"'By a carrier-pigeon or a balloon, I suppose?'
"'A foreign passport is necessary for my plan.'
"'That you shall have—an English passport viséd by the Embassy. In whose name?'
"'In the lady's.'
"'Then you must give us the lady's name.'
"Then I gave him my real name as the lawful wife of Muki Bagotay.
"'And you? Will you get into the fortress?'
"'Possibly, as that lady's coachman—possibly not at all; but the despatch will get in, anyhow.'
"'And how will this lady of yours manage to hide the despatch? I can tell you beforehand, that even if your lady were provided with a safe-conduct from the Princess Windischgrätz[86] herself, and so got right through the hostile camp into the invested fortress, the Austrians would indeed welcome her most courteously; but they would at the same time say to her: "Would your little ladyship be so good as to step into that side-chamber; there you will find a complete set of lady's clothes, would you be so kind as to put them on—if they are a little more abundant than your own, that doesn't matter? The toilet you have brought with you may remain here, down even to the shoes and stockings; whenever you like to come back again, you can re-exchange your clothes." For they know that it is possible to write on chemises with invisible ink and reproduce the writing by means of chemical re-agents. It is also possible for the heels of your boots to have secret openings, in which a letter written on straw-paper might be inserted. They might also retain the comb with which you fasten up your hair, for a valuable message might be written thereupon in microscopic letters.'
[86] The wife of the Austrian Commander-in-chief.—Tr.