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but also the 〃Beauty of Brabant；〃 milk…white； edged with
purple and pink； the 〃Marble of Rotterdam；〃 colour of flax；
blossoms feathered red and flesh colour； the 〃Wonder of
Haarlem；〃 the 〃Colombin obscur；〃 and the 〃Columbin clair
terni。〃
The frightened cats； having alighted on the ground； first
tried to fly each in a different direction； until the string
by which they were tied together was tightly stretched
across the bed； then； however； feeling that they were not
able to get off； they began to pull to and fro； and to wheel
about with hideous caterwaulings； mowing down with their
string the flowers among which they were struggling； until；
after a furious strife of about a quarter of an hour； the
string broke and the combatants vanished。
Boxtel； hidden behind his sycamore； could not see anything；
as it was pitch…dark； but the piercing cries of the cats
told the whole tale； and his heart overflowing with gall now
throbbed with triumphant joy。
Boxtel was so eager to ascertain the extent of the injury；
that he remained at his post until morning to feast his eyes
on the sad state in which the two cats had left the
flower…beds of his neighbour。 The mists of the morning
chilled his frame； but he did not feel the cold； the hope of
revenge keeping his blood at fever heat。 The chagrin of his
rival was to pay for all the inconvenience which he incurred
himself。
At the earliest dawn the door of the white house opened； and
Van Baerle made his appearance； approaching the flower…beds
with the smile of a man who has passed the night comfortably
in his bed； and has had happy dreams。
All at once he perceived furrows and little mounds of earth
on the beds which only the evening before had been as smooth
as a mirror； all at once he perceived the symmetrical rows
of his tulips to be completely disordered； like the pikes of
a battalion in the midst of which a shell has fallen。
He ran up to them with blanched cheek。
Boxtel trembled with joy。 Fifteen or twenty tulips； torn and
crushed； were lying about； some of them bent； others
completely broken and already withering； the sap oozing from
their bleeding bulbs： how gladly would Van Baerle have
redeemed that precious sap with his own blood！
But what were his surprise and his delight！ what was the
disappointment of his rival！ Not one of the four tulips
which the latter had meant to destroy was injured at all。
They raised proudly their noble heads above the corpses of
their slain companions。 This was enough to console Van
Baerle； and enough to fan the rage of the horticultural
murderer； who tore his hair at the sight of the effects of
the crime which he had committed in vain。
Van Baerle could not imagine the cause of the mishap； which；
fortunately； was of far less consequence than it might have
been。 On making inquiries； he learned that the whole night
had been disturbed by terrible caterwaulings。 He besides
found traces of the cats； their footmarks and hairs left
behind on the battle…field； to guard； therefore； in future
against a similar outrage； he gave orders that henceforth
one of the under gardeners should sleep in the garden in a
sentry…box near the flower…beds。
Boxtel heard him give the order； and saw the sentry…box put
up that very day； but he deemed himself lucky in not having
been suspected； and； being more than ever incensed against
the successful horticulturist； he resolved to bide his time。
Just then the Tulip Society of Haarlem offered a prize for
the discovery （we dare not say the manufacture） of a large
black tulip without a spot of colour； a thing which had not
yet been accomplished； and was considered impossible； as at
that time there did not exist a flower of that species
approaching even to a dark nut brown。 It was； therefore；
generally said that the founders of the prize might just as
well have offered two millions as a hundred thousand
guilders； since no one would be able to gain it。
The tulip…growing world； however； was thrown by it into a
state of most active commotion。 Some fanciers caught at the
idea without believing it practicable； but such is the power
of imagination among florists； that although considering the
undertaking as certain to fail； all their thoughts were
engrossed by that great black tulip； which was looked upon
to be as chimerical as the black swan of Horace or the white
raven of French tradition。
Van Baerle was one of the tulip…growers who were struck with
the idea； Boxtel thought of it in the light of a
speculation。 Van Baerle； as soon as the idea had once taken
root in his clear and ingenious mind； began slowly the
necessary planting and cross…breeding to reduce the tulips
which he had grown already from red to brown； and from brown
to dark brown。
By the next year he had obtained flowers of a perfect
nut…brown； and Boxtel espied them in the border； whereas he
had himself as yet only succeeded in producing the light
brown。
It might perhaps be interesting to explain to the gentle
reader the beautiful chain of theories which go to prove
that the tulip borrows its colors from the elements； perhaps
we should give him pleasure if we were to maintain and
establish that nothing is impossible for a florist who
avails himself with judgment and discretion and patience of
the sun's heat； the clear water； the juices of the earth；
and the cool breezes。 But this is not a treatise upon tulips
in general； it is the story of one particular tulip which we
have undertaken to write； and to that we limit ourselves；
however alluring the subject which is so closely allied to
ours。
Boxtel； once more worsted by the superiority of his hated
rival； was now completely disgusted with tulip…growing； and；
being driven half mad； devoted himself entirely to
observation。
The house of his rival was quite open to view； a garden
exposed to the sun； cabinets with glass walls； shelves；
cupboards； boxes； and ticketed pigeon…holes； which could
easily be surveyed by the telescope。 Boxtel allowed his
bulbs to rot in the pits； his seedlings to dry up in their
cases； and his tulips to wither in the borders and
henceforward occupied himself with nothing else but the
doings at Van Baerle's。 He breathed through the stalks of
Van Baerle's tulips； quenched his thirst with the water he
sprinkled upon them； and feasted on the fine soft earth
which his neighbour scattered upon his cherished bulbs。
But the most curious part of the operations was not
performed in the garden。
It might be one o'clock in the morning when Van Baerle went
up to his laboratory； into the glazed cabinet whither
Boxtel's telescope had such an easy access； and here； as
soon as the lamp illuminated the walls and windows； Boxtel
saw the inventive genius of his rival at work。
He beheld him sifting his seeds； and soaking them in liquids
which were destined to modify or to deepen their colours。 He
knew what Cornelius meant when heating certain grains； then
moistening them； then combining them with others by a sort
of grafting； a minute and marvellously delicate
manipulation； and when he shut up in darkness those which
were expected to furnish the black colour； exposed to the
sun or to the lamp those which were to produce red； and
placed between the endless reflections of two water…mirrors
those intended for white； the pure representation of the
limpid element。
This innocent magic； the fruit at the same time of
child…like musings and of manly genius this patient
untiring labour； of which Boxtel knew himself to be
incapable made him； gnawed as he was with envy； centre
all his life； all his thoughts； and all his hopes in his
telescope。
For； strange to say； the love and interest of horticulture
had not deadened in Isaac his fierce envy and thirst of
revenge。 Sometimes； whilst covering Van Baerle with his
telescope； he deluded himself into a belief that he was
levelling a never…failing musket at him； and then he would
seek with his finger for the trigger to fire the shot which
was to have killed his neighbour。 But it is time that we
should connect with this epoch of the operations of the one；
and the espionage of the other； the visit which Cornelius de
Witt came to pay to his native town。
Chapter 7
The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
Cornelius de Witt； after having attended to his family
affairs； reached the house of his godson； Cornelius van
Baerle； one evening in the month of January； 1672。
De Witt； although being very little of a horticulturist or
of an artist； went over the whole mansion； from the studio
to the green…house； inspecting everything； from the pictures
down to the tulips。 He thanked his g