Thekla had from her hiding place heard the conversation, and was
greatly alarmed at finding that they were again in the power of
the Imperialists. No one, however, approached the wagon, and it
was not until darkness had set in that she heard Malcolm's voice
whispering to her to arise quietly.
"We must leave the wagon; it will be impossible for you to remain
concealed here longer, for tomorrow I may be sent out to bring
in supplies. For the present we must remain in Pilsen. The whole
country will be scoured by the troops, and it will not be safe to
traverse the roads. Here in Pilsen no one will think of looking
for us.
"Wallenstein's headquarters are the last place where we should
be suspected of hiding, and you may be sure that, however close
the search may be elsewhere, the governor of Prague will not have
thought of informing Wallenstein of an affair so foreign to the
business of war as the escape from the emperor's clutches of a young
lady. I have donned my craftsman dress again, and we will boldly
seek for lodgings."
They soon entered the town, which was crowded with troops, searching
about in the poorer quarters.
Malcolm presently found a woman who agreed to let him two rooms.
He accounted for his need for the second room by saying that his
young brother was ill and needed perfect rest and quiet, and that
the filing and hammering which was necessary in his craft prevented
the lad from sleeping.
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