and I, little suspecting future consequences, returned to my tent.

I must here remark the following observations:-

1st. I had not observed the date of the letter brought by the
postman, which, as I have said, was antedated four months: this,
however, the colonel did not fail to remark.

2ndly. The probability is that this was a net, spread for me by
this false and wicked man. The return of my horses, during the
preceding campaign, had been the subject of much conversation. It
is possible he had the King's orders to watch me; but more probably
he only prevailed on me to write that he might entrap me by a
fictitious answer. Certain it is, my cousin Trenck, at Vienna,
affirmed to his death he never received any letter from me,
consequently never could send any answer. I must therefore conclude
this letter was forged.

Jaschinsky was at this time one of the King's favourites; his spy
over the army; a tale-bearer; an inventor of wicked lies and
calumnies. Some years after the event of which I am now speaking,
the King was obliged to break and banish him the country.

He was then also the paramour of the beauteous Madame Brossart, wife
of the Saxon resident at Berlin, and there can be little doubt but
that this false letter was, by her means, conveyed to some Saxon or
Austrian post-office, and thence, according to its address, sent to
me. He had daily opportunities of infusing suspicions into the
King's mind concerning me; and, unknown to me, of pursuing his
diabolical plan.