While carrying out this duty you shall have the temporary rank of major, as it will less ruffle the susceptibility of the Spaniards, if an officer of that rank be employed, than if a captain be sent to institute such enquiries.
"You will, of course, be provided with a letter to the Governor of Badajos, couched in such terms that he will not consider your mission has any reference to himself, its object being to discover whether the magazines at Badajos are sufficiently well supplied to admit of their being, if necessary, drawn upon for the subsistence of the army; also, whether the garrison needs strengthening, in case the enemy should lay siege to the town before our army is at hand to give battle.

Thus you will ostensibly confine your enquiries to the amount of provisions and ammunition, and consult the governor as to whether he considers the force at his disposal sufficient for the defence of the fortress against a vigorous attack.

Fortunately, the Spanish methods are so slow that, before you get these particulars, you will have ample time to ascertain the points as to which I am chiefly concerned.
"You will be furnished with a native guide, well acquainted with the passes of the sierras between the Tagus and the Guadiana.

This part of your journey will not be unattended with danger, for the mountains swarm with bands of partisans; that is to say, bandits.
I shall, however, give you an order, to the officer in command of the garrison at Toledo, to furnish you with an escort of ten troopers under an officer, to conduct you across the mountains.
Four of these will accompany you to Badajos, and remain with you until you return to Toledo.

Once in the valley of the Guadiana, you should have little chance of falling in with any bands of guerrillas, but an escort will add to your weight and importance in the eyes of the Spaniards." "I feel greatly honoured, Your Royal Highness, by your selecting me for the mission, and will carry it out to the best of my ability." "In an hour the papers will be ready for you, and you can start at daybreak tomorrow." "We are going on a long trip this time, Mike." "Back to France, your honour ?" "No; we are going to the western frontier, by Badajos." "It makes no difference to me, sir, where we are going; but, in truth, I shall be glad to go anywhere, for I am mightily sick of this town, where the people have no great love for the French, and the best part of them seem to look down upon us soldiers, as if we were dirt under their feet.