As, however,
his object was to prolong his visit to the castle as long as
possible, he set to work and took it entirely to pieces. Two hours
later the door opened and a tall handsome man of commanding presence
entered. Malcolm rose and bowed respectfully, feeling that he was
in the presence of the great general.
"You come from Nuremberg," Wallenstein said, "as I am told, and
have learned your craft in the workshop of Master Jans Boerhoff,
who is well known as being the greatest master of his craft."
Malcolm bowed silently.
"It is strange," Wallenstein muttered to himself, "that this young
man's destiny should be connected with mine; and yet the astrologer
said that he who should present himself at the castle nearest to
the stroke of nine this morning would be a factor in my future,
and, as my steward tells me, the clock sounded nine as this young
man addressed him." He then asked Malcolm several questions as to
the work upon which he was engaged, and then said abruptly: "Dost
know the day and hour on which you were born?"
Malcolm was somewhat surprised at the question, for he had not heard
the muttered words of Wallenstein, but he at once replied that he
had heard that he was born at the stroke of midnight on the last
day in the year.
The duke said no more, but left the closet and proceeded at once
to an apartment near his own bed chamber, which, although he had
arrived but a few hours previously, had already been fitted up for
the use of his astrologer.
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