enstein leapt to his feet with an angry exclamation.

"Your excellency will please to remember," Malcolm went on quietly,
"that I could have kept all this to myself and used it to the benefit or
detriment of your excellency, but it seemed to me that I should benefit
at once your designs and the cause I serve by frankly acquainting you
with what I have discovered. It would be a work of time for me to make
my way with my companion through the lines of your army and to gain
those of the Swedes. I might be slain in so doing and the important
information I have acquired lost.

"It is of all things important to you that the Swedish chancellor, whose
nature is cautious and suspicious, should be thoroughly convinced that
it is your intention to make common cause with him and to join him heart
and soul in forcing the emperor to accept the conditions which you and
he united may impose upon him. This the information I have acquired will
assuredly suffice to do, and he will, without doubt, at once set his
army in motion to act in concert with yours."

Wallenstein paced the room for a minute or two in silence.

"The stars truly said that you are a brave man and that your destiny is
connected with mine," he said at length, "for assuredly none but a brave
man would venture to tell me that he had spied into my councils. I see,
however, that what you say is reasonable and cogent, and that the news
you have to tell may well induce Oxenstiern to lay aside the doubts
which have so long kept us asunder and at once to embrace my offer.
What, then, do you propose?"

"I would ask, sir," Malcolm replied, "that you would at once order a
squadron of horse to escort me and my companion through the debatable
land between your army and that of the Swedes, with orders for us
to pass freely on as soon as we are beyond your outposts and in the
neighbourhood of those of the Swedes."

"It shall be done," Wallenstein said. "In half an hour a squadron of
horse shall be drawn up in the courtyard here, and a horse and pillion
in readiness for yourself and the maiden. In the meantime I will myself
prepare a letter for you to present to the Swedish chancellor with fresh
proposals for common action."

CHAPTER XXIII THE MURDER OF WALLENSTEIN

Malcolm hurried back to his lodging, where he was received with a cry
of delight from Thekla, who had passed the time since he had left her on
her knees praying for his safety. He told her at once that she was