Черный тюльпан

The Third Bulb

           Ontheeveofthedaywhentheflowerwasexpectedtoopen,thetulipwastakenawaybythisyoungwoman.Shecarriedittoherroom,fromwhichIhadthegoodlucktorecoveritattheverymomentwhenshehadtheimpudencetodespatchamessengertoannouncetothemembersoftheHorticulturalSocietythatshehadproducedthegrandblacktulip.Butshedidnotstopthere.Thereisnodoubtthat,duringthefewhourswhichshekepttheflowerinherroom,sheshowedittosomepersonswhomshemaynowcallaswitnesses.But,fortunately,yourHighnesshasnowbeenwarnedagainstthisimpostorandherwitnesses.”

           “Oh,myGod,myGod!whatinfamousfalsehoods!”saidRosa,burstingintotears,andthrowingherselfatthefeetoftheStadtholder,who,althoughthinkingherguilty,feltpityforherdreadfulagony.

           “Youhavedoneverywrong,mychild,”hesaid,“andyourlovershallbepunishedforhavingthusbadlyadvisedyou.Foryouaresoyoung,andhavesuchanhonestlook,thatIaminclinedtobelievethemischieftohavebeenhisdoing,andnotyours.”

           “Monseigneur!Monseigneur!”criedRosa,“Corneliusisnotguilty.”

           Williamstarted.

           “Notguiltyofhavingadvisedyou?that’swhatyouwanttosay,isitnot?”

           “WhatIwishtosay,yourHighness,isthatCorneliusisaslittleguiltyofthesecondcrimeimputedtohimashewasofthefirst.”

           “Ofthefirst?Anddoyouknowwhatwashisfirstcrime?Doyouknowofwhathewasaccusedandconvicted?Ofhaving,asanaccompliceofCorneliusdeWitt,concealedthecorrespondenceoftheGrandPensionaryandtheMarquisdeLouvois.

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