“I wish we had swords, master.”

“Yes, but they would not suit our disguises.  But when we get into the town I will buy two woodmen’s axes and a couple of the long knives that all the peasants here carry.  I fancy from what I heard when we were at Hall with Turenne that the country between Eichstadt and there is for the most part a great forest, and there are rough hills to pass before we get to Hall.  It will be just as well to have some weapons that we can use with effect if we should come upon any bands of robbers.”

“Quite so, master.  A good axe is as good as a sword in a rough sort of fight; but is there not some way we can travel so as to avoid this great forest that you speak of?”

“Not without making a great detour, and that through a country where there will be bodies of Merci’s troops quartered everywhere.”

“Very well, master.  Then I think that the risk will be less with the robbers, especially as we have not apparently much worth stealing upon us.”

“Not only apparently, but really, Paolo.  Fortunately my purse was pretty well filled when we were taken prisoners; but we spent a good deal at Ingoldstadt, principally in buying articles we could have done without, but which we got in order to give an excuse for your going into the town, and in these disguises and pistols.  However, we shall not, I hope, require much more outlay; and after getting axes and knives we shall have enough to pay for our food, such as it is, for some time.  However, there is certainly nothing in our pockets to tempt robbers.”

“No, master; but if they searched you they would notice your clothes.  They would show at once that you are a person of quality; and although, as you left your scarf behind you, they might not know that you are an officer, they would see that there was a mystery about you.”

“That is true, and I think that perhaps it would be as well if both of us were to take off our own clothes when we get beyond the town tonight, and go on only in those you got for us.  When we rejoin our friends we can get money and replace them.”

“I have money with me, master,” Paolo said.  “I have had no occasion to spend aught for a long time, and have changed my wages as you paid them into gold, and have forty pistoles sewn up in the waistbelt of my breeches.  I heard you say that it was always a good thing to carry a certain amount about with one in case of being taken prisoner or laid up wounded.”

“It was a wise precaution, Paolo; but just at the present moment I would rather that you did not have it about you.  However, I do not suppose we shall be interfered with.  You may as well continue to wear your breeches under those you have outside, but leave your doublet when I change.  After all, if you were to be searched the pistoles would show that we are not what we seem, unless we could make up some plausible tale as to how we came possessed of them.”