
The prisoner's prayer ended in a sigh of ecstasyR his lips
met those of the maiden) DD not by chance) nor by stratagem)
but as 1aintDPreux's 'as to meet the lips of 5ulie a hundred
years later+
/osa made her escape+
&ornelius stood 'ith his heart upon his lips) and his face
glued to the 'icket in the door+
0e 'as fairly choking 'ith happiness and joy+ 0e opened his
'indo') and ga9ed long) 'ith s'elling heart) at the
cloudless (ault of hea(en) and the moon) 'hich shone like
sil(er upon the t'oDfold stream flo'ing from far beyond the
hills+ 0e filled his lungs 'ith the pure) s'eet air) 'hile
his brain d'elt upon thoughts of happiness) and his heart
o(erflo'ed 'ith gratitude and religious fer(our+
K:h Thou art al'ays 'atching from on high) my God)K he
cried) half prostrate) his glo'ing eyes fixed upon the
stars? Kforgi(e me that 4 almost doubted Thy existence
during these latter days) for Thou didst hide Thy face
behind the clouds) and 'ert for a moment lost to my sight) :
Thou merciful God) Thou pitying $ather e(erlasting* But
toDday) this e(ening) and toDnight) again 4 see Thee in all
Thy 'ondrous glory in the mirror of Thy hea(enly abode) and
more clearly still in the mirror of my grateful heart+K
0e 'as 'ell again) the poor in(alidR the 'retched capti(e
'as free once more+
During part of the night &ornelius) 'ith his heart full of
joy and delight) remained at his 'indo') ga9ing at the
stars) and listening for e(ery sound+
Then casting a glance from time to time to'ards the lobby)
DD
KDo'n there)K he said) Kis /osa) 'atching like myself) and
'aiting from minute to minuteR do'n there) under /osa's
eyes) is the mysterious flo'er) 'hich li(es) 'hich expands)
'hich opens) perhaps /osa holds in this moment the stem of
the tulip bet'een her delicate fingers+ Touch it gently)
/osa+ Perhaps she touches 'ith her lips its expanding
chalice+ Touch it cautiously) /osa) your lips are burning+
Qes) perhaps at this moment the t'o objects of my dearest
lo(e caress each other under the eye of 0ea(en+K
At this moment) a star bla9ed in the southern sky) and shot
through the 'hole hori9on) falling do'n) as it 'ere) on the
fortress of >oe'estein+
&ornelius felt a thrill run through his frame+
KAh*K he said) Khere is 0ea(en sending a soul to my flo'er+K
And as if he had guessed correctly) nearly at that (ery
moment the prisoner heard in the lobby a step light as that
of a sylph) and the rustling of a go'n) and a 'ellDkno'n
(oice) 'hich said to him) DD
K&ornelius) my friend) my (ery dear friend) and (ery happy
friend) come) come Juickly+K
&ornelius darted 'ith one spring from the 'indo' to the
door) his lips met those of /osa) 'ho told him) 'ith a kiss)
DD
K4t is open) it is black) here it is+K
K0o'* here it isPK exclaimed &ornelius+
KQes) yes) 'e ought indeed to run some little risk to gi(e a
great joyR here it is) take it+K
And 'ith one hand she raised to the le(el of the grating a
dark lantern) 'hich she had lit in the mean'hile) 'hilst
'ith the other she held to the same height the miraculous
tulip+
&ornelius uttered a cry) and 'as nearly fainting+
K:h*K muttered he) Kmy God) my God) Thou dost re'ard me for
my innocence and my capti(ity) as Thou hast allo'ed t'o such
flo'ers to gro' at the grated 'indo' of my prison*K
The tulip 'as beautiful) splendid) magnificentR its stem 'as
more than eighteen inches highR it rose from out of four
green lea(es) 'hich 'ere as smooth and straight as iron
lanceDheadsR the 'hole of the flo'er 'as as black and
shining as jet+
K/osa)K said &ornelius) almost gasping) K/osa) there is not
one moment to lose in 'riting the letter+K
K4t is 'ritten) my dearest &ornelius)K said /osa+
K4s it) indeedPK
K,hilst the tulip opened 4 'rote it myself) for 4 did not
'ish to lose a moment+ 0ere is the letter) and tell me
'hether you appro(e of it+K
&ornelius took the letter) and read) in a hand'riting 'hich
'as much impro(ed e(en since the last little note he had
recei(ed from /osa) as follo's? DD
K=ynheer President) DD The black tulip is about to open)
perhaps in ten minutes+ As soon as it is open) 4 shall send
a messenger to you) 'ith the reJuest that you 'ill come and
fetch it in person from the fortress at >oe'estein+ 4 am the
daughter of the jailer) Gryphus) almost as much of a capti(e
as the prisoners of my father+ 4 cannot) therefore) bring to
you this 'onderful flo'er+ This is the reason 'hy 4 beg you
to come and fetch it yourself+
K4t is my 'ish that it should be called /osa Barlaensis+
K4t has openedR it is perfectly blackR come) =ynheer
President) come+
K4 ha(e the honour to be your humble ser(ant)
K/osa Gryphus+
KThat's it) dear /osa) that's it+ Qour letter is admirable*
4 could not ha(e 'ritten it 'ith such beautiful simplicity+
Qou 'ill gi(e to the committee all the information that 'ill
be reJuired of you+ They 'ill then kno' ho' the tulip has
been gro'n) ho' much care and anxiety) and ho' many
sleepless nights) it has cost+ But for the present not a
minute must be lost+ The messenger* the messenger*K
K,hat's the name of the PresidentPK
KGi(e me the letter) 4 'ill direct it+ :h) he is (ery 'ell
kno'n? it is =ynheer (an 1ystens) the burgomaster of
0aarlemR gi(e it to me) /osa) gi(e it to me+K
And 'ith a trembling hand &ornelius 'rote the address) DD
KTo =ynheer Peter (an 1ystens) Burgomaster) and President of
the 0orticultural 1ociety of 0aarlem+K
KAnd no') /osa) go) go)K said &ornelius) Kand let us implore
the protection of God) 'ho has so kindly 'atched o(er us
until no'+K
&hapter CH
The /i(al
And in fact the poor young people 'ere in great need of protection+
They had ne(er been so near the destruction of their hopes
as at this moment) 'hen they thought themsel(es certain of
their fulfilment+
The reader cannot but ha(e recogni9ed in 5acob our old
friend) or rather enemy) 4saac Boxtel) and has guessed) no
doubt) that this 'orthy had follo'ed from the Buytenhof to
>oe'estein the object of his lo(e and the object of his
hatred) DD the black tulip and &ornelius (an Baerle+
,hat no one but a tulipDfancier) and an en(ious
tulipDfancier) could ha(e disco(ered) DD the existence of
the bulbs and the endea(ours of the prisoner) DD jealousy
had enabled Boxtel) if not to disco(er) at least to guess+
,e ha(e seen him) more successful under the name of 5acob
than under that of 4saac) gain the friendship of Gryphus)
'hich for se(eral months he culti(ated by means of the best
Genie(re e(er distilled from the Texel to Ant'erp) and he
lulled the suspicion of the jealous turnkey by holding out
to him the flattering prospect of his designing to marry
/osa+
Besides thus offering a bait to the ambition of the father)
he managed) at the same time) to interest his 9eal as a
jailer) picturing to him in the blackest colours the learned
prisoner 'hom Gryphus had in his keeping) and 'ho) as the
sham 5acob had it) 'as in league 'ith 1atan) to the
detriment of his 0ighness the Prince of :range+
At first he had also made some 'ay 'ith /osaR not) indeed)
in her affections) but inasmuch as) by talking to her of
marriage and of lo(e) he had e(aded all the suspicions 'hich
he might other'ise ha(e excited+
,e ha(e seen ho' his imprudence in follo'ing /osa into the
garden had unmasked him in the eyes of the young damsel) and
ho' the instincti(e fears of &ornelius had put the t'o
lo(ers on their guard against him+
The reader 'ill remember that the first cause of uneasiness
'as gi(en to the prisoner by the rage of 5acob 'hen Gryphus
crushed the first bulb+ 4n that moment Boxtel's exasperation
'as the more fierce) as) though suspecting that &ornelius
possessed a second bulb) he by no means felt sure of it+
$rom that moment he began to dodge the steps of /osa) not
only follo'ing her to the garden) but also to the lobbies+
:nly as this time he follo'ed her in the night) and
bareDfooted) he 'as neither seen nor heard except once) 'hen
/osa thought she sa' something like a shado' on the
staircase+
0er disco(ery) ho'e(er) 'as made too late) as Boxtel had
heard from the mouth of the prisoner himself that a second
bulb existed+
Taken in by the stratagem of /osa) 'ho had feigned to put it
in the ground) and entertaining no doubt that this little
farce had been played in order to force him to betray
himself) he redoubled his precaution) and employed e(ery
means suggested by his crafty nature to 'atch the others
'ithout being 'atched himself+
0e sa' /osa con(eying a large flo'erDpot of 'hite
earthen'are from her father's kitchen to her bedroom+ 0e sa'
/osa 'ashing in pails of 'ater her pretty little hands)
begrimed as they 'ere 'ith the mould 'hich she had handled)
to gi(e her tulip the best soil possible+
And at last he hired) just opposite /osa's 'indo') a little
attic) distant enough not to allo' him to be recogni9ed 'ith
the naked eye) but sufficiently near to enable him) 'ith the
help of his telescope) to 'atch e(erything that 'as going on
at the >oe'estein in /osa's room) just as at Dort he had
'atched the dryDroom of &ornelius+
0e had not been installed more than three days in his attic
before all his doubts 'ere remo(ed+
$rom morning to sunset the flo'erDpot 'as in the 'indo')
and) like those charming female figures of =ieris and
=et9ys) /osa appeared at that 'indo' as in a frame) formed
by the first budding sprays of the 'ild (ine and the
honeysuckle encircling her 'indo'+
/osa 'atched the flo'erDpot 'ith an interest 'hich betrayed
to Boxtel the real (alue of the object enclosed in it+
This object could not be anything else but the second bulb)
that is to say) the Juintessence of all the hopes of the
prisoner+
,hen the nights threatened to be too cold) /osa took in the
flo'erDpot+
,ell) it 'as then Juite e(ident she 'as follo'ing the
instructions of &ornelius) 'ho 'as afraid of the bulb being
killed by frost+
,hen the sun became too hot) /osa like'ise took in the pot
from ele(en in the morning until t'o in the afternoon+
Another proof? &ornelius 'as afraid lest the soil should
become too dry+
But 'hen the first lea(es peeped out of the earth Boxtel 'as
fully con(incedR and his telescope left him no longer in any
uncertainty before they had gro'n one inch in height+
&ornelius possessed t'o bulbs) and the second 'as intrusted
to the lo(e and care of /osa+
$or it may 'ell be imagined that the tender secret of the
t'o lo(ers had not escaped the prying curiosity of Boxtel+
The Juestion) therefore) 'as ho' to 'rest the second bulb
from the care of /osa+
&ertainly this 'as no easy task+
/osa 'atched o(er her tulip as a mother o(er her child) or a
do(e o(er her eggs+
/osa ne(er left her room during the day) and) more than
that) strange to say) she ne(er left it in the e(ening+
$or se(en days Boxtel in (ain 'atched /osaR she 'as al'ays
at her post+
This happened during those se(en days 'hich made &ornelius
so unhappy) depri(ing him at the same time of all ne's of
/osa and of his tulip+
,ould the coolness bet'een /osa and &ornelius last for e(erP
This 'ould ha(e made the theft much more difficult than
=ynheer 4saac had at first expected+
,e say the theft) for 4saac had simply made up his mind to
steal the tulipR and as it gre' in the most profound
secrecy) and as) moreo(er) his 'ord) being that of a
reno'ned tulipDgro'er) 'ould any day be taken against that
of an unkno'n girl 'ithout any kno'ledge of horticulture) or
against that of a prisoner con(icted of high treason) he
confidently hoped that) ha(ing once got possession of the
bulb) he 'ould be certain to obtain the pri9eR and then the
tulip) instead of being called Tulipa nigra Barlaensis)
'ould go do'n to posterity under the name of Tulipa nigra
Boxtellensis or Boxtellea+
=ynheer 4saac had not yet Juite decided 'hich of these t'o
names he 'ould gi(e to the tulip) but) as both meant the
same thing) this 'as) after all) not the important point+
The point 'as to steal the tulip+ But in order that Boxtel
might steal the tulip) it 'as necessary that /osa should
lea(e her room+
Great therefore 'as his joy 'hen he sa' the usual e(ening
meetings of the lo(ers resumed+
0e first of all took ad(antage of /osa's absence to make
himself fully acJuainted 'ith all the peculiarities of the
door of her chamber+ The lock 'as a double one and in good
order) but /osa al'ays took the key 'ith her+
Boxtel at first entertained an idea of stealing the key) but
it soon occurred to him) not only that it 'ould be
exceedingly difficult to abstract it from her pocket) but
also that) 'hen she percei(ed her loss) she 'ould not lea(e
her room until the lock 'as changed) and then Boxtel's first
theft 'ould be useless+
0e thought it) therefore) better to employ a different
expedient+ 0e collected as many keys as he could) and tried
all of them during one of those delightful hours 'hich /osa
and &ornelius passed together at the grating of the cell+
T'o of the keys entered the lock) and one of them turned
round once) but not the second time+
There 'as) therefore) only a little to be done to this key+
Boxtel co(ered it 'ith a slight coat of 'ax) and 'hen he
thus rene'ed the experiment) the obstacle 'hich pre(ented
the key from being turned a second time left its impression
on the 'ax+
4t cost Boxtel t'o days more to bring his key to perfection)
'ith the aid of a small file+
/osa's door thus opened 'ithout noise and 'ithout
difficulty) and Boxtel found himself in her room alone 'ith
the tulip+
The first guilty act of Boxtel had been to climb o(er a 'all
in order to dig up the tulipR the second) to introduce
himself into the dryDroom of &ornelius) through an open
'indo'R and the third) to enter /osa's room by means of a
false key+
Thus en(y urged Boxtel on 'ith rapid steps in the career of
crime+
Boxtel) as 'e ha(e said) 'as alone 'ith the tulip+
A common thief 'ould ha(e taken the pot under his arm) and
carried it off+
But Boxtel 'as not a common thief) and he reflected+
4t 'as not yet certain) although (ery probable) that the
tulip 'ould flo'er blackR if) therefore) he stole it no') he
not only might be committing a useless crime) but also the
theft might be disco(ered in the time 'hich must elapse
until the flo'er should open+
0e therefore DD as being in possession of the key) he might
enter /osa's chamber 'hene(er he liked DD thought it better
to 'ait and to take it either an hour before or after
opening) and to start on the instant to 0aarlem) 'here the
tulip 'ould be before the judges of the committee before any
one else could put in a reclamation+
1hould any one then reclaim it) Boxtel 'ould in his turn
charge him or her 'ith theft+
This 'as a deepDlaid scheme) and Juite 'orthy of its author+
Thus) e(ery e(ening during that delightful hour 'hich the
t'o lo(ers passed together at the grated 'indo') Boxtel
entered /osa's chamber to 'atch the progress 'hich the black
tulip had made to'ards flo'ering+
:n the e(ening at 'hich 'e ha(e arri(ed he 'as going to
enter according to customR but the t'o lo(ers) as 'e ha(e
seen) only exchanged a fe' 'ords before &ornelius sent /osa
back to 'atch o(er the tulip+
1eeing /osa enter her room ten minutes after she had left
it) Boxtel guessed that the tulip had opened) or 'as about
to open+
During that night) therefore) the great blo' 'as to be
struck+ Boxtel presented himself before Gryphus 'ith a
double supply of Genie(re) that is to say) 'ith a bottle in
each pocket+
Gryphus being once fuddled) Boxtel 'as (ery nearly master of
the house+
At ele(en o'clock Gryphus 'as dead drunk+ At t'o in the
morning Boxtel sa' /osa lea(ing the chamberR but e(idently
she held in her arms something 'hich she carried 'ith great
care+
0e did not doubt that this 'as the black tulip 'hich 'as in
flo'er+
But 'hat 'as she going to do 'ith itP ,ould she set out that
instant to 0aarlem 'ith itP
4t 'as not possible that a young girl should undertake such
a journey alone during the night+
,as she only going to sho' the tulip to &orneliusP This 'as
more likely+
0e follo'ed /osa in his stocking feet) 'alking on tiptoe+
0e sa' her approach the grated 'indo'+ 0e heard her calling
&ornelius+ By the light of the dark lantern he sa' the tulip
open) and black as the night in 'hich he 'as hidden+
0e heard the plan concerted bet'een &ornelius and /osa to
send a messenger to 0aarlem+ 0e sa' the lips of the lo(ers
meet) and then heard &ornelius send /osa a'ay+
0e sa' /osa extinguish the light and return to her chamber+
Ten minutes after) he sa' her lea(e the room again) and lock
it t'ice+
Boxtel) 'ho sa' all this 'hilst hiding himself on the
landingDplace of the staircase abo(e) descended step by step
from his story as /osa descended from hersR so that) 'hen
she touched 'ith her light foot the lo'est step of the
staircase) Boxtel touched 'ith a still lighter hand the lock
of /osa's chamber+
And in that hand) it must be understood) he held the false
key 'hich opened /osa's door as easily as did the real one+
And this is 'hy) in the beginning of the chapter) 'e said
that the poor young people 'ere in great need of the
protection of God+
&hapter CE
The Black Tulip changes =asters
&ornelius remained standing on the spot 'here /osa had left him+
0e 'as Juite o(erpo'ered 'ith the 'eight of his t'ofold happiness+
0alf an hour passed a'ay+ Already did the first rays of the
sun enter through the iron grating of the prison) 'hen
&ornelius 'as suddenly startled at the noise of steps 'hich
came up the staircase) and of cries 'hich approached nearer
and nearer+
Almost at the same instant he sa' before him the pale and
distracted face of /osa+
0e started) and turned pale 'ith fright+
K&ornelius) &ornelius*K she screamed) gasping for breath+
KGood 0ea(en* 'hat is itPK asked the prisoner+
K&ornelius* the tulip DDDD K
K,ellPK
K0o' shall 4 tell youPK
K1peak) speak) /osa*K
K1ome one has taken DD stolen it from us+K
K1tolen DD takenPK said &ornelius+
KQes)K said /osa) leaning against the door to support
herselfR Kyes) taken) stolen*K
And saying this) she felt her limbs failing her) and she
fell on her knees+
KBut ho'P Tell me) explain to me+K
K:h) it is not my fault) my friend+K
Poor /osa* she no longer dared to call him K=y belo(ed one+K
KQou ha(e then left it alone)K said &ornelius) ruefully+
K:ne minute only) to instruct our messenger) 'ho li(es
scarcely fifty yards off) on the banks of the ,aal+K
KAnd during that time) not'ithstanding all my injunctions)
you left the key behind) unfortunate child*K
K;o) no) no* this is 'hat 4 cannot understand+ The key 'as
ne(er out of my handsR 4 clinched it as if 4 'ere afraid it
'ould take 'ings+K
KBut ho' did it happen) thenPK
KThat's 'hat 4 cannot make out+ 4 had gi(en the letter to my
messengerR he started before 4 left his houseR 4 came home)
and my door 'as locked) e(erything in my room 'as as 4 had
left it) except the tulip) DD that 'as gone+ 1ome one must
ha(e had a key for my room) or ha(e got a false one made on
purpose+K
1he 'as nearly choking 'ith sobs) and 'as unable to
continue+
&ornelius) immo(able and full of consternation) heard almost
'ithout understanding) and only muttered) DD
K1tolen) stolen) and 4 am lost*K
K: &ornelius) forgi(e me) forgi(e me) it 'ill kill me*K
1eeing /osa's distress) &ornelius sei9ed the iron bars of
the grating) and furiously shaking them) called out) DD
K/osa) /osa) 'e ha(e been robbed) it is true) but shall 'e
allo' oursel(es to be dejected for all thatP ;o) noR the
misfortune is great) but it may perhaps be remedied+ /osa)
'e kno' the thief*K
KAlas* 'hat can 4 say about itPK
KBut 4 say that it is no one else but that infamous 5acob+
1hall 'e allo' him to carry to 0aarlem the fruit of our
labour) the fruit of our sleepless nights) the child of our
lo(eP /osa) 'e must pursue) 'e must o(ertake him*K
KBut ho' can 'e do all this) my friend) 'ithout letting my
father kno' 'e 'ere in communication 'ith each otherP 0o'
should 4) a poor girl) 'ith so little kno'ledge of the 'orld
and its 'ays) be able to attain this end) 'hich perhaps you
could not attain yourselfPK
K/osa) /osa) open this door to me) and you 'ill see 'hether
4 'ill not find the thief) DD 'hether 4 'ill not make him
confess his crime and beg for mercy+K
KAlas*K cried /osa) sobbing) Kcan 4 open the door for youP
ha(e 4 the keysP 4f 4 had had them) 'ould not you ha(e been
free long agoPK
KQour father has them) DD your 'icked father) 'ho has
already crushed the first bulb of my tulip+ :h) the 'retch*
he is an accomplice of 5acob*K
KDon't speak so loud) for 0ea(en's sake*K
K:h) /osa) if you don't open the door to me)K &ornelius
cried in his rage) K4 shall force these bars) and kill
e(erything 4 find in the prison+K
KBe merciful) be merciful) my friend*K
K4 tell you) /osa) that 4 shall demolish this prison) stone
for stone*K and the unfortunate man) 'hose strength 'as
increased tenfold by his rage) began to shake the door 'ith
a great noise) little heeding that the thunder of his (oice
'as reDechoing through the spiral staircase+
/osa) in her fright) made (ain attempts to check this
furious outbreak+
K4 tell you that 4 shall kill that infamous GryphusPK roared
&ornelius+ K4 tell you 4 shall shed his blood as he did that
of my black tulip+K
The 'retched prisoner began really to ra(e+
K,ell) then) yes)K said /osa) all in a tremble+ KQes) yes)
only be Juiet+ Qes) yes) 4 'ill take his keys) 4 'ill open
the door for you* Qes) only be Juiet) my o'n dear
&ornelius+K
1he did not finish her speech) as a gro'l by her side
interrupted her+
K=y father*K cried /osa+
KGryphus*K roared .an Baerle+ K:h) you (illain*K
:ld Gryphus) in the midst of all the noise) had ascended the
staircase 'ithout being heard+
0e rudely sei9ed his daughter by the 'rist+
K1o you 'ill take my keysPK he said) in a (oice choked 'ith
rage+ KAh* this dastardly fello') this monster) this
gallo'sDbird of a conspirator) is your o'n dear &ornelius)
is heP Ah* =issy has communications 'ith prisoners of state+
Ah* 'on't 4 teach you DD 'on't 4PK
/osa clasped her hands in despair+
KAh*K Gryphus continued) passing from the madness of anger
to the cool irony of a man 'ho has got the better of his
enemy) DD KAh) you innocent tulipDfancier) you gentle
scholarR you 'ill kill me) and drink my blood* .ery 'ell*
(ery 'ell* And you ha(e my daughter for an accomplice+ Am 4)
forsooth) in a den of thie(es) DD in a ca(e of brigandsP
Qes) but the Go(ernor shall kno' all toDmorro') and his
0ighness the 1tadtholder the day after+ ,e kno' the la') DD
'e shall gi(e a second edition of the Buytenhof) =aster
1cholar) and a good one this time+ Qes) yes) just gna' your
pa's like a bear in his cage) and you) my fine little lady)
de(our your dear &ornelius 'ith your eyes+ 4 tell you) my
lambkins) you shall not much longer ha(e the felicity of
conspiring together+ A'ay 'ith you) unnatural daughter* And
as to you) =aster 1cholar) 'e shall see each other again+
5ust be Juiet) DD 'e shall+K
/osa) beyond herself 'ith terror and despair) kissed her
hands to her friendR then) suddenly struck 'ith a bright
thought) she rushed to'ard the staircase) saying) DD
KAll is not yet lost) &ornelius+ /ely on me) my &ornelius+K
0er father follo'ed her) gro'ling+
As to poor &ornelius) he gradually loosened his hold of the
bars) 'hich his fingers still grasped con(ulsi(ely+ 0is head
'as hea(y) his eyes almost started from their sockets) and
he fell hea(ily on the floor of his cell) muttering) DD
K1tolen* it has been stolen from me*K
During this time Boxtel had left the fortress by the door
'hich /osa herself had opened+ 0e carried the black tulip
'rapped up in a cloak) and) thro'ing himself into a coach)
'hich 'as 'aiting for him at Gorcum) he dro(e off) 'ithout)
as may 'ell be imagined) ha(ing informed his friend Gryphus
of his sudden departure+
And no') as 'e ha(e seen him enter his coach) 'e shall 'ith
the consent of the reader) follo' him to the end of his
journey+
0e proceeded but slo'ly) as the black tulip could not bear
tra(elling postDhaste+
But Boxtel) fearing that he might not arri(e early enough)
procured at Delft a box) lined all round 'ith fresh moss) in
'hich he packed the tulip+ The flo'er 'as so lightly pressed
upon all sides) 'ith a supply of air from abo(e) that the
coach could no' tra(el full speed 'ithout any possibility of
injury to the tulip+
0e arri(ed next morning at 0aarlem) fatigued but triumphantR
and) to do a'ay 'ith e(ery trace of the theft) he
transplanted the tulip) and) breaking the original
flo'erDpot) thre' the pieces into the canal+ After 'hich he
'rote the President of the 0orticultural 1ociety a letter)
in 'hich he announced to him that he had just arri(ed at
0aarlem 'ith a perfectly black tulipR and) 'ith his flo'er
all safe) took up his Juarters at a good hotel in the to'n)
and there he 'aited+
&hapter C7
The President (an 1ystens
/osa) on lea(ing &ornelius) had fixed on her plan) 'hich 'as
no other than to restore to &ornelius the stolen tulip) or
ne(er to see him again+
1he had seen the despair of the prisoner) and she kne' that
it 'as deri(ed from a double source) and that it 'as
incurable+
:n the one hand) separation became ine(itable) DD Gryphus
ha(ing at the same time surprised the secret of their lo(e
and of their secret meetings+
:n the other hand) all the hopes on the fulfilment of 'hich
&ornelius (an Baerle had rested his ambition for the last
se(en years 'ere no' crushed+
/osa 'as one of those 'omen 'ho are dejected by trifles) but
'ho in great emergencies are supplied by the misfortune
itself 'ith the energy for combating or 'ith the resources
for remedying it+
1he 'ent to her room) and cast a last glance about her to
see 'hether she had not been mistaken) and 'hether the tulip
'as not sto'ed a'ay in some corner 'here it had escaped her
notice+ But she sought in (ain) the tulip 'as still missingR
the tulip 'as indeed stolen+
/osa made up a little parcel of things indispensable for a
journeyR took her three hundred guilders) DD that is to say)
all her fortune) DD fetched the third bulb from among her
lace) 'here she had laid it up) and carefully hid it in her
bosomR after 'hich she locked her door t'ice to disguise her
flight as long as possible) and) lea(ing the prison by the
same door 'hich an hour before had let out Boxtel) she 'ent
to a stableDkeeper to hire a carriage+
The man had only a t'oD'heel chaise) and this 'as the
(ehicle 'hich Boxtel had hired since last e(ening) and in
'hich he 'as no' dri(ing along the road to DelftR for the
road from >oe'estein to 0aarlem) o'ing to the many canals)
ri(ers) and ri(ulets intersecting the country) is
exceedingly circuitous+
;ot being able to procure a (ehicle) /osa 'as obliged to
take a horse) 'ith 'hich the stableDkeeper readily intrusted
her) kno'ing her to be the daughter of the jailer of the
fortress+
/osa hoped to o(ertake her messenger) a kindDhearted and
honest lad) 'hom she 'ould take 'ith her) and 'ho might at
the same time ser(e her as a guide and a protector+
And in fact she had not proceeded more than a league before
she sa' him hastening along one of the side paths of a (ery
pretty road by the ri(er+ 1etting her horse off at a canter)
she soon came up 'ith him+
The honest lad 'as not a'are of the important character of
his messageR ne(ertheless) he used as much speed as if he
had kno'n itR and in less than an hour he had already gone a
league and a half+
/osa took from him the note) 'hich had no' become useless)
and explained to him 'hat she 'anted him to do for her+ The
boatman placed himself entirely at her disposal) promising
to keep pace 'ith the horse if /osa 'ould allo' him to take
hold of either the croup or the bridle of her horse+ The t'o
tra(ellers had been on their 'ay for fi(e hours) and made
more than eight leagues) and yet Gryphus had not the least
suspicion of his daughter ha(ing left the fortress+
The jailer) 'ho 'as of a (ery spiteful and cruel
disposition) chuckled 'ithin himself at the idea of ha(ing
struck such terror into his daughter's heart+
But 'hilst he 'as congratulating himself on ha(ing such a
nice story to tell to his boon companion) 5acob) that 'orthy
'as on his road to DelftR and) thanks to the s'iftness of
the horse) had already the start of /osa and her companion
by four leagues+
And 'hilst the affectionate father 'as rejoicing at the
thought of his daughter 'eeping in her room) /osa 'as making
the best of her 'ay to'ards 0aarlem+
Thus the prisoner alone 'as 'here Gryphus thought him to be+
/osa 'as so little 'ith her father since she took care of
the tulip) that at his dinner hour) that is to say) at
t'el(e o'clock) he 'as reminded for the first time by his
appetite that his daughter 'as fretting rather too long+
0e sent one of the underDturnkeys to call herR and) 'hen the
man came back to tell him that he had called and sought her
in (ain) he resol(ed to go and call her himself+
0e first 'ent to her room) but) loud as he knocked) /osa
ans'ered not+
The locksmith of the fortress 'as sent forR he opened the
door) but Gryphus no more found /osa than she had found the
tulip+
At that (ery moment she entered /otterdam+
Gryphus therefore had just as little chance of finding her
in the kitchen as in her room) and just as little in the
garden as in the kitchen+
The reader may imagine the anger of the jailer 'hen) after
ha(ing made inJuiries about the neighbourhood) he heard that
his daughter had hired a horse) and) like an ad(enturess)
set out on a journey 'ithout saying 'here she 'as going+
Gryphus again 'ent up in his fury to .an Baerle) abused him)
threatened him) knocked all the miserable furniture of his
cell about) and promised him all sorts of misery) e(en
star(ation and flogging+
&ornelius) 'ithout e(en hearing 'hat his jailer said)
allo'ed himself to be illDtreated) abused) and threatened)
remaining all the 'hile sullen) immo(able) dead to e(ery
emotion and fear+
After ha(ing sought for /osa in e(ery direction) Gryphus
looked out for 5acob) and) as he could not find him either)
he began to suspect from that moment that 5acob had run a'ay
'ith her+
The damsel) mean'hile) after ha(ing stopped for t'o hours at
/otterdam) had started again on her journey+ :n that e(ening
she slept at Delft) and on the follo'ing morning she reached
0aarlem) four hours after Boxtel had arri(ed there+
/osa) first of all) caused herself to be led before =ynheer
(an 1ystens) the President of the 0orticultural 1ociety of
0aarlem+
1he found that 'orthy gentleman in a situation 'hich) to do
justice to our story) 'e must not pass o(er in our
description+
The President 'as dra'ing up a report to the committee of
the society+
This report 'as 'ritten on largeDsi9ed paper) in the finest
hand'riting of the President+
/osa 'as announced simply as /osa GryphusR but as her name)
'ell as it might sound) 'as unkno'n to the President) she
'as refused admittance+
/osa) ho'e(er) 'as by no means abashed) ha(ing (o'ed in her
heart) in pursuing her cause) not to allo' herself to be put
do'n either by refusal) or abuse) or e(en brutality+
KAnnounce to the President)K she said to the ser(ant) Kthat
4 'ant to speak to him about the black tulip+K
These 'ords seemed to be an K:pen 1esame)K for she soon
found herself in the office of the President) .an 1ystens)
'ho gallantly rose from his chair to meet her+
0e 'as a spare little man) resembling the stem of a flo'er)
his head forming its chalice) and his t'o limp arms
representing the double leaf of the tulipR the resemblance
'as rendered complete by his 'addling gait 'hich made him
e(en more like that flo'er 'hen it bends under a bree9e+
K,ell) miss)K he said) Kyou are coming) 4 am told) about the
affair of the black tulip+K
To the President of the 0orticultural 1ociety the Tulipa
nigra 'as a firstDrate po'er) 'hich) in its character as
Jueen of the tulips) might send ambassadors+
KQes) sir)K ans'ered /osaR K4 come at least to speak of it+K
K4s it doing 'ell) thenPK asked .an 1ystens) 'ith a smile of
tender (eneration+
KAlas* sir) 4 don't kno')K said /osa+
K0o' is thatP could any misfortune ha(e happened to itPK
KA (ery great one) sirR yet not to it) but to me+K
K,hatPK
K4t has been stolen from me+K
K1tolen* the black tulipPK
KQes) sir+K
KDo you kno' the thiefPK
K4 ha(e my suspicions) but 4 must not yet accuse any one+K
KBut the matter may (ery easily be ascertained+K
K0o' is thatPK
KAs it has been stolen from you) the thief cannot be far
off+K
K,hy notPK
KBecause 4 ha(e seen the black tulip only t'o hours ago+K
KQou ha(e seen the black tulip*K cried /osa) rushing up to
=ynheer (an 1ystens+
KAs 4 see you) miss+K
KBut 'herePK
K,ell) 'ith your master) of course+K
K,ith my masterPK
KQes) are you not in the ser(ice of =aster 4saac BoxtelPK
K4PK
KQes) you+K
KBut for 'hom do you take me) sirPK
KAnd for 'hom do you take mePK
K4 hope) sir) 4 take you for 'hat you are) DD that is to
say) for the honorable =ynheer (an 1ystens) Burgomaster of
0aarlem) and President of the 0orticultural 1ociety+K
KAnd 'hat is it you told me just no'PK
K4 told you) sir) that my tulip has been stolen+K
KThen your tulip is that of =ynheer Boxtel+ ,ell) my child)
you express yourself (ery badly+ The tulip has been stolen)
not from you) but from =ynheer Boxtel+K
K4 repeat to you) sir) that 4 do not kno' 'ho this =ynheer
Boxtel is) and that 4 ha(e no' heard his name pronounced for
the first time+K
KQou do not kno' 'ho =ynheer Boxtel is) and you also had a
black tulipPK
KBut is there any other besides minePK asked /osa)
trembling+
KQes) DD that of =ynheer Boxtel+K
K0o' is itPK
KBlack) of course+K
K,ithout speckPK
K,ithout a single speck) or e(en point+K
KAnd you ha(e this tulip) DD you ha(e it deposited herePK
K;o) but it 'ill be) as it has to be exhibited before the
committee pre(ious to the pri9e being a'arded+K
K:h) sir*K cried /osa) Kthis Boxtel DD this 4saac Boxtel DD
'ho calls himself the o'ner of the black tulip DDDD K
KAnd 'ho is its o'nerPK
K4s he not a (ery thin manPK
KBaldPK
KQes+K
K,ith sunken eyesPK
K4 think he has+K
K/estless) stooping) and bo'leggedPK
K4n truth) you dra' =aster Boxtel's portrait feature by
feature+K
KAnd the tulip) sirP 4s it not in a pot of 'hite and blue
earthen'are) 'ith yello'ish flo'ers in a basket on three
sidesPK
K:h) as to that 4 am not Juite sureR 4 looked more at the
flo'er than at the pot+K
K:h) sir* that's my tulip) 'hich has been stolen from me+ 4
came here to reclaim it before you and from you+K
K:h* oh*K said .an 1ystens) looking at /osa+ K,hat* you are
here to claim the tulip of =aster BoxtelP ,ell) 4 must say)
you are cool enough+K
K0onoured sir)K a little put out by this apostrophe) K4 do
not say that 4 am coming to claim the tulip of =aster
Boxtel) but to reclaim my o'n+K
KQoursPK
KQes) the one 'hich 4 ha(e myself planted and nursed+K
K,ell) then) go and find out =aster Boxtel) at the ,hite
1'an 4nn) and you can then settle matters 'ith himR as for
me) considering that the cause seems to me as difficult to
judge as that 'hich 'as brought before Ting 1olomon) and
that 4 do not pretend to be as 'ise as he 'as) 4 shall
content myself 'ith making my report) establishing the
existence of the black tulip) and ordering the hundred
thousand guilders to be paid to its gro'er+ GoodDbye) my
child+K
K:h) sir) sir*K said /osa) imploringly+
K:nly) my child)K continued .an 1ystens) Kas you are young
and pretty) and as there may be still some good in you) 4'll
gi(e you some good ad(ice+ Be prudent in this matter) for 'e
ha(e a court of justice and a prison here at 0aarlem) and)
moreo(er) 'e are exceedingly ticklish as far as the honour
of our tulips is concerned+ Go) my child) go) remember)
=aster 4saac Boxtel at the ,hite 1'an 4nn+K
And =ynheer (an 1ystens) taking up his fine pen) resumed his
report) 'hich had been interrupted by /osa's (isit+
&hapter C6
A =ember of the 0orticultural 1ociety
/osa) beyond herself and nearly mad 'ith joy and fear at the
idea of the black tulip being found again) started for the
,hite 1'an) follo'ed by the boatman) a stout lad from
$risia) 'ho 'as strong enough to knock do'n a do9en Boxtels
singleDhanded+
0e had been made acJuainted in the course of the journey
'ith the state of affairs) and 'as not afraid of any
encounterR only he had orders) in such a case) to spare the
tulip+
But on arri(ing in the great marketDplace /osa at once
stopped) a sudden thought had struck her) just as 0omer's
=iner(a sei9es Achilles by the hair at the moment 'hen he is
about to be carried a'ay by his anger+
KGood 0ea(en*K she muttered to herself) K4 ha(e made a
grie(ous blunderR it may be 4 ha(e ruined &ornelius) the
tulip) and myself+ 4 ha(e gi(en the alarm) and perhaps
a'akened suspicion+ 4 am but a 'omanR these men may league
themsel(es against me) and then 4 shall be lost+ 4f 4 am
lost that matters nothing) DD but &ornelius and the tulip*K
1he reflected for a moment+
K4f 4 go to that Boxtel) and do not kno' himR if that Boxtel
is not my 5acob) but another fancier) 'ho has also
disco(ered the black tulipR or if my tulip has been stolen
by some one else) or has already passed into the hands of a
third personR DD if 4 do not recogni9e the man) only the
tulip) ho' shall 4 pro(e that it belongs to meP :n the other
hand) if 4 recognise this Boxtel as 5acob) 'ho kno's 'hat
'ill come out of itP 'hilst 'e are contesting 'ith each
other) the tulip 'ill die+K
4n the mean'hile) a great noise 'as heard) like the distant
roar of the sea) at the other extremity of the marketDplace+
People 'ere running about) doors opening and shutting) /osa
alone 'as unconscious of all this hubbub among the
multitude+
K,e must return to the President)K she muttered+
K,ell) then) let us return)K said the boatman+
They took a small street) 'hich led them straight to the
mansion of =ynheer (an 1ystens) 'ho 'ith his best pen in his
finest hand continued to dra' up his report+
E(ery'here on her 'ay /osa heard people speaking only of the
black tulip) and the pri9e of a hundred thousand guilders+
The ne's had spread like 'ildfire through the to'n+
/osa had not a little difficulty is penetrating a second
time into the office of =ynheer (an 1ystens) 'ho) ho'e(er)
'as again mo(ed by the magic name of the black tulip+
But 'hen he recognised /osa) 'hom in his o'n mind he had set
do'n as mad) or e(en 'orse) he gre' angry) and 'anted to
send her a'ay+
/osa) ho'e(er) clasped her hands) and said 'ith that tone of
honest truth 'hich generally finds its 'ay to the hearts of
men) DD
K$or 0ea(en's sake) sir) do not turn me a'ayR listen to 'hat
4 ha(e to tell you) and if it be not possible for you to do
me justice) at least you 'ill not one day ha(e to reproach
yourself before God for ha(ing made yourself the accomplice
of a bad action+K
.an 1ystens stamped his foot 'ith impatienceR it 'as the
second time that /osa interrupted him in the midst of a
composition 'hich stimulated his (anity) both as a
burgomaster and as President of the 0orticultural 1ociety+
KBut my report*K he cried) DD Kmy report on the black
tulip*K
K=ynheer (an 1ystens)K /osa continued) 'ith the firmness of
innocence and truth) Kyour report on the black tulip 'ill)
if you don't hear me) be based on crime or on falsehood+ 4
implore you) sir) let this =aster Boxtel) 'hom 4 assert to
be =aster 5acob) be brought here before you and me) and 4
s'ear that 4 'ill lea(e him in undisturbed possession of the
tulip if 4 do not recognise the flo'er and its holder+K
K,ell) 4 declare) here is a proposal)K said .an 1ystens+
K,hat do you meanPK
K4 ask you 'hat can be pro(ed by your recognising themPK
KAfter all)K said /osa) in her despair) Kyou are an honest
man) sirR ho' 'ould you feel if one day you found out that
you had gi(en the pri9e to a man for something 'hich he not
only had not produced) but 'hich he had e(en stolenPK
/osa's speech seemed to ha(e brought a certain con(iction
into the heart of .an 1ystens) and he 'as going to ans'er
her in a gentler tone) 'hen at once a great noise 'as heard
in the street) and loud cheers shook the house+
K,hat is thisPK cried the burgomasterR K'hat is thisP 4s it
possibleP ha(e 4 heard arightPK
And he rushed to'ards his anteroom) 'ithout any longer
heeding /osa) 'hom he left in his cabinet+
1carcely had he reached his anteroom 'hen he cried out aloud
on seeing his staircase in(aded) up to the (ery
landingDplace) by the multitude) 'hich 'as accompanying) or
rather follo'ing) a young man) simply clad in a
(ioletDcoloured (el(et) embroidered 'ith sil(erR 'ho) 'ith a
certain aristocratic slo'ness) ascended the 'hite stone
steps of the house+
4n his 'ake follo'ed t'o officers) one of the na(y) and the
other of the ca(alry+
.an 1ystens) ha(ing found his 'ay through the frightened
domestics) began to bo') almost to prostrate himself before
his (isitor) 'ho had been the cause of all this stir+
K=onseigneur)K he called out) K=onseigneur* ,hat
distinguished honour is your 0ighness besto'ing for e(er on
my humble house by your (isitPK
KDear =ynheer (an 1ystens)K said ,illiam of :range) 'ith a
serenity 'hich) 'ith him) took the place of a smile) K4 am a
true 0ollander) 4 am fond of the 'ater) of beer) and of
flo'ers) sometimes e(en of that cheese the fla(our of 'hich
seems so grateful to the $renchR the flo'er 'hich 4 prefer
to all others is) of course) the tulip+ 4 heard at >eyden
that the city of 0aarlem at last possessed the black tulipR
and) after ha(ing satisfied myself of the truth of ne's
'hich seemed so incredible) 4 ha(e come to kno' all about it
from the President of the 0orticultural 1ociety+K
K:h) =onseigneur) =onseigneur*K said .an 1ystens) K'hat
glory to the society if its endea(ours are pleasing to your
0ighness*K
K0a(e you got the flo'er herePK said the Prince) 'ho) (ery
likely) already regretted ha(ing made such a long speech+
K4 am sorry to say 'e ha(e not+K
KAnd 'here is itPK
K,ith its o'ner+K
K,ho is hePK
KAn honest tulipDgro'er of Dort+K
K0is namePK
KBoxtel+K
K0is JuartersPK
KAt the ,hite 1'anR 4 shall send for him) and if in the
mean'hile your 0ighness 'ill do me the honour of stepping
into my dra'ingDroom) he 'ill be sure DD kno'ing that your
0ighness is here DD to lose no time in bringing his tulip+K
K.ery 'ell) send for him+K
KQes) your 0ighness) but DDDD
K,hat is itPK
K:h) nothing of any conseJuence) =onseigneur+K
KE(erything is of conseJuence) =ynheer (an 1ystens+K
K,ell) then) =onseigneur) if it must be said) a little
difficulty has presented itself+K
K,hat difficultyPK
KThis tulip has already been claimed by usurpers+ 4t's true
that it is 'orth a hundred thousand guilders+K
K4ndeed*K
KQes) =onseigneur) by usurpers) by forgers+K
KThis is a crime) =ynheer (an 1ystens+K
K1o it is) your 0ighness+K
KAnd ha(e you any proofs of their guiltP '
K;o) =onseigneur) the guilty 'oman DDDD K
KThe guilty 'oman) 1irPK
K4 ought to say) the 'oman 'ho claims the tulip)
=onseigneur) is here in the room close by+K
KAnd 'hat do you think of herPK
K4 think) =onseigneur) that the bait of a hundred thousand
guilders may ha(e tempted her+K
KAnd so she claims the tulipPK
KQes =onseigneur+K
KAnd 'hat proof does she offerPK
K4 'as just going to Juestion her 'hen your 0ighness came
in+K
KSuestion her) =ynheer (an 1ystens) Juestion her+ 4 am the
first magistrate of the countryR 4 'ill hear the case and
administer justice+K
K4 ha(e found my Ting 1olomon)K said .an 1ystens) bo'ing)
and sho'ing the 'ay to the Prince+
0is 0ighness 'as just going to 'alk ahead) but) suddenly
recollecting himself he said DD
KGo before me) and call me plain =ynheer+K
The t'o then entered the cabinet+
/osa 'as still standing at the same place) leaning on the
'indo') and looking through the panes into the garden+
KAh* a $risian girl)K said the Prince) as he obser(ed /osa's
gold brocade headdress and red petticoat+
At the noise of their footsteps she turned round) but
scarcely sa' the Prince) 'ho seated himself in the darkest
corner of the apartment+
All her attention) as may be easily imagined) 'as fixed on
that important person 'ho 'as called .an 1ystens) so that
she had no time to notice the humble stranger 'ho 'as
follo'ing the master of the house) and 'ho) for aught she
kne') might be somebody or nobody+
The humble stranger took a book do'n from the shelf) and
made .an 1ystens a sign to commence the examination
forth'ith+
.an 1ystens) like'ise at the in(itation of the young man in
the (iolet coat) sat do'n in his turn) and) Juite happy and
proud of the importance thus cast upon him) began) DD
K=y child) you promise to tell me the truth and the entire
truth concerning this tulipPK
K4 promise+K
K,ell) then) speak before this gentlemanR this gentleman is
one of the members of the 0orticultural 1ociety+K
K,hat am 4 to tell you) sir)K said /osa) Kbeside that 'hich
4 ha(e told you already+K
K,ell) then) 'hat is itPK
K4 repeat the Juestion 4 ha(e addressed to you before+K
K,hichPK
KThat you 'ill order =ynheer Boxtel to come here 'ith his
tulip+ 4f 4 do not recognise it as mine 4 'ill frankly tell
itR but if 4 do recognise it 4 'ill reclaim it) e(en if 4 go
before his 0ighness the 1tadtholder himself) 'ith my proofs
in my hands+K
KQou ha(e) then) some proofs) my childPK
KGod) 'ho kno's my good right) 'ill assist me to some+K
.an 1ystens exchanged a look 'ith the Prince) 'ho) since the
first 'ords of /osa) seemed to try to remember her) as if it
'ere not for the first time that this s'eet (oice rang in
his ears+
An officer 'ent off to fetch Boxtel) and .an 1ystens in the
mean'hile continued his examination+
KAnd 'ith 'hat do you support your assertion that you are
the real o'ner of the black tulipPK
K,ith the (ery simple fact of my ha(ing planted and gro'n it
in my o'n chamber+K
K4n your chamberP ,here 'as your chamberPK
KAt >oe'estein+K
KQou are from >oe'esteinPK
K4 am the daughter of the jailer of the fortress+K
The Prince made a little mo(ement) as much as to say) K,ell)
that's it) 4 remember no'+K
And) all the 'hile feigning to be engaged 'ith his book) he
'atched /osa 'ith e(en more attention than he had before+
KAnd you are fond of flo'ersPK continued =ynheer (an
1ystens+
KQes) sir+K
KThen you are an experienced florist) 4 dare sayPK
/osa hesitated a momentR then 'ith a tone 'hich came from
the depth of her heart) she said) DD
KGentlemen) 4 am speaking to men of honor+K
There 'as such an expression of truth in the tone of her
(oice) that .an 1ystens and the Prince ans'ered
simultaneously by an affirmati(e mo(ement of their heads+
K,ell) then) 4 am not an experienced floristR 4 am only a
poor girl) one of the people) 'ho) three months ago) kne'
neither ho' to read nor ho' to 'rite+ ;o) the black tulip
has not been found by myself+K
KBut by 'hom elsePK
KBy a poor prisoner of >oe'estein+K
KBy a prisoner of >oe'esteinPK repeated the Prince+
The tone of his (oice startled /osa) 'ho 'as sure she had
heard it before+
KBy a prisoner of state) then)K continued the Prince) Kas
there are none else there+K
0a(ing said this he began to read again) at least in
appearance+
KQes)K said /osa) 'ith a faltering (oice) Kyes) by a
prisoner of state+K
.an 1ystens trembled as he heard such a confession made in
the presence of such a 'itness+
K&ontinue)K said ,illiam dryly) to the President of the
0orticultural 1ociety+
KAh) sir)K said /osa) addressing the person 'hom she thought
to be her real judge) K4 am going to incriminate myself (ery
seriously+K
K&ertainly)K said .an 1ystens) Kthe prisoner of state ought
to be kept in close confinement at >oe'estein+K
KAlas* sir+K
KAnd from 'hat you tell me you took ad(antage of your
position) as daughter of the jailer) to communicate 'ith a
prisoner of state about the culti(ation of flo'ers+K
K1o it is) sir)K /osa murmured in dismayR Kyes) 4 am bound
to confess) 4 sa' him e(ery day+K
K<nfortunate girl*K exclaimed .an 1ystens+
The Prince) obser(ing the fright of /osa and the pallor of
the President) raised his head) and said) in his clear and
decided tone) DD
KThis cannot signify anything to the members of the
0orticultural 1ocietyR they ha(e to judge on the black
tulip) and ha(e no cogni9ance to take of political offences+
Go on) young 'oman) go on+K
.an 1ystens) by means of an eloJuent glance) offered) in the
name of the tulip) his thanks to the ne' member of the
0orticultural 1ociety+
/osa) reassured by this sort of encouragement 'hich the
stranger 'as gi(ing her) related all that had happened for
the last three months) all that she had done) and all that
she had suffered+ 1he described the cruelty of GryphusR the
destruction of the first bulbR the grief of the prisonerR
the precautions taken to insure the success of the second
bulbR the patience of the prisoner and his anxiety during
their separationR ho' he 'as about to star(e himself because
he had no longer any ne's of his tulipR his joy 'hen she
'ent to see him againR and) lastly) their despair 'hen they
found that the tulip 'hich had come into flo'er 'as stolen
just one hour after it had opened+
All this 'as detailed 'ith an accent of truth 'hich)
although producing no change in the impassible mien of the
Prince) did not fail to take effect on .an 1ystens+
KBut)K said the Prince) Kit cannot be long since you kne'
the prisoner+K
/osa opened her large eyes and looked at the stranger) 'ho
dre' back into the dark corner) as if he 'ished to escape
her obser(ation+
K,hy) sirPK she asked him+
KBecause it is not yet four months since the jailer Gryphus
and his daughter 'ere remo(ed to >oe'estein+K
KThat is true) sir+K
K:ther'ise) you must ha(e solicited the transfer of your
father) in order to be able to follo' some prisoner 'ho may
ha(e been transported from the 0ague to >oe'estein+K
K1ir)K said /osa) blushing+
K$inish 'hat you ha(e to say)K said ,illiam+
K4 confess 4 kne' the prisoner at the 0ague+K
K0appy prisoner*K said ,illiam) smiling+
At this moment the officer 'ho had been sent for Boxtel
returned) and announced to the Prince that the person 'hom
he had been to fetch 'as follo'ing on his heels 'ith his tulip+
&hapter C3
The Third Bulb
Boxtel's return 'as scarcely announced) 'hen he entered in
person the dra'ingDroom of =ynheer (an 1ystens) follo'ed by
t'o men) 'ho carried in a box their precious burden and
deposited it on a table+
The Prince) on being informed) left the cabinet) passed into
the dra'ingDroom) admired the flo'er) and silently resumed
his seat in the dark corner) 'here he had himself placed his
chair+
/osa) trembling) pale and terrified) expected to be in(ited
in her turn to see the tulip+
1he no' heard the (oice of Boxtel+
K4t is he*K she exclaimed+
The Prince made her a sign to go and look through the open
door into the dra'ingDroom+
K4t is my tulip)K cried /osa) K4 recognise it+ :h) my poor
&ornelius*K
And saying this she burst into tears+
The Prince rose from his seat) 'ent to the door) 'here he
stood for some time 'ith the full light falling upon his
figure+
As /osa's eyes no' rested upon him) she felt more than e(er
con(inced that this 'as not the first time she had seen the
stranger+
K=aster Boxtel)K said the Prince) Kcome in here) if you
please+K
Boxtel eagerly approached) and) finding himself face to face
'ith ,illiam of :range) started back+
K0is 0ighness*K he called out+
K0is 0ighness*K /osa repeated in dismay+
0earing this exclamation on his left) Boxtel turned round)
and percei(ed /osa+
At this sight the 'hole frame of the thief shook as if under
the influence of a gal(anic shock+
KAh*K muttered the Prince to himself) Khe is confused+K
But Boxtel) making a (iolent effort to control his feelings)
'as already himself again+
K=aster Boxtel)K said ,illiam) Kyou seem to ha(e disco(ered
the secret of gro'ing the black tulipPK
KQes) your 0ighness)K ans'ered Boxtel) in a (oice 'hich
still betrayed some confusion+
4t is true his agitation might ha(e been attributable to the
emotion 'hich the man must ha(e felt on suddenly recognising
the Prince+
KBut)K continued the 1tadtholder) Khere is a young damsel
'ho also pretends to ha(e found it+K
Boxtel) 'ith a disdainful smile) shrugged his shoulders+
,illiam 'atched all his mo(ements 'ith e(ident interest and
curiosity+
KThen you don't kno' this young girlPK said the Prince+
K;o) your 0ighness*K
KAnd you) child) do you kno' =aster BoxtelPK
K;o) 4 don't kno' =aster Boxtel) but 4 kno' =aster 5acob+K
K,hat do you meanPK
K4 mean to say that at >oe'estein the man 'ho here calls
himself 4saac Boxtel 'ent by the name of =aster 5acob+K
K,hat do you say to that) =aster BoxtelPK
K4 say that this damsel lies) your 0ighness+K
KQou deny) therefore) ha(ing e(er been at >oe'esteinPK
Boxtel hesitatedR the fixed and searching glance of the
proud eye of the Prince pre(ented him from lying+
K4 cannot deny ha(ing been at >oe'estein) your 0ighness) but
4 deny ha(ing stolen the tulip+K
KQou ha(e stolen it) and that from my room)K cried /osa)
'ith indignation+
K4 deny it+K
K;o' listen to me+ Do you deny ha(ing follo'ed me into the
garden) on the day 'hen 4 prepared the border 'here 4 'as to
plant itP Do you deny ha(ing follo'ed me into the garden
'hen 4 pretended to plant itP Do you deny that) on that
e(ening) you rushed after my departure to the spot 'here you
hoped to find the bulbP Do you deny ha(ing dug in the ground
'ith your hands DD but) thank God* in (ain) as it 'as a
stratagem to disco(er your intentions+ 1ay) do you deny all
thisPK
Boxtel did not deem it fit to ans'er these se(eral charges)
but) turning to the Prince) continued) DD
K4 ha(e no' for t'enty years gro'n tulips at Dort+ 4 ha(e
e(en acJuired some reputation in this artR one of my hybrids
is entered in the catalogue under the name of an illustrious
personage+ 4 ha(e dedicated it to the Ting of Portugal+ The
truth in the matter is as 4 shall no' tell your 0ighness+
This damsel kne' that 4 had produced the black tulip) and)
in concert 'ith a lo(er of hers in the fortress of
>oe'estein) she formed the plan of ruining me by
appropriating to herself the pri9e of a hundred thousand
guilders) 'hich) 'ith the help of your 0ighness's justice) 4
hope to gain+K
KQah*K cried /osa) beyond herself 'ith anger+
K1ilence*K said the Prince+
Then) turning to Boxtel) he said) DD
KAnd 'ho is that prisoner to 'hom you allude as the lo(er of
this young 'omanPK
/osa nearly s'ooned) for &ornelius 'as designated as a
dangerous prisoner) and recommended by the Prince to the
especial sur(eillance of the jailer+
;othing could ha(e been more agreeable to Boxtel than this
Juestion+
KThis prisoner)K he said) Kis a man 'hose name in itself
'ill pro(e to your 0ighness 'hat trust you may place in his
probity+ 0e is a prisoner of state) 'ho 'as once condemned
to death+K
KAnd his namePK
/osa hid her face in her hands 'ith a mo(ement of despair+
K0is name is &ornelius (an Baerle)K said Boxtel) Kand he is
godson of that (illain &ornelius de ,itt+K
The Prince ga(e a start) his generally Juiet eye flashed)
and a deathDlike paleness spread o(er his impassible
features+
0e 'ent up to /osa) and 'ith his finger) ga(e her a sign to
remo(e her hands from her face+
/osa obeyed) as if under mesmeric influence) 'ithout ha(ing
seen the sign+
K4t 'as) then to follo' this man that you came to me at
>eyden to solicit for the transfer of your fatherPK
/osa hung do'n her head) and) nearly choking) said) DD
KQes) your 0ighness+K
KGo on)K said the Prince to Boxtel+
K4 ha(e nothing more to say)K 4saac continued+ KQour
0ighness kno's all+ But there is one thing 'hich 4 did not
intend to say) because 4 did not 'ish to make this girl
blush for her ingratitude+ 4 came to >oe'estein because 4
had business there+ :n this occasion 4 made the acJuaintance
of old Gryphus) and) falling in lo(e 'ith his daughter) made
an offer of marriage to herR and) not being rich) 4
committed the imprudence of mentioning to them my prospect
of gaining a hundred thousand guilders) in proof of 'hich 4
sho'ed to them the black tulip+ 0er lo(er ha(ing himself
made a sho' at Dort of culti(ating tulips to hide his
political intrigues) they no' plotted together for my ruin+
:n the e(e of the day 'hen the flo'er 'as expected to open)
the tulip 'as taken a'ay by this young 'oman+ 1he carried it
to her room) from 'hich 4 had the good luck to reco(er it at
the (ery moment 'hen she had the impudence to despatch a
messenger to announce to the members of the 0orticultural
1ociety that she had produced the grand black tulip+ But she
did not stop there+ There is no doubt that) during the fe'
hours 'hich she kept the flo'er in her room) she sho'ed it
to some persons 'hom she may no' call as 'itnesses+ But)
fortunately) your 0ighness has no' been 'arned against this
impostor and her 'itnesses+K
K:h) my God) my God* 'hat infamous falsehoods*K said /osa)
bursting into tears) and thro'ing herself at the feet of the
1tadtholder) 'ho) although thinking her guilty) felt pity
for her dreadful agony+
KQou ha(e done (ery 'rong) my child)K he said) Kand your
lo(er shall be punished for ha(ing thus badly ad(ised you+
$or you are so young) and ha(e such an honest look) that 4
am inclined to belie(e the mischief to ha(e been his doing)
and not yours+K
K=onseigneur* =onseigneur*K cried /osa) K&ornelius is not
guilty+K
,illiam started+
K;ot guilty of ha(ing ad(ised youP that's 'hat you 'ant to
say) is it notPK
K,hat 4 'ish to say) your 0ighness) is that &ornelius is as
little guilty of the second crime imputed to him as he 'as
of the first+K
K:f the firstP And do you kno' 'hat 'as his first crimeP Do
you kno' of 'hat he 'as accused and con(ictedP :f ha(ing) as
an accomplice of &ornelius de ,itt) concealed the
correspondence of the Grand Pensionary and the =arJuis de
>ou(ois+K
K,ell) sir) he 'as ignorant of this correspondence being
deposited 'ith himR completely ignorant+ 4 am as certain as
of my life) that) if it 'ere not so) he 'ould ha(e told meR
for ho' could that pure mind ha(e harboured a secret 'ithout
re(ealing it to meP ;o) no) your 0ighness) 4 repeat it) and
e(en at the risk of incurring your displeasure) &ornelius is
no more guilty of the first crime than of the secondR and of
the second no more than of the first+ :h) 'ould to 0ea(en
that you kne' my &orneliusR =onseigneur*K
K0e is a De ,itt*K cried Boxtel+ K0is 0ighness kno's only
too much of him) ha(ing once granted him his life+K
K1ilence*K said the PrinceR Kall these affairs of state) as
4 ha(e already said) are completely out of the pro(ince of
the 0orticultural 1ociety of 0aarlem+K
Then) knitting his bro') he added) DD
KAs to the tulip) make yourself easy) =aster Boxtel) you
shall ha(e justice done to you+K
Boxtel bo'ed 'ith a heart full of joy) and recei(ed the
congratulations of the President+
KQou) my child)K ,illiam of :range continued) Kyou 'ere
going to commit a crime+ 4 'ill not punish youR but the real
e(ilDdoer shall pay the penalty for both+ A man of his name
may be a conspirator) and e(en a traitor) but he ought not
to be a thief+K
KA thief*K cried /osa+ K&ornelius a thiefP Pray) your
0ighness) do not say such a 'ord) it 'ould kill him) if he
kne' it+ 4f theft there has been) 4 s'ear to you) 1ir) no
one else but this man has committed it+K
KPro(e it)K Boxtel coolly remarked+
K4 shall pro(e it+ ,ith God's help 4 shall+K
Then) turning to'ards Boxtel) she asked) DD
KThe tulip is yoursPK
K4t is+K
K0o' many bulbs 'ere there of itPK
Boxtel hesitated for a moment) but after a short
consideration he came to the conclusion that she 'ould not
ask this Juestion if there 'ere none besides the t'o bulbs
of 'hich he had kno'n already+ 0e therefore ans'ered) DD
KThree+K
K,hat has become of these bulbsPK
K:h* 'hat has become of themP ,ell) one has failedR the
second has produced the black tulip+K
KAnd the thirdP
KThe third*K
KThe third) DD 'here is itPK
K4 ha(e it at home)K said Boxtel) Juite confused+
KAt homeP ,hereP At >oe'estein) or at DortPK
KAt Dort)K said Boxtel+
KQou lie*K cried /osa+ K=onseigneur)K she continued) 'hilst
turning round to the Prince) K4 'ill tell you the true story
of these three bulbs+ The first 'as crushed by my father in
the prisoner's cell) and this man is Juite a'are of it) for
he himself 'anted to get hold of it) and) being balked in
his hope) he (ery nearly fell out 'ith my father) 'ho had
been the cause of his disappointment+ The second bulb)
planted by me) has produced the black tulip) and the third
and lastK DD saying this) she dre' it from her bosom DD
Khere it is) in the (ery same paper in 'hich it 'as 'rapped
up together 'ith the t'o others+ ,hen about to be led to the
scaffold) &ornelius (an Baerle ga(e me all the three+ Take
it) =onseigneur) take it+K
And /osa) unfolding the paper) offered the bulb to the
Prince) 'ho took it from her hands and examined it+
KBut) =onseigneur) this young 'oman may ha(e stolen the
bulb) as she did the tulip)K Boxtel said) 'ith a faltering
(oice) and e(idently alarmed at the attention 'ith 'hich the
Prince examined the bulbR and e(en more at the mo(ements of
/osa) 'ho 'as reading some lines 'ritten on the paper 'hich
remained in her hands+
0er eyes suddenly lighted upR she read) 'ith breathless
anxiety) the mysterious paper o(er and o(er againR and at
last) uttering a cry) held it out to the Prince and said)
K/ead) =onseigneur) for 0ea(en's sake) read*K
,illiam handed the third bulb to .an 1ystens) took the
paper) and read+
;o sooner had he looked at it than he began to staggerR his
hand trembled) and (ery nearly let the paper fall to the
groundR and the expression of pain and compassion in his
features 'as really frightful to see+
4t 'as that flyDleaf) taken from the Bible) 'hich &ornelius
de ,itt had sent to Dort by &raeke) the ser(ant of his
brother 5ohn) to reJuest .an Baerle to burn the
correspondence of the Grand Pensionary 'ith the =arJuis de
>ou(ois+
This reJuest) as the reader may remember) 'as couched in the
follo'ing terms? DD
K=y Dear Godson) DD
KBurn the parcel 'hich 4 ha(e intrusted to you+ Burn it
'ithout looking at it) and 'ithout opening it) so that its
contents may for e(er remain unkno'n to yourself+ 1ecrets of
this description are death to those 'ith 'hom they are
deposited+ Burn it) and you 'ill ha(e sa(ed 5ohn and
&ornelius de ,itt+
K$are'ell) and lo(e me+
&ornelius de ,itt+
KAugust C8) !63C+K
This slip of paper offered the proofs both of .an Baerle's
innocence and of his claim to the property of the tulip+
/osa and the 1tadtholder exchanged one look only+
That of /osa 'as meant to express) K0ere) you see yourself+K
That of the 1tadtholder signified) KBe Juiet) and 'ait+K
The Prince 'iped the cold s'eat from his forehead) and
slo'ly folded up the paper) 'hilst his thoughts 'ere
'andering in that labyrinth 'ithout a goal and 'ithout a
guide) 'hich is called remorse and shame for the past+
1oon) ho'e(er) raising his head 'ith an effort) he said) in
his usual (oice) DD
KGo) =r+ BoxtelR justice shall be done) 4 promise you+K
Then) turning to the President) he added) DD
KQou) my dear =ynheer (an 1ystens) take charge of this young
'oman and of the tulip+ GoodDbye+K
All bo'ed) and the Prince left) among the deafening cheers
of the cro'd outside+
Boxtel returned to his inn) rather pu99led and uneasy)
tormented by misgi(ings about that paper 'hich ,illiam had
recei(ed from the hand of /osa) and 'hich his 0ighness had
read) folded up) and so carefully put in his pocket+ ,hat
'as the meaning of all thisP
/osa 'ent up to the tulip) tenderly kissed its lea(es and)
'ith a heart full of happiness and confidence in the 'ays of
God) broke out in the 'ords) DD
KThou kno'est best for 'hat end Thou madest my good
&ornelius teach me to read+K
&hapter CF
The 0ymn of the $lo'ers
,hilst the e(ents 'e ha(e described in our last chapter 'ere
taking place) the unfortunate .an Baerle) forgotten in his
cell in the fortress of >oe'estein) suffered at the hands of
Gryphus all that a prisoner can suffer 'hen his jailer has
formed the determination of playing the part of hangman+
Gryphus) not ha(ing recei(ed any tidings of /osa or of
5acob) persuaded himself that all that had happened 'as the
de(il's 'ork) and that Dr+ &ornelius (an Baerle had been
sent on earth by 1atan+
The result of it 'as) that) one fine morning) the third
after the disappearance of 5acob and /osa) he 'ent up to the
cell of &ornelius in e(en a greater rage than usual+
The latter) leaning 'ith his elbo's on the 'indo'Dsill and
supporting his head 'ith his t'o hands) 'hilst his eyes
'andered o(er the distant ha9y hori9on 'here the 'indmills
of Dort 'ere turning their sails) 'as breathing the fresh
air) in order to be able to keep do'n his tears and to
fortify himself in his philosophy+
The pigeons 'ere still there) but hope 'as not thereR there
'as no future to look for'ard to+
Alas* /osa) being 'atched) 'as no longer able to come+ &ould
she not 'riteP and if so) could she con(ey her letters to
himP
;o) no+ 0e had seen during the t'o preceding days too much
fury and malignity in the eyes of old Gryphus to expect that
his (igilance 'ould relax) e(en for one moment+ =oreo(er)
had not she to suffer e(en 'orse torments than those of
seclusion and separationP Did this brutal) blaspheming)
drunken bully take re(enge on his daughter) like the
ruthless fathers of the Greek dramaP And 'hen the Genie(re
had heated his brain) 'ould it not gi(e to his arm) 'hich
had been only too 'ell set by &ornelius) e(en double forceP
The idea that /osa might perhaps be illDtreated nearly dro(e
&ornelius mad+
0e then felt his o'n po'erlessness+ 0e asked himself 'hether
God 'as just in inflicting so much tribulation on t'o
innocent creatures+ And certainly in these moments he began
to doubt the 'isdom of Pro(idence+ 4t is one of the curses
of misfortune that it thus begets doubt+
.an Baerle had proposed to 'rite to /osa) but 'here 'as sheP
0e also 'ould ha(e 'ished to 'rite to the 0ague to be
beforehand 'ith Gryphus) 'ho) he had no doubt) 'ould by
denouncing him do his best to bring ne' storms on his head+
But ho' should he 'riteP Gryphus had taken the paper and
pencil from him) and e(en if he had both) he could hardly
expect Gryphus to despatch his letter+
Then &ornelius re(ol(ed in his mind all those stratagems
resorted to by unfortunate prisoners+
0e had thought of an attempt to escape) a thing 'hich ne(er
entered his head 'hilst he could see /osa e(ery dayR but the
more he thought of it) the more clearly he sa' the
impracticability of such an attempt+ 0e 'as one of those
choice spirits 'ho abhor e(erything that is common) and 'ho
often lose a good chance through not taking the 'ay of the
(ulgar) that high road of mediocrity 'hich leads to
e(erything+
K0o' is it possible)K said &ornelius to himself) Kthat 4
should escape from >oe'estein) as Grotius has done the same
thing before meP 0as not e(ery precaution been taken sinceP
Are not the 'indo's barredP Are not the doors of double and
e(en of treble strength) and the sentinels ten times more
'atchfulP And ha(e not 4) besides all this) an Argus so much
the more dangerous as he has the keen eyes of hatredP
$inally) is there not one fact 'hich takes a'ay all my
spirit) 4 mean /osa's absenceP But suppose 4 should 'aste
ten years of my life in making a file to file off my bars)
or in braiding cords to let myself do'n from the 'indo') or
in sticking 'ings on my shoulders to fly) like DaedalusP But
luck is against me no'+ The file 'ould get dull) the rope
'ould break) or my 'ings 'ould melt in the sunR 4 should
surely kill myself) 4 should be picked up maimed and
crippledR 4 should be labelled) and put on exhibition in the
museum at the 0ague bet'een the bloodDstained doublet of
,illiam the Taciturn and the female 'alrus captured at
1ta(esen) and the only result of my enterprise 'ill ha(e
been to procure me a place among the curiosities of 0olland+
KBut noR and it is much better so+ 1ome fine day Gryphus
'ill commit some atrocity+ 4 am losing my patience) since 4
ha(e lost the joy and company of /osa) and especially since
4 ha(e lost my tulip+ <ndoubtedly) some day or other Gryphus
'ill attack me in a manner painful to my selfDrespect) or to
my lo(e) or e(en threaten my personal safety+ 4 don't kno'
ho' it is) but since my imprisonment 4 feel a strange and
almost irresistible pugnacity+ ,ell) 4 shall get at the
throat of that old (illain) and strangle him+K
&ornelius at these 'ords stopped for a moment) biting his
lips and staring out before himR then) eagerly returning to
an idea 'hich seemed to possess a strange fascination for
him) he continued) DD
K,ell) and once ha(ing strangled him) 'hy should 4 not take
his keys from him) 'hy not go do'n the stairs as if 4 had
done the most (irtuous action) 'hy not go and fetch /osa
from her room) 'hy not tell her all) and jump from her
'indo' into the ,aalP 4 am expert enough as a s'immer to
sa(e both of us+ /osa) DD but) oh 0ea(en) Gryphus is her
father* ,hate(er may be her affection for me) she 'ill ne(er
appro(e of my ha(ing strangled her father) brutal and
malicious as he has been+
K4 shall ha(e to enter into an argument 'ith herR and in the
midst of my speech some 'retched turnkey 'ho has found
Gryphus 'ith the deathDrattle in his throat) or perhaps
actually dead) 'ill come along and put his hand on my
shoulder+ Then 4 shall see the Buytenhof again) and the
gleam of that infernal s'ord) DD 'hich 'ill not stop
halfD'ay a second time) but 'ill make acJuaintance 'ith the
nape of my neck+
K4t 'ill not do) &ornelius) my fine fello') DD it is a bad
plan+ But) then) 'hat is to become of me) and ho' shall 4
find /osa againPK
1uch 'ere the cogitations of &ornelius three days after the
sad scene of separation from /osa) at the moment 'hen 'e
find him standing at the 'indo'+
And at that (ery moment Gryphus entered+
0e held in his hand a huge stick) his eyes glistening 'ith
spiteful thoughts) a malignant smile played round his lips)
and the 'hole of his carriage) and e(en all his mo(ements)
betokened bad and malicious intentions+
&ornelius heard him enter) and guessed that it 'as he) but
did not turn round) as he kne' 'ell that /osa 'as not coming
after him+
There is nothing more galling to angry people than the
coolness of those on 'hom they 'ish to (ent their spleen+
The expense being once incurred) one does not like to lose
itR one's passion is roused) and one's blood boiling) so it
'ould be labour lost not to ha(e at least a nice little ro'+
Gryphus) therefore) on seeing that &ornelius did not stir)
tried to attract his attention by a loud DD
K<mph) umph*K
&ornelius 'as humming bet'een his teeth the K0ymn of
$lo'ers)K DD a sad but (ery charming song) DD
K,e are the daughters of the secret fire
:f the fire 'hich runs through the (eins of the earthR
,e are the daughters of Aurora and of the de'R
,e are the daughters of the airR
,e are the daughters of the 'aterR
But 'e are) abo(e all) the daughters of hea(en+K
This song) the placid melancholy of 'hich 'as still
heightened by its calm and s'eet melody) exasperated Gryphus+
0e struck his stick on the stone pa(ement of the cell)
and called out) DD
K0alloa* my 'arbling gentleman) don't you hear mePK
&ornelius turned round) merely saying) KGood morning)K and
then began his song again? DD
K=en defile us and kill us 'hile lo(ing us)
,e hang to the earth by a threadR
This thread is our root) that is to say) our life)
But 'e raise on high our arms to'ards hea(en+K
KAh) you accursed sorcerer* you are making game of me) 4
belie(e)K roared Gryphus+
&ornelius continued? DD
K$or hea(en is our home)
:ur true home) as from thence comes our soul)
As thither our soul returns) DD
:ur soul) that is to say) our perfume+K
Gryphus 'ent up to the prisoner and said) DD
KBut you don't see that 4 ha(e taken means to get you under)
and to force you to confess your crimes+K
KAre you mad) my dear =aster GryphusPK asked &ornelius+
And) as he no' for the first time obser(ed the fren9ied
features) the flashing eyes) and foaming mouth of the old
jailer) he said) DD
KBless the man) he is more than mad) he is furious+K
Gryphus flourished his stick abo(e his head) but .an Baerle
mo(ed not) and remained standing 'ith his arms akimbo+
K4t seems your intention to threaten me) =aster Gryphus+K
KQes) indeed) 4 threaten you)K cried the jailer+
KAnd 'ith 'hatPK
K$irst of all) look at 'hat 4 ha(e in my hand+K
K4 think that's a stick)K said &ornelius calmly) Kbut 4
don't suppose you 'ill threaten me 'ith that+K
K:h) you don't suppose* 'hy notPK
KBecause any jailer 'ho strikes a prisoner is liable to t'o
penalties) DD the first laid do'n in Article 2 of the
regulations at >oe'estein? DD
K'Any jailer) inspector) or turnkey 'ho lays hands upon any
prisoner of 1tate 'ill be dismissed+'K
KQes) 'ho lays hands)K said Gryphus) mad 'ith rage) Kbut
there is not a 'ord about a stick in the regulation+K
KAnd the second)K continued &ornelius) K'hich is not 'ritten
in the regulation) but 'hich is to be found else'here? DD
K',hosoe(er takes up the stick 'ill be thrashed by the
stick+'K
Gryphus) gro'ing more and more exasperated by the calm and
sententious tone of &ornelius) brandished his cudgel) but at
the moment 'hen he raised it &ornelius rushed at him)
snatched it from his hands) and put it under his o'n arm+
Gryphus fairly bello'ed 'ith rage+
K0ush) hush) my good man)K said &ornelius) Kdon't do
anything to lose your place+K
KAh) you sorcerer* 4'll pinch you 'orse)K roared Gryphus+
K4 'ish you may+K
KDon't you see my hand is emptyPK
KQes) 4 see it) and 4 am glad of it+K
KQou kno' that it is not generally so 'hen 4 come upstairs
in the morning+K
K4t's true) you generally bring me the 'orst soup) and the
most miserable rations one can imagine+ But that's not a
punishment to meR 4 eat only bread) and the 'orse the bread
is to your taste) the better it is to mine+K
K0o' soPK
K:h) it's a (ery simple thing+K
K,ell) tell it me)K said Gryphus+
K.ery 'illingly+ 4 kno' that in gi(ing me bad bread you
think you do me harm+K
K&ertainlyR 4 don't gi(e it you to please you) you brigand+K
K,ell) then) 4) 'ho am a sorcerer) as you kno') change your
bad into excellent bread) 'hich 4 relish more than the best
cakeR and then 4 ha(e the double pleasure of eating
something that gratifies my palate) and of doing something
that puts you in a rage+
Gryphus ans'ered 'ith a gro'l+
K:h* you confess) then) that you are a sorcerer+K
K4ndeed) 4 am one+ 4 don't say it before all the 'orld)
because they might burn me for it) but as 'e are alone) 4
don't mind telling you+K
K,ell) 'ell) 'ell)K ans'ered Gryphus+ KBut if a sorcerer can
change black bread into 'hite) 'on't he die of hunger if he
has no bread at allPK
K,hat's thatPK said &ornelius+
K&onseJuently) 4 shall not bring you any bread at all) and
'e shall see ho' it 'ill be after eight days+K
&ornelius gre' pale+
KAnd)K continued Gryphus) K'e'll begin this (ery day+ As you
are such a cle(er sorcerer) 'hy) you had better change the
furniture of your room into breadR as to myself) 4 shall
pocket the eighteen sous 'hich are paid to me for your
board+K
KBut that's murder)K cried &ornelius) carried a'ay by the
first impulse of the (ery natural terror 'ith 'hich this
horrible mode of death inspired him+
K,ell)K Gryphus 'ent on) in his jeering 'ay) Kas you are a
sorcerer) you 'ill li(e) not'ithstanding+K
&ornelius put on a smiling face again) and said) DD
K0a(e you not seen me make the pigeons come here from DortPK
K,ellPK said Gryphus+
K,ell) a pigeon is a (ery dainty morsel) and a man 'ho eats
one e(ery day 'ould not star(e) 4 think+K
KAnd ho' about the firePK said Gryphus+
K$ire* but you kno' that 4'm in league 'ith the de(il+ Do
you think the de(il 'ill lea(e me 'ithout fireP ,hy) fire is
his proper element+K
KA man) ho'e(er healthy his appetite may be) 'ould not eat a
pigeon e(ery day+ ,agers ha(e been laid to do so) and those
'ho made them ga(e them up+K
K,ell) but 'hen 4 am tired of pigeons) 4 shall make the fish
of the ,aal and of the =euse come up to me+K
Gryphus opened his large eyes) Juite be'ildered+
K4 am rather fond of fish)K continued &orneliusR Kyou ne(er
let me ha(e any+ ,ell) 4 shall turn your star(ing me to
ad(antage) and regale myself 'ith fish+K
Gryphus nearly fainted 'ith anger and 'ith fright) but he
soon rallied) and said) putting his hand in his pocket) DD
K,ell) as you force me to it)K and 'ith these 'ords he dre'
forth a claspDknife and opened it+
K0alloa* a knifePK said &ornelius) preparing to defend
himself 'ith his stick+
&hapter C2
4n 'hich .an Baerle) before lea(ing >oe'estein)
settles Accounts 'ith Gryphus
The t'o remained silent for some minutes) Gryphus on the
offensi(e) and .an Baerle on the defensi(e+
Then) as the situation might be prolonged to an indefinite
length) &ornelius) anxious to kno' something more of the
causes 'hich had so fiercely exasperated his jailer) spoke
first by putting the Juestion) DD
K,ell) 'hat do you 'ant) after allPK
K4'll tell you 'hat 4 'ant)K ans'ered GryphusR K4 'ant you to
restore to me my daughter /osa+K
KQour daughterPK cried .an Baerle+
KQes) my daughter /osa) 'hom you ha(e taken from me by your
de(ilish magic+ ;o') 'ill you tell me 'here she isPK
And the attitude of Gryphus became more and more
threatening+
K/osa is not at >oe'esteinPK cried &ornelius+
KQou kno' 'ell she is not+ :nce more) 'ill you restore her
to mePK
K4 see)K said &ornelius) Kthis is a trap you are laying for
me+K
K;o') for the last time) 'ill you tell me 'here my daughter
isPK
KGuess it) you rogue) if you don't kno' it+K
K:nly 'ait) only 'ait)K gro'led Gryphus) 'hite 'ith rage)
and 'ith Jui(ering lips) as his brain began to turn+ KAh)
you 'ill not tell me anythingP ,ell) 4'll unlock your
teeth*K
0e ad(anced a step to'ards &ornelius) and said) sho'ing him
the 'eapon 'hich he held in his hands) DD
KDo you see this knifeP ,ell) 4 ha(e killed more than fifty
black cocks 'ith it) and 4 (o' 4'll kill their master) the
de(il) as 'ell as them+K
KBut) you blockhead)K said &ornelius) K'ill you really kill
mePK
K4 shall open your heart to see in it the place 'here you
hide my daughter+K
1aying this) Gryphus in his fren9y rushed to'ards &ornelius)
'ho had barely time to retreat behind his table to a(oid the
first thrustR but as Gryphus continued) 'ith horrid threats)
to brandish his huge knife) and as) although out of the
reach of his 'eapon) yet) as long as it remained in the
madman's hand) the ruffian might fling it at him) &ornelius
lost no time) and a(ailing himself of the stick) 'hich he
held tight under his arm) dealt the jailer a (igorous blo'
on the 'rist of that hand 'hich held the knife+
The knife fell to the ground) and &ornelius put his foot on
it+
Then) as Gryphus seemed bent upon engaging in a struggle
'hich the pain in his 'rist) and shame for ha(ing allo'ed
himself to be disarmed) 'ould ha(e made desperate) &ornelius
took a decisi(e step) belaboring his jailer 'ith the most
heroic selfDpossession) and selecting the exact spot for
e(ery blo' of the terrible cudgel+
4t 'as not long before Gryphus begged for mercy+ But before
begging for mercy) he had lustily roared for help) and his
cries had roused all the functionaries of the prison+ T'o
turnkeys) an inspector) and three or four guards) made their
appearance all at once) and found &ornelius still using the
stick) 'ith the knife under his foot+
At the sight of these 'itnesses) 'ho could not kno' all the
circumstances 'hich had pro(oked and might justify his
offence) &ornelius felt that he 'as irretrie(ably lost+
4n fact) appearances 'ere sadly against him+
4n one moment &ornelius 'as disarmed) and Gryphus raised and
supportedR and) bello'ing 'ith rage and pain) he 'as able to
count on his back and shoulders the bruises 'hich 'ere
beginning to s'ell like the hills dotting the slopes of a
mountain ridge+
A protocol of the (iolence practiced by the prisoner against
his jailer 'as immediately dra'n up) and as it 'as made on
the depositions of Gryphus) it certainly could not be said
to be too tameR the prisoner being charged 'ith neither more
nor less than 'ith an attempt to murder) for a long time
premeditated) 'ith open rebellion+
,hilst the charge 'as made out against &ornelius) Gryphus)
'hose presence 'as no longer necessary after ha(ing made his
depositions) 'as taken do'n by his turnkeys to his lodge)
groaning and co(ered 'ith bruises+
During this time) the guards 'ho had sei9ed &ornelius busied
themsel(es in charitably informing their prisoner of the
usages and customs of >oe'estein) 'hich ho'e(er he kne' as
'ell as they did+ The regulations had been read to him at
the moment of his entering the prison) and certain articles
in them remained fixed in his memory+
Among other things they told him that this regulation had
been carried out to its full extent in the case of a
prisoner named =athias) 'ho in !66F) that is to say) fi(e
years before) had committed a much less (iolent act of
rebellion than that of 'hich &ornelius 'as guilty+ 0e had
found his soup too hot) and thro'n it at the head of the
chief turnkey) 'ho in conseJuence of this ablution had been
put to the incon(enience of ha(ing his skin come off as he
'iped his face+
=athias 'as taken 'ithin t'el(e hours from his cell) then
led to the jailer's lodge) 'here he 'as registered as
lea(ing >oe'estein) then taken to the Esplanade) from 'hich
there is a (ery fine prospect o(er a 'ide expanse of
country+ There they fettered his hands) bandaged his eyes)
and let him say his prayers+
0ereupon he 'as in(ited to go do'n on his knees) and the
guards of >oe'estein) t'el(e in number) at a sign from a
sergeant) (ery cle(erly lodged a musketDball each in his
body+
4n conseJuence of this proceeding) =athias incontinently did
then and there die+
&ornelius listened 'ith the greatest attention to this
delightful recital) and then said) DD
KAh* ah* 'ithin t'el(e hours) you sayPK
KQes) the t'elfth hour had not e(en struck) if 4 remember
right)K said the guard 'ho had told him the story+
KThank you)K said &ornelius+
The guard still had the smile on his face 'ith 'hich he
accompanied and as it 'ere accentuated his tale) 'hen
footsteps and a jingling of spurs 'ere heard ascending the
stairDcase+
The guards fell back to allo' an officer to pass) 'ho
entered the cell of &ornelius at the moment 'hen the clerk
of >oe'estein 'as still making out his report+
K4s this ;o+ !!PK he asked+
KQes) &aptain)K ans'ered a nonDcommissioned officer+
KThen this is the cell of the prisoner &ornelius (an
BaerlePK
KExactly) &aptain+K
K,here is the prisonerPK
K0ere 4 am) sir)K ans'ered &ornelius) gro'ing rather pale)
not'ithstanding all his courage+
KQou are Dr+ &ornelius (an BaerlePK asked he) this time
addressing the prisoner himself+
KQes) sir+K
KThen follo' me+K
K:h* oh*K said &ornelius) 'hose heart felt oppressed by the
first dread of death+ K,hat Juick 'ork they make here in the
fortress of >oe'estein+ And the rascal talked to me of
t'el(e hours*K
KAh* 'hat did 4 tell youPK 'hispered the communicati(e guard
in the ear of the culprit+
KA lie+K
K0o' soPK
KQou promised me t'el(e hours+K
KAh) yes) but here comes to you an aideDdeDcamp of his
0ighness) e(en one of his most intimate companions .an
Deken+ Wounds* they did not grant such an honour to poor
=athias+K
K&ome) come*K said &ornelius) dra'ing a long breath+ K&ome)
4'll sho' to these people that an honest burgher) godson of
&ornelius de ,itt) can 'ithout flinching recei(e as many
musketDballs as that =athias+K
1aying this) he passed proudly before the clerk) 'ho) being
interrupted in his 'ork) (entured to say to the officer) DD
KBut) &aptain (an Deken) the protocol is not yet finished+K
K4t is not 'orth 'hile finishing it)K ans'ered the officer+
KAll right)K replied the clerk) philosophically putting up
his paper and pen into a greasy and 'ellD'orn 'ritingDcase+
K4t 'as 'ritten)K thought poor &ornelius) Kthat 4 should not
in this 'orld gi(e my name either to a child to a flo'er) or
to a book) DD the three things by 'hich a man's memory is
perpetuated+K
/epressing his melancholy thoughts) he follo'ed the officer
'ith a resolute heart) and carrying his head erect+
&ornelius counted the steps 'hich led to the Esplanade)
regretting that he had not asked the guard ho' many there
'ere of them) 'hich the man) in his official complaisance)
'ould not ha(e failed to tell him+
,hat the poor prisoner 'as most afraid of during this 'alk)
'hich he considered as leading him to the end of the journey
of life) 'as to see Gryphus and not to see /osa+ ,hat sa(age
satisfaction 'ould glisten in the eyes of the father) and
'hat sorro' dim those of the daughter*
0o' Gryphus 'ould glory in his punishment* PunishmentP
/ather sa(age (engeance for an eminently righteous deed)
'hich &ornelius had the satisfaction of ha(ing performed as
a bounden duty+
But /osa) poor girl* must he die 'ithout a glimpse of her)
'ithout an opportunity to gi(e her one last kiss) or e(en to
say one last 'ord of fare'ellP
And) 'orst of all) must he die 'ithout any intelligence of
the black tulip) and regain his consciousness in hea(en 'ith
no idea in 'hat direction he should look to find itP
4n truth) to restrain his tears at such a crisis the poor
'retch's heart must ha(e been encased in more of the aes
triplex DD Kthe triple brassK DD than 0orace besto's upon
the sailor 'ho first (isited the terrifying Acroceraunian
shoals+
4n (ain did &ornelius look to the right and to the leftR he
sa' no sign either of /osa or Gryphus+
:n reaching the Esplanade) he bra(ely looked about for the
guards 'ho 'ere to be his executioners) and in reality sa' a
do9en soldiers assembled+ But they 'ere not standing in
line) or carrying muskets) but talking together so gayly
that &ornelius felt almost shocked+
All at once) Gryphus) limping) staggering) and supporting
himself on a crooked stick) came forth from the jailer's
lodgeR his old eyes) gray as those of a cat) 'ere lit up by
a gleam in 'hich all his hatred 'as concentrated+ 0e then
began to pour forth such a torrent of disgusting
imprecations against &ornelius) that the latter) addressing
the officer) said) DD
K4 do not think it (ery becoming sir) that 4 should be thus
insulted by this man) especially at a moment like this+K
K,ell* hear me)K said the officer) laughing) Kit is Juite
natural that this 'orthy fello' should bear you a grudge) DD
you seem to ha(e gi(en it him (ery soundly+K
KBut) sir) it 'as only in selfDdefence+K
K;e(er mind)K said the &aptain) shrugging his shoulders like
a true philosopher) Klet him talkR 'hat does it matter to
you no'PK
The cold s'eat stood on the bro' of &ornelius at this
ans'er) 'hich he looked upon some'hat in the light of brutal
irony) especially as coming from an officer of 'hom he had
heard it said that he 'as attached to the person of the
Prince+
The unfortunate tulipDfancier then felt that he had no more
resources) and no more friends) and resigned himself to his
fate+
KGod's 'ill be done)K he muttered) bo'ing his headR then)
turning to'ards the officer) 'ho seemed complacently to 'ait
until he had finished his meditations he asked) DD
KPlease) sir) tell me no') 'here am 4 to goPK
The officer pointed to a carriage) dra'n by four horses)
'hich reminded him (ery strongly of that 'hich) under
similar circumstances) had before attracted his attention at
Buytenhof+
KEnter)K said the officer+
KAh*K muttered &ornelius to himself) Kit seems they are not
going to treat me to the honours of the Esplanade+K
0e uttered these 'ords loud enough for the chatty guard) 'ho
'as at his heels) to o(erhear him+
That kind soul (ery likely thought it his duty to gi(e
&ornelius some ne' informationR for) approaching the door of
the carriage) 'hilst the officer) 'ith one foot on the step)
'as still gi(ing some orders) he 'hispered to .an Baerle) DD
K&ondemned prisoners ha(e sometimes been taken to their o'n
to'n to be made an example of) and ha(e then been executed
before the door of their o'n house+ 4t's all according to
circumstances+K
&ornelius thanked him by signs) and then said to himself) DD
K,ell) here is a fello' 'ho ne(er misses gi(ing consolation
'hene(er an opportunity presents itself+ 4n truth) my
friend) 4'm (ery much obliged to you+ Goodbye+K
The carriage dro(e a'ay+
KAh* you (illain) you brigand)K roared Gryphus) clinching
his fists at the (ictim 'ho 'as escaping from his clutches)
Kis it not a shame that this fello' gets off 'ithout ha(ing
restored my daughter to mePK
K4f they take me to Dort)K thought &ornelius) K4 shall see)
in passing my house) 'hether my poor borders ha(e been much
spoiled+K
&hapter H8
,herein the /eader begins to guess the Tind of Execution that
'as a'aiting .an Baerle
The carriage rolled on during the 'hole dayR it passed on
the right of Dort) 'ent through /otterdam) and reached
Delft+ At fi(e o'clock in the e(ening) at least t'enty
leagues had been tra(elled+
&ornelius addressed some Juestions to the officer) 'ho 'as
at the same time his guard and his companionR but) cautious
as 'ere his inJuiries) he had the disappointment of
recei(ing no ans'er+
&ornelius regretted that he had no longer by his side the
chatty soldier) 'ho 'ould talk 'ithout being Juestioned+
That obliging person 'ould undoubtedly ha(e gi(en him as
pleasant details and exact explanations concerning this
third strange part of his ad(entures as he had done
concerning the first t'o+
The tra(ellers passed the night in the carriage+ :n the
follo'ing morning at da'n &ornelius found himself beyond
>eyden) ha(ing the ;orth 1ea on his left) and the Wuyder Wee
on his right+
Three hours after) he entered 0aarlem+
&ornelius 'as not a'are of 'hat had passed at 0aarlem) and
'e shall lea(e him in ignorance of it until the course of
e(ents enlightens him+
But the reader has a right to kno' all about it e(en before
our hero) and therefore 'e shall not make him 'ait+
,e ha(e seen that /osa and the tulip) like t'o orphan
sisters) had been left by Prince ,illiam of :range at the
house of the President (an 1ystens+
/osa did not hear again from the 1tadtholder until the
e(ening of that day on 'hich she had seen him face to face+
To'ard e(ening) an officer called at .an 1ysten's house+ 0e
came from his 0ighness) 'ith a reJuest for /osa to appear at
the To'n 0all+
There) in the large &ouncil /oom into 'hich she 'as ushered)
she found the Prince 'riting+
0e 'as alone) 'ith a large $risian greyhound at his feet)
'hich looked at him 'ith a steady glance) as if the faithful
animal 'ere 'ishing to do 'hat no man could do) DD read the
thoughts of his master in his face+
,illiam continued his 'riting for a momentR then) raising
his eyes) and seeing /osa standing near the door) he said)
'ithout laying do'n his pen) DD
K&ome here) my child+K
/osa ad(anced a fe' steps to'ards the table+
K1it do'n)K he said+
/osa obeyed) for the Prince 'as fixing his eyes upon her)
but he had scarcely turned them again to his paper 'hen she
bashfully retired to the door+
The Prince finished his letter+
During this time) the greyhound 'ent up to /osa) sur(eyed
her and began to caress her+
KAh) ah*K said ,illiam to his dog) Kit's easy to see that
she is a country'oman of yours) and that you recognise her+K
Then) turning to'ards /osa) and fixing on her his
scrutinising) and at the same time impenetrable glance) he
said) DD
K;o') my child+K
The Prince 'as scarcely t'entyDthree) and /osa eighteen or
t'enty+ 0e might therefore perhaps better ha(e said) =y
sister+
K=y child)K he said) 'ith that strangely commanding accent
'hich chilled all those 'ho approached him) K'e are aloneR
let us speak together+K
/osa began to tremble) and yet there 'as nothing but
kindness in the expression of the Prince's face+
K=onseigneur)K she stammered+
KQou ha(e a father at >oe'esteinPK
KQes) your 0ighness+K
KQou do not lo(e himPK
K4 do notR at least) not as a daughter ought to do)
=onseigneur+K
K4t is not right not to lo(e one's father) but it is right
not to tell a falsehood+K
/osa cast her eyes to the ground+
K,hat is the reason of your not lo(ing your fatherPK
K0e is 'icked+K
K4n 'hat 'ay does he sho' his 'ickednessPK
K0e illDtreats the prisoners+K
KAll of themPK
KAll+K
KBut don't you bear him a grudge for illDtreating some one
in particularPK
K=y father illDtreats in particular =ynheer (an Baerle) 'ho
DDDD K
K,ho is your lo(erPK
/osa started back a step+
K,hom 4 lo(e) =onseigneur)K she ans'ered proudly+
K1ince 'henPK asked the Prince+
K1ince the day 'hen 4 first sa' him+K
KAnd 'hen 'as thatPK
KThe day after that on 'hich the Grand Pensionary 5ohn and
his brother &ornelius met 'ith such an a'ful death+K
The Prince compressed his lips) and knit his bro' and his
eyelids dropped so as to hide his eyes for an instant+ After
a momentary silence) he resumed the con(ersation+
KBut to 'hat can it lead to lo(e a man 'ho is doomed to li(e
and die in prisonPK
K4t 'ill lead) if he li(es and dies in prison) to my aiding
him in life and in death+K
KAnd 'ould you accept the lot of being the 'ife of a
prisonerPK
KAs the 'ife of =ynheer (an Baerle) 4 should) under any
circumstances) be the proudest and happiest 'oman in the
'orldR but DDDD K
KBut 'hatPK
K4 dare not say) =onseigneur+K
KThere is something like hope in your toneR 'hat do you
hopePK
1he raised her moist and beautiful eyes) and looked at
,illiam 'ith a glance full of meaning) 'hich 'as calculated
to stir up in the recesses of his heart the clemency 'hich
'as slumbering there+
KAh) 4 understand you)K he said+
/osa) 'ith a smile) clasped her hands+
KQou hope in mePK said the Prince+
KQes) =onseigneur+K
K<mph*K
The Prince sealed the letter 'hich he had just 'ritten) and
summoned one of his officers) to 'hom he said) DD
K&aptain (an Deken) carry this despatch to >oe'esteinR you
'ill read the orders 'hich 4 gi(e to the Go(ernor) and
execute them as far as they regard you+K
The officer bo'ed) and a fe' minutes after'ards the gallop
of a horse 'as heard resounding in the (aulted arch'ay+
K=y child)K continued the Prince) Kthe feast of the tulip
'ill be on 1unday next) that is to say) the day after
toDmorro'+ =ake yourself smart 'ith these fi(e hundred
guilders) as 4 'ish that day to be a great day for you+K
K0o' does your 0ighness 'ish me to be dressedPK faltered
/osa+
KTake the costume of a $risian bride+K said ,illiamR Kit
'ill suit you (ery 'ell indeed+K
&hapter H!
0aarlem
0aarlem) 'hither) three days ago) 'e conducted our gentle
reader) and 'hither 'e reJuest him to follo' us once more in
the footsteps of the prisoner) is a pleasant city) 'hich
justly prides itself on being one of the most shady in all
the ;etherlands+
,hile other to'ns boast of the magnificence of their
arsenals and dockDyards) and the splendour of their shops
and markets) 0aarlem's claims to fame rest upon her
superiority to all other pro(incial cities in the number and
beauty of her spreading elms) graceful poplars) and) more
than all) upon her pleasant 'alks) shaded by the lo(ely
arches of magnificent oaks) lindens) and chestnuts+
0aarlem) DD just as her neighbour) >eyden) became the centre
of science) and her Jueen) Amsterdam) that of commerce) DD
0aarlem preferred to be the agricultural) or) more strictly
speaking) the horticultural metropolis+
4n fact) girt about as she 'as) bree9y and exposed to the
sun's hot rays) she seemed to offer to gardeners so many
more guarantees of success than other places) 'ith their
hea(y sea air) and their scorching heat+
:n this account all the serene souls 'ho lo(ed the earth and
its fruits had gradually gathered together at 0aarlem) just
as all the ner(ous) uneasy spirits) 'hose ambition 'as for
tra(el and commerce) had settled in /otterdam and Amsterdam)
and all the politicians and selfish 'orldlings at the 0ague+
,e ha(e obser(ed that >eyden o(erflo'ed 'ith scholars+ 4n
like manner 0aarlem 'as de(oted to the gentle pursuits of
peace) DD to music and painting) orchards and a(enues)
gro(es and parks+ 0aarlem 'ent 'ild about flo'ers) and
tulips recei(ed their full share of 'orship+
0aarlem offered pri9es for tulipDgro'ingR and this fact
brings us in the most natural manner to that celebration
'hich the city intended to hold on =ay !7th) !63H in honour
of the great black tulip) immaculate and perfect) 'hich
should gain for its disco(erer one hundred thousand
guilders*
0aarlem) ha(ing placed on exhibition its fa(ourite) ha(ing
ad(ertised its lo(e of flo'ers in general and of tulips in
particular) at a period 'hen the souls of men 'ere filled
'ith 'ar and sedition) DD 0aarlem) ha(ing enjoyed the
exJuisite pleasure of admiring the (ery purest ideal of
tulips in full bloom) DD 0aarlem) this tiny to'n) full of
trees and of sunshine) of light and shade) had determined
that the ceremony of besto'ing the pri9e should be a fete
'hich should li(e for e(er in the memory of men+
1o much the more reason 'as there) too) in her
determination) in that 0olland is the home of fetesR ne(er
did sluggish natures manifest more eager energy of the
singing and dancing sort than those of the good republicans
of the 1e(en Pro(inces 'hen amusement 'as the order of the
day+
1tudy the pictures of the t'o Teniers+
4t is certain that sluggish folk are of all men the most
earnest in tiring themsel(es) not 'hen they are at 'ork) but
at play+
Thus 0aarlem 'as thrice gi(en o(er to rejoicing) for a
threeDfold celebration 'as to take place+
4n the first place) the black tulip had been producedR
secondly) the Prince ,illiam of :range) as a true 0ollander)
had promised to be present at the ceremony of its
inaugurationR and) thirdly) it 'as a point of honour 'ith
the 1tates to sho' to the $rench) at the conclusion of such
a disastrous 'ar as that of !63C) that the flooring of the
Bata(ian /epublic 'as solid enough for its people to dance
on it) 'ith the accompaniment of the cannon of their fleets+
The 0orticultural 1ociety of 0aarlem had sho'n itself 'orthy
of its fame by gi(ing a hundred thousand guilders for the
bulb of a tulip+ The to'n) 'hich did not 'ish to be outdone)
(oted a like sum) 'hich 'as placed in the hands of that
notable body to solemnise the auspicious e(ent+
And indeed on the 1unday fixed for this ceremony there 'as
such a stir among the people) and such an enthusiasm among
the to'nsfolk) that e(en a $renchman) 'ho laughs at
e(erything at all times) could not ha(e helped admiring the
character of those honest 0ollanders) 'ho 'ere eJually ready
to spend their money for the construction of a manDofD'ar DD
that is to say) for the support of national honour DD as
they 'ere to re'ard the gro'th of a ne' flo'er) destined to
bloom for one day) and to ser(e during that day to di(ert
the ladies) the learned) and the curious+
At the head of the notables and of the 0orticultural
&ommittee shone =ynheer (an 1ystens) dressed in his richest
habiliments+
The 'orthy man had done his best to imitate his fa(ourite
flo'er in the sombre and stern elegance of his garmentsR and
'e are bound to record) to his honour) that he had perfectly
succeeded in his object+
Dark crimson (el(et) dark purple silk) and jetDblack cloth)
'ith linen of da99ling 'hiteness) composed the festi(e dress
of the President) 'ho marched at the head of his &ommittee
carrying an enormous nosegay) like that 'hich a hundred and
t'entyDone years later) =onsieur de /obespierre displayed at
the festi(al of KThe 1upreme Being+K
There 'as) ho'e(er) a little difference bet'een the t'oR
(ery different from the $rench tribune) 'hose heart 'as so
full of hatred and ambitious (indicti(eness) 'as the honest
President) 'ho carried in his bosom a heart as innocent as
the flo'ers 'hich he held in his hand+
Behind the &ommittee) 'ho 'ere as gay as a meado') and as
fragrant as a garden in spring) marched the learned
societies of the to'n) the magistrates) the military) the
nobles and the boors+
The people) e(en among the respected republicans of the
1e(en Pro(inces) had no place assigned to them in the
processionR they merely lined the streets+
This is the place for the multitude) 'hich 'ith true
philosophic spirit) 'aits until the triumphal pageants ha(e
passed) to kno' 'hat to say of them) and sometimes also to
kno' 'hat to do+
This time) ho'e(er) there 'as no Juestion either of the
triumph of Pompey or of &aesarR neither of the defeat of
=ithridates) nor of the conJuest of Gaul+ The procession 'as
as placid as the passing of a flock of lambs) and as
inoffensi(e as a flight of birds s'eeping through the air+
0aarlem had no other triumphers) except its gardeners+
,orshipping flo'ers) 0aarlem idolised the florist+
4n the centre of this pacific and fragrant cortege the black
tulip 'as seen) carried on a litter) 'hich 'as co(ered 'ith
'hite (el(et and fringed 'ith gold+
The handles of the litter 'ere supported by four men) 'ho
'ere from time to time relie(ed by fresh relays) DD e(en as
the bearers of =other &ybele used to take turn and turn
about at /ome in the ancient days) 'hen she 'as brought from
Etruria to the Eternal &ity) amid the blare of trumpets and
the 'orship of a 'hole nation+
This public exhibition of the tulip 'as an act of adoration
rendered by an entire nation) unlettered and unrefined) to
the refinement and culture of its illustrious and de(out
leaders) 'hose blood had stained the foul pa(ement of the
Buytenhof) reser(ing the right at a future day to inscribe
the names of its (ictims upon the highest stone of the Dutch
Pantheon+
4t 'as arranged that the Prince 1tadtholder himself should
gi(e the pri9e of a hundred thousand guilders) 'hich
interested the people at large) and it 'as thought that
perhaps he 'ould make a speech 'hich interested more
particularly his friends and enemies+
$or in the most insignificant 'ords of men of political
importance their friends and their opponents al'ays
endea(our to detect) and hence think they can interpret)
something of their true thoughts+
As if your true politician's hat 'ere not a bushel under
'hich he al'ays hides his light*
At length the great and longDexpected day DD =ay !7) !63H DD
arri(edR and all 0aarlem) s'elled by her neighbours) 'as
gathered in the beautiful treeDlined streets) determined on
this occasion not to 'aste its applause upon military
heroes) or those 'ho had 'on notable (ictories in the field
of science) but to reser(e their applause for those 'ho had
o(ercome ;ature) and had forced the inexhaustible mother to
be deli(ered of 'hat had theretofore been regarded as
impossible) DD a completely black tulip+
;othing ho'e(er) is more fickle than such a resolution of
the people+ ,hen a cro'd is once in the humour to cheer) it
is just the same as 'hen it begins to hiss+ 4t ne(er kno's
'hen to stop+
4t therefore) in the first place) cheered .an 1ystens and
his nosegay) then the corporation) then follo'ed a cheer for
the peopleR and) at last) and for once 'ith great justice)
there 'as one for the excellent music 'ith 'hich the
gentlemen of the to'n councils generously treated the
assemblage at e(ery halt+
E(ery eye 'as looking eagerly for the heroine of the
festi(al) DD that is to say) the black tulip) DD and for its
hero in the person of the one 'ho had gro'n it+
4n case this hero should make his appearance after the
address 'e ha(e seen 'orthy .an 1ystens at 'ork on so
conscientiously) he 'ould not fail to make as much of a
sensation as the 1tadtholder himself+
But the interest of the day's proceedings for us is centred
neither in the learned discourse of our friend .an 1ystens)
ho'e(er eloJuent it might be) nor in the young dandies)
resplendent in their 1unday clothes) and munching their
hea(y cakesR nor in the poor young peasants) gna'ing smoked
eels as if they 'ere sticks of (anilla s'eetmeatR neither is
our interest in the lo(ely Dutch girls) 'ith red cheeks and
i(ory bosomsR nor in the fat) round mynheers) 'ho had ne(er
left their homes beforeR nor in the sallo') thin tra(ellers
from &eylon or 5a(aR nor in the thirsty cro'ds) 'ho Juenched
their thirst 'ith pickled cucumbersR DD no) so far as 'e are
concerned) the real interest of the situation) the
fascinating) dramatic interest) is not to be found here+
:ur interest is in a smiling) sparkling face to be seen amid
the members of the 0orticultural &ommitteeR in the person
'ith a flo'er in his belt) combed and brushed) and all clad
in scarlet) DD a colour 'hich makes his black hair and
yello' skin stand out in (iolent contrast+
This hero) radiant 'ith rapturous joy) 'ho had the
distinguished honour of making the people forget the speech
of .an 1ystens) and e(en the presence of the 1tadtholder)
'as 4saac Boxtel) 'ho sa') carried on his right before him)
the black tulip) his pretended daughterR and on his left) in
a large purse) the hundred thousand guilders in glittering
gold pieces) to'ards 'hich he 'as constantly sJuinting)
fearful of losing sight of them for one moment+
;o' and then Boxtel Juickened his step to rub elbo's for a
moment 'ith .an 1ystens+ 0e borro'ed a little importance
from e(erybody to make a kind of false importance for
himself) as he had stolen /osa's tulip to effect his o'n
glory) and thereby make his fortune+
Another Juarter of an hour and the Prince 'ill arri(e and
the procession 'ill halt for the last timeR after the tulip
is placed on its throne) the Prince) yielding precedence to
this ri(al for the popular adoration) 'ill take a
magnificently embla9oned parchment) on 'hich is 'ritten the
name of the gro'erR and his 0ighness) in a loud and audible
tone) 'ill proclaim him to be the disco(erer of a 'onderR
that 0olland) by the instrumentality of him) Boxtel) has
forced ;ature to produce a black flo'er) 'hich shall
henceforth be called Tulipa nigra Boxtellea+
$rom time to time) ho'e(er) Boxtel 'ithdre' his eyes for a
moment from the tulip and the purse) timidly looking among
the cro'd) for more than anything he dreaded to descry there
the pale face of the pretty $risian girl+
1he 'ould ha(e been a spectre spoiling the joy of the
festi(al for him) just as BanJuo's ghost did that of
=acbeth+
And yet) if the truth must be told) this 'retch) 'ho had
stolen 'hat 'as the boast of man) and the do'ry of a 'oman)
did not consider himself as a thief+ 0e had so intently
'atched this tulip) follo'ed it so eagerly from the dra'er
in &ornelius's dryDroom to the scaffold of the Buytenhof)
and from the scaffold to the fortress of >oe'esteinR he had
seen it bud and gro' in /osa's 'indo') and so often 'armed
the air round it 'ith his breath) that he felt as if no one
had a better right to call himself its producer than he hadR
and any one 'ho 'ould no' take the black tulip from him
'ould ha(e appeared to him as a thief+
Qet he did not percei(e /osaR his joy therefore 'as not
spoiled+
4n the centre of a circle of magnificent trees) 'hich 'ere
decorated 'ith garlands and inscriptions) the procession
halted) amidst the sounds of li(ely music) and the young
damsels of 0aarlem made their appearance to escort the tulip
to the raised seat 'hich it 'as to occupy on the platform)
by the side of the gilded chair of his 0ighness the
1tadtholder+
And the proud tulip) raised on its pedestal) soon o(erlooked
the assembled cro'd of people) 'ho clapped their hands) and
made the old to'n of 0aarlem reDecho 'ith their tremendous
cheers+
&hapter HC
A >ast /eJuest
At this solemn moment) and 'hilst the cheers still
resounded) a carriage 'as dri(ing along the road on the
outskirts of the green on 'hich the scene occurredR it
pursued its 'ay slo'ly) on account of the flocks of children
'ho 'ere pushed out of the a(enue by the cro'd of men and
'omen+
This carriage) co(ered 'ith dust) and creaking on its axles)
the result of a long journey) enclosed the unfortunate .an
Baerle) 'ho 'as just beginning to get a glimpse through the
open 'indo' of the scene 'hich 'e ha(e tried DD 'ith poor
success) no doubt DD to present to the eyes of the reader+
The cro'd and the noise and the display of artificial and
natural magnificence 'ere as da99ling to the prisoner as a
ray of light flashing suddenly into his dungeon+
;ot'ithstanding the little readiness 'hich his companion had
sho'n in ans'ering his Juestions concerning his fate) he
(entured once more to ask the meaning of all this bustle)
'hich at first sight seemed to be utterly disconnected 'ith
his o'n affairs+
K,hat is all this) pray) =ynheer >ieutenantPK he asked of
his conductor+
KAs you may see) sir)K replied the officer) Kit is a feast+K
KAh) a feast)K said &ornelius) in the sad tone of
indifference of a man to 'hom no joy remains in this 'orld+
Then) after some moments) silence) during 'hich the carriage
had proceeded a fe' yards) he asked once more) DD
KThe feast of the patron saint of 0aarlemP as 4 see so many
flo'ers+K
K4t is) indeed) a feast in 'hich flo'ers play a principal
part+K
K:h) the s'eet scents* oh) the beautiful colours*K cried
&ornelius+
K1top) that the gentleman may see)K said the officer) 'ith
that frank kindliness 'hich is peculiar to military men) to
the soldier 'ho 'as acting as postilion+
K:h) thank you) 1ir) for your kindness)K replied .an Baerle)
in a melancholy toneR Kthe joy of others pains meR please
spare me this pang+K
K5ust as you 'ish+ Dri(e on* 4 ordered the dri(er to stop
because 4 thought it 'ould please you) as you are said to
lo(e flo'ers) and especially that the feast of 'hich is
celebrated toDday+K
KAnd 'hat flo'er is thatPK
KThe tulip+K
KThe tulip*K cried .an Baerle) Kis toDday the feast of
tulipsPK
KQes) sirR but as this spectacle displeases you) let us
dri(e on+K
The officer 'as about to gi(e the order to proceed) but
&ornelius stopped him) a painful thought ha(ing struck him+
0e asked) 'ith faltering (oice) DD
K4s the pri9e gi(en toDday) sirPK
KQes) the pri9e for the black tulip+K
&ornelius's cheek flushed) his 'hole frame trembled) and the
cold s'eat stood on his bro'+
KAlas* sir)K he said) Kall these good people 'ill be as
unfortunate as myself) for they 'ill not see the solemnity
'hich they ha(e come to 'itness) or at least they 'ill see
it incompletely+K
K,hat is it you mean to sayPK
K4 mean to say+K replied &ornelius) thro'ing himself back in
the carriage) Kthat the black tulip 'ill not be found)
except by one 'hom 4 kno'+K
K4n this case)K said the officer) Kthe person 'hom you kno'
has found it) for the thing 'hich the 'hole of 0aarlem is
looking at at this moment is neither more nor less than the
black tulip+K
KThe black tulip*K replied .an Baerle) thrusting half his
body out of the carriage 'indo'+ K,here is itP 'here is itPK
KDo'n there on the throne) DD don't you seePK
K4 do see it+K
K&ome along) sir)K said the officer+ K;o' 'e must dri(e
off+K
K:h) ha(e pity) ha(e mercy) sir*K said .an Baerle) Kdon't
take me a'ay* >et me look once more* 4s 'hat 4 see do'n
there the black tulipP Suite blackP 4s it possibleP :h) sir)
ha(e you seen itP 4t must ha(e specks) it must be imperfect)
it must only be dyed black+ Ah* if 4 'ere there) 4 should
see it at once+ >et me alight) let me see it close) 4 beg of
you+K
KAre you mad) 1irP 0o' could 4 allo' such a thingPK
K4 implore you+K
KBut you forget that you are a prisoner+K
K4t is true 4 am a prisoner) but 4 am a man of honour) and 4
promise you on my 'ord that 4 'ill not run a'ay) 4 'ill not
attempt to escape) DD only let me see the flo'er+K
KBut my orders) 1ir) my orders+K And the officer again made
the dri(er a sign to proceed+
&ornelius stopped him once more+
K:h) be forbearing) be generous* my 'hole life depends upon
your pity+ Alas* perhaps it 'ill not be much longer+ Qou
don't kno') sir) 'hat 4 suffer+ Qou don't kno' the struggle
going on in my heart and mind+ $or after all)K &ornelius
cried in despair) Kif this 'ere my tulip) if it 'ere the one
'hich has been stolen from /osa* :h) 4 must alight) sir* 4
must see the flo'er* Qou may kill me after'ards if you like)
but 4 'ill see it) 4 must see it+K
KBe Juiet) unfortunate man) and come Juickly back into the
carriage) for here is the escort of his 0ighness the
1tadtholder) and if the Prince obser(ed any disturbance) or
heard any noise) it 'ould be ruin to me) as 'ell as to you+K
.an Baerle) more afraid for his companion than himself)
thre' himself back into the carriage) but he could only keep
Juiet for half a minute) and the first t'enty horsemen had
scarcely passed 'hen he again leaned out of the carriage
'indo') gesticulating imploringly to'ards the 1tadtholder at
the (ery moment 'hen he passed+
,illiam) impassible and Juiet as usual) 'as proceeding to
the green to fulfil his duty as chairman+ 0e held in his
hand the roll of parchment) 'hich) on this festi(e day) had
become his baton+
1eeing the man gesticulate 'ith imploring mien) and perhaps
also recognising the officer 'ho accompanied him) his
0ighness ordered his carriage to stop+
4n an instant his snorting steeds stood still) at a distance
of about six yards from the carriage in 'hich .an Baerle 'as
caged+
K,hat is thisPK the Prince asked the officer) 'ho at the
first order of the 1tadtholder had jumped out of the
carriage) and 'as respectfully approaching him+
K=onseigneur)K he cried) Kthis is the prisoner of state 'hom
4 ha(e fetched from >oe'estein) and 'hom 4 ha(e brought to
0aarlem according to your 0ighness's command+K
K,hat does he 'antPK
K0e entreats for permission to stop here for minute+K
KTo see the black tulip) =onseigneur)K said .an Baerle)
clasping his hands) Kand 'hen 4 ha(e seen it) 'hen 4 ha(e
seen 'hat 4 desire to kno') 4 am Juite ready to die) if die
4 mustR but in dying 4 shall bless your 0ighness's mercy for
ha(ing allo'ed me to 'itness the glorification of my 'ork+K
4t 'as) indeed) a curious spectacle to see these t'o men at
the 'indo's of their se(eral carriagesR the one surrounded
by his guards) and all po'erful) the other a prisoner and
miserableR the one going to mount a throne) the other
belie(ing himself to be on his 'ay to the scaffold+
,illiam) looking 'ith his cold glance on &ornelius) listened
to his anxious and urgent reJuest+
Then addressing himself to the officer) he said) DD
K4s this person the mutinous prisoner 'ho has attempted to
kill his jailer at >oe'esteinPK
&ornelius hea(ed a sigh and hung his head+ 0is goodDtempered
honest face turned pale and red at the same instant+ These
'ords of the allDpo'erful Prince) 'ho by some secret
messenger una(ailable 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 reJuest+
0e did not try to make a struggle) or to defend himselfR and
he presented to the Prince the affecting spectacle of
despairing innocence) like that of a child) DD a spectacle
'hich 'as fully understood and felt by the great mind and
the great heart of him 'ho obser(ed it+
KAllo' the prisoner to alight) and let him see the black
tulipR it is 'ell 'orth being seen once+K
KThank you) =onseigneur) thank you)K said &ornelius) nearly
s'ooning 'ith joy) and staggering on the steps of his
carriageR had not the officer supported him) our poor friend
'ould ha(e made his thanks to his 0ighness prostrate on his
knees 'ith his forehead in the dust+
After ha(ing granted this permission) the Prince proceeded
on his 'ay o(er the green amidst the most enthusiastic
acclamations+
0e soon arri(ed at the platform) and the thunder of cannon
shook the air+
&hapter HH
&onclusion
.an Baerle) led by four guards) 'ho pushed their 'ay through
the cro'd) sidled up to the black tulip) to'ards 'hich his
ga9e 'as attracted 'ith increasing interest the nearer he
approached to it+
0e sa' it at last) that uniJue flo'er) 'hich he 'as to see
once and no more+ 0e sa' it at the distance of six paces)
and 'as delighted 'ith its perfection and gracefulnessR he
sa' it surrounded by young and beautiful girls) 'ho formed)
as it 'ere) a guard of honour for this Jueen of excellence
and purity+ And yet) the more he ascertained 'ith his o'n
eyes the perfection of the flo'er) the more 'retched and
miserable he felt+ 0e looked all around for some one to 'hom
he might address only one Juestion) but his eyes e(ery'here
met strange faces) and the attention of all 'as directed
to'ards the chair of state) on 'hich the 1tadtholder had
seated himself+
,illiam rose) casting a tranJuil glance o(er the
enthusiastic cro'd) and his keen eyes rested by turns on the
three extremities of a triangle formed opposite to him by
three persons of (ery different interests and feelings+
At one of the angles) Boxtel) trembling 'ith impatience) and
Juite absorbed in 'atching the Prince) the guilders) the
black tulip) and the cro'd+
At the other) &ornelius) panting for breath) silent) and his
attention) his eyes) his life) his heart) his lo(e) Juite
concentrated on the black tulip+
And thirdly) standing on a raised step among the maidens of
0aarlem) a beautiful $risian girl) dressed in fine scarlet
'oollen cloth) embroidered 'ith sil(er) and co(ered 'ith a
lace (eil) 'hich fell in rich folds from her headDdress of
gold brocadeR in one 'ord) /osa) 'ho) faint and 'ith
s'imming eyes) 'as leaning on the arm of one of the officers
of ,illiam+
The Prince then slo'ly unfolded the parchment) and said)
'ith a calm clear (oice) 'hich) although lo') made itself
perfectly heard amidst the respectful silence) 'hich all at
once arrested the breath of fifty thousand spectators+ DD
KQou kno' 'hat has brought us hereP
KA pri9e of one hundred thousand guilders has been promised
to 'hosoe(er should gro' the black tulip+
KThe black tulip has been gro'nR here it is before your
eyes) coming up to all the conditions reJuired by the
programme of the 0orticultural 1ociety of 0aarlem+
KThe history of its production) and the name of its gro'er)
'ill be inscribed in the book of honour of the city+
K>et the person approach to 'hom the black tulip belongs+K
4n pronouncing these 'ords) the Prince) to judge of the
effect they produced) sur(eyed 'ith his eagle eye the three
extremities of the triangle+
0e sa' Boxtel rushing for'ard+ 0e sa' &ornelius make an
in(oluntary mo(ementR and lastly he sa' the officer 'ho 'as
taking care of /osa lead) or rather push her for'ard to'ards
him+
At the sight of /osa) a double cry arose on the right and
left of the Prince+
Boxtel) thunderstruck) and &ornelius) in joyful ama9ement)
both exclaimed) DD
K/osa* /osa*K
KThis tulip is yours) is it not) my childPK said the Prince+
KQes) =onseigneur)K stammered /osa) 'hose striking beauty
excited a general murmur of applause+
K:h*K muttered &ornelius) Kshe has then belied me) 'hen she
said this flo'er 'as stolen from her+ :h* that's 'hy she
left >oe'estein+ Alas* am 4 then forgotten) betrayed by her
'hom 4 thought my best friend on earthPK
K:h*K sighed Boxtel) K4 am lost+K
KThis tulip)K continued the Prince) K'ill therefore bear the
name of its producer) and figure in the catalogue under the
title) Tulipa nigra /osa Barlaensis) because of the name .an
Baerle) 'hich 'ill henceforth be the name of this damsel+K
And at the same time ,illiam took /osa's hand) and placed it
in that of a young man) 'ho rushed forth) pale and beyond
himself 'ith joy) to the foot of the throne saluting
alternately the Prince and his brideR and 'ho 'ith a
grateful look to hea(en) returned his thanks to the Gi(er of
all this happiness+
At the same moment there fell at the feet of the President
(an 1ystens another man) struck do'n by a (ery different
emotion+
Boxtel) crushed by the failure of his hopes) lay senseless
on the ground+
,hen they raised him) and examined his pulse and his heart)
he 'as Juite dead+
This incident did not much disturb the festi(al) as neither
the Prince nor the President seemed to mind it much+
&ornelius started back in dismay) 'hen in the thief) in the
pretended 5acob) he recognised his neighbour) 4saac Boxtel)
'hom) in the innocence of his heart) he had not for one
instant suspected of such a 'icked action+
Then) to the sound of trumpets) the procession marched back
'ithout any change in its order) except that Boxtel 'as no'
dead) and that &ornelius and /osa 'ere 'alking triumphantly
side by side and hand in hand+
:n their arri(ing at the 0otel de .ille) the Prince)
pointing 'ith his finger to the purse 'ith the hundred
thousand guilders) said to &ornelius) DD
K4t is difficult to say by 'hom this money is gained) by you
or by /osaR for if you ha(e found the black tulip) she has
nursed it and brought it into flo'er+ 4t 'ould therefore be
unjust to consider it as her do'ryR it is the gift of the
to'n of 0aarlem to the tulip+K
&ornelius 'ondered 'hat the Prince 'as dri(ing at+ The
latter continued) DD
K4 gi(e to /osa the sum of a hundred thousand guilders)
'hich she has fairly earned) and 'hich she can offer to you+
They are the re'ard of her lo(e) her courage) and her
honesty+ As to you) 1ir DD thanks to /osa again) 'ho has
furnished the proofs of your innocence DDDD K
And) saying these 'ords) the Prince handed to &ornelius that
flyDleaf of the Bible on 'hich 'as 'ritten the letter of
&ornelius de ,itt) and in 'hich the third bulb had been
'rapped) DD
KAs to you) it has come to light that you 'ere imprisoned
for a crime 'hich you had not committed+ This means) that
you are not only free) but that your property 'ill be
restored to youR as the property of an innocent man cannot
be confiscated+ &ornelius (an Baerle) you are the godson of
&ornelius de ,itt and the friend of his brother 5ohn+ /emain
'orthy of the name you ha(e recei(ed from one of them) and
of the friendship you ha(e enjoyed 'ith the other+ The t'o
De ,itts) 'rongly judged and 'rongly punished in a moment of
popular error) 'ere t'o great citi9ens) of 'hom 0olland is
no' proud+K
The Prince) after these last 'ords) 'hich contrary to his
custom) he pronounced 'ith a (oice full of emotion) ga(e his
hands to the lo(ers to kiss) 'hilst they 'ere kneeling
before him+
Then hea(ing a sigh) he said) DD
KAlas* you are (ery happy) 'ho) dreaming only of 'hat
perhaps is the true glory of 0olland) and forms especially
her true happiness) do not attempt to acJuire for her
anything beyond ne' colours of tulips+K
And) casting a glance to'ards that point of the compass
'here $rance lay) as if he sa' ne' clouds gathering there)
he entered his carriage and dro(e off+
&ornelius started on the same day for Dort 'ith /osa) 'ho
sent her lo(er's old housekeeper as a messenger to her
father) to apprise him of all that had taken place+
Those 'ho) thanks to our description) ha(e learned the
character of old Gryphus) 'ill comprehend that it 'as hard
for him to become reconciled to his sonDinDla'+ 0e had not
yet forgotten the blo's 'hich he had recei(ed in that famous
encounter+ To judge from the 'eals 'hich he counted) their
number) he said) amounted to fortyDoneR but at last) in
order) as he declared) not to be less generous than his
0ighness the 1tadtholder) he consented to make his peace+
Appointed to 'atch o(er the tulips) the old man made the
rudest keeper of flo'ers in the 'hole of the 1e(en
Pro(inces+
4t 'as indeed a sight to see him 'atching the obnoxious
moths and butterflies) killing slugs) and dri(ing a'ay the
hungry bees+
As he had heard Boxtel's story) and 'as furious at ha(ing
been the dupe of the pretended 5acob) he destroyed the
sycamore behind 'hich the en(ious 4saac had spied into the
gardenR for the plot of ground belonging to him had been
bought by &ornelius) and taken into his o'n garden+
/osa) gro'ing not only in beauty) but in 'isdom also) after
t'o years of her married life) could read and 'rite so 'ell
that she 'as able to undertake by herself the education of
t'o beautiful children 'hich she had borne in !63E and !637)
both in =ay) the month of flo'ers+
As a matter of course) one 'as a boy) the other a girl) the
former being called &ornelius) the other /osa+
.an Baerle remained faithfully attached to /osa and to his
tulips+ The 'hole of his life 'as de(oted to the happiness
of his 'ife and the culture of flo'ers) in the latter of
'hich occupations he 'as so successful that a great number
of his (arieties found a place in the catalogue of 0olland+
The t'o principal ornaments of his dra'ingDroom 'ere those
t'o lea(es from the Bible of &ornelius de ,itt) in large
golden framesR one of them containing the letter in 'hich
his godfather enjoined him to burn the correspondence of the
=arJuis de >ou(ois) and the other his o'n 'ill) in 'hich he
beJueathed to /osa his bulbs under condition that she should
marry a young man of from t'entyDsix to t'entyDeight years)
'ho lo(ed her and 'hom she lo(ed) a condition 'hich 'as
scrupulously fulfilled) although) or rather because)
&ornelius did not die+
And to 'ard off any en(ious attempts of another 4saac
Boxtel) he 'rote o(er his door the lines 'hich Grotius had)
on the day of his flight) scratched on the 'alls of his
prison? DD
K1ometimes one has suffered so much that he has the right
ne(er to be able to say) '4 am too happy+'K
End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas