Dumas, Alexandre – The Black Tulip

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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Dumas, Alexandre – The Black Tulip

“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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“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