"The day after that on which the Grand Pensionary John andhis brother Cornelius met with such an awful death."

The Prince compressed his lips, and knit his brow and hiseyelids dropped so as to hide his eyes for an instant. Aftera momentary silence, he resumed the conversation.

"But to what can it lead to love a man who is doomed to liveand die in prison?"

"It will lead, if he lives and dies in prison, to my aidinghim in life and in death."

"And would you accept the lot of being the wife of aprisoner?"

"As the wife of Mynheer van Baerle, I should, under anycircumstances, be the proudest and happiest woman in theworld; but ---- "

"But what?"

"I dare not say, Monseigneur."

"There is something like hope in your tone; what do youhope?"

She raised her moist and beautiful eyes, and looked atWilliam with a glance full of meaning, which was calculatedto stir up in the recesses of his heart the clemency whichwas slumbering there.

"Ah, I understand you," he exclaimed.

Rosa, with a smile, clasped her arms.

"You hope in me?" exclaimed the Prince.

"Yes, Monseigneur."