“Yes.”
“With sunken eyes?”
“I think he has.”
“Restless, stooping, and bowlegged?”
“In truth, you draw Master Boxtel’s portrait feature by feature.”
“And the tulip, sir? Is it not in a pot of white and blue earthenware, with yellowish flowers in a basket on three sides?”
“Oh, as to that I am not quite sure; I looked more at the flower than at the pot.”
“Oh, sir! that’s my tulip, which has been stolen from me. I came here to reclaim it before you and from you.”
“Oh! oh!” said Van Systens, looking at Rosa. “What! you are here to claim the tulip of Master Boxtel? Well, I must say, you are cool enough.”
“Honoured sir,” a little put out by this apostrophe, “I do not say that I am coming to claim the tulip of Master Boxtel, but to reclaim my own.”