He heard her calling Cornelius.
By the light of the dark lantern he saw the tulip open, and black as the
night in which he was hidden.

He heard the plan concerted between Cornelius and Rosa to send a
messenger to Haarlem. He saw the lips of the lovers meet, and then heard
Cornelius send Rosa away.

He saw Rosa extinguish the light and return to her chamber. Ten minutes
after, he saw her leave the room again, and lock it twice.

Boxtel, who saw all this whilst hiding himself on the landing-place
of the staircase above, descended step by step from his story as Rosa
descended from hers; so that, when she touched with her light foot the
lowest step of the staircase, Boxtel touched with a still lighter hand
the lock of Rosa's chamber.

And in that hand, it must be understood, he held the false key which
opened Rosa's door as easily as did the real one.

And this is why, in the beginning of the chapter, we said that the poor
young people were in great need of the protection of God.

Chapter 24. The Black Tulip changes Masters

Cornelius remained standing on the spot where Rosa had left him. He was
quite overpowered with the weight of his twofold happiness.

Half an hour passed away. Already did the first rays of the sun enter
through the iron grating of the prison, when Cornelius was suddenly
startled at the noise of steps which came up the staircase, and of cries
which approached nearer and nearer.

Almost at the same instant he saw before him the pale and distracted
face of Rosa.

He started, and turned pale with fright.

"Cornelius, Cornelius!" she screamed, gasping for breath.

"Good Heaven! what is it?" asked the prisoner.

"Cornelius! the tulip----"

"Well?"

"How shall I tell you?"

"Speak, speak, Rosa!"

"Some one has taken--stolen it from us."

"Stolen--taken?" said Cornelius.

"Yes," said Rosa, leaning against the door to support herself; "yes,
taken, stolen!"

And saying this, she felt her limbs failing her, and she fell on her
knees.

"But how? Tell me, explain to me."

"Oh, it is not my fault, my friend."

Poor Rosa! she no longer dared to call him "My beloved one."

"You have then left it alone," said Cornelius, ruefully.

"One minute only, to instruct our messenger, who lives scarcely fifty
yards off, on the banks of the Waal."

"And during that time, notwithstanding all my injunctions, you left the
key behind, unfortunate child!"

"No, no, no! this is what I cann