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 tulip!

Day came, without any news; the tulip was not yet in flower.

The day passed as the night. Night came, and with it Rosa, joyous and
cheerful as a bird.

"Well?" asked Cornelius.

"Well, all is going on prosperously. This night, without any doubt, our
tulip will be in flower."

"And will it flower black?"

"Black as jet."

"Without a speck of any other colour."

"Without one speck."

"Good Heavens! my dear Rosa, I have been dreaming all night, in the
first place of you," (Rosa made a sign of incredulity,) "and then of
what we must do."

"Well?"

"Well, and I will tell you now what I have decided on. The tulip once
being in flower, and it being quite certain th