As none could say what events were likely to follow the changed
position of things, Malcolm determined at once to carry out the
original intention of placing Thekla under the care of his friends
at Nuremberg, in which direction it was not probable that the tide
of war would for the present flow. After staying therefore a day
or two with his regiment, where his relation of the events he had
witnessed caused the greatest excitement and interest, Malcolm
obtained leave from his colonel to escort Thekla to Nuremberg.
In order that they might pass in perfect safety across the intervening
country Munro gave him an escort of twelve troopers, and with these
he journeyed by easy stages to Nuremberg, where the worthy syndic
of the clockmakers and his wife gladly received Thekla, and promised
to treat her as one of their own daughters.
Here Malcolm took possession of his arms and valises, which he had
sent, upon starting for Prague, to the care of Jans Boerhoff; not
indeed that he needed the armour, for the suit which Wallenstein
had given him was the admiration and envy of his comrades, and
Munro had laughingly said that since Hepburn had left them no such
gallantly attired cavalier had ridden in the ranks of the Scottish
brigade.
There were many tears on Thekla's part as her young protector bade
her adieu, for there was no saying how long a time might elapse
before she might again see him, and Malcolm was sorely tempted
to tell her that he had her father's consent to wooing her as his
wife.
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