om Egra direct into the heart
of Bohemia.

The treacherous officer at once hurried away with the news to his two
associates, and it was agreed that the near approach of the Saxons
rendered it impossible for them to carry out their first plan, but that
instant and more urgent steps must be taken. That evening a banquet was
given by Butler to Wallenstein and his officers. The duke, however, was
too anxious to appear at it, and remained in his own apartment, the
rest of the officers, among them Wallenstein's chief confidants, Illo,
Terzky, and Kinsky, together with Captain Neumann, an intimate adviser
of Terzky, were among the guests. Malcolm was also present.

The banquet passed off gaily, Wallenstein's health was drunk in full
bumpers, and his friends boasted freely that in a few days he would
find himself at the head of as powerful an army as he had ever before
commanded. Malcolm had naturally been placed at the table near his
compatriots, and it seemed to him that their gaiety was forced and
unnatural, and a sense of danger came over him.

The danger indeed was great, although he knew it not. The drawbridge
of the castle had been drawn up, the avenues leading to it guarded, and
twenty infantry soldiers and six of Butler's dragoons were in hiding in
the apartment next to the banqueting hall.

Dessert was placed on the table; Leslie gave the signal, and in an
instant the hall was filled with armed men, who placed themselves behind
the chairs of Wallenstein's trusted officers with shouts of "Long live
Ferdinand!" The three officers instantly sprang to their feet, but
Terzky and Kinsky were slain before they had time to draw their swords.

Neumann in the confusion escaped into the court, where he too was cut
down. Illo burst through his assailants, and placing his back against a
window stood on his defence. As he kept his assailants at bay he poured
the bitterest reproaches upon Gordon for his treachery, and challenged
him to fight him fairly and honourably. After a gallant resistance, in
which he slew two of his assailants, he fell to the ground overpowered
by numbers, and pierced with ten wounds.

Malcolm had sprung to his feet at the commencement of the tumult, but
was pressed down again into his chair by two soldiers, while Leslie
exclaimed, "Keep yourself quiet, sir, I would fain save you as a fellow
countryman, and as one who is simply here in the execution of his duty;
but if you draw sword to defend these tra