|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 113
"My child, you promise to tell me the truth and the entire
truth concerning this tulip?"
"I promise."
"Well, then, speak before this gentleman; this gentleman is
one of the members of the Horticultural Society."
"What am I to tell you, sir," said Rosa, "beside that which
I have told you already."
"Well, then, what is it?"
"I repeat the question I have addressed to you before."
"Which?"
"That you will order Mynheer Boxtel to come here with his
tulip. If I do not recognise it as mine I will frankly tell
it; but if I do recognise it I will reclaim it, even if I go
before his Highness the Stadtholder himself, with my proofs
in my hands."
"You have, then, some proofs, my child?"
"God, who knows my good right, will assist me to some."
Van Systens exchanged a look with the Prince, who, since the
first words of Rosa, seemed to try to remember her, as if it
were not for the first time that this sweet voice rang in
his ears.
An officer went off to fetch Boxtel, and Van Systens in the
meanwhile continued his examination.
"And with what do you support your assertion that you are
the real owner of the black tulip?"
"With the very simple fact of my having planted and grown it
in my own chamber."
"In your chamber? Where was your chamber?"
"At Loewestein."
"You are from Loewestein?"
"I am the daughter of the jailer of the fortress."
The Prince made a little movement, as much as to say, "Well,
that's it, I remember now."
And, all the while feigning to be engaged with his book, he
watched Rosa with even more attention than he had before.
"And you are fond of flowers?" continued Mynheer van
Systens.
"Yes, sir."
"Then you are an experienced florist, I dare say?"
Rosa hesitated a moment; then with a tone which came from
the depth of her heart, she said, --
"Gentlemen, I am speaking to men of honor."
There was such an expression of truth in the tone of her
voice, that Van Systens and the Prince answered
simultaneously by an affirmative movement of their heads.
"Well, then, I am not an experienced florist; I am only a
poor girl, one of the people, who, three months ago, knew
neither how to read nor how to write. No, the black tulip
has not been found by myself."
"But by whom else?"
"By a poor prisoner of Loewestein."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|