"The troops who were at Boitzenburg have retired down the Elbe. I tracked them to Lauenburg, in the castle of which their commander——"
"The commandante, d'Umbar?"
"Si, señor conde—left two companies, and marched with the remainder to Glückstadt, from whence he moved immediately to take possession of Rantzau's castle of Bredenburg."
"Who commands the two companies in the castle of Lauen?"
"A certain Major Wilson."
"Wilson—Wilson!" muttered Tilly, turning over the leaves of a memorandum book; "oh—here he is! a brave and determined cavalier—commanded five hundred of the Scottish auxiliary musketeers at the battle of Lütter, and captured a standard of Merodé's regiment. He will give us trouble, but we shall pay him a visit to-morrow. God's curse on these heretic Scots! for they meet us every where now, by the Rhine, the Elbe and the Oder. They lead all the troops in Northern Europe. What more hast thou heard?"
"That Major-general Slammersdorff is concentrating near Rapin a large force, which King Christian means to march into Silesia."
"Dost thou say so?"
"For vida del demonio—I do!"
"I should like to see this force in Silesia," said Tilly, with a quiet smile.