I will now tell you the way I have traced out for us." Rosa was all attention to what he would say, much more on account of the importance which the unfortunate tulip-fancier attached to it, than that she felt interested in the matter herself.
"I will explain to you, Rosa," he said.

"I dare say you have in this fortress a small garden, or some courtyard, or, if not that, at least some terrace." "We have a very fine garden," said Rosa, "it runs along the edge of the Waal, and is full of fine old trees." "Could you bring me some soil from the garden, that I may judge ?" "I will do so to-morrow." "Take some from a sunny spot, and some from a shady, so that I may judge of its properties in a dry and in a moist state." "Be assured I shall." "After having chosen the soil, and, if it be necessary, modified it, we will divide our three bulbs; you will take one and plant it, on the day that I will tell you, in the soil chosen by me.

It is sure to flower, if you tend it according to my directions." "I will not lose sight of it for a minute." "You will give me another, which I will try to grow here in my cell, and which will help me to beguile those long weary hours when I cannot see you.

I confess to you I have very little hope for the latter one, and I look beforehand on this unfortunate bulb as sacrificed to my selfishness.

However, the sun sometimes visits me.