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Page 79
"And what did Jacob say or do at these words?" asked
Cornelius.
"At these words, if I must say it, his eyes seemed to flash
like lightning."
"But," said Cornelius, "that was not all; I am sure he said
something in his turn."
"'So, then, my pretty Rosa,' he said, with a voice as sweet
a honey, -- 'so you think that bulb to have been a precious
one?'
"I saw that I had made a blunder.
"'What do I know?' I said, negligently; 'do I understand
anything of tulips? I only know -- as unfortunately it is
our lot to live with prisoners -- that for them any pastime
is of value. This poor Mynheer van Baerle amused himself
with this bulb. Well, I think it very cruel to take from him
the only thing that he could have amused himself with.'
"'But, first of all,' said my father, 'we ought to know how
he has contrived to procure this bulb.'
"I turned my eyes away to avoid my father's look; but I met
those of Jacob.
"It was as if he had tried to read my thoughts at the bottom
of my heart.
"Some little show of anger sometimes saves an answer. I
shrugged my shoulders, turned my back, and advanced towards
the door.
"But I was kept by something which I heard, although it was
uttered in a very low voice only.
"Jacob said to my father, --
"'It would not be so difficult to ascertain that.'
"'How so?'
"'You need only search his person: and if he has the other
bulbs, we shall find them, as there usually are three
suckers!'"
"Three suckers!" cried Cornelius. "Did you say that I have
three?"
"The word certainly struck me just as much as it does you. I
turned round. They were both of them so deeply engaged in
their conversation that they did not observe my movement.
"'But,' said my father, 'perhaps he has not got his bulbs
about him?'
"'Then take him down, under some pretext or other and I will
search his cell in the meanwhile.'"
"Halloa, halloa!" said Cornelius. "But this Mr. Jacob of
yours is a villain, it seems."
"I am afraid he is."
"Tell me, Rosa," continued Cornelius, with a pensive air.
"What?"
"Did you not tell me that on the day when you prepared your
borders this man followed you?"
"So he did."
"That he glided like a shadow behind the elder trees?"
"Certainly."
"That not one of your movements escaped him?"
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