He dismounted at the house where Keith had established his quarters.
"I have bad news for you, sir," he said.

"Word of your coming reached Erfurt, at eight o'clock this morning; and by eleven the whole army were on their march westward, bag and baggage." "That is bad news, Fergus.

You could hardly have brought worse.

The king had hoped to have struck a heavy blow, and then to be off again to face the Austrians.

What strength were they ?" "About fifty thousand." "How did they get the news of our coming ?" "That I cannot say, sir.