"This upsets all our schemes indeed," the duke said when he had
concluded. "What is the strength of the garrison at Egra?"
"There were Butler's dragoons and an infantry regiment in garrison
there when we arrived; six regiments accompanied us on the march,
and I fear that all these must now be considered as having gone
over to the Imperialists."
"Then their force is superior to my own," the duke said, "for
I have but six thousand men with me, and have no artillery heavy
enough to make any impression upon the walls of the town. Much as
I should like to meet these traitors and to deal out to them the
punishment they deserve, I cannot adventure on the siege of Egra until
I have communicated this terrible news to the Swedish chancellor.
Egra was all important to us as affording an entrance into Bohemia so
long as Wallenstein was with us, but now that he has been murdered
and our schemes thus suddenly destroyed I cannot risk the destruction
of my force by an assault upon the city, which is no longer of use
to us."
Much as Malcolm would have liked to have seen the punishment of
Wallenstein's treacherous followers, he could not but feel that
the duke's view was, under the circumstances, the correct one. The
tents were speedily struck, and the force fell back with all speed
towards Bavaria, and after accompanying them for a march or two,
Malcolm left them and rode to join his regiment, the duke having
already sent off a messenger to Oxenstiern with a full account of
the murder of Wallenstein.
Pages:
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404