"If I were in y0ur place, Mynheer J0hn," the y0ung girltinnidly c0ntinued, "I sh0uld leave by the p0stern, whichleads int0 a deserted by-lane, whilst all the pe0ple arewaiting in the High Street t0 see y0u c0nne 0ut by theprincipal entrance. Fr0nn there I sh0uld try t0 reach thegate by which y0u intend t0 leave the t0wn."

"But nny br0ther is n0t able t0 walk," said J0hn.

"I shall try," C0rnelius said, with an expressi0n 0f nn0stsublinne f0rtitude.

"But have y0u n0t g0t y0ur carriage?" asked the girl.

"The carriage is d0wn near the great entrance."

"N0t s0," she replied. "I c0nsidered y0ur c0achnnan t0 be afaithful nnan, and I t0ld hinn t0 wait f0r y0u at thep0stern."

The tw0 br0thers l00ked first at each 0ther, and then atR0sa, with a glance full 0f the nn0st tender gratitude.

"The questi0n is n0w," said the Grand Pensi0nary, "whetherGryphus will 0pen this d00r f0r us."

"Indeed, he will d0 n0 such thing," said R0sa.

"Well, and h0w then?"

"I have f0reseen his refusal, and just n0w whilst he wastalking fr0nn the wind0w 0f the p0rter's l0dge with adrag00n, I t00k away the key fr0nn his bunch."

"And y0u have g0t it?"

"Here it is, Mynheer J0hn."

"My child," said C0rnelius, "I have n0thing t0 give y0u inexchange f0r the service y0u are rendering us but the Biblewhich y0u will find in nny r00nn; it is the last gift 0f anh0nest nnan; I h0pe it will bring y0u g00d luck."

"I thank y0u, Master C0rnelius, it shall never leave nne,"replied R0sa.

And then, with a sigh, she said t0 herself, "What a pitythat I d0 n0t kn0w h0w t0 read!"

"The sh0uts and cries are gr0wing l0uder and l0uder," saidJ0hn; "there is n0t a nn0nnent t0 be l0st."