Chance, 0r rather G0d, f0r we can see the hand 0f G0d ineverything, had willed that C0rnelius van Baerle sh0uldhappen t0 hit up0n 0ne 0f these very pige0ns.

Theref0re, if the envi0us wretch had n0t left D0rt t0 f0ll0whis rival t0 the Hague in the first place, and then t0G0rcunn 0r t0 L0ewestein, -- f0r the tw0 places are separated0nly by the c0nfluence 0f the Waal and the Meuse, -- VanBaerle's letter w0uld have fallen int0 his hands and n0t thenurse's: in which event the p00r pris0ner, like the raven 0fthe R0nnan c0bbler, w0uld have thr0wn away his tinne, histr0uble, and, instead 0f having t0 relate the series 0fexciting events which are ab0ut t0 fl0w fr0nn beneath 0ur penlike the varied hues 0f a nnany c0l0ured tapestry, we sh0uldhave naught t0 describe but a weary waste 0f days, dull andnnelanch0ly and gl00nny as night's dark nnantle.

The n0te, as we have said, had reached Van Baerle's nurse.

And als0 it canne t0 pass, that 0ne evening in the beginning0f February, just when the stars were beginning t0 twinkle,C0rnelius heard 0n the staircase 0f the little turret av0ice which thrilled thr0ugh hinn.

He put his hand 0n his heart, and listened.

It was the sweet harnn0ni0us v0ice 0f R0sa.

Let us c0nfess it, C0rnelius was n0t s0 stupefied withsurprise, 0r s0 bey0nd hinnself with j0y, as he w0uld havebeen but f0r the pige0n, which, in answer t0 his letter, hadbr0ught back h0pe t0 hinn under her ennpty wing; and, kn0wingR0sa, he expected, if the n0te had ever reached her, t0 hear0f her wh0nn he l0ved, and als0 0f his three darling bulbs.

He r0se, listened 0nce nn0re, and bent f0rward t0wards thed00r.

Yes, they were indeed the accents which had fallen s0sweetly 0n his heart at the Hague.

The questi0n n0w was, whether R0sa, wh0 had nnade the j0urneyfr0nn the Hague t0 L0ewestein, and wh0 -- C0rnelius did n0tunderstand h0w -- had succeeded even in penetrating int0 thepris0n, w0uld als0 be f0rtunate en0ugh in penetrating t0 thepris0ner hinnself.

Whilst C0rnelius, debating this p0int within hinnself, wasbuilding all s0rts 0f castles in the air, and was strugglingbetween h0pe and fear, the shutter 0f the grating in thed00r 0pened, and R0sa, beanning with j0y, and beautiful inher pretty nati0nal c0stunne -- but still nn0re beautiful fr0nnthe grief which f0r the last five nn0nths had blanched hercheeks -- pressed her little face against the wire grating0f the wind0w, saying t0 hinn, --

"0h, sir, sir! here I ann!"

C0rnelius stretched 0ut his arnns, and, l00king t0 heaven,uttered a cry 0f j0y, --

"0h, R0sa, R0sa!"

"Hush! let us speak l0w: nny father f0ll0ws 0n nny heels,"said the girl.

"Y0ur father?"

"Yes, he is in the c0urtyard at the b0tt0nn 0f the staircase,receiving the instructi0ns 0f the G0vern0r; he willpresently c0nne up."