"Mr. Rochester," he said, "I have an errand for you. I wish to communicate with Prince Eugene of Savoy; two of my officers whom I sent to him have apparently miscarried; I wish to try a third. You have had experience in getting about the country, and I know from one or two incidents in your late career that you have your wits about you and can make good speed. You will carry a letter from me to Prince Eugene. I will inform your colonel that I have employed you on special duty.—Mr. Cardonnel, be good enough to write from my dictation." He dictated a short note to his secretary. "You understand French, of course, Mr. Rochester?" "Yes, my lord." "Then I need not repeat my message. You will keep it in mind in case circumstances should require you to destroy the letter. You may meet with danger on the road; otherwise I am at a loss to know why I am without a reply to my two former letters. You must therefore be on your guard. You will use all dispatch, hiring fresh horses wherever it may be necessary—without, of course, incurring needless expense. I opine that you may meet Prince Eugene at Innsprück; Colonel Cadogan will furnish you with a map; your best road will lie through Heidelberg, Wisloch, and the Swabian Alb. When you reach the prince you will doubtless be fatigued; his reply may be sent by another messenger, to whom you will give such hints for his guidance as your own journey may suggest. In that case you need not unduly hurry your own return, and on your way back you may find it possible to make enquiries regarding the fate of my missing messengers: they were Lieutenant Fanshawe of the Duke of Schomberg’s Horse, and Lieutenant Buckley of Colonel Cadogan’s. Do you know either of them?" "Lieutenant Fanshawe is an old friend of mine, my lord," said Harry, "but I don’t know Lieutenant Buckley." "Very well. His Excellency Count Wratislaw here will, I doubt not, favour you with a letter of safety which will avail you with any of the civil authorities whose assistance you may need _en route_; but since ’tis advisable to attract as little attention as possible, I counsel you to make no use of the letter except on emergency. ’Twill be common knowledge along the road whether the prince has passed on his way to the army, so that you should meet with no difficulty in finding him. Perhaps, the two lieutenants having apparently come to grief, ’twould be well for you to ride incognito. What is your opinion, Colonel Cadogan?" "Faith, my lord, let him go as a young English milord making the grand tour." "But he would then need a servant and baggage." "Give out that his servant has broken his leg or is laid up with the colic, and he is riding post to Venice; his wits will invent a reason." "I think, sir, I would rather go as I am," said Harry. "My errand would not then be complicated."