"When you spoke of Wallenstein as you did just now," he went on, "you showed that you did not understand Wallenstein's point of view." The Jesuit spoke in a contemplative, persuasive way.
"I cannot understand disloyalty!" Nigel interposed.
"But is it? This man was a Bohemian at a time when Bohemia was not even an appanage of the House of Austria. He offered to raise an army to assist the Catholic cause. He was successful. Wallenstein became great in name, in riches, with a great army marching to his orders, began to regard himself as one of the princes of Europe, one of the greatest. The Catholic League dismissed him. This was a great shock to his pride, but not to his riches or to his name. He still considered himself a prince, owning no hereditary allegiance to the Habsburgs, none, in fact, to any man, free to offer his services, his alliance, where he would. His plan has been to fan the wind of Protestantism, not because he loves it, but in order that he might raise the whirlwind of a gigantic war!"
"Yes?" Nigel was eagerly attentive.
"Then Gustavus came. Hesse, Saxony, all assisted in the incantation! Tilly failed, Pappenheim failed! It is incredible how they failed."
Nigel said merely—
"Tilly failed because he departed from his original plan, and Pappenheim was out-fought. One mistake in a big battle is too many!"
"There is yet much that may happen. But we have still Saxony to deal with, and now the Grand Turk."
"It is possible that the Emperor might need Wallenstein again."
The Jesuit paused here and looked in a quizzical way at Nigel.