Public Function ReadLine(ByVal filename As String, _
      ByVal line As Integer) As String
 
        Try
            Dim lines As String() = My.Computer.FileSystem.ReadAllText( _
              filename, System.Text.Encoding.Default).Split(vbCrLf)
 
            If line > 0 Then
                ' n-te Zeile vom Anfang der Textdatei
                Return lines(line - 1)
            ElseIf line < 0 Then
                ' n-te Zeile beginnend am Ende der Textdatei
                Return lines(lines.length + line - 1)
            Else
                ' ungültige Zeilennummer
                Return ""
            End If
        Catch ex As Exception
            Return ""
        End Try
    End Function