echbacher
over the French and Bavarians. Two thousand prisoners were said to have
been taken, and the French driven across the Inn, and in full retreat on
Kuffstein. Now, as I had been confined at Kuffstein, and could speak
of its impregnable character from actual observation, I was immediately
sent off with despatches, about some indifferent matter, to the cabinet,
with injunctions to speak freely about the fortress, and declare that
we were perfectly confident of its security. I may mention incidentally,
and as showing the real character of my mission, that a secret despatch
from Lefebvre had already reached Vienna, in which he declared that he
should be compelled to evacuate the Tyrol, and fall back into Bavaria.

'I have provided you with introductions that will secure your friendly
reception,' said Marmont to me. 'The replies to these despatches
will require some days, during which you will have time to make many
acquaintances about the Court, and, if practicable, to effect a very
delicate object.'

This, after considerable injunctions as to secrecy, and so forth, was no
less than to obtain a miniature, or a copy of a miniature, of the young
archduchess, who had been so dangerously ill during the siege of Vienna,
and whom report represented as exceedingly handsome. A good-looking
young fellow, a colonel, of two or three-and-twenty, with unlimited
bribery, if needed, at command, should find little difficulty in the
mission; at least, so Marmont assured me; and from his enthusiasm on the
subject, I saw, or fancied I saw, that he would have had no objection to
be employed in the service himself. For while professing how absurd
it was to offer any advice or suggestion on such a subject to one like
myself, he entered into details, and sketched out a plan of campaign,
that might well have made a chapter of _Gil Blas_. It would possibly
happen, he reminded me, that the Austrian Court would grow suspectful of
me, and not exactly feel at ease were my stay prolonged beyond a day
or two; in which case it was left entirely to my ingenuity to devise
reasons for my remaining; and I was at liberty to despatch couriers for
instructions, and await replies, to any extent I thought requisite. In
fact, I had a species of general commission to press into the service
whatever resources could forward the object of my mission, success being
the only point not to be dispensed with.

'Take a week, if you like--a month, if you must, Tierna