General le Duc Alain de Mylcandonai, His Majesty's Minister of War, to Brigadier le Duc Axel von Fersen, His Majesty's Minister of State
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL Your Grace, Allow me to congratulate you upon your handling of the regrettable Chabot affair. I hope that his time of contemplation in the Bastille results in him providing information which will allow us to root out this treason root and branch. Please accept my apologies for being unable to attend the government meeting this month - all relevant information from the War Office which you may wish to refer to has been sent by separate courier. Given that I could be expected to remain in Paris but out of the public eye in the month following my marriage, this seemed an ideal opportunity to conduct a snap inspection regarding the state of readiness at the front. Rumours of such inspections have, in the past, always leaked out so that the troops and their commanders have prior warning to be on their toes. It is for this reason that I kept my plans secret until the last possible moment - the War Office staff have been told that the Princess and myself have gone to visit my father's estates. I will provide a complete report regarding the armies' readiness upon my return. Your Devoted Servant, Duc Alain de Mylcandonai
