o some."

Van Systens exchanged a look with the Prince, who, since the first words
of Rosa, seemed to try to remember her, as if it were not for the first
time that this sweet voice rang in his ears.

An officer went off to fetch Boxtel, and Van Systens in the meanwhile
continued his examination.

"And with what do you support your assertion that you are the real owner
of the black tulip?"

"With the very simple fact of my having planted and grown it in my own
chamber."

"In your chamber? Where was your chamber?"

"At Loewestein."

"You are from Loewestein?"

"I am the daughter of the jailer of the fortress."

The Prince made a little movement, as much as to say, "Well, that's it,
I remember now."

And, all the while feigning to be engaged with his book, he watched Rosa
with even more attention than he had before.

"And you are fond of flowers?" continued Mynheer van Systens.

"Yes, sir."

"Then you are an experienced florist, I dare say?"

Rosa hesitated a moment; then with a tone which came from the depth of
her heart, she said,--

"Gentlemen, I am speaking to men of honor."

There was such an expression of truth in the tone of her voice, that
Van Systens and the Prince answered simultaneously by an affirmative
movement of their heads.

"Well, then, I am not an experienced florist; I am only a poor girl, one
of the people, who, three months ago, knew neither how to read nor how
to write. No, the black tulip has not been found by myself."

"But by whom else?"

"By a poor prisoner of Loewestein."

"By a prisoner of Loewestein?" repeated the Prince.

The tone of his voice startled Rosa, who was sure she had heard it
before.

"By a prisoner of state, then," continued the Prince, "as there are none
else there."

Having said this he began to read again, at least in appearance.

"Yes," said Rosa, with a faltering voice, "yes, by a prisoner of state."

Van Systens trembled as he heard such a confession made in the presence
of such a witness.

"Continue," said William dryly, to the President of the Horticultural
Society.

"Ah, sir," said Rosa, addressing the person whom she thought to be her
real judge, "I am going to incriminate myself very seriously."

"Certainly," said Van Systens, "the prisoner of state ought to be kept
in close confinement at Loewestein."

"Alas! sir."

"And from what you tell me you took advantage of your position, as
daughter of the jailer, to communicate with a