"
"Ah!" the duke exclaimed in a tone of satisfaction, "as usual the
stars have spoken correctly. Doubtless as great courage is required
to swim a river in flood as to charge into the ranks of the enemy."
So saying Wallenstein left the room, filled with a desire to
attach to himself the young man whom his adviser had assured him
was in some way connected with his destiny. Wallenstein a day or
two later offered Malcolm to take him into his permanent service,
saying that he was frequently plagued by the stoppages of his clocks,
and desired to have a craftsman capable of attending to them on
his establishment. He even told the young man that he might expect
promotion altogether beyond his present station.
Malcolm could not refuse so flattering an offer, and was at once
installed as a member of Wallenstein's household, declining however
the use of the apartment which the steward offered him, saying that
he had a sick brother lodging with him in the town. Mingling with
the soldiers in the evenings Malcolm learned that there were rumours
that negotiations for peace were going on with Saxony and Sweden.
This was indeed the case, but Wallenstein was negotiating on his
own behalf, and not on that of the emperor. So far but little had
come of these negotiations, for Oxenstiern had the strongest doubts
of Wallenstein's sincerity, and believed that he was only trying
to gain time and delay operations by pretended proposals for peace.
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