ertain, he and as much of his army as he can hold in hand are
now our allies, and I must lose no time in moving such troops as are
most easily disposable to his assistance.

"I will send to Saxony and urge the elector to put in motion a force to
support him, and Duke Bernhard shall move with a division of our troops.
I will at once pen a despatch to Wallenstein, accepting his alliance and
promising him active aid as soon as possible.

"What say you, young sir? You have shown the greatest circumspection
and ability in this affair. Will you undertake to carry my despatch?
You must not travel as a Scottish officer, for if there are any traitors
among the officers of Wallenstein they will assuredly endeavour to
intercept any despatches which may be passing between us in order to
send them to the emperor as proofs of the duke's guilt."

"I will undertake the task willingly, sir," Malcolm replied, "and doubt
not that I shall be able to penetrate to him in the same disguise which
I before wore. When I once reach him is your wish that I should remain
near him, or that I should at once return?"

"It were best that you should remain for a time," the chancellor said.
"You may be able to send me news from time to time of what is passing
around the duke. Before you start, you shall be supplied with an
ample amount of money to pay messengers to bring your reports to me.
Wallenstein hardly appears to see the danger of his situation; but you
will be more clear sighted. It is a strange drama which is being played,
and may well terminate in a tragedy. At any rate the next month will
decide what is to come of these strange combinations."

The horse on which Malcolm had ridden was knocked up from the speed at
which he had travelled, and, ordering it to be carefully tended till his
return, he obtained a fresh horse and again set out. He made the journey
at the same speed at which he had before passed over the ground, and
paused for a few hours only at Amberg, where he found Thekla well and
comfortable, and quite recovered from the effects of her journeys and
anxiety. She received him with delight; but her joy was dashed when she
found that, instead of returning to remain with his regiment, as she had
hoped, he was only passing through on another mission.

At Amberg he again laid aside his uniform and donned his costume as a
craftsman. Colonel Munro gave him an escort of twenty troopers; with
these he crossed the river at nightfall, and