Boxtel's return was scarcely announced, when he entered inperson the drawing-room of Mynheer van Systens, followed bytwo men, who carried in a box their precious burden anddeposited it on a table.

　　The Prince, on being informed, left the cabinet, passed intothe drawing-room, admired the flower, and silently resumedhis seat in the dark corner, where he had himself placed hischair.

　　Rosa, trembling, pale and terrified, expected to be invitedin her turn to see the tulip.

　　She now heard the voice of Boxtel.

　　"It is he!" she exclaimed.

　　The Prince made her a sign to go and look through the opendoor into the drawing-room.

　　"It is my tulip," cried Rosa, "I recognise it. Oh, my poorCornelius!"And saying this she burst into tears.

　　The Prince rose from his seat, went to the door, where hestood for some time with the full light falling upon hisfigure.

　　As Rosa's eyes now rested upon him, she felt more than everconvinced that this was not the first time she had seen thestranger.

　　"Master Boxtel," said the Prince, "come in here, if youplease."Boxtel eagerly approached, and, finding himself face to facewith William of Orange, started back.

　　"His Highness!" he called out.

　　"His Highness!" Rosa repeated in dismay.

　　Hearing this exclamation on his left, Boxtel turned round,and perceived Rosa.

　　At this sight the whole frame of the thief shook as if underthe influence of a galvanic shock.

　　"Ah!" muttered the Prince to himself, "he is confused."But Boxtel, making a violent effort to control his feelings,was already himself again.

　　"Master Boxtel," said William, "you seem to have discoveredthe secret of growing the black tulip?""Yes, your Highness," answered Boxtel, in a voice whichstill betrayed some confusion.

　　It is true his agitation might have been attributable to theemotion which the man must have felt on suddenly recognisingthe Prince.

　　"But," continued the Stadtholder, "here is a young damselwho also pretends to have found it."Boxtel, with a disdainful smile, shrugged his shoulders.

　　William watched all his movements with evident interest andcuriosity.

　　"Then you don't know this young girl?" said the Prince.

　　"No, your Highness!""And you, child, do you know Master Boxtel?""No, I don't know Master Boxtel, but I know Master Jacob.""What do you mean?""I mean to say that at Loewestein the man who here callshimself Isaac Boxtel went by the name of Master Jacob.""What do you say to that, Master Boxtel?""I say that this damsel lies, your Highness.""You deny, therefore, having ever been at Loewestein?"Boxtel hesitated; the fixed and searching glance of theproud eye of the Prince prevented him from lying.

　　"I cannot deny having been at Loewestein, your Highness, butI deny having stolen the tulip.""You have stolen it, and that from my room," cried Rosa,with indignation.

　　"I deny it.""Now listen to me. Do you deny having followed me into thegarden, on the day when I prepared the border where I was toplant it? Do you deny having followed me into the gardenwhen I pretended to plant it? Do you deny that, on thatevening, you rushed after my departure to the spot where youhoped to find the bulb? Do you deny having dug in the groundwith your hands -- but, thank God! in vain, as it was astratagem to discover your intentions. Say, do you deny allthis?"Boxtel did not deem it fit to answer these several charges,but, turning to the Prince, continued, --"I have now for twenty years grown tulips at Dort. I haveeven acquired some reputation in this art; one of my hybridsis entered in the catalogue under the name of an illustriouspersonage. I have dedicated it to the King of Portugal. Thetruth in the matter is as I shall now tell your Highness.

　　This damsel knew that I had produced the black tulip, and,in concert with a lover of hers in the fortress ofLoewestein, she formed the plan of ruining me byappropriating to herself the prize of a hundred thousandguilders, which, with the help of your Highness's justice, Ihope to gain.""Yah!" cried Rosa, beyond herself with anger.

　　"Silence!" said the Prince.

　　Then, turning to Boxtel, he said, --"And who is that prisoner to whom you allude as the lover ofthis young woman?"Rosa nearly swooned, for Cornelius was designated as adangerous prisoner, and recommended by the Prince to theespecial surveillance of the jailer.

　　Nothing could have been more agreeable to Boxtel than thisquestion.

　　"This prisoner," he said, "is a man whose name in itselfwill prove to your Highness what trust you may place in hisprobity. He is a prisoner of state, who was once condemnedto death.""And his name?"Rosa hid her face in her hands with a movement of despair.

　　"His name is Cornelius van Baerle," said Boxtel, "and he isgodson of that villain Cornelius de Witt."The Prince gave a start, his generally quiet eye flashed,and a death-like paleness spread over his impassiblefeatures.

　　He went up to Rosa, and with his finger, gave her a sign toremove her hands from her face.

　　Rosa obeyed, as if under mesmeric influence, without havingseen the sign.

　　"It was, then to follow this man that you came to me atLeyden to solicit for the transfer of your father?"Rosa hung down her head, and, nearly choking, said, --"Yes, your Highness.""Go on," said the Prince to Boxtel.

　　"I have nothing more to say," Isaac continued. "YourHighness knows all. But there is one thing which I did notintend to say, because I did not wish to make this girlblush for her ingratitude. I came to Loewestein because Ihad business there. On this occasion I made the acquaintanceof old Gryphus, and, falling in love with his daughter, madean offer of marriage to her; and, not being rich, Icommitted the imprudence of mentioning to them my prospectof gaining a hundred thousand guilders, in proof of which Ishowed to them the black tulip. Her lover having himselfmade a show at Dort of cultivating tulips to hide hispolitical intrigues, they now plotted together for my ruin.

　　On the eve of the day when the flower was expected to open,the tulip was taken away by this young woman. She carried itto her room, from which I had the good luck to recover it atthe very moment when she had the impudence to despatch amessenger to announce to the members of the HorticulturalSociety that she had produced the grand black tulip. But shedid not stop there. There is no doubt that, during the fewhours which she kept the flower in her room, she showed itto some persons whom she may now call as witnesses. But,fortunately, your Highness has now been warned against thisimpostor and her witnesses.""Oh, my God, my God! what infamous falsehoods!" said Ro............