And　as　it　was　already　day；　he　thought　it　right　not　to　fall
  asleep　again；　and　he　continued　following　up　the　line　of
  thought　in　which　his　mind　was　engaged　when　he　awoke。
  Ah！　if　Rosa　had　only　conversed　about　the　tulip；　Cornelius
  would　have　preferred　her　to　Queen　Semiramis；　to　Queen
  Cleopatra；　to　Queen　Elizabeth；　to　Queen　Anne　of　Austria；
  that　is　to　say；　to　the　greatest　or　most　beautiful　queens
  whom　the　world　has　seen。
  But　Rosa　had　forbidden　it　under　pain　of　not　returning；　Rosa
  had　forbidden　the　least　mention　of　the　tulip　for　three　days。
  That　meant　seventy…two　hours　given　to　the　lover　to　be　sure；
  but　it　was　seventy…two　hours　stolen　from　the　horticulturist。
  There　was　one　consolation：　of　the　seventy…two　hours　during
  which　Rosa　would　not　allow　the　tulip　to　be　mentioned；
  thirty…six　had　passed　already；　and　the　remaining　thirty…six
  would　pass　quickly　enough：　eighteen　with　waiting　for　the
  evening's　interview；　and　eighteen　with　rejoicing　in　its
  remembrance。
  Rosa　came　at　the　same　hour；　and　Cornelius　submitted　most
  heroically　to　the　pangs　which　the　compulsory　silence
  concerning　the　tulip　gave　him。
  His　fair　visitor；　however；　was　well　aware　that；　to　command
  on　the　one　point；　people　must　yield　on　another；　she
  therefore　no　longer　drew　back　her　hands　from　the　grating；
  and　even　allowed　Cornelius　tenderly　to　kiss　her　beautiful
  golden　tresses。
  Poor　girl！　she　had　no　idea　that　these　playful　little　lovers'
  tricks　were　much　more　dangerous　than　speaking　of　the　tulip
  was；　but　she　became　aware　of　the　fact　as　she　returned　with　a
  beating　heart；　with　glowing　cheeks；　dry　lips；　and　moist
  eyes。
  And　on　the　following　evening；　after　the　first　exchange　of
  salutations；　she　retired　a　step；　looking　at　him　with　a
  glance；　the　expression　of　which　would　have　rejoiced　his
  heart　could　he　but　have　seen　it。
  〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃she　is　up。〃
  〃She　is　up！　Who？　What？〃　asked　Cornelius；　who　did　not　venture
  on　a　belief　that　Rosa　would；　of　her　own　accord；　have
  abridged　the　term　of　his　probation。
  〃She？　Well；　my　daughter；　the　tulip；〃　said　Rosa。
  〃What！〃　cried　Cornelius；　〃you　give　me　permission；　then？〃
  〃I　do；〃　said　Rosa；　with　the　tone　of　an　affectionate　mother
  who　grants　a　pleasure　to　her　child。
  〃Ah；　Rosa！〃　said　Cornelius；　putting　his　lips　to　the　grating
  with　the　hope　of　touching　a　cheek；　a　hand；　a　forehead；
  anything；　in　short。
  He　touched　something　much　better；　　two　warm　and　half　open
  lips。
  Rosa　uttered　a　slight　scream。
  Cornelius　understood　that　he　must　make　haste　to　continue　the
  conversation。　He　guessed　that　this　unexpected　kiss　had
  frightened　Rosa。
  〃Is　it　growing　up　straight？〃
  〃Straight　as　a　rocket；〃　said　Rosa。
  〃How　high？〃
  〃At　least　two　inches。〃
  〃Oh；　Rosa；　take　good　care　of　it；　and　we　shall　soon　see　it
  grow　quickly。〃
  〃Can　I　take　more　care　of　it？〃　said　she。　〃Indeed；　I　think　of
  nothing　else　but　the　tulip。〃
  〃Of　nothing　else；　Rosa？　Why；　now　I　shall　grow　jealous　in　my
  turn。〃
  〃Oh；　you　know　that　to　think　of　the　tulip　is　to　think　of　you；
  I　never　lose　sight　of　it。　I　see　it　from　my　bed；　on　awaking
  it　is　the　first　object　that　meets　my　eyes；　and　on　falling
  asleep　the　last　on　which　they　rest。　During　the　day　I　sit　and
  work　by　its　side；　for　I　have　never　left　my　chamber　since　I
  put　it　there。〃
  〃You　are　right　Rosa；　it　is　your　dowry；　you　know。〃
  〃Yes；　and　with　it　I　may　marry　a　young　man　of　twenty…six　or
  twenty…eight　years；　whom　I　shall　be　in　love　with。〃
  〃Don't　talk　in　that　way；　you　naughty　girl。〃
  That　evening　Cornelius　was　one　of　the　happiest　of　men。　Rosa
  allowed　him　to　press　her　hand　in　his；　and　to　keep　it　as　long
  as　he　would；　besides　which　he　might　talk　of　his　tulip　as
  much　as　he　liked。
  From　that　hour　every　day　marked　some　progress　in　the　growth
  of　the　tulip　and　in　the　affection　of　the　two　young　people。
  At　one　time　it　was　that　the　leaves　had　expanded；　and　at
  another　that　the　flower　itself　had　formed。
  Great　was　the　joy　of　Cornelius　at　this　news；　and　his
  questions　succeeded　one　another　with　a　rapidity　which　gave
  proof　of　their　importance。
  〃Formed！〃　exclaimed　Cornelius；　〃is　it　really　formed？〃
  〃It　is；〃　repeated　Rosa。
  Cornelius　trembled　with　joy；　so　much　so　that　he　was　obliged
  to　hold　by　the　grating。
  〃Good　heavens！〃　he　exclaimed。
  Then；　turning　again　to　Rosa；　he　continued　his　questions。
  〃Is　the　oval　regular？　the　cylinder　full？　and　are　the　points
  very　green？〃
  〃The　oval　is　almost　one　inch　long；　and　tapers　like　a　needle；
  the　cylinder　swells　at　the　sides；　and　the　points　are　ready
  to　open。〃
  Two　days　after　Rosa　announced　that　they　were　open。
  〃Open；　Rosa！〃　cried　Cornelius。　〃Is　the　involucrum　open？　but
  then　one　may　see　and　already　distinguish　　〃
  Here　the　prisoner　paused；　anxiously　taking　breath。
  〃Yes；〃　answered　Rosa；　〃one　may　already　distinguish　a　thread
  of　different　colour；　as　thin　as　a　hair。〃
  〃And　its　colour？〃　asked　Cornelius；　trembling。
  〃Oh；〃　answered　Rosa；　〃it　is　very　dark！〃
  〃Brown？〃
  〃Darker　than　that。〃
  〃Darker；　my　good　Rosa；　darker？　Thank　you。　Dark　as　　〃
  〃Dark　as　the　ink　with　which　I　wrote　to　you。〃
  Cornelius　uttered　a　cry　of　mad　joy。
  Then；　suddenly　stopping　and　clasping　his　hands；　he　said；
  〃Oh；　there　is　not　an　angel　in　heaven　that　may　be　compared　to
  you；　Rosa！〃
  〃Indeed！〃　said　Rosa；　smiling　at　his　enthusiasm。
  〃Rosa；　you　have　worked　with　such　ardour；　　you　have　done　so
  much　for　me！　Rosa；　my　tulip　is　about　to　flower；　and　it　will
  flower　black！　Rosa；　Rosa；　you　are　the　most　perfect　being　on
  earth！〃
  〃After　the　tulip；　though。〃
  〃Ah！　be　quiet；　you　malicious　little　creature；　be　quiet！　For
  shame！　Do　not　spoil　my　pleasure。　But　tell　me；　Rosa；　　as
  the　tulip　is　so　far　advanced；　it　will　flower　in　two　or　three
  days；　at　the　latest？〃
  〃To…morrow；　or　the　day　after。〃
  〃Ah！　and　I　shall　not　see　it；〃　cried　Cornelius；　starting
  back；　〃I　shall　not　kiss　it；　as　a　wonderful　work　of　the
  Almighty；　as　I　kiss　your　hand　and　your　cheek；　Rosa；　when　by
  chance　they　are　near　the　grating。〃
  Rosa　drew　near；　not　by　accident；　but　intentionally；　and
  Cornelius　kissed　her　tenderly。
  〃Faith；　I　shall　cull　it；　if　you　wish　it。〃
  〃Oh；　no；　no；　Rosa！　when　it　is　open；　place　it　carefully　in
  the　shade；　and　immediately　send　a　message　to　Haarlem；　to　the
  President　of　the　Horticultural　Society；　that　the　grand　black
  tulip　is　in　flower。　I　know　well　it　is　far　to　Haarlem；　but
  with　money　you　will　find　a　messenger。　Have　you　any　money；
  Rosa？〃
  Rosa　smiled。
  〃Oh；　yes！〃　she　said。
  〃Enough？〃　said　Cornelius。
  〃I　have　three　hundred　guilders。〃
  〃Oh；　if　you　have　three　hundred　guilders；　you　must　not　send　a
  messenger；　Rosa；　but　you　must　go　to　Haarlem　yourself。〃
  〃But　what　in　the　meantime　is　to　become　of　the　flower？〃
  〃Oh；　the　flower！　you　must　take　it　with　you。　You　understand
  that　you　must　not　separate　from　it　for　an　instant。〃
  〃But　whilst　I　am　not　separating　from　it；　I　am　separating
  from　you；　Mynheer　Cornelius。〃
  〃Ah！　that's　true；　my　sweet　Rosa。　Oh；　my　God！　how　wicked　men
  are！　What　have　I　done　to　offend　them；　and　why　have　they
  deprived　me　of　my　liberty？　You　are　right；　Rosa；　I　cannot
  live　without　you。　Well；　you　will　send　some　one　to　Haarlem；
  that's　settled；　really；　the　matter　is　wonderful　enough
  for　the　President　to　put　himself　to　some　trouble。　He　will
  come　himself　to　Loewestein　to　see　the　tulip。〃
  Then；　suddenly　checking　himself；　he　said；　with　a　faltering
  voice；
  〃Rosa；　Rosa；　if　after　all　it　should　not　flower　black！〃
  〃Oh；　surely；　surely；　you　will　know　to…morrow；　or　the　day
  after。〃
  〃And　to　wait　until　evening　to　know　it；　Rosa！　I　shall　die
  with　impatience。　Could　we　not　agree　about　a　signal？〃
  〃I　shall　do　better　than　that。〃
  〃What　will　you　do？〃
  〃If　it　opens　at　night；　I　shall　come　and　tell　you　myself。　If
  it　is　day；　I　shall　pass　your　door；　and　slip　you　a　note
  either　under　the　door；　or　through　the　grating；　during　the
  time　between　my　father's　first　and　second　inspection。〃
  〃Yes；　Rosa；　let　it　be　so。　One　word　of　yours；　announcing　this
  news　to　me；　will　be　a　double　happiness。〃
  〃There；　ten　o'clock　strikes；〃　said　Rosa；　〃I　must　now　leave
  you。〃
  〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Cornelius；　〃go；　Rosa；　go！〃
  Rosa　withdrew；　almost　melancholy；　for　Cornelius　had　all　but
  sent　her　away。
  It　is　true　that　he　did　so　in　order　that　she　might　watch　over
  his　black　tulip。
  Chapter　22
  The　Opening　of　the　Flower
  The　night　passed　away　very　sweetly　for　Cornelius；　although
  in　great　agitation。　Every　instant　he　fancied　he　heard　the
  gentle　voice　of　Rosa　calling　him。　He　then　started　up；　went
  to　the　door；　and　looked　through　the　grating；　but　no　one　was
  behind　it；　and　the　lobby　was　empty。
  Rosa；　no　doubt；　would　be　watching　too；　but；　happier　than　he；
  she　watched　over　the　tulip；　she　had　before　her　eyes　that
  noble　flower；　that　wonder　of　wonders。　which　not　only　was
  unknown；　but　was　not　even　thought　possible　until　then。
  What　would　the　world　say　when　it　heard　that　the　black　tulip
  was　found；　that　it　existed　and　that　it　was　the　prisoner　Van
  Baerle　who　had　found　it？
  How　Cornelius　would　have　spurned　the　offer　of　his　liberty　in
  exchange　for　his