Черный тюльпан
Conclusion
Andthirdly,standingonaraisedstepamongthemaidensofHaarlem,abeautifulFrisiangirl,dressedinfinescarletwoollencloth,embroideredwithsilver,andcoveredwithalaceveil,whichfellinrichfoldsfromherhead-dressofgoldbrocade;inoneword,Rosa,who,faintandwithswimmingeyes,wasleaningonthearmofoneoftheofficersofWilliam.
ThePrincethenslowlyunfoldedtheparchment,andsaid,withacalmclearvoice,which,althoughlow,madeitselfperfectlyheardamidsttherespectfulsilence,whichallatoncearrestedthebreathoffiftythousandspectators:—
“Youknowwhathasbroughtushere?
“Aprizeofonehundredthousandguildershasbeenpromisedtowhosoevershouldgrowtheblacktulip.
“Theblacktuliphasbeengrown;hereitisbeforeyoureyes,cominguptoalltheconditionsrequiredbytheprogrammeoftheHorticulturalSocietyofHaarlem.
“Thehistoryofitsproduction,andthenameofitsgrower,willbeinscribedinthebookofhonourofthecity.
“Letthepersonapproachtowhomtheblacktulipbelongs.”
Inpronouncingthesewords,thePrince,tojudgeoftheeffecttheyproduced,surveyedwithhiseagleeyethethreeextremitiesofthetriangle.
HesawBoxtelrushingforward.HesawCorneliusmakeaninvoluntarymovement;andlastlyhesawtheofficerwhowastakingcareofRosalead,orratherpushherforwardtowardshim.
AtthesightofRosa,adoublecryaroseontherightandleftofthePrince.
Boxtel,thunderstruck,andCornelius,injoyfulamazement,bothexclaimed,—
“Rosa!Rosa!”
“Thistulipisyours,isitnot,mychild?”saidthePrince.
