plunderers,
and marauding bands that none thought of traversing the roads save in
parties sufficiently strong to defend themselves and their property.
None of those with whom he journeyed suspected Malcolm to be aught but
what he professed himself--a craftsman who had served his time at a
clockmaker's in Nuremberg, and who was on his way to seek for employment
in Vienna.

During his three years and a half residence in Germany he had come
to speak the language like a native, and, indeed, the dialect of the
different provinces varied so widely, that, even had he spoken the
language with less fluency, no suspicion would have arisen of his being
a foreigner. Arrived at Prague, his first care was to hire a modest
lodging, and he then set to work to discover the house in which the
Count of Mansfeld was lying as a prisoner.

This he had no difficulty in doing without exciting suspicion, for the
count was a well known personage, and he soon found that he and his
family had apartments in a large house, the rest of which was occupied
by Imperialist officers and their families. There was a separate
entrance to the portion occupied by the count, and a sentry stood always
at the door.

The day after his arrival Malcolm watched the door from a distance
throughout the whole day, but none entered or came out. The next morning
he resumed his watch at a much earlier hour, and presently had the
satisfaction of seeing a woman in the attire of a domestic issue
from the door. She was carrying a basket, and was evidently bent upon
purchasing the supplies for the day. He followed her to the market, and,
after watching her make her purchases, he followed her until, on her
return, she entered a street where but few people were about. There he
quickened his pace and overtook her.

"You are the attendant of the Countess of Mansfeld, are you not?" he
said.

"I am," she replied; "but what is that to you?"

"I will tell you presently," Malcolm replied, "but in the first place
please inform me whether you are her only attendant, and in the next
place how long you have been in her service. I can assure you," he went
on, as the woman, indignant at thus being questioned by a craftsman who
was a stranger to her, tossed her head indignantly, and was about to
move on, "that I ask not from any impertinent curiosity. Here is a ducat
as a proof that I am interested in my questions."

The woman gave him a quick and searching glance; she took the piece