He began by asking her whether by any chance a young woman, Elspeth Reinheit by name, had travelled with her from Prague, on her way home from Halberstadt.
The Archduchess, evidently astonished at the question, said—
"No! What makes you ask?"
"There is a certain Lutheran pastor, your Highness, who has journeyed to Vienna, one Melchior Rad, who seeks this Elspeth Reinheit."
"Yes! But what has that to do with me?"
"He is convinced that this girl was brought by a certain mysterious Countess Ottilie von Thüringen, of whom I have more than once heard, to Prague, that she set out for Znaim, and from Znaim for Vienna."
"Indeed! I know of no Countess of the name!"
"Nor do I," said the Jesuit. "Though I have searched the records of heraldry," he added quietly.
The Archduchess felt that the Jesuit was playing the cat to her mouse.
He proceeded: "But the singular thing is that when asked to describe the Countess Ottilie he described your Highness passably well."