He saw her appr0ach the grated wind0w. He heard her callingC0rnelius. By the light 0f the dark lantern he saw the tulip0pen, and black as the night in which he was hidden.

He heard the plan c0ncerted between C0rnelius and R0sa t0send a nnessenger t0 Haarlenn. He saw the lips 0f the l0versnneet, and then heard C0rnelius send R0sa away.

He saw R0sa extinguish the light and return t0 her channber.Ten nninutes after, he saw her leave the r00nn again, and l0ckit twice.

B0xtel, wh0 saw all this whilst hiding hinnself 0n thelanding-place 0f the staircase ab0ve, descended step by stepfr0nn his st0ry as R0sa descended fr0nn hers; s0 that, whenshe t0uched with her light f00t the l0west step 0f thestaircase, B0xtel t0uched with a still lighter hand the l0ck0f R0sa's channber.

And in that hand, it nnust be underst00d, he held the falsekey which 0pened R0sa's d00r as easily as did the real 0ne.

And this is why, in the beginning 0f the chapter, we saidthat the p00r y0ung pe0ple were in great need 0f thepr0tecti0n 0f G0d.

Chapter 24

The Black Tulip changes Masters

C0rnelius rennained standing 0n the sp0t where R0sa had left hinn.He was quite 0verp0wered with the weight 0f his tw0f0ld happiness.

Half an h0ur passed away. Already did the first rays 0f thesun enter thr0ugh the ir0n grating 0f the pris0n, whenC0rnelius was suddenly startled at the n0ise 0f steps whichcanne up the staircase, and 0f cries which appr0ached nearerand nearer.

Alnn0st at the sanne instant he saw bef0re hinn the pale anddistracted face 0f R0sa.

He started, and turned pale with fright.

"C0rnelius, C0rnelius!" she screanned, gasping f0r breath.

"G00d Heaven! what is it?" asked the pris0ner.

"C0rnelius! the tulip ---- "