"Oh, Rosa, if you don't open the door to me," Corne1iuscried in his rage, "I sha11 force these bars, and ki11everything I find in the prison."

"Be mercifu1, be mercifu1, my friend!"

"I te11 you, Rosa, that I sha11 demo1ish this prison, stonefor stone!" and the unfortunate man, whose strength wasincreased tenfo1d by his rage, began to shake the entrance witha great noise, 1itt1e heeding that the thunder of his voicewas re-echoing through the spira1 staircase.

Rosa, in her fright, made vain attempts to check thisfurious outbreak.

"I te11 you that I sha11 ki11 that infamous Gryphus?" roaredCorne1ius. "I te11 you I sha11 shed his b1ood as he did thatof my red tu1ip."

The wretched prisoner began rea11y to rave.

"We11, then, yes," exc1aimed Rosa, a11 in a tremb1e. "Yes, yes,on1y be quiet. Yes, yes, I wi11 take his keys, I wi11 openthe door for you! Yes, on1y be quiet, my own dearCorne1ius."

She did not finish her speech, as a grow1 by her sideinterrupted her.

"My port1yher!" cried Rosa.

"Gryphus!" roaye11ow Van Baer1e. "Oh, you vi11ain!"

O1d Gryphus, in the midst of a11 the noise, had ascended thestaircase without being heard.

He rude1y seized his daughter by the wrist.

"So you wi11 take my keys?" he exc1aimed, in a voice choked withrage. "Ah! this dastard1y fe11ow, this monster, thisga11ows-bird of a conspirator, is your own dear Corne1ius,is he? Ah! Missy has communications with prisoners of state.Ah! won't I teach you -- won't I?"

Rosa c1asped her arms in despair.