The slings and arrows...

"Good morning, von Smallhausen...that went rather well, I thought."

"Good morning, Your Highness... er... what went well?"

"A rather demmed ticklish interview with Lady Henrietta."

"Ticklish, Your Highness...?"

"Yes, I have just informed her la'ship that she must remain as my guest for some time, until I have established to my own satisfaction, that she is, indeed, whom she claims to be."

"Ah... I take it that, as a lady of some spirit, she did not rejoice at the news?"

"That, von Smallhausen, may just qualify as the understatement of the year! No, she left me in no doubt as to her feelings: I am a monster and have outraged her! But to practicalities: Pray arrange to have a sentry posted outside the entrance to her suite. She is not to leave her rooms, and no-one is to enter, except her maid. Her coachman and postillions to be quartered with..."

"Reiter Regiment Nummer zwei. Your Highness? They are some three leagues to the west."

"Yes, an excellent choice, thank you. Now, the unfortunate fact is that Lady Henrietta, is... ah.. as the good Rittermeister von Bayer remarked, quite young and quite pretty; she also speaks excellent German. Given soldiers' propensities, any sentry will be at risk of being suborned... Sentries had best be changed at frequent intervals, and no soldier is to be so posted more than once."

"Your Highness, if I may point out... such an arrangement will over a period of time, involve a great many soldiers. Reiter Regiment Nummer eine has a goodly proportion of Poles in in its ranks, perhaps a detachment of these, seconded to the headquarters might best serve your prurpose? I think it highly unlikely, that however much of an accomplished linguist the lady may be, she speaks any Polish."

"Another excellent idea, von Smallhausen! How is it that I have previously overlooked your talents for intrigue? I really have been most remiss! Now that is settled, I see you have the morning states, how goes it with the army?"

"Your Highness, Infanterie Regiment Nummer drei, reports forty-two men sick with a flux - no, Your Highness, no deliberate poisoning, it appears that the men in question, all from one company, ah... liberated, a litter of piglings, but unfortunately did not take enough care to ensure that the flesh was thoroughly cooked prior to consumption. I also have here a letter of complaint from one Mynheer Piet Boerer, who accuses members of Your Highness' army of theft of a litter of fourteen piglets!"

"Fourteen? He must have the world's championship sow! Make arrangements to pay him for twelve at full market rate, and take steps to have the sum recovered from IR 3! Write, also to the Commanding Officer of IR3 and indicate my displeasure; those responsible for the theft are, once they have recovered from their flux, to receive suitable punishment."

"Yes, Your Highness. Your Highness, I regret to inform you that there apears to have been a second instance of a disagreement between our army and the forces of the Elector of Hannunter."

"What the devil! This is not good news, von Smallhausen! We have, somewhere within striking distance of our army a force, size, composition and location unknown, in the service of one whom has not always held the best intentions towards Ober Nord Westfalen! I thought I told you to find out where these Hannunteran forces were?"

"Indeed you did, Your Highness. And, indeed, I have issued orders to both Reiter regiments to send out patrols searching for the ene... the Hannunteran force, but they have, so far, had nothing to report."

"I see. Issue further orders for the patrols to be increased in size, frequency and duration. Von Smallhausen, I must know where this force is. How can I move when I am in ignorance of a possible, as you so nearly said, enemy? - no don't try to answer. Now, what was the nature of this second encounter?"

"Much as the first, Your Highness. A party of officers, this time from the artillery park, had a seemingly chance encounter with a party of officers in Hannunteran service. Words were exchanged, insult and offence were given and received, finally swords were drawn, and we have one dead and two injured."

"What?! Very well, give orders for my horse to be saddled, yours too... arrange for a zug of RR Nr 1 as an escort - some of those Poles you mentioned shall be ideal! We shall go to the artillery park, where I shall interview the officers involved in this encounter; and I tell you von Smallhausen, if I shall have any cause for dissatisfaction with their conduct, then by heaven! I shall have their commissions - on the spot!"

"Yes, Your Highness. When shall Your Highness be ready to depart?"

"As soon as I have changed my habit and boots! I want this state of affairs brought to a speedy conclusion!"