Boxtel’s return was scarcely announced, when he entered inperson the drawing-room of Mynheer van Systens, followed bytwo men, who carried in a box their precious burden anddeposited it on a table.
当博克斯泰尔的归来几乎没有宣布时，他亲自走进了范斯坦先生的起居室，后面跟着两个人，他们携带着一个箱子里的宝贵负担，并将其放在桌子上。

　　The Prince, on being informed, left the cabinet, passed intothe drawing-room, admired the flower, and silently resumedhis seat in the dark corner, where he had himself placed hischair.
王子得知消息后，离开书房，走进客厅，欣赏了那朵花，默默地回到了自己坐过的昏暗角落里的椅子上。

　　Rosa, trembling, pale and terrified, expected to be invitedin her turn to see the tulip.
罗莎颤抖着，面色苍白，恐惧不安，等待着轮到自己进去看郁金香。

　　She now heard the voice of Boxtel.
她现在听见了箱蒂尔的声音。

　　”It is he!” she exclaimed.
“这是他！”她惊呼道。

　　The Prince made her a sign to go and look through the opendoor into the drawing-room.
王子示意她去打开通往客厅的门，往里面看。

“It is my tulip,” cried Rosa, “I recognise it. —
“这是我的郁金香，”罗莎喊道，“我认出它了。” —

Oh, my poorCornelius!“And saying this she burst into tears.
啊，我可怜的科尼利厄斯！她说着，泪如泉涌。

　　The Prince rose from his seat, went to the door, where hestood for some time with the full light falling upon hisfigure.
王子站起身，走到门前，站在那里，让光线充分照射到他的身上。

　　As Rosa’s eyes now rested upon him, she felt more than everconvinced that this was not the first time she had seen thestranger.
当罗莎的眼睛现在落在他身上时，她比以往更加确信这位陌生人并非第一次见过。

“Master Boxtel,” said the Prince, “come in here, if youplease.” —
“波克斯泰尔大师，”王子说道，“请进这里。” —

Boxtel eagerly approached, and, finding himself face to facewith William of Orange, started back.
波克斯泰尔急切地走近，当发现自己与奥兰治的威廉面对面时，吓了一跳。

　　”His Highness!” he called out.
“殿下！”他叫道。

　　”His Highness!” Rosa repeated in dismay.
“殿下！”罗莎惊恐地重复道。

　　Hearing this exclamation on his left, Boxtel turned round,and perceived Rosa.
听到左边的这声感叹，波克斯泰尔转过身，看到了罗莎。

　　At this sight the whole frame of the thief shook as if underthe influence of a galvanic shock.
盗贼看到这一幕，整个人都像是受到了电击一样颤抖起来。

“Ah!” muttered the Prince to himself, “he is confused.” —
“啊！”王子自言自语道，“他显得有些困惑。” —

But Boxtel, making a violent effort to control his feelings,was already himself again.
然而，博克斯特尔竭力控制情绪，已经恢复了镇定。

“Master Boxtel,” said William, “you seem to have discoveredthe secret of growing the black tulip?” —
“博克斯特尔先生，”威廉说，“您似乎已经发现了种植黑色郁金香的秘密？” —

“Yes, your Highness,” answered Boxtel, in a voice whichstill betrayed some confusion.
“是的，殿下，”博克斯特尔回答道，声音仍然透露出些许困惑之情。

　　It is true his agitation might have been attributable to theemotion which the man must have felt on suddenly recognisingthe Prince.
的确，他的激动可能是因为突然认出王子而引起的情绪。

“But,” continued the Stadtholder, “here is a young damselwho also pretends to have found it.” —
“但是，”斯塔特霍尔德继续说道，“这里还有一个年轻姑娘声称也找到了。” —

Boxtel, with a disdainful smile, shrugged his shoulders.
博克斯特勾肩而过，带着轻蔑的微笑。

　　William watched all his movements with evident interest andcuriosity.
威廉显然对他的一切举动都充满了兴趣和好奇。

　　”Then you don’t know this young girl?” said the Prince.
“那么你不认识这个年轻女孩吗？”王子问道。

“No, your Highness!”“And you, child, do you know Master Boxtel?” —
“不，殿下！”“那你，孩子，你认识博克斯特大师吗？” —

“No, I don’t know Master Boxtel, but I know Master Jacob.”“What do you mean?” —
“不，我不认识博克斯特大师，但我认识雅各布大师。”“你是什么意思？” —

“I mean to say that at Loewestein the man who here callshimself Isaac Boxtel went by the name of Master Jacob.”“What do you say to that, Master Boxtel?” —
“我的意思是在洛文斯泰因，现在自称为艾萨克·博克斯特的人用着雅各布大师的名字。”“对此你有何说法，博克斯特大师？” —

“I say that this damsel lies, your Highness.”“You deny, therefore, having ever been at Loewestein?” —
“我说这位姑娘在说谎，殿下。”“所以你否认曾经到过洛文斯泰因？” —

Boxtel hesitated; the fixed and searching glance of theproud eye of the Prince prevented him from lying.
博克斯特犹豫了一下；骄傲的王子眼中那种专注而探究的眼神让他无法撒谎。

“I cannot deny having been at Loewestein, your Highness, butI deny having stolen the tulip.” —
“我无法否认曾到过洛文斯泰因，殿下，但我否认偷了郁金香。” —

“You have stolen it, and that from my room,” cried Rosa,with indignation.
“你偷了，而且是从我的房间里偷的，”罗莎愤然说道。

“I deny it.”“Now listen to me. Do you deny having followed me into thegarden, on the day when I prepared the border where I was toplant it? —
“我否认。”“现在听我说。你否认曾经跟随我走进花园吗，在我准备种植郁金香的花坛时？ —

Do you deny having followed me into the gardenwhen I pretended to plant it? —
你否认曾经跟随我进入花园，当时我假装要种植它吗？ —

Do you deny that, on thatevening, you rushed after my departure to the spot where youhoped to find the bulb? —
你否认，在那个晚上，我离开后你曾急忙追赶到你希望找到鳞茎的地方吗？ —

Do you deny having dug in the groundwith your hands – but, thank God! —
你否认曾经亲手挖掘地面–但是，谢谢上帝！ —

in vain, as it was astratagem to discover your intentions. Say, do you deny allthis?” —
白费功夫，因为那只是一个检测你意图的计谋。告诉我，你否认这一切吗？” —

Boxtel did not deem it fit to answer these several charges,but, turning to the Prince, continued, –“I have now for twenty years grown tulips at Dort. I haveeven acquired some reputation in this art; —
Boxtel认为不必回答这几项指控，但他转向王子继续说道：“在多特我种郁金香已有二十年。我在这方面甚至已经获得了一些声誉； —

one of my hybridsis entered in the catalogue under the name of an illustriouspersonage. —
我的一个杂交品种甚至在目录上以一位名人的名字命名。 —

I have dedicated it to the King of Portugal. —
我已经将它奉献给葡萄牙国王。 —

Thetruth in the matter is as I shall now tell your Highness.
这件事的真相如我现在将告诉你的高ness。

This damsel knew that I had produced the black tulip, and,in concert with a lover of hers in the fortress ofLoewestein, she formed the plan of ruining me byappropriating to herself the prize of a hundred thousandguilders, which, with the help of your Highness’s justice, Ihope to gain.” —
这位年轻女士知道我种出了黑色郁金香，她与她在洛韦斯坦要塞的情人一起，共同策划了一个计划，通过自己将拿走十万盾的奖金来毁掉我，我希望在你的高ness justice的帮助下获得胜利。” —

“Yah!” cried Rosa, beyond herself with anger.
“呀!”罗莎愤怒地叫道。

　　”Silence!” said the Prince.
王子说：“安静。”

Then, turning to Boxtel, he said, –“And who is that prisoner to whom you allude as the lover ofthis young woman?” —
然后，转向Boxtel，他说：“你所提到的囚犯是谁，是这位年轻女子的情人？” —

Rosa nearly swooned, for Cornelius was designated as adangerous prisoner, and recommended by the Prince to theespecial surveillance of the jailer.
罗莎几乎昏倒了，因为Cornelius被指定为危险的囚犯，并且被王子推荐给狱卒特别监视。

　　Nothing could have been more agreeable to Boxtel than thisquestion.
对于Boxtel来说，再没有比这个问题更令人愉悦的了。

“This prisoner,” he said, “is a man whose name in itselfwill prove to your Highness what trust you may place in hisprobity. —
他说：“这名囚犯是一位名字本身就能证明他的诚信的囚犯。 —

He is a prisoner of state, who was once condemnedto death.”“And his name?” —
他是一名被判处死刑的国家囚犯。” —

Rosa hid her face in her hands with a movement of despair.
罗莎用绝望的动作双手掩面。

　　”His name is Cornelius van Baerle,” said Boxtel, “and he isgodson of that villain Cornelius de Witt.“The Prince gave a start, his generally quiet eye flashed,and a death-like paleness spread over his impassiblefeatures.
“他的名字是Cornelius van Baerle，”Boxtel说，“他是那个恶棍Cornelius de Witt的教子。”王子怔了一下，他通常沉静的眼睛闪烁了一下，一片惨白铺满了他那不动声色的面容。

　　He went up to Rosa, and with his finger, gave her a sign toremove her hands from her face.
他走到罗莎面前，用手指示意她把手从脸上移开。

　　Rosa obeyed, as if under mesmeric influence, without havingseen the sign.
罗莎仿佛被催眠一般顺从着，没有看到信号。

“It was, then to follow this man that you came to me atLeyden to solicit for the transfer of your father?” —
“那么，您是为了跟随这个男人才来找我在莱顿为您的父亲申请转移吗？” —

Rosa hung down her head, and, nearly choking, said, –“Yes, your Highness.” —
罗莎低下头，几乎窒息地说道，“是的，殿下。” —

“Go on,” said the Prince to Boxtel.
“继续说，”王子对波克斯特尔说道。

“I have nothing more to say,” Isaac continued. “YourHighness knows all. —
“我没有别的话要说，”艾萨克继续说道。“殿下已经知道一切。 —

But there is one thing which I did notintend to say, because I did not wish to make this girlblush for her ingratitude. —
但有一件事是我没有打算说的，因为我不想让这个女孩为她的忘恩负义羞愧。 —

I came to Loewestein because Ihad business there. —
我来到洛厄斯坦是因为我有事情要办。 —

On this occasion I made the acquaintanceof old Gryphus, and, falling in love with his daughter, madean offer of marriage to her; —
在那个场合，我认识了老格里福斯，爱上了他的女儿，并向他们求婚； —

and, not being rich, Icommitted the imprudence of mentioning to them my prospectof gaining a hundred thousand guilders, in proof of which Ishowed to them the black tulip. —
由于我的经济并不宽裕，我冒失地向他们提及我赢取十万荷兰盾的前景，为此我向他们展示了黑郁金香。 —

Her lover having himselfmade a show at Dort of cultivating tulips to hide hispolitical intrigues, they now plotted together for my ruin.
她的恋人自己在多特展示栽培郁金香来掩饰他的政治阴谋，他们合谋陷害我。

On the eve of the day when the flower was expected to open,the tulip was taken away by this young woman. —
在预计花朵绽放的前夕，黑郁金香被这位年轻女子拿走了。 —

She carried itto her room, from which I had the good luck to recover it atthe very moment when she had the impudence to despatch amessenger to announce to the members of the HorticulturalSociety that she had produced the grand black tulip. —
她把它带到她的房间，我幸运地在她做出发信向园艺学会宣布她培育的宏大黑郁金香的时刻恰好将其取回。 —

But shedid not stop there. There is no doubt that, during the fewhours which she kept the flower in her room, she showed itto some persons whom she may now call as witnesses. —
但她并未止步于此。毫无疑问，在她留守花朵在房间的几个小时里，她将其展示给了一些她现在可以称为证人的人。 —

But,fortunately, your Highness has now been warned against thisimpostor and her witnesses.” —
但幸运的是，殿下现在已经得到了警告，警惕这个骗子和她的证人。” —

“Oh, my God, my God! what infamous falsehoods!” —
“哦，我的上帝，我的上帝！多么卑鄙的谎言！” —

said Rosa,bursting into tears, and throwing herself at the feet of theStadtholder, who, although thinking her guilty, felt pityfor her dreadful agony.
罗莎说着，泪如泉涌，投入了统领脚下，尽管他认为她有罪，但看到她的痛苦无比，心生怜悯。

　　”You have done very wrong, my child,” he said, “and yourlover shall be punished for having thus badly advised you.
“你做得很错，我的孩子，”他说，”你的爱人将会因为坏了劝你的忠告而受到惩罚。

For you are so young, and have such an honest look, that Iam inclined to believe the mischief to have been his doing,and not yours.” —
对不起，你还很年轻，看起来如此诚实，我倾向于相信这祸害是他造成的，而不是你的。 —

“Monseigneur! Monseigneur!” cried Rosa, “Cornelius is notguilty.“William started.
“Monseigneur！Monseigneur！”罗莎叫道，“Cornelius不是有罪的。” William感到震惊。

“Not guilty of having advised you? that’s what you want tosay, is it not?” —
“并没有建议你？这就是你想说的，不是吗？” —

“What I wish to say, your Highness, is that Cornelius is aslittle guilty of the second crime imputed to him as he wasof the first.” —
“我想说的是，您高ness，Cornelius与第二罪没有多少罪行与第一罪的。 —

“Of the first? And do you know what was his first crime? —
您知道他第一次犯的罪是什么吗？ —

Doyou know of what he was accused and convicted? —
你知道他被控告和定罪的罪行吗？ —

Of having, asan accomplice of Cornelius de Witt, concealed thecorrespondence of the Grand Pensionary and the Marquis deLouvois.” —
作为Cornelius de Witt的帮凶而隐瞒了大使和Louvois侯爵的通信。” —

“Well, sir, he was ignorant of this correspondence beingdeposited with him; completely ignorant. —
“嗯，先生，他不知道这些通信寄存在他这里；完全不知情。 —

I am as certain asof my life, that, if it were not so, he would have told me; —
我可以肯定的是，如果不是这样，他会告诉我的； —

for how could that pure mind have harboured a secret withoutrevealing it to me? —
因为那纯洁的心灵怎么可能包藏秘密而不告诉我呢？ —

No, no, your Highness, I repeat it, andeven at the risk of incurring your displeasure, Cornelius isno more guilty of the first crime than of the second; —
不，不，您高ness，我重复一遍，甚至冒犯您的危险，Cornelius对第一次罪行和第二次罪行都没有更多的罪行； —

and ofthe second no more than of the first. Oh, would to Heaventhat you knew my Cornelius; —
第二个也不比第一个更多。哦，愿上天知道我的Cornelius； —

Monseigneur!”“He is a De Witt!” cried Boxtel. —
Monseigneur！” “他是一个De Witt！”Boxtel 叫喊。 —

“His Highness knows onlytoo much of him, having once granted him his life.”“Silence!” —
“他的皇室高度了解他，曾经赦免过他的生命。” —

said the Prince; “all these affairs of state, asI have already said, are completely out of the province ofthe Horticultural Society of Haarlem.” —
国王说：“正如我已经说过的，这些国家事务完全超出了哈勒姆园艺协会的职权范围。” —

Then, knitting his brow, he added, –“As to the tulip, make yourself easy, Master Boxtel, youshall have justice done to you.” —
然后，他皱着眉头补充道：“至于郁金香，放心吧，博克斯特尔大师，你会得到公正的对待。” —

Boxtel bowed with a heart full of joy, and received thecongratulations of the President.
博克斯特尔高兴地鞠躬，接受了协会主席的祝贺。

“You, my child,” William of Orange continued, “you weregoing to commit a crime. —
“你，我的孩子,”奥兰治威廉继续说，“你将要犯下一桩罪行。 —

I will not punish you; but the realevil-doer shall pay the penalty for both. —
我不会惩罚你；但真正的罪犯会为你们两个一起付出代价。 —

A man of his namemay be a conspirator, and even a traitor, but he ought notto be a thief.”“A thief!” —
他这个名字的人可能是阴谋家，甚至是叛徒，但他不应该是个贼。” —

cried Rosa. “Cornelius a thief? Pray, yourHighness, do not say such a word, it would kill him, if heknew it. —
罗莎哭了起来。“科内略斯是个贼？求您，殿下，不要说这样的话，如果他知道了会伤心至极。” —

If theft there has been, I swear to you, Sir, noone else but this man has committed it.” —
如果真的有偷窃，我向您发誓，先生，没有别人犯罪，只有这个人。 —

“Prove it,” Boxtel coolly remarked.
“证明出来吧。” 博克斯特冷静地说。

“I shall prove it. With God’s help I shall.” —
“我会证明的。上帝帮助我，我会证明的。” —

Then, turning towards Boxtel, she asked, –“The tulip is yours?”“It is.” —
然后，转向博克斯特，她问道，“这郁金香是您的吗？”“是的。” —

“How many bulbs were there of it?“Boxtel hesitated for a moment, but after a shortconsideration he came to the conclusion that she would notask this question if there were none besides the two bulbsof which he had known already. —
“它有几个球茎？” 博克斯特犹豫了一会儿，但经过短暂考虑后，他得出结论，如果除了他已经知道的两个球茎外，她不会问这个问题。 —

He therefore answered, –“Three.”“What has become of these bulbs?”“Oh! what has become of them? —
因此，他回答说，“三个。”“这些球茎都去哪了？”“哦！它们去哪了？ —

Well, one has failed; thesecond has produced the black tulip.”“And the third?
好吧，一个失败了；第二个长出了黑郁金香。”“第三个呢？”

　　”The third!““The third, – where is it?”“I have it at home,” said Boxtel, quite confused.
“第三个！”“第三个，– 它在哪里？”“我把它放在家里。” 博克斯特非常困惑地说。

　　”At home? Where? At Loewestein, or at Dort?““At Dort,” said Boxtel.
“在家里？在哪里？在洛文斯坦还是在多特？“在多特，” 博克斯特说。

“You lie!” cried Rosa. “Monseigneur,” she continued, whilstturning round to the Prince, “I will tell you the true storyof these three bulbs. —
“你撒谎！”罗莎喊道。“陛下，”她接着说，同时转向王子，“我会告诉您这三个球茎的真实故事。 —

The first was crushed by my father inthe prisoner’s cell, and this man is quite aware of it, forhe himself wanted to get hold of it, and, being balked inhis hope, he very nearly fell out with my father, who hadbeen the cause of his disappointment. —
第一个被我父亲在囚室里摧毁了，这个人非常清楚，因为他自己想拿到它，但碰壁之后几乎与我父亲反目，因为他的失望是我父亲造成的。 —

The second bulb,planted by me, has produced the black tulip, and the thirdand last” – saying this, she drew it from her bosom –“here it is, in the very same paper in which it was wrappedup together with the two others. —
第二个球茎由我种下，已经长出了黑郁金香，第三个和最后一个”– 说着，她从胸前取出来– “在这里，用同样的纸包裹着，和其他两个一起。 —

When about to be led to thescaffold, Cornelius van Baerle gave me all the three. —
即将走向断头台时，科内利斯·范巴尔勒把这三个都给了我。 —

Takeit, Monseigneur, take it.“And Rosa, unfolding the paper, offered the bulb to thePrince, who took it from her hands and examined it.
拿着吧，殿下，拿着。”罗莎展开纸，把球茎递给王子，他接过并检查了一下。

“But, Monseigneur, this young woman may have stolen thebulb, as she did the tulip,” Boxtel said, with a falteringvoice, and evidently alarmed at the attention with which thePrince examined the bulb; —
“但，大人，这位年轻女士可能偷了鳞茎，就像她偷了郁金香一样，” 博克斯特尔说着，声音有些颤抖，显然对王子凝视鳞茎的目光感到担忧； —

and even more at the movements ofRosa, who was reading some lines written on the paper whichremained in her hands.
更在罗莎读着手中仍然留着的纸上所写的字行时，更感到不安。

Her eyes suddenly lighted up; she read, with breathlessanxiety, the mysterious paper over and over again; —
她的眼睛突然闪烁起来；她焦急地一遍又一遍地读着这份神秘的纸页； —

and atlast, uttering a cry, held it out to the Prince and said,“Read, Monseigneur, for Heaven’s sake, read!” —
最后，她发出一声尖叫，将纸递给王子，说：“大人，请读一读，求求您了！” —

William handed the third bulb to Van Systens, took thepaper, and read.
威廉将第三个鳞茎交给梵赛廷斯，拿起那张纸，并读了起来。

No sooner had he looked at it than he began to stagger; —
他刚看了一眼，便开始摇摇欲坠； —

hishand trembled, and very nearly let the paper fall to theground; —
手颤抖着，几乎让纸掉到地上； —

and the expression of pain and compassion in hisfeatures was really frightful to see.
他脸上的痛苦与怜悯之情真的很可怕。

　　It was that fly-leaf, taken from the Bible, which Corneliusde Witt had sent to Dort by Craeke, the servant of hisbrother John, to request Van Baerle to burn thecorrespondence of the Grand Pensionary with the Marquis deLouvois.
那是科尔内利斯·德·维特从约翰的仆人克雷克那里送到多特的，取自《圣经》的一页，请求芒拜尔勒去烧毁与卢瓦尔侯爵之间的通信。

This request, as the reader may remember, was couched in thefollowing terms: —
这个请求，读者可能还记得，用下面的措辞写到： —

–“My Dear Godson, –“Burn the parcel which I have intrusted to you. —
“我亲爱的教子，–”烧掉我托付给你的包裹。 —

Burn itwithout looking at it, and without opening it, so that itscontents may for ever remain unknown to yourself. —
不看，也不打开地烧掉它，以便它的内容永远保持对你自己未知。 —

Secrets ofthis description are death to those with whom they aredeposited. —
这类秘密对于存放它们的人来说就是死亡。 —

Burn it, and you will have saved John andCornelius de Witt.
烧掉它，这样你就拯救了约翰和科尔内利斯·德·维特。

　　”Farewell, and love me.
“再见，爱我。

　　Cornelius de Witt.
Cornelius de Witt。

　　”August 20, 1672.“This slip of paper offered the proofs both of Van Baerle’sinnocence and of his claim to the property of the tulip.
“1672年8月20日。”这张纸条既证明了范巴尔勒的清白，也证明了他对郁金香财产的主张。

　　Rosa and the Stadtholder exchanged one look only.
罗莎和总督只交换了一个眼神。

That of Rosa was meant to express, “Here, you see yourself.” —
罗莎的眼神意味着，“你看到了自己。” —

That of the Stadtholder signified, “Be quiet, and wait.” —
总督的眼神表示“安静，等着吧。” —

The Prince wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, andslowly folded up the paper, whilst his thoughts werewandering in that labyrinth without a goal and without aguide, which is called remorse and shame for the past.
总督擦去额头上的冷汗，缓缓地折叠起纸条，而他的思绪漫游在那条没有目标也没有指引的迷宫中，这条迷宫就是对过去的懊悔和羞耻。

Soon, however, raising his head with an effort, he said, inhis usual voice, –“Go, Mr. Boxtel; —
然后，费力地抬起头，他以平常的声音说道，“去吧，博克斯特尔； —

justice shall be done, I promise you.“Then, turning to the President, he added, –“You, my dear Mynheer van Systens, take charge of this youngwoman and of the tulip. —
正义会得到伸张，我向你保证。”然后，他转向院长，补充道，“你，我亲爱的范斯滕斯先生，负责照看这位年轻女子和郁金香。 —

Good-bye.“All bowed, and the Prince left, among the deafening cheersof the crowd outside.
再见。”所有人鞠躬致意，王子离开了，外面人群欢呼雀跃。

Boxtel returned to his inn, rather puzzled and uneasy,tormented by misgivings about that paper which William hadreceived from the hand of Rosa, and which his Highness hadread, folded up, and so carefully put in his pocket. —
博克斯特尔回到旅馆，感到有些困惑和不安，被威廉从罗莎手中接过、细心读过、小心放进兜里的那张纸所困扰。 —

Whatwas the meaning of all this?
所有这一切是什么意思？

　　Rosa went up to the tulip, tenderly kissed its leaves and,with a heart full of happiness and confidence in the ways ofGod, broke out in the words, –“Thou knowest best for what end Thou madest my goodCornelius teach me to read.”
罗莎走到郁金香前，温柔地亲吻它的叶子，并满心幸福地，坚信上帝的旨意，她开口说：“你最清楚你为什么让我好好照顾我的好友科内利斯来教我阅读。”