Черный тюльпан
The President van Systens
“AnnouncetothePresident,”shesaidtotheservant,“thatIwanttospeaktohimabouttheblacktulip.”
Thesewordsseemedtobean“OpenSesame,”forshesoonfoundherselfintheofficeofthePresident,VanSystens,whogallantlyrosefromhischairtomeether.
Hewasasparelittleman,resemblingthestemofaflower,hisheadformingitschalice,andhistwolimparmsrepresentingthedoubleleafofthetulip;theresemblancewasrenderedcompletebyhiswaddlinggaitwhichmadehimevenmorelikethatflowerwhenitbendsunderabreeze.
“Well,miss,”hesaid,“youarecoming,Iamtold,abouttheaffairoftheblacktulip.”
TothePresidentoftheHorticulturalSocietytheTulipanigrawasafirst-ratepower,which,initscharacterasqueenofthetulips,mightsendambassadors.
“Yes,sir,”answeredRosa;“Icomeatleasttospeakofit.”
“Isitdoingwell,then?”askedVanSystens,withasmileoftenderveneration.
“Alas!sir,Idon’tknow,”saidRosa.
“Howisthat?couldanymisfortunehavehappenedtoit?”
“Averygreatone,sir;yetnottoit,buttome.”
“What?”
“Ithasbeenstolenfromme.”
“Stolen!theblacktulip?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Doyouknowthethief?”
“Ihavemysuspicions,butImustnotyetaccuseanyone.”
“Butthemattermayveryeasilybeascertained.”
“Howisthat?”
“Asithasbeenstolenfromyou,thethiefcannotbefaroff.”
“Whynot?”
“BecauseIhaveseentheblacktuliponlytwohoursago.”
“Youhaveseentheblacktulip!”criedRosa,rushinguptoMynheervanSystens.
“AsIseeyou,miss.
