“It could not have been better, Paolo,” Hector said as he examined them.  “I have seen scores of boys so dressed, and we shall certainly attract no attention by our garb.  They are warm, too, and we sha’n’t come to any harm from sleeping out in them.”

“They cost more than I expected, master, owing to the doublets being freshly lined, but I thought it would be worth it.”

“Quite right! those sheepskins will be most useful.  There is one thing more we shall want, a thin rope, that will bear our weight well, some twenty yards long.  You had better go to a smith’s and get him to make a strong iron hook, by which we can fix the rope on to the edge of a wall should it be needed.  You had better have it made a good nine inches across the hook, and the shank fifteen inches long.”

After again studying the map he took it to the general.

“We have our disguises, sir, and shall be ready to start tomorrow morning.”

“You have lost no time,” the general said approvingly.  “You will, of course, ride to Chivasso.  I will give you an order to the governor there, to take charge of your horses and clothes, telling him that you are about to proceed on a mission in disguise, and requesting him to send an officer to pass you through the outposts beyond the bridge across the Po, that is if the other side is not guarded by the Spanish troops.  I should advise you to make straight south so as to strike the road from Casale two miles west of Turin.  I do not like letting you go, lad, and yet I feel it is of such importance that the garrison should know that aid will be at hand before long, that I feel I ought not to prevent you from carrying out your enterprise.  When do you think of starting?”

“At eight in the morning, sir.  If we do so we shall easily reach Chivasso before dark, and may be near Turin by morning.”

“I will have my note for the commandant ready by the time your horses are at the door.  I will make it as small as possible, and you had better before you start sew it up in the lining of your coat, so that if you are searched —­ which I own I do not think to be likely, unless in some other way you excite the suspicions of the Spaniards —­ it may not be found upon you.”

“I think, sir, that I would rather make it into a little pellet which I can swallow.  I fancy that if they were suspicious enough to search me they would rip all the linings open.”

“That would be a better way certainly, Campbell; I see that you have thought the matter over thoroughly.  Of course, you will take no arms with you.”

“Nothing but a long knife each.  Every peasant carries one, and it may be possible that we shall be compelled to silence a sentinel.  If you would not mind, sir, I should like to have six copies of your letter to the commandant.  I could manage to swallow six as well as one, and as it is not likely that I shall be able to enter the citadel it would be as well to give them a better chance of finding the letter if I have to try to shoot or throw it in.”