the danger. It is the duty of a soldier to run the risk of being
killed in battle, but it lies beyond his duty to go into the
enemy's camp to obtain news. He may volunteer for it, but with a
knowledge that if detected he would assuredly be hanged."

"I do not think, general, that the risk of detection would be great,
but the risk of failure would be so. If when we get there we can
see no possible means of passing through the line of sentries,
there would be nothing to do but to come back, and I own that in
talking it over the thought that I might be obliged to return and
to tell you that I had failed occupied a much larger portion of my
thoughts than the risk of being detected."

"But I shall not expect you to succeed, Campbell; the chances are
a hundred to one against it. I should be glad, however, to have
the experiment tried once again, so that if the garrison capitulates
before we arrive to its succour, I shall not be able to blame
myself for not having made one more effort to induce them to hold
out for another few weeks. Have you thought of your plans?"

"Only so far, sir, that we shall dress up as two country boys,
cross the Po, and enter the city from the other side. After that
we must be guided by circumstances and trust to good luck. May I
ask, general, if you have a plan of the city and fortress?"

"Yes; at least the duchess has one, which she has placed at my
disposal. I can send an officer to the palace to request her to
let me have it. No doubt it would be a great advantage to you to
study the position beforehand."