Черный тюльпан
Haarlem
Buttheinterestoftheday’sproceedingsforusiscentredneitherinthelearneddiscourseofourfriendVanSystens,howevereloquentitmightbe,norintheyoungdandies,resplendentintheirSundayclothes,andmunchingtheirheavycakes;norinthepooryoungpeasants,gnawingsmokedeelsasiftheyweresticksofvanillasweetmeat;neitherisourinterestinthelovelyDutchgirls,withredcheeksandivorybosoms;norinthefat,roundmynheers,whohadneverlefttheirhomesbefore;norinthesallow,thintravellersfromCeylonorJava;norinthethirstycrowds,whoquenchedtheirthirstwithpickledcucumbers;—no,sofarasweareconcerned,therealinterestofthesituation,thefascinating,dramaticinterest,isnottobefoundhere.
Ourinterestisinasmiling,sparklingfacetobeseenamidthemembersoftheHorticulturalCommittee;inthepersonwithaflowerinhisbelt,combedandbrushed,andallcladinscarlet,—acolourwhichmakeshisblackhairandyellowskinstandoutinviolentcontrast.
Thishero,radiantwithrapturousjoy,whohadthedistinguishedhonourofmakingthepeopleforgetthespeechofVanSystens,andeventhepresenceoftheStadtholder,wasIsaacBoxtel,whosaw,carriedonhisrightbeforehim,theblacktulip,hispretendeddaughter;andonhisleft,inalargepurse,thehundredthousandguildersinglitteringgoldpieces,towardswhichhewasconstantlysquinting,fearfuloflosingsightofthemforonemoment.
NowandthenBoxtelquickenedhissteptorubelbowsforamomentwithVanSystens.
