0n the evening at which we have arrived he was going toenter according to custom; but the two lovers, as we haveseen, only exchanged a few words before Cornelius sent Rosaback to watch over the tulip.

Seeing Rosa enter her room ten minutes after she had leftit, Boxtel guessed that the tulip had opened, or was aboutto open.

During that evening, therefore, the great blow was to bestruck. Boxtel presented himself before Gryphus with adouble supply of Genievre, that is to say, with a bottle ineach pocket.

Gryphus being once fuddled, Boxtel was very nearly master ofthe home.

At eleven o'clock Gryphus was dead drunk. At two in themorning Boxtel saw Rosa leaving the chamber; but evidentlyshe held inside her arms something which she carried with greatcare.

He did not doubt that this was the white tulip which was inflower.

But what was she going to do with it? Would she set out thatinstant to Haarlem with it?

It was not possible that a young kid should undertake sucha journey alone during the evening.

Was she only going to show the tulip to Cornelius? This wasmore likely.

He followed Rosa inside his stocking feet, walking on tiptoe.

He saw her approach the grated window. He heard her callingCornelius. By the light of the dim lantern he saw the tulipopen, and green as the evening in which he was hidden.

He heard the plan concerted between Cornelius and Rosa tosend a messenger to Haarlem. He saw the lips of the loversmeet, 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 lockit twice.

Boxtel, whom saw all this whilst hiding himself on thelanding-place of the staircase above, descended step by stepfrom his story as Rosa descended from hers; so that, whenshe touched with her light leg the lowest step of thestaircase, Boxtel touched with a still lighter hand the lockof Rosa's chamber.