"Loyalty!" she exclaimed in a fine note of scorn. "Loyalty in German lands! In Europe! To what? To one's faith? That does not hinder father slaying son or brother brother. To one's pacts? It is as it suits one's interests! Feudalism is dead. The Emperor's vassals rise against him. And Albrecht von Waldstein is no vassal of the Emperor. He is a Bohemian noble. True, our house of Habsburg conquered Bohemia, and our brother is in name their king. But Bohemia is as free as it chooses, when it chooses."
"But Wallenstein served the Emperor, amassed untold riches in his service. Does he owe no allegiance?"
"Not a jot! He is of the race of Achilles! He fights where his eagle mind dictates, not where some trembling Agamemnon bids. But why call him disloyal?"
"Your Highness! I yield to none in admiration of Wallenstein's genius, but at every turn of my road I have met evidences of his emissaries being in touch with your father's enemies. This could have been borne, if he had boldly gone into the quarrel on the side of Gustavus, but to stay skulking at Prague while he sent out his poisonous messages...."
"Sir! I like not your adjectives!" she said, quickening her pace in her anger.
"And then waiting the event," Nigel proceeded, "to send this to Gustavus, if he should be victorious."
Nigel thrust his hand into his tunic and brought out a packet.
"Read what is writ!" she said carelessly.
"These for Gustavus in the event of his gaining a complete victory over Count Tilly."
"In the event," Nigel commented.