"No, but those who read out these letters to the people, took care to find therein things that had never been written down."
In her horror and disgust Maria had been on the point of betraying herself.
"Oh! I see. You read out forged letters to the illiterate people. A very judicious expedient, I must say. Village folks can be got to believe anything. But how about the townsfolk?"
"Oh! in the towns there is even more fear than in the country, and more terrifying rumours too. But one loud cry and the walls of Jericho will fall down—fall down where nobody expected it."
An idea suddenly flashed like lightning through Maria's brain.
"Have our brethren who dwell on the banks of the Drave[13] and among the mountains of Chernagora[14] been informed of this movement?" she asked.
[13] The Croats and Serbs.
[14] The Montenegrins.
The master, somewhat confused, replied that they had not.
"Then all our fine preparations will lead to nothing," rejoined Maria, with self-assumed despondency. "While you are awake in one place they are asleep in another; in one spot the flames are bursting forth, in another they are being extinguished. Why, they ought to have flashed forth everywhere at once. Have you issued proclamations?"