When I once reach him is your wish
that I should remain near him, or that I should at once return?"
"It were best that you should remain for a time," the chancellor
said. "You may be able to send me news from time to time of what
is passing around the duke. Before you start, you shall be supplied
with an ample amount of money to pay messengers to bring your
reports to me. Wallenstein hardly appears to see the danger of
his situation; but you will be more clear sighted. It is a strange
drama which is being played, and may well terminate in a tragedy.
At any rate the next month will decide what is to come of these
strange combinations."
The horse on which Malcolm had ridden was knocked up from the speed
at which he had travelled, and, ordering it to be carefully tended
till his return, he obtained a fresh horse and again set out. He
made the journey at the same speed at which he had before passed
over the ground, and paused for a few hours only at Amberg, where
he found Thekla well and comfortable, and quite recovered from the
effects of her journeys and anxiety. She received him with delight;
but her joy was dashed when she found that, instead of returning
to remain with his regiment, as she had hoped, he was only passing
through on another mission.
At Amberg he again laid aside his uniform and donned his costume as
a craftsman. Colonel Munro gave him an escort of twenty troopers;
with these he crossed the river at nightfall, and, making a detour
to avoid the Imperialist outposts, rode some fifteen miles on his
way.
Pages:
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386