for if the Swedes fell back, as
they might do, before the archduke, the latter would be able to overrun
all northern Germany, to capture the towns of the Protestant princes,
break up their confederation, and compel them to give in their
submission; for Turenne with his small force would be powerless to
interfere with their operations, even if by pressing after them with all
speed he arrived within striking distance."

"And think you that he will reach Wrangel in time?"

"He hopes so, sir. He sent off a messenger before starting, with orders
to buy fresh horses at all cost at each halting place, to carry the news
as quickly as possible to Wrangel that he was on his way to join him,
and imploring him to intrench himself in some strong position until he
should come up.

"How long hence will that be?"

"The march will be pressed forward with all speed, your eminence, with
such delays only as may be needed to keep the horses in such a state
that they may be ready for fighting as soon as they join the Swedes. He
hopes to be there in a month from the day of starting."

"And in the meantime," Mazarin said, "France is open to invasion.
He says, indeed, that the Imperialists would hardly venture to march
hitherward, as thereby they in turn would leave it open to him and the
Swedes to march into the heart of Austria."

"Assuredly that is so, sir. The archduke will hardly get news that
Marshal Turenne has moved until he has been some ten or twelve days on
his march, and even when he hears it he will not know in what direction
he has gone, but may think it likely that he either intends to seize
Luxembourg or to reinforce your army in Flanders. By the time they
discover his true object he will be within a week's march of the Swedes,
possibly less than that. It will be too late for them then to think
of marching to the Rhine. If they consider themselves strong enough to
fight the marshal and the Swedes together, they will do so at once; if
they fear to give battle, still more would they fear to be attacked by
him when entering a country where they would have him in their rear,
and be hemmed in between him and the Rhine, not to speak of the risk of
leaving Austria open to invasion, should he, instead of pursuing them,
direct his march thither. If I might presume to judge, I should say that
the expedition that the marshal has undertaken is at once worthy of his
military genius, and will at the same time do far more to ensure the