Черный тюльпан
The Rival
Andatlasthehired,justoppositeRosa’swindow,alittleattic,distantenoughnottoallowhimtoberecognizedwiththenakedeye,butsufficientlyneartoenablehim,withthehelpofhistelescope,towatcheverythingthatwasgoingonattheLoewesteininRosa’sroom,justasatDorthehadwatchedthedry-roomofCornelius.
Hehadnotbeeninstalledmorethanthreedaysinhisatticbeforeallhisdoubtswereremoved.
Frommorningtosunsettheflower-potwasinthewindow,and,likethosecharmingfemalefiguresofMierisandMetzys,Rosaappearedatthatwindowasinaframe,formedbythefirstbuddingspraysofthewildvineandthehoneysuckleencirclingherwindow.
Rosawatchedtheflower-potwithaninterestwhichbetrayedtoBoxteltherealvalueoftheobjectenclosedinit.
Thisobjectcouldnotbeanythingelsebutthesecondbulb,thatistosay,thequintessenceofallthehopesoftheprisoner.
Whenthenightsthreatenedtobetoocold,Rosatookintheflower-pot.
Well,itwasthenquiteevidentshewasfollowingtheinstructionsofCornelius,whowasafraidofthebulbbeingkilledbyfrost.
Whenthesunbecametoohot,Rosalikewisetookinthepotfromeleveninthemorninguntiltwointheafternoon.
Anotherproof:Corneliuswasafraidlestthesoilshouldbecometoodry.
ButwhenthefirstleavespeepedoutoftheearthBoxtelwasfullyconvinced;andhistelescopelefthimnolongerinanyuncertaintybeforetheyhadgrownoneinchinheight.
Corneliuspossessedtwobulbs,andthesecondwasintrustedtotheloveandcareofRosa.
