violet-coloured velvet, embroidered with silver; who, with a
certain aristocratic slowness, ascended the white stone
steps of the house.
In his wake followed two officers, one of the navy, and the
other of the cavalry.
Van Systens, having found his way through the frightened
domestics, began to bow, almost to prostrate himself before
his visitor, who had been the cause of all this stir.
“Monseigneur,” he called out, “Monseigneur! What
distinguished honour is your Highness bestowing for ever on
my humble house by your visit?”
“Dear Mynheer van Systens,” said William of Orange, with a
serenity which, with him, took the place of a smile, “I am a
true Hollander, I am fond of the water, of beer, and of
flowers, sometimes even of that cheese the flavour of which
seems so grateful to the French; the flower which I prefer
to all others is, of course, the tulip. I heard at Leyden
that the city of Haarlem at last possessed the black tulip;
and, after having satisfied myself of the truth of news
which seemed so incredible, I have come to know all about it
from the President of the Horticultural Society.”
“Oh, Monseigneur, Monseigneur!” said Van Systens, “what
glory to the society if its endeavours are pleasing to your
Highness!”
“Have you got the flower here?” said the Prince, who, very
likely, already regretted having made such a long speech.
“I am sorry to say we have not.”
“And where is it?”
“With its owner.”
“Who is he?”
“An honest tulip-grower of Dort.”
“His name?”
“Boxtel.”
“His quarters?”
“At the White Swan; I shall send for him, and if in the
meanwhile your Highness will do me the honour of stepping
into my drawing-room, he will be sure — knowing that your
Highness is here — to lose no time in bringing his tulip.”
“Very well, send for him.”
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“Yes, your Highness, but —-
“What is it?”
“Oh, nothing of any consequence, Monseigneur.”
“Everything is of consequence, Mynheer van Systens.”
“Well, then, Monseigneur, if it must be said, a little
difficulty has presented itself.”
“What difficulty?”
“This tulip has already been claimed by usurpers. It’s true
that it is worth a hundred thousand guilders.”
“Indeed!”
“Yes, Monseigneur, by usurpers, by forgers.”
“This is a crime, Mynheer van Systens.”
“So it is, your Highness.”
“And have you any proofs of their guilt? ‘
“No, Monseigneur, the guilty woman —- ”
“The guilty woman, Sir?”
“I ought to say, the woman who claims the tulip,
Monseigneur, is here in the room close by.”
“And what do you think of her?”
“I think, Monseigneur, that the bait of a hundred thousand
guilders may have tempted her.”
“And so she claims the tulip?”
“Yes Monseigneur.”
“And what proof does she offer?”
“I was just going to question her when your Highness came
in.”
“Question her, Mynheer van Systens, question her. I am the
first magistrate of the country; I will hear the case and
administer justice.”
“I have found my King Solomon,” said Van Systens, bowing,
and showing the way to the Prince.
His Highness was just going to walk ahead, but, suddenly
recollecting himself he said —
“Go before me, and call me plain Mynheer.”
The two then entered the cabinet.
Rosa was still standing at the same place, leaning on the
window, and looking through the panes into the garden.
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Dumas, Alexandre – The Black Tulip
“Ah! a Frisian girl,” said the Prince, as he observed Rosa’s
gold brocade headdress and red petticoat.
At the noise of their footsteps she turned round, but
scarcely saw the Prince, who seated himself in the darkest
corner of the apartment.
All her attention, as may be easily imagined, was fixed on
that important person who was called Van Systens, so that
she had no time to notice the humble stranger who was
following the master of the house, and who, for aught she
knew, might be somebody or nobody.
The humble stranger took a book down from the shelf, and
made Van Systens a sign to commence the examination
forthwith.
Van Systens, likewise at the invitation of the young man in
the violet coat, sat down in his turn, and, quite happy and