Page:The black tulip (IA 10892334.2209.emory.edu).pdf/215

 “And what proof does she offer?”

“I was just going to question her, when Your Highness came in.”

“Question her, Mynheer Van Herysen, question her; I am the first magistrate of the country, I will hear the case, and administer justice.”

“I have found my King Solomon,” said Van Herysen, bowing, and showing the way to the Prince.

His Highness was just going to walk ahead, but, suddenly recollecting himself, he said,—

“Go before me, and call me plain Mynheer.”

The two then entered the cabinet.

Rosa was still standing at the same place, leaning on the window, and looking through the panes into the garden.

“Ah! a Frisian girl,” said the Prince, as he observed Rosa’s gold brocade head-dress and red petticoat.

At the noise of their footsteps she turned round, but scarcely saw the Prince, who seated himself in the darkest corner of the apartment.

All her attention, as may easily be imagined, was fixed on that important person who was called Van Herysen, so that she had no time to notice the humble stranger, who was following the master of the house, and who, for aught that she knew, might be somebody or nobody.

The humble stranger took a book down from the shelf, and made Van Herysen a sign to commence the examination forthwith.

Van Herysen, likewise at the invitation of the young man in the violet coat, sat down in his turn, and, quite happy and proud of the importance thus cast upon him, began,—

“My child, you promise to tell me the truth, and the entire truth, concerning this tulip?” o2