Public Function TOP(ByVal msg_number As Integer, ByVal maxEmailLines As _
      Integer) As String
      Dim temp As String =  "" 
      If Me.connectState <> ConnectStateEnum.TRANSACTION Then
        temp = "Connection state not = TRANSACTION"
      Else 
        issue_command ("TOP " + msg_number.ToString () + " " + _
          maxEmailLines.ToString())
        temp = read_multi_line_response()
      End If
      Return(temp)
    End Function