"So you are again a bearer of despatches, Monsieur Campbell," the
cardinal said, as Hector entered his apartment. "They need be
important, or the marshal would hardly have sent you with them."

"They are, as you will see, important, your eminence, but I am sent
rather to explain further than the marshal could do in a letter
his reasons for the step that he has taken. As you have learned
long before this, the Duke of Bavaria has proved false to his
promises. He has effected a junction with the Imperialist army,
and the marshal has news that both are marching against the Swedes,
who are in no strength to show fight against so great a force."

The cardinal opened the despatch, and read it in silence.

"'Tis a grave step for the marshal to have taken without orders,"
he said, frowning; "and do you mean to say that he has already
started on this expedition?"

"The troops had fallen into their ranks when I started, and by
this time they must be well on their way towards Holland. There
was no time, sir, for the marshal to await a reply to the despatch.
The matter was most urgent, every day was of importance, for if
the Swedes fell back, as they might do, before the archduke, the
latter would be able to overrun all northern Germany, to capture
the towns of the Protestant princes, break up their confederation,
and compel them to give in their submission; for Turenne with his
small force would be powerless to interfere with their operations,
even if by pressing after them with all speed he arrived within
striking distance."