Черный тюльпан
A Member of the Horticultural Society
”
“IhavefoundmyKingSolomon,”saidVanSystens,bowing,andshowingthewaytothePrince.
HisHighnesswasjustgoingtowalkahead,but,suddenlyrecollectinghimselfhesaid—
“Gobeforeme,andcallmeplainMynheer.”
Thetwothenenteredthecabinet.
Rosawasstillstandingatthesameplace,leaningonthewindow,andlookingthroughthepanesintothegarden.
“Ah!aFrisiangirl,”saidthePrince,asheobservedRosa’sgoldbrocadeheaddressandredpetticoat.
Atthenoiseoftheirfootstepssheturnedround,butscarcelysawthePrince,whoseatedhimselfinthedarkestcorneroftheapartment.
Allherattention,asmaybeeasilyimagined,wasfixedonthatimportantpersonwhowascalledVanSystens,sothatshehadnotimetonoticethehumblestrangerwhowasfollowingthemasterofthehouse,andwho,foraughtsheknew,mightbesomebodyornobody.
Thehumblestrangertookabookdownfromtheshelf,andmadeVanSystensasigntocommencetheexaminationforthwith.
VanSystens,likewiseattheinvitationoftheyoungmaninthevioletcoat,satdowninhisturn,and,quitehappyandproudoftheimportancethuscastuponhim,began,—
“Mychild,youpromisetotellmethetruthandtheentiretruthconcerningthistulip?”
“Ipromise.”
“Well,then,speakbeforethisgentleman;thisgentlemanisoneofthemembersoftheHorticulturalSociety.”
“WhatamItotellyou,sir,”saidRosa,“besidethatwhichIhavetoldyoualready.”
“Well,then,whatisit?”
“IrepeatthequestionIhaveaddressedtoyoubefore.
