Page:The black tulip (IA 10892334.2209.emory.edu).pdf/254

 William, impassible and quiet as usual, was proceeding to the green to fulfil his duty as chairman. He held in his hand the roll of parchment, which, on this festive day, had become his bâtop.

Seeing the man gesticulate with imploring mien, and perhaps also recognising the officer who accompanied him, His Highness ordered his carriage to stop.

In one instant his snorting steeds stood still, at a distance of about six yards from the carriage in which Van Baerle was caged.

“What is this?” the Prince asked the officer, who at the first order of the Stadtholder had jumped out of the carriage, and was respectfully approaching him.

“Monseigneur,” he cried, “this is the prisoner of State whom I have fetched from Lovestein, and whom I have brought to Haarlem according to Your Highness’s command.”

“What does he want?”

“He entreats for permission to stop here for a moment.”

“To see the black tulip, Monseigneur,” said Van Baerle, clasping his hands, “and when I have seen it, when I have seen what I desire to know, I am quite ready to die, if die I must; but in dying I shall bless Your Highness’s mercy for having allowed me to witness the glorification of my work.”

It was, indeed, a curious spectacle to see these two men, at the windows of their several carriages; the one, surrounded by his guards, and all powerful, the other a prisoner and miserable; the one going to mount a throne, the other believing himself to be on his way to the scaffold.

William, looking with his cold glance on Cornelius, listened to his anxious and urgent request.

Then, addressing himself to the officer, he said:—

“Is this person the mutinous prisoner who has attempted to kill his jailor at Lœvestein?”

Cornelius heaved a sigh and hung his head. His good-tempered honest face turned pale and red at the same instant. These words of the all powerful Prince, who, by some secret messenger, unavailable to other