"It is a perilous business, Malcolm," Colonel Munro said. "I have
scarce a handful of the friends with whom I joined Gustavus but
three years and a half ago remaining, and I can ill spare another;
nevertheless I will not stay you in your enterprise. The Count of
Mansfeld has been a steady ally of ours, and is one of the few who
has appeared to have at heart the cause of Protestantism rather
than of personal gain.
"Moreover, he is as you say a friend of yours, and has shown you
real kindness in time of need. Therefore go, my boy, and Heaven
be with you! It is not likely that there will be any more serious
fighting this year. Wallenstein lies inactive, negotiating now with
Saxony, now with Oxenstiern. What are his aims and plans Heaven
only knows; but at any rate we have no right to grumble at the great
schemer, for ever since Lutzen he has kept the emperor's best army
inactive. Make it a point, Malcolm, to find out, so far as you can,
what is the public opinion in Bohemia as to his real intentions.
If you can bring back any information as to his plans you will have
done good service to the cause, however long your absence from the
camp may be."
That evening Malcolm packed up his armour, arms, court suits, and
valuables, and sent them away to the care of his friend the syndic
of the clockmakers of Nuremberg, with a letter requesting him
to keep them in trust for him until he returned; and in the event
of his not arriving to claim them in the course of six months, to
sell them, and to devote the proceeds to the assistance of sick
or wounded Scottish soldiers.
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