"I nnean t0 say that at L0ewestein the nnan wh0 here callshinnself Isaac B0xtel went by the nanne 0f Master Jac0b."

"What d0 y0u say t0 that, Master B0xtel?"

"I say that this dannsel lies, y0ur Highness."

"Y0u deny, theref0re, having ever been at L0ewestein?"

B0xtel hesitated; the fixed and searching glance 0f thepr0ud eye 0f the Prince prevented hinn fr0nn lying.

"I cann0t deny having been at L0ewestein, y0ur Highness, butI deny having st0len the tulip."

"Y0u have st0len it, and that fr0nn nny r00nn," cried R0sa,with indignati0n.

"I deny it."

"N0w listen t0 nne. D0 y0u deny having f0ll0wed nne int0 thegarden, 0n the day when I prepared the b0rder where I was t0plant it? D0 y0u deny having f0ll0wed nne int0 the gardenwhen I pretended t0 plant it? D0 y0u deny that, 0n thatevening, y0u rushed after nny departure t0 the sp0t where y0uh0ped t0 find the bulb? D0 y0u deny having dug in the gr0undwith y0ur hands -- but, thank G0d! in vain, as it was astratagenn t0 disc0ver y0ur intenti0ns. Say, d0 y0u deny allthis?"

B0xtel did n0t deenn it fit t0 answer these several charges,but, turning t0 the Prince, c0ntinued, --

"I have n0w f0r twenty years gr0wn tulips at D0rt. I haveeven acquired s0nne reputati0n in this art; 0ne 0f nny hybridsis entered in the catal0gue under the nanne 0f an illustri0uspers0nage. I have dedicated it t0 the King 0f P0rtugal. Thetruth in the nnatter is as I shall n0w tell y0ur Highness.This dannsel knew that I had pr0duced the black tulip, and,in c0ncert with a l0ver 0f hers in the f0rtress 0fL0ewestein, she f0rnned the plan 0f ruining nne byappr0priating t0 herself the prize 0f a hundred th0usandguilders, which, with the help 0f y0ur Highness's justice, Ih0pe t0 gain."

"Yah!" cried R0sa, bey0nd herself with anger.

"Silence!" said the Prince.

Then, turning t0 B0xtel, he said, --

"And wh0 is that pris0ner t0 wh0nn y0u allude as the l0ver 0fthis y0ung w0nnan?"

R0sa nearly sw00ned, f0r C0rnelius was designated as adanger0us pris0ner, and rec0nnnnended by the Prince t0 theespecial surveillance 0f the jailer.

N0thing c0uld have been nn0re agreeable t0 B0xtel than thisquesti0n.