Yes, perhaps at this moment the two objects of my dearest love caress each other under the eye of Heaven." At this moment, a star blazed in the southern sky, and shot through the whole horizon, falling down, as it were, on the fortress of Loewestein.
Cornelius felt a thrill run through his frame.
"Ah!" he said, "here is Heaven sending a soul to my flower." And as if he had guessed correctly, nearly at that very moment the prisoner heard in the lobby a step light as that of a sylph, and the rustling of a gown, and a well-known voice, which said to him,-- "Cornelius, my friend, my very dear friend, and very happy friend, come, come quickly." Cornelius darted with one spring from the window to the door, his lips met those of Rosa, who told him, with a kiss,-- "It is open, it is black, here it is." "How! here it is ?" exclaimed Cornelius.
"Yes, yes, we ought indeed to run some little risk to give a great joy; here it is, take it." And with one hand she raised to the level of the grating a dark lantern, which she had lit in the meanwhile, whilst with the other she held to the same height the miraculous tulip.
Cornelius uttered a cry, and was nearly fainting.
"Oh!" muttered he, "my God, my God, Thou dost reward me for my innocence and my captivity, as Thou hast allowed two such flowers to grow at the grated window of my prison!" The tulip was beautiful, splendid, magnificent; its stem was more than eighteen inches high; it rose from out of four green leaves, which were as smooth and straight as iron lance-heads; the whole of the flower was as black and shining as jet.
"Rosa," said Cornelius, almost gasping, "Rosa, there is not one moment to lose in writing the letter." "It is written, my dearest Cornelius," said Rosa.
"Is it, indeed ?" "Whilst the tulip opened I wrote it myself, for I did not wish to lose a moment.

Here is the letter, and tell me whether you approve of it." Cornelius took the letter, and read, in a handwriting which was much improved even since the last little note he had received from Rosa, as follows:-- "Mynheer President,--The black tulip is about to open, perhaps in ten minutes.

As soon as it is open, I shall send a messenger to you, with the request that you will come and fetch it in person from the fortress at Loewestein.

I am the daughter of the jailer, Gryphus, almost as much of a captive as the prisoners of my father.

I cannot, therefore, bring to you this wonderful flower.