Dumas, Alexandre – The Black Tulip

not only might be committing a useless crime, but also the

theft might be discovered in the time which must elapse

until the flower should open.

He therefore — as being in possession of the key, he might

enter Rosa’s chamber whenever he liked — thought it better

to wait and to take it either an hour before or after

opening, and to start on the instant to Haarlem, where the

tulip would be before the judges of the committee before any

one else could put in a reclamation.

Should any one then reclaim it, Boxtel would in his turn

charge him or her with theft.

This was a deep-laid scheme, and quite worthy of its author.

Thus, every evening during that delightful hour which the

two lovers passed together at the grated window, Boxtel

entered Rosa’s chamber to watch the progress which the black

tulip had made towards flowering.

On the evening at which we have arrived he was going to

enter according to custom; but the two lovers, as we have

seen, only exchanged a few words before Cornelius sent Rosa

back to watch over the tulip.

Seeing Rosa enter her room ten minutes after she had left

it, Boxtel guessed that the tulip had opened, or was about

to open.

During that night, therefore, the great blow was to be

struck. Boxtel presented himself before Gryphus with a

double supply of Genievre, that is to say, with a bottle in

each pocket.

Gryphus being once fuddled, Boxtel was very nearly master of

the house.

At eleven o’clock Gryphus was dead drunk. At two in the

morning Boxtel saw Rosa leaving the chamber; but evidently

she held in her arms something which she carried with great

care.

He did not doubt that this was the black tulip which was in

flower.

But what was she going to do with it? Would she set out that

instant to Haarlem with it?

It was not possible that a young girl should undertake such

a journey alone during the night.

Was she only going to show the tulip to Cornelius? This was

more likely.

He followed Rosa in his stocking feet, walking on tiptoe.

He saw her approach the grated window. He heard her calling

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Dumas, Alexandre – The Black Tulip

Cornelius. By the light of the dark lantern he saw the tulip

open, and black as the night in which he was hidden.

He heard the plan concerted between Cornelius and Rosa to

send a messenger to Haarlem. He saw the lips of the lovers

meet, and then heard Cornelius send Rosa away.

He saw Rosa extinguish the light and return to her chamber.

Ten minutes after, he saw her leave the room again, and lock

it twice.

Boxtel, who saw all this whilst hiding himself on the

landing-place of the staircase above, descended step by step

from his story as Rosa descended from hers; so that, when

she touched with her light foot the lowest step of the

staircase, Boxtel touched with a still lighter hand the lock

of Rosa’s chamber.

And in that hand, it must be understood, he held the false

key which opened Rosa’s door as easily as did the real one.

And this is why, in the beginning of the chapter, we said

that the poor young people were in great need of the

protection of God.

Chapter 24

The Black Tulip changes Masters

Cornelius remained standing on the spot where Rosa had left him.

He was quite overpowered with the weight of his twofold happiness.

Half an hour passed away. Already did the first rays of the

sun enter through the iron grating of the prison, when

Cornelius was suddenly startled at the noise of steps which

came up the staircase, and of cries which approached nearer

and nearer.

Almost at the same instant he saw before him the pale and

distracted face of Rosa.

He started, and turned pale with fright.

“Cornelius, Cornelius!” she screamed, gasping for breath.

“Good Heaven! what is it?” asked the prisoner.

“Cornelius! the tulip —- ”

“Well?”

“How shall I tell you?”

“Speak, speak, Rosa!”

“Some one has taken — stolen it from us.”

“Stolen — taken?” said Cornelius.