Why should not God speak by your mouth ?" "Now, then, Mynheer John, if I were in your place, I should not go out through the main street." "And why so, as the dragoons of Tilly are still at their post ?" "Yes, but their order, as long as it is not revoked, enjoins them to stop before the prison." "Undoubtedly." "Have you got an order for them to accompany you out of the town ?" "We have not ?" "Well, then, in the very moment when you have passed the ranks of the dragoons you will fall into the hands of the people." "But the burgher guard ?" "Alas! the burgher guard are the most enraged of all." "What are we to do, then ?" "If I were in your place, Mynheer John," the young girl timidly continued, "I should leave by the postern, which leads into a deserted by-lane, whilst all the people are waiting in the High Street to see you come out by the principal entrance.

From there I should try to reach the gate by which you intend to leave the town." "But my brother is not able to walk," said John.
"I shall try," Cornelius said, with an expression of most sublime fortitude.
"But have you not got your carriage ?" asked the girl.
"The carriage is down near the great entrance." "Not so," she replied.

"I considered your coachman to be a faithful man, and I told him to wait for you at the postern." The two brothers looked first at each other, and then at Rosa, with a glance full of the most tender gratitude.
"The question is now," said the Grand Pensionary, "whether Gryphus will open this door for us." "Indeed, he will do no such thing," said Rosa.
"Well, and how then ?" "I have foreseen his refusal, and just now whilst he was talking from the window of the porter's lodge with a dragoon, I took away the key from his bunch." "And you have got it ?" "Here it is, Mynheer John." "My child," said Cornelius, "I have nothing to give you in exchange for the service you are rendering us but the Bible which you will find in my room; it is the last gift of an honest man; I hope it will bring you good luck." "I thank you, Master Cornelius, it shall never leave me," replied Rosa.
And then, with a sigh, she said to herself, "What a pity that I do not know how to read!" "The shouts and cries are growing louder and louder," said John; "there is not a moment to be lost." "Come along, gentlemen," said the girl, who now led the two brothers through an inner lobby to the back of the prison.

Guided by her, they descended a staircase of about a dozen steps; traversed a small courtyard, which was surrounded by castellated walls; and, the arched door having been opened for them by Rosa, they emerged into a lonely street where their carriage was ready to receive them.
"Quick, quick, my masters! do you hear them ?" cried the coachman, in a deadly fright.
Yet, after having made Cornelius get into the carriage first, the Grand Pensionary turned round towards the girl, to whom he said,-- "Good-bye, my child! words could never express our gratitude.

God will reward you for having saved the lives of two men." Rosa took the hand which John de Witt proffered to her, and kissed it with every show of respect.
"Go! for Heaven's sake, go!" she said; "it seems they are going to force the gate." John de Witt hastily got in, sat himself down by the side of his brother, and, fastening the apron of the carriage, called out to the coachman,-- "To the Tol-Hek!" The Tol-Hek was the iron gate leading to the harbor of Schevening, in which a small vessel was waiting for the two brothers.
The carriage drove off with the fugitives at the full speed of a pair of spirited Flemish horses.