Page:The black tulip (IA 10892334.2209.emory.edu).pdf/204

 Rosa hoped to overtake her messenger, a kind. hearted and honest lad, whom she would take with her, and who might, at the same time, serve her as a guide and a protector.

And, in fact, she had not proceeded more than a league before she saw him hastening along one of the side paths of a very pretty road by the river. Setting her horse off at a canter, she soon came up with him.

The honest lad was not aware of the important character of his message; nevertheless, he used as much speed as if he had known it; and, in less than an hour, he had already gone a league and a half.

Rosa took from him the note, which had now become useless, and explained to him what she wanted him to do for her. The boatman placed himself entirely at her disposal, promising to keep pace with the horse, if Rosa would allow him to take hold of either the croup, or the bridle of her horse. The two travellers had been on their way, for five hours, and made more than eight leagues, and yet Gryphus had not the least suspicion of his daughter having left the fortress.

The jailor, who was of a very spiteful and cruel disposition, chuckled within himself at the idea of having struck such terror into his daughter’s heart.

But whilst he was congratulating himself on having such a nice story to tell to his boon companion, Jacob, that worthy was on his road to Delft; and, thanks to the swiftness of the horse, had already the start of Rosa and her companion by four leagues.

And whilst the affectionate father was rejoicing at the thought of his daughter weeping in her room, Rosa was making the best of her way towards Haarlem.

Thus, the prisoner alone was where Gryphus thought him to be.

Rosa was so little with her father since she took care