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Page 112
"What is it?"
"Oh, nothing of any consequence, Monseigneur."
"Everything is of consequence, Mynheer van Systens."
"Well, then, Monseigneur, if it must be said, a little
difficulty has presented itself."
"What difficulty?"
"This tulip has already been claimed by usurpers. It's true
that it is worth a hundred thousand guilders."
"Indeed!"
"Yes, Monseigneur, by usurpers, by forgers."
"This is a crime, Mynheer van Systens."
"So it is, your Highness."
"And have you any proofs of their guilt?"
"No, Monseigneur, the guilty woman ---- "
"The guilty woman, Sir?"
"I ought to say, the woman who claims the tulip,
Monseigneur, is here in the room close by."
"And what do you think of her?"
"I think, Monseigneur, that the bait of a hundred thousand
guilders may have tempted her."
"And so she claims the tulip?"
"Yes Monseigneur."
"And what proof does she offer?"
"I was just going to question her when your Highness came
in."
"Question her, Mynheer van Systens, question her. I am the
first magistrate of the country; I will hear the case and
administer justice."
"I have found my King Solomon," said Van Systens, bowing,
and showing the way to the Prince.
His Highness was just going to walk ahead, but, suddenly
recollecting himself he said --
"Go before me, and call me plain Mynheer."
The two then entered the cabinet.
Rosa was still standing at the same place, leaning on the
window, and looking through the panes into the garden.
"Ah! a Frisian girl," said the Prince, as he observed Rosa's
gold brocade headdress and red petticoat.
At the noise of their footsteps she turned round, but
scarcely saw the Prince, who seated himself in the darkest
corner of the apartment.
All her attention, as may be easily imagined, was fixed on
that important person who was called Van Systens, so that
she had no time to notice the humble stranger who was
following the master of the house, and who, for aught she
knew, might be somebody or nobody.
The humble stranger took a book down from the shelf, and
made Van Systens a sign to commence the examination
forthwith.
Van Systens, likewise at the invitation of the young man in
the violet coat, sat down in his turn, and, quite happy and
proud of the importance thus cast upon him, began, --
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