The treacherous officer at once hurried away with the news to his
two associates, and it was agreed that the near approach of the
Saxons rendered it impossible for them to carry out their first plan,
but that instant and more urgent steps must be taken. That evening
a banquet was given by Butler to Wallenstein and his officers. The
duke, however, was too anxious to appear at it, and remained in his
own apartment, the rest of the officers, among them Wallenstein's
chief confidants, Illo, Terzky, and Kinsky, together with Captain
Neumann, an intimate adviser of Terzky, were among the guests.
Malcolm was also present.
The banquet passed off gaily, Wallenstein's health was drunk in
full bumpers, and his friends boasted freely that in a few days
he would find himself at the head of as powerful an army as he had
ever before commanded. Malcolm had naturally been placed at the
table near his compatriots, and it seemed to him that their gaiety
was forced and unnatural, and a sense of danger came over him.
The danger indeed was great, although he knew it not. The drawbridge
of the castle had been drawn up, the avenues leading to it guarded,
and twenty infantry soldiers and six of Butler's dragoons were in
hiding in the apartment next to the banqueting hall.
Dessert was placed on the table; Leslie gave the signal, and in an
instant the hall was filled with armed men, who placed themselves
behind the chairs of Wallenstein's trusted officers with shouts
of "Long live Ferdinand!" The three officers instantly sprang to
their feet, but Terzky and Kinsky were slain before they had time
to draw their swords.
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