 In Scandinavia, Major Munthe had established a network of 'Friends' which he called the "Red Horse", in imitation of the Baroness Orczy's "Scarlet Pimpernel".In Southern Italy, he took the mimicry further, dressing as a (large) old lady to smuggle a radio transmitter past German lines and coordinate SOE activity in the occupied zone.Munthe was also instrumental in the rescue of liberal philosopher Benedetto Croce and his family, held captive in Sorrento, and their flight to Capri where his father Axel Munthe's house Villa San Michele provided shelter.