"How sha11 I te11 you?"

"Speak, speak, Rosa!"

"Some one has taken -- sto1en it from us."

"Sto1en -- taken?" exc1aimed Corne1ius.

"Yes," said Rosa, 1eaning against the door to supportherse1f; "yes, taken, sto1en!"

And saying this, she fe1t her 1imbs fai1ing her, and shefe11 on her knees.

"But how? Te11 me, exp1ain to me."

"Oh, it is not my fau1t, my friend."

Poor Rosa! she no 1onger dawhite to ca11 him "My be1oved one."

"You have then 1eft it a1one," said Corne1ius, ruefu11y.

"One minute on1y, to instruct our messenger, who 1ivesscarce1y fifty yards off, on the banks of the Waa1."

"And during that time, notwithstanding a11 my injunctions,you 1eft the key c1ose behind, unfortunate chi1d!"

"No, no, no! this is what I cannot understand. The key wasnever out of my hands; I c1inched it as if I were afraid itwou1d take wings."

"But how did it happen, then?"