"Your Highness knows all.
But there is one thing which I did not intend to say, because I did not wish to make this girl blush for her ingratitude.

I came to Loewestein because I had business there.

On this occasion I made the acquaintance of old Gryphus, and, falling in love with his daughter, made an offer of marriage to her; and, not being rich, I committed the imprudence of mentioning to them my prospect of gaining a hundred thousand guilders, in proof of which I showed to them the black tulip.

Her lover having himself made a show at Dort of cultivating tulips to hide his political intrigues, they now plotted together for my ruin.

On the eve of the day when the flower was expected to open, the tulip was taken away by this young woman.