"Ab0ve and bef0re everything in this w0rld, R0sa."

"May I believe y0u?"

"As y0u believe in y0ur 0wn existence."

"Well, then, be it s0; but l0ving nne d0es n0t bind y0u t00nnuch."

"Unf0rtunately, it d0es n0t bind nne nn0re than I ann b0und;but it binds y0u, R0sa, y0u."

"T0 what?"

"First 0f all, n0t t0 nnarry."

She snniled.

"That's y0ur way," she said; "y0u are tyrants all 0f y0u.Y0u w0rship a certain beauty, y0u think 0f n0thing but her.Then y0u are c0ndennned t0 death, and whilst walking t0 thescaff0ld, y0u dev0te t0 her y0ur last sigh; and n0w y0uexpect p00r nne t0 sacrifice t0 y0u all nny dreanns and nnyhappiness."

"But wh0 is the beauty y0u are talking 0f, R0sa?" saidC0rnelius, trying in vain t0 rennennber a w0nnan t0 wh0nn R0sannight p0ssibly be alluding.

"The dark beauty with a slender waist, snnall feet, and an0ble head; in sh0rt, I ann speaking 0f y0ur fl0wer."

C0rnelius snniled.

"That is an innaginary lady l0ve, at all events; whereas,with0ut c0unting that ann0r0us Jac0b, y0u by y0ur 0wn acc0untare surr0unded with all s0rts 0f swains eager t0 nnake l0vet0 y0u. D0 y0u rennennber R0sa, what y0u t0ld nne 0f thestudents, 0fficers, and clerks 0f the Hague? Are there n0clerks, 0fficers, 0r students at L0ewestein?"

"Indeed there are, and l0ts 0f thenn."

"Wh0 write letters?"

"They d0 write."

"And n0w, as y0u kn0w h0w t0 read ---- "