"I confess, your excellency, that my limited understanding is unable
to answer that question, and that I cannot conceive how a sovereign
and independent state is to become an Austrian province in the
absence of any claims to its territory, except by an act of open
violence."

"Not exactly, my dear count. Suppose we set a mouse-trap for Venice,
and catch her, like a mouse, in it? Listen to me! We must encourage
Venice to determine upon open resistance against the victor of Lodi,
and make war upon France."

"Ah, your excellency, I am afraid the timid signoria will not be
bold enough for that, after hearing of our late defeats, and of the
new victories of the French."

"Precisely. It is of the highest importance, therefore, that the
signoria should hear nothing of it, but believe exactly the reverse,
viz., that our troops are victorious; and this task, my friend, de-
devolves upon you. Pray dispatch, at once, some reliable agents to
Venice, and to other parts of the Venetian territory. Inform the
signoria that the French have been defeated in the Tyrol and in
Styria, and was now in the most precarious position. Through some
other confidential messenger send word to Count Adam Neipperg, who,
with some of our regiments occupies the southern Tyrol in close
proximity to the Venetian frontier, that Venetia is ready to rise
and needs his assistance, and order him to advance as far as Verona.
The Venetians will look upon this advance as a confirmation of the
news of our victories. The wise little mice will only smell the
bait, and, in their joy, not see the trap we have set for them. They