Page:The black tulip (IA 10892334.2209.emory.edu).pdf/194

 mind to steal the tulip; and as it grew it. the most profound secrecy, and as, moreover, his word, being that of a renowned tulip-grower, would any day be taken against that of an unknown girl without any knowledge of horticulture, or against that of a prisoner convicted of high treason, he confidently hoped that, having once got possession of the bulb, he would be certain to obtain the prize; and then the tulip, instead of being called. Tulipa nigra Barlænsis, would go down to posterity under the name of Tulipa nigra Boxtellensis or Boxtellea.

Mynheer Isaac had not yet quite decided which of these two names he would give to the tulip, but as both meant the same thing, this was, after all, not the question.

The question was, to steal the tulip. But in order that Boxtel might steal the tulip, it was necessary that Rosa should leave her room.

Great, therefore, was his joy, when he saw the usual evening meetings of the lovers resumed.

He, first of all, took advantage of Rosa’s absence to make himself fully acquainted with all the peculiarities of the door of her chamber. The lock was a double one, and in good order, but Rosa always took the key with her.

Boxtel, at first, entertained an idea of stealing the key, but it soon occurred to him that not only would it be exceedingly difficult to abstract it from her pocket, but also that, when she perceived her loss, she would not leave her room until the lock was changed, and then Boxtel’s first theft would be useless.

He thought it, therefore, better to employ a different expedient. He collected as many keys as he could, and tried all of them during one of those delightful hours which Rosa and Cornelius passed together, at the grating of the cell.