the　tulip。
  The　first　guilty　act　of　Boxtel　had　been　to　climb　over　a　wall
  in　order　to　dig　up　the　tulip；　the　second；　to　introduce
  himself　into　the　dry…room　of　Cornelius；　through　an　open
  window；　and　the　third；　to　enter　Rosa's　room　by　means　of　a
  false　key。
  Thus　envy　urged　Boxtel　on　with　rapid　steps　in　the　career　of
  crime。
  Boxtel；　as　we　have　said；　was　alone　with　the　tulip。
  A　common　thief　would　have　taken　the　pot　under　his　arm；　and
  carried　it　off。
  But　Boxtel　was　not　a　common　thief；　and　he　reflected。
  It　was　not　yet　certain；　although　very　probable；　that　the
  tulip　would　flower　black；　if；　therefore；　he　stole　it　now；　he
  not　only　might　be　committing　a　useless　crime；　but　also　the
  theft　might　be　discovered　in　the　time　which　must　elapse
  until　the　flower　should　open。
  He　therefore　　as　being　in　possession　of　the　key；　he　might
  enter　Rosa's　chamber　whenever　he　liked　　thought　it　better
  to　wait　and　to　take　it　either　an　hour　before　or　after
  opening；　and　to　start　on　the　instant　to　Haarlem；　where　the
  tulip　would　be　before　the　judges　of　the　committee　before　any
  one　else　could　put　in　a　reclamation。
  Should　any　one　then　reclaim　it；　Boxtel　would　in　his　turn
  charge　him　or　her　with　theft。
  This　was　a　deep…laid　scheme；　and　quite　worthy　of　its　author。
  Thus；　every　evening　during　that　delightful　hour　which　the
  two　lovers　passed　together　at　the　grated　window；　Boxtel
  entered　Rosa's　chamber　to　watch　the　progress　which　the　black
  tulip　had　made　towards　flowering。
  On　the　evening　at　which　we　have　arrived　he　was　going　to
  enter　according　to　custom；　but　the　two　lovers；　as　we　have
  seen；　only　exchanged　a　few　words　before　Cornelius　sent　Rosa
  back　to　watch　over　the　tulip。
  Seeing　Rosa　enter　her　room　ten　minutes　after　she　had　left
  it；　Boxtel　guessed　that　the　tulip　had　opened；　or　was　about
  to　open。
  During　that　night；　therefore；　the　great　blow　was　to　be
  struck。　Boxtel　presented　himself　before　Gryphus　with　a
  double　supply　of　Genievre；　that　is　to　say；　with　a　bottle　in
  each　pocket。
  Gryphus　being　once　fuddled；　Boxtel　was　very　nearly　master　of
  the　house。
  At　eleven　o'clock　Gryphus　was　dead　drunk。　At　two　in　the
  morning　Boxtel　saw　Rosa　leaving　the　chamber；　but　evidently
  she　held　in　her　arms　something　which　she　carried　with　great
  care。
  He　did　not　doubt　that　this　was　the　black　tulip　which　was　in
  flower。
  But　what　was　she　going　to　do　with　it？　Would　she　set　out　that
  instant　to　Haarlem　with　it？
  It　was　not　possible　that　a　young　girl　should　undertake　such
  a　journey　alone　during　the　night。
  Was　she　only　going　to　show　the　tulip　to　Cornelius？　This　was
  more　likely。
  He　followed　Rosa　in　his　stocking　feet；　walking　on　tiptoe。
  He　saw　her　approach　the　grated　window。　He　heard　her　calling
  Cornelius。　By　the　light　of　the　dark　lantern　he　saw　the　tulip
  open；　and　black　as　the　night　in　which　he　was　hidden。
  He　heard　the　plan　concerted　between　Cornelius　and　Rosa　to
  send　a　messenger　to　Haarlem。　He　saw　the　lips　of　the　lovers
  meet；　and　then　heard　Cornelius　send　Rosa　away。
  He　saw　Rosa　extinguish　the　light　and　return　to　her　chamber。
  Ten　minutes　after；　he　saw　her　leave　the　room　again；　and　lock
  it　twice。
  Boxtel；　who　saw　all　this　whilst　hiding　himself　on　the
  landing…place　of　the　staircase　above；　descended　step　by　step
  from　his　story　as　Rosa　descended　from　hers；　so　that；　when
  she　touched　with　her　light　foot　the　lowest　step　of　the
  staircase；　Boxtel　touched　with　a　still　lighter　hand　the　lock
  of　Rosa's　chamber。
  And　in　that　hand；　it　must　be　understood；　he　held　the　false
  key　which　opened　Rosa's　door　as　easily　as　did　the　real　one。
  And　this　is　why；　in　the　beginning　of　the　chapter；　we　said
  that　the　poor　young　people　were　in　great　need　of　the
  protection　of　God。
  Chapter　24
  The　Black　Tulip　changes　Masters
  Cornelius　remained　standing　on　the　spot　where　Rosa　had　left　him。
  He　was　quite　overpowered　with　the　weight　of　his　twofold　happiness。
  Half　an　hour　passed　away。　Already　did　the　first　rays　of　the
  sun　enter　through　the　iron　grating　of　the　prison；　when
  Cornelius　was　suddenly　startled　at　the　noise　of　steps　which
  came　up　the　staircase；　and　of　cries　which　approached　nearer
  and　nearer。
  Almost　at　the　same　instant　he　saw　before　him　the　pale　and
  distracted　face　of　Rosa。
  He　started；　and　turned　pale　with　fright。
  〃Cornelius；　Cornelius！〃　she　screamed；　gasping　for　breath。
  〃Good　Heaven！　what　is　it？〃　asked　the　prisoner。
  〃Cornelius！　the　tulip　　〃
  〃Well？〃
  〃How　shall　I　tell　you？〃
  〃Speak；　speak；　Rosa！〃
  〃Some　one　has　taken　　stolen　it　from　us。〃
  〃Stolen　　taken？〃　said　Cornelius。
  〃Yes；〃　said　Rosa；　leaning　against　the　door　to　support
  herself；　〃yes；　taken；　stolen！〃
  And　saying　this；　she　felt　her　limbs　failing　her；　and　she
  fell　on　her　knees。
  〃But　how？　Tell　me；　explain　to　me。〃
  〃Oh；　it　is　not　my　fault；　my　friend。〃
  Poor　Rosa！　she　no　longer　dared　to　call　him　〃My　beloved　one。〃
  〃You　have　then　left　it　alone；〃　said　Cornelius；　ruefully。
  〃One　minute　only；　to　instruct　our　messenger；　who　lives
  scarcely　fifty　yards　off；　on　the　banks　of　the　Waal。〃
  〃And　during　that　time；　notwithstanding　all　my　injunctions；
  you　left　the　key　behind；　unfortunate　child！〃
  〃No；　no；　no！　this　is　what　I　cannot　understand。　The　key　was
  never　out　of　my　hands；　I　clinched　it　as　if　I　were　afraid　it
  would　take　wings。〃
  〃But　how　did　it　happen；　then？〃
  〃That's　what　I　cannot　make　out。　I　had　given　the　letter　to　my
  messenger；　he　started　before　I　left　his　house；　I　came　home；
  and　my　door　was　locked；　everything　in　my　room　was　as　I　had
  left　it；　except　the　tulip；　　that　was　gone。　Some　one　must
  have　had　a　key　for　my　room；　or　have　got　a　false　one　made　on
  purpose。〃
  She　was　nearly　choking　with　sobs；　and　was　unable　to
  continue。
  Cornelius；　immovable　and　full　of　consternation；　heard　almost
  without　understanding；　and　only　muttered；
  〃Stolen；　stolen；　and　I　am　lost！〃
  〃O　Cornelius；　forgive　me；　forgive　me；　it　will　kill　me！〃
  Seeing　Rosa's　distress；　Cornelius　seized　the　iron　bars　of
  the　grating；　and　furiously　shaking　them；　called　out；
  〃Rosa；　Rosa；　we　have　been　robbed；　it　is　true；　but　shall　we
  allow　ourselves　to　be　dejected　for　all　that？　No；　no；　the
  misfortune　is　great；　but　it　may　perhaps　be　remedied。　Rosa；
  we　know　the　thief！〃
  〃Alas！　what　can　I　say　about　it？〃
  〃But　I　say　that　it　is　no　one　else　but　that　infamous　Jacob。
  Shall　we　allow　him　to　carry　to　Haarlem　the　fruit　of　our
  labour；　the　fruit　of　our　sleepless　nights；　the　child　of　our
  love？　Rosa；　we　must　pursue；　we　must　overtake　him！〃
  〃But　how　can　we　do　all　this；　my　friend；　without　letting　my
  father　know　we　were　in　communication　with　each　other？　How
  should　I；　a　poor　girl；　with　so　little　knowledge　of　the　world
  and　its　ways；　be　able　to　attain　this　end；　which　perhaps　you
  could　not　attain　yourself？〃
  〃Rosa；　Rosa；　open　this　door　to　me；　and　you　will　see　whether
  I　will　not　find　the　thief；　　whether　I　will　not　make　him
  confess　his　crime　and　beg　for　mercy。〃
  〃Alas！〃　cried　Rosa；　sobbing；　〃can　I　open　the　door　for　you？
  have　I　the　keys？　If　I　had　had　them；　would　not　you　have　been
  free　long　ago？〃
  〃Your　father　has　them；　　your　wicked　father；　who　has
  already　crushed　the　first　bulb　of　my　tulip。　Oh；　the　wretch！
  he　is　an　accomplice　of　Jacob！〃
  〃Don't　speak　so　loud；　for　Heaven's　sake！〃
  〃Oh；　Rosa；　if　you　don't　open　the　door　to　me；〃　Cornelius
  cried　in　his　rage；　〃I　shall　force　these　bars；　and　kill
  everything　I　find　in　the　prison。〃
  〃Be　merciful；　be　merciful；　my　friend！〃
  〃I　tell　you；　Rosa；　that　I　shall　demolish　this　prison；　stone
  for　stone！〃　and　the　unfortunate　man；　whose　strength　was
  increased　tenfold　by　his　rage；　began　to　shake　the　door　with
  a　great　noise；　little　heeding　that　the　thunder　of　his　voice
  was　re…echoing　through　the　spiral　staircase。
  Rosa；　in　her　fright；　made　vain　attempts　to　check　this
  furious　outbreak。
  〃I　tell　you　that　I　shall　kill　that　infamous　Gryphus？〃　roared
  Cornelius。　〃I　tell　you　I　shall　shed　his　blood　as　he　did　that
  of　my　black　tulip。〃
  The　wretched　prisoner　began　really　to　rave。
  〃Well；　then；　yes；〃　said　Rosa；　all　in　a　tremble。　〃Yes；　yes；
  only　be　quiet。　Yes；　yes；　I　will　take　his　keys；　I　will　open
  the　door　for　you！　Yes；　only　be　quiet；　my　own　dear
  Cornelius。〃
  She　did　not　finish　her　speech；　as　a　growl　by　her　side
  interrupted　her。
  〃My　father！〃　cried　Rosa。
  〃Gryphus！〃　roared　Van　Baerle。　〃Oh；　you　villain！〃
  Old　Gryphus；　in　the　midst　of　all　the　noise；　had　ascended　the
  staircase　without　being　heard。
  He　rudely　seized　his　daughter　by　the　wrist。
  〃So　you　will　take　my　keys？〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　choked　with
  rage。　〃Ah！　this　dastardly　fellow；　this　monster；　this
  gallows…bird　of　a　conspirator；　is　your　own　dear　Cornelius；
  is　he？　Ah！　Missy　has　communications　with　prisoners　of　state。
  Ah！　won't　I　teach　you　　won't　I？〃
  Rosa　clasped　her　hands　in　despair。
  〃Ah！〃　Gryphus　continued；　passing　from　the　madness　of　anger
  to　the　cool　irony　of　a　man　who　has　got　the　better　of　his
  enemy；　　〃Ah；　you　innocent　tulip…fancier；　you　gentle
  scholar；　you　will　kill　me；　and　drink　my　blood！　Very　well！
  very　well！　And　you　have　my　daughter　for　an　a