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Page 114
"By a prisoner of Loewestein?" repeated the Prince.
The tone of his voice startled Rosa, who was sure she had
heard it before.
"By a prisoner of state, then," continued the Prince, "as
there are none else there."
Having said this he began to read again, at least in
appearance.
"Yes," said Rosa, with a faltering voice, "yes, by a
prisoner of state."
Van Systens trembled as he heard such a confession made in
the presence of such a witness.
"Continue," said William dryly, to the President of the
Horticultural Society.
"Ah, sir," said Rosa, addressing the person whom she thought
to be her real judge, "I am going to incriminate myself very
seriously."
"Certainly," said Van Systens, "the prisoner of state ought
to be kept in close confinement at Loewestein."
"Alas! sir."
"And from what you tell me you took advantage of your
position, as daughter of the jailer, to communicate with a
prisoner of state about the cultivation of flowers."
"So it is, sir," Rosa murmured in dismay; "yes, I am bound
to confess, I saw him every day."
"Unfortunate girl!" exclaimed Van Systens.
The Prince, observing the fright of Rosa and the pallor of
the President, raised his head, and said, in his clear and
decided tone, --
"This cannot signify anything to the members of the
Horticultural Society; they have to judge on the black
tulip, and have no cognizance to take of political offences.
Go on, young woman, go on."
Van Systens, by means of an eloquent glance, offered, in the
name of the tulip, his thanks to the new member of the
Horticultural Society.
Rosa, reassured by this sort of encouragement which the
stranger was giving her, related all that had happened for
the last three months, all that she had done, and all that
she had suffered. She described the cruelty of Gryphus; the
destruction of the first bulb; the grief of the prisoner;
the precautions taken to insure the success of the second
bulb; the patience of the prisoner and his anxiety during
their separation; how he was about to starve himself because
he had no longer any news of his tulip; his joy when she
went to see him again; and, lastly, their despair when they
found that the tulip which had come into flower was stolen
just one hour after it had opened.
All this was detailed with an accent of truth which,
although producing no change in the impassible mien of the
Prince, did not fail to take effect on Van Systens.
"But," said the Prince, "it cannot be long since you knew
the prisoner."
Rosa opened her large eyes and looked at the stranger, who
drew back into the dark corner, as if he wished to escape
her observation.
"Why, sir?" she asked him.
"Because it is not yet four months since the jailer Gryphus
and his daughter were removed to Loewestein."
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