He slept little that night. What he had seen convinced him that
Wallenstein was really in earnest in the propositions which he had
made to Oxenstiern and the Elector of Saxony, and that he meditated
an open rebellion against the emperor. It was of extreme importance
that Oxenstiern should be made acquainted with these facts; but it
would be next to impossible to escape from Pilsen, burdened as he
was with Thekla, and to cross the country which intervened between
the two armies and which was constantly traversed by cavalry parties
and scouts of both sides.
After much deliberation, therefore, he determined upon the bold
course of frankly informing Wallenstein who he was and what he
had heard, and to beg of him to furnish him with an escort to pass
through the lines in order that he might make his way with all speed
to Oxenstiern in order to assure him of the good faith of the duke
and of the importance of his frankly and speedily accepting his
proposals. It was possible, of course, that he might fall a victim
to Wallenstein's first anger when he found out that he had been
duped, and the plot in which he was engaged discovered; but he
resolved to run the risk, believing that the duke would see the
advantage to be gained by complying with his proposal.
It was necessary, however, to prepare Thekla for the worst.
"Thekla," he said in the morning, "an end has come to our stay
here.
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