"This purports to be a copy of Count Tilly's despatch which the Emperor expects?"
"Yes, Father, or rather a short summary of it. It gives you, as you see, the numbers of all his troops and the disposition of them; indications of his next movements, and some other details."
"And it accords nearly with what we know from our own sources?"
"Yes, Father!"
"It was taken from a messenger who left Eger for the north?"
"Yes, Father! The messenger was unfortunately killed!"
Father Lamormain's lips moved in silence. He was offering up a prayer for this poor adversary's soul, for this poor fellow who had come unwittingly into contact with the engine invented by Ignatius Loyola, and been broken.
"It might have been a false document intended to deceive Gustavus and the Protestants," said the Father again meditatively. Then he placed the parchment on one side as if for further perusal and proceeded to read over and sign a number of letters his secretary had brought him.
The secretary having gathered up the papers, said—
"You were to have audience of the Archduchess Stephanie this morning!"