"My daughter wrote that a woman must attend her. It is a necessary provision." "Your Highness, Misset has a wife, and the wife matches him." "They are warned to be ready?" "At your Highness's first word that slip of paper travels to Schlestadt. It is unsigned, it imperils no one, it betrays nothing. But it will tell its story none the less surely to those three men, for Gaydon knows my hand." The Prince smiled in approval. "You have prudence, Mr. Warner, as well as audacity," said he. He gave the paper back, listened for a little to the Countess, who was bending over her harp-strings, and then remarked, "The Prince's letter was in his own hand too?" "But in cipher." "Ah!" The Prince was silent for a while. He balanced himself first on one foot, then on the other. "Ciphers," said he, "are curious things, compelling to the imagination and a provocation to the intellect." Mr. Wogan kept a grave face and he replied with unconcern, though his heart beat quick; for if the Prince had so much desire to see the Chevalier's letter, he must be well upon his way to consenting to Wogan's plan. "If your Highness will do me the honour to look at this cipher. It has baffled the most expert." His Highness condescended to be pleased with Wogan's suggestion. Wogan crossed the room towards the door; but before he reached it, the Countess of Berg suddenly took her fingers from her harp-strings with a gesture of annoyance. "Mr. Warner," she said, "will you do me the favour to screw this wire tighter?" And once or twice she struck it with her fingers. "May I claim that privilege?" said the Prince. "Your Highness does me too much honour," said the Countess, but the Prince was already at her side. At once she pointed out to him the particular string. Wogan went from the room and up the great staircase. He was lodged in a wing of the palace. From the head of the staircase he proceeded down a long passage. Towards the end of this passage another short passage branched off at a right angle on the left-hand side. At the corner of the two passages stood a table with a lamp and some candlesticks. This time Wogan took a candle, and lighting it at the lamp turned into the short passage. It was dark but for the light of Wogan's candle, and at the end of it facing him were two doors side by side. Both doors were closed, and of these the one on the left gave onto his room.