the black tulip-第39章
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〃No; be quiet; it is the ferryman of Loewestein; a smart
young man of twenty…five。〃
〃By Jove!〃
〃Be quiet;〃 said Rosa; smiling; 〃he is still under age; as
you have yourself fixed it from twenty…six to twenty…eight。〃
〃In fine; do you think you may rely on this young man?〃
〃As on myself; he would throw himself into the Waal or the
Meuse if I bade him。〃
〃Well; Rosa; this lad may be at Haarlem in ten hours; you
will give me paper and pencil; and; perhaps better still;
pen and ink; and I will write; or rather; on second
thoughts; you will; for if I did; being a poor prisoner;
people might; like your father; see a conspiracy in it。 You
will write to the President of the Horticultural Society;
and I am sure he will come。〃
〃But if he tarries?〃
〃Well; let us suppose that he tarries one day; or even two;
but it is impossible。 A tulip…fancier like him will not
tarry one hour; not one minute; not one second; to set out
to see the eighth wonder of the world。 But; as I said; if he
tarried one or even two days; the tulip will still be in its
full splendour。 The flower once being seen by the President;
and the protocol being drawn up; all is in order; you will
only keep a duplicate of the protocol; and intrust the tulip
to him。 Ah! if we had been able to carry it ourselves; Rosa;
it would never have left my hands but to pass into yours;
but this is a dream; which we must not entertain;〃 continued
Cornelius with a sigh; 〃the eyes of strangers will see it
flower to the last。 And above all; Rosa; before the
President has seen it; let it not be seen by any one。 Alas!
if any one saw the black tulip; it would be stolen。〃
〃Oh!〃
〃Did you not tell me yourself of what you apprehended from
your lover Jacob? People will steal one guilder; why not a
hundred thousand?〃
〃I shall watch; be quiet。〃
〃But if it opened whilst you were here?〃
〃The whimsical little thing would indeed be quite capable of
playing such a trick;〃 said Rosa。
〃And if on your return you find it open?〃
〃Well?〃
〃Oh; Rosa; whenever it opens; remember that not a moment
must be lost in apprising the President。〃
〃And in apprising you。 Yes; I understand。〃
Rosa sighed; yet without any bitter feeling; but rather like
a woman who begins to understand a foible; and to accustom
herself to it。
〃I return to your tulip; Mynheer van Baerle; and as soon as
it opens I will give you news; which being done the
messenger will set out immediately。〃
〃Rosa; Rosa; I don't know to what wonder under the sun I
shall compare you。〃
〃Compare me to the black tulip; and I promise you I shall
feel very much flattered。 Good night; then; till we meet
again; Mynheer Cornelius。〃
〃Oh; say 'Good night; my friend。'〃
〃Good night; my friend;〃 said Rosa; a little consoled。
〃Say; 'My very dear friend。'〃
〃Oh; my friend 〃
〃Very dear friend; I entreat you; say 'very dear;' Rosa;
very dear。〃
〃Very dear; yes; very dear;〃 said Rosa; with a beating
heart; beyond herself with happiness。
〃And now that you have said 'very dear;' dear Rosa; say also
'most happy': say 'happier and more blessed than ever man
was under the sun。' I only lack one thing; Rosa。〃
〃And that is?〃
〃Your cheek; your fresh cheek; your soft; rosy cheek。 Oh;
Rosa; give it me of your own free will; and not by chance。
Ah!〃
The prisoner's prayer ended in a sigh of ecstasy; his lips
met those of the maiden; not by chance; nor by stratagem;
but as Saint…Preux's was to meet the lips of Julie a hundred
years later。
Rosa made her escape。
Cornelius stood with his heart upon his lips; and his face
glued to the wicket in the door。
He was fairly choking with happiness and joy。 He opened his
window; and gazed long; with swelling heart; at the
cloudless vault of heaven; and the moon; which shone like
silver upon the two…fold stream flowing from far beyond the
hills。 He filled his lungs with the pure; sweet air; while
his brain dwelt upon thoughts of happiness; and his heart
overflowed with gratitude and religious fervour。
〃Oh Thou art always watching from on high; my God;〃 he
cried; half prostrate; his glowing eyes fixed upon the
stars: 〃forgive me that I almost doubted Thy existence
during these latter days; for Thou didst hide Thy face
behind the clouds; and wert for a moment lost to my sight; O
Thou merciful God; Thou pitying Father everlasting! But
to…day; this evening; and to…night; again I see Thee in all
Thy wondrous glory in the mirror of Thy heavenly abode; and
more clearly still in the mirror of my grateful heart。〃
He was well again; the poor invalid; the wretched captive
was free once more。
During part of the night Cornelius; with his heart full of
joy and delight; remained at his window; gazing at the
stars; and listening for every sound。
Then casting a glance from time to time towards the lobby;
〃Down there;〃 he said; 〃is Rosa; watching like myself; and
waiting from minute to minute; down there; under Rosa's
eyes; is the mysterious flower; which lives; which expands;
which opens; perhaps Rosa holds in this moment the stem of
the tulip between her delicate fingers。 Touch it gently;
Rosa。 Perhaps she touches with her lips its expanding
chalice。 Touch it cautiously; Rosa; your lips are burning。
Yes; perhaps at this moment the two objects of my dearest
love caress each other under the eye of Heaven。〃
At this moment; a star blazed in the southern sky; and shot
through the whole horizon; falling down; as it were; on the
fortress of Loewestein。
Cornelius felt a thrill run through his frame。
〃Ah!〃 he said; 〃here is Heaven sending a soul to my flower。〃
And as if he had guessed correctly; nearly at that very
moment the prisoner heard in the lobby a step light as that
of a sylph; and the rustling of a gown; and a well…known
voice; which said to him;
〃Cornelius; my friend; my very dear friend; and very happy
friend; come; come quickly。〃
Cornelius darted with one spring from the window to the
door; his lips met those of Rosa; who told him; with a kiss;
〃It is open; it is black; here it is。〃
〃How! here it is?〃 exclaimed Cornelius。
〃Yes; yes; we ought indeed to run some little risk to give a
great joy; here it is; take it。〃
And with one hand she raised to the level of the grating a
dark lantern; which she had lit in the meanwhile; whilst
with the other she held to the same height the miraculous
tulip。
Cornelius uttered a cry; and was nearly fainting。
〃Oh!〃 muttered he; 〃my God; my God; Thou dost reward me for
my innocence and my captivity; as Thou hast allowed two such
flowers to grow at the grated window of my prison!〃
The tulip was beautiful; splendid; magnificent; its stem was
more than eighteen inches high; it rose from out of four
green leaves; which were as smooth and straight as iron
lance…heads; the whole of the flower was as black and
shining as jet。
〃Rosa;〃 said Cornelius; almost gasping; 〃Rosa; there is not
one moment to lose in writing the letter。〃
〃It is written; my dearest Cornelius;〃 said Rosa。
〃Is it; indeed?〃
〃Whilst the tulip opened I wrote it myself; for I did not
wish to lose a moment。 Here is the letter; and tell me
whether you approve of it。〃
Cornelius took the letter; and read; in a handwriting which
was much improved even since the last little note he had
received from Rosa; as follows:
〃Mynheer President; The black tulip is about to open;
perhaps in ten minutes。 As soon as it is open; I shall send
a messenger to you; with the request that you will come and
fetch it in person from the fortress at Loewestein。 I am the
daughter of the jailer