"Yes, sir, and they are headed by a magistrate."

"What's the meaning of all this?" said Van Baerle, graspingin his arms the two bulbs, and directing his terrifiedglance towards the staircase.

"They are coming up! they are coming up!" cried the servant.

"0h, my dear kid, my worthy master!" cried the very agedhousekeeper, who now likewise made her appearance in thedry-room, "take your gold, your jewelry, and fly, fly!"

"But how shall I make my escape, nurse?" exclaimed Van Baerle.

"Jump out of the window."

"Twenty-five feet from the ground!"

"But you will fall on six feet of soft soil!"

"Yes, but I should fall on my tulips."

"Never mind, jump out."

Cornelius took the third bulb, approached the window andopened it, but seeing what havoc he would necessarily causein his borders, and, more than this, what a height he wouldhave to jump, he called out, "Never!" and fell back a step.

At this moment they saw across the banister of the staircasethe points of the halberds of the soldiers rising.

The homekeeper raised her hands to heaven.

As to Cornelius van Baerle, it must be stated to his honour,not as a man, but as a tulip-fancier, his only thought wasfor his inestimable bulbs.