would they fear to be attacked by him when entering a country where
they would have him in their rear, and be hemmed in between him
and the Rhine, not to speak of the risk of leaving Austria open to
invasion, should he, instead of pursuing them, direct his march
thither. If I might presume to judge, I should say that the expedition
that the marshal has undertaken is at once worthy of his military
genius, and will at the same time do far more to ensure the safety
of the Rhine provinces than he could do were he to remain there
with his small army until the Imperialists, having chased the
Swedes out of the country and reduced northern Germany, turned
their whole forces against him."

"I see, Monsieur Campbell," the cardinal said, turning the subject,
"that you have been five days coming here from Mayence. It is
a very different rate of speed to that at which you traveled from
Rocroi."

"It is so, your eminence; but on that occasion the Duc d'Enghien
had placed relays of his best horses all along the road, so that
we were enabled to travel without making a halt."

"And moreover, my dear colonel," Mazarin said, "Turenne, far
from urging you to haste, was desirous of getting so far before
he received my answer as to render it impossible for me to recall
him."

"I cannot think that your eminence would do that. It is a grand
enterprise, and almost without precedent in point both of daring
and in the great advantages to be gained from it."