Черный тюльпан

           Heborrowedalittleimportancefromeverybodytomakeakindoffalseimportanceforhimself,ashehadstolenRosa’stuliptoeffecthisownglory,andtherebymakehisfortune.

           AnotherquarterofanhourandthePrincewillarriveandtheprocessionwillhaltforthelasttime;afterthetulipisplacedonitsthrone,thePrince,yieldingprecedencetothisrivalforthepopularadoration,willtakeamagnificentlyemblazonedparchment,onwhichiswrittenthenameofthegrower;andhisHighness,inaloudandaudibletone,willproclaimhimtobethediscovererofawonder;thatHolland,bytheinstrumentalityofhim,Boxtel,hasforcedNaturetoproduceablackflower,whichshallhenceforthbecalledTulipanigraBoxtellea.

           Fromtimetotime,however,Boxtelwithdrewhiseyesforamomentfromthetulipandthepurse,timidlylookingamongthecrowd,formorethananythinghedreadedtodescrytherethepalefaceoftheprettyFrisiangirl.

           Shewouldhavebeenaspectrespoilingthejoyofthefestivalforhim,justasBanquo’sghostdidthatofMacbeth.

           Andyet,ifthetruthmustbetold,thiswretch,whohadstolenwhatwastheboastofman,andthedowryofawoman,didnotconsiderhimselfasathief