ned to the camp, and, after discussing the matter with

, Carstairs. Are you better pleased,

with foreigners in Warsaw, to assure them that the king is sincere in his desire to avoid war with Poland, and will gladly make a lasting peace between the two countries, to urge upon them to show thems

owards the expenses of war are always exacted by their own rulers, and who have to pay a ruinous ransom in case of their city being captured by the enemy. The traders of Warsaw will need no reminder of such well-known facts, and will be only too glad to be assured that,

re, I see, ten Scotchmen, fifteen

l said, taking the list; "but I ought to know some of the Scotchmen

s eye dow

as one of the leading traders in the city. Allan was a wild lad, as I was myself, and many a scrape did we get into together, and had many a skirmish with the watch. Allan had two or three half broth

who were dour men, and had little patience with Allan's restlessness and love of pleasure. So, after a final quarrel, they had given him so much money for his share of the business, and a letter of introduction to

Stockholm at the time, but he wrote me a letter saying that he had been in Scotland to marry and bri

d another Gustavus Adolphus; but if I was, he would be delighted to welcome me, and that anyone I asked in Warsaw would direct me to his shop. I wonder that I did not think of him before; but that is ten years ago, and it had altogether passed out of my min

rom whom he might expect a welcome, to go to on his arrival in Warsaw; and he was able, during the day, to talk ov

latter, a close observer of men, saw at once that the young of

respecting any of the persons w

ay is an old friend of Colonel Jamieson, and the colonel has given me a

anything more of you

ss. I could ride behind the royal envoy, as if I had received permission to journey under the protection of his escort, and could drop behind a few miles from the capital, and make my way in alone. I

ettled there. His grandfather kept up his connection with his native country, and the young fellow speaks Swedish fairly, and, of course, Polish. For the last three weeks I have employed him in various matters, and find him shrewd and, I belie

, and on a servan

nislas Bis

ears of age entered the room a minute later. His fair hair a

u will obey him, in all respects, as if he had hired you in his service, and, should he ar

looked close

he gentleman's service will suit me. He has the

count said. "Captain Carstairs

count then said, with a smile at the

suggestion which enabled him to cross the Dwina without loss; but he thought there would be a difficulty in placing you over the heads of so many officers senior to yourself. This inconven

omise sums of money to men whose assistance may be valuable. It is impossible to fix the sums. These must depend upon the position of the men, and the value of their services; and I can only say do not be lavish, but at the same time do not hesitate to promise a sum that will secure the ser

give you. You will find details, in these written instructions, as to the manner in which you are to c

Charlie saw his new

a horse, S

ed with one. I have also a br

se them, but in these disturbe

than these, sir, if y

position to pay high wages, the more humble your appearance, the better. We start at six in the morning. The envoy will leave the royal quarters at that hour, and we travel with his escort. Join me a quarter of an ho

of the hut, as he saw

is all satisfa

t is my new servant. Count Piper has app

rmstrong, who has not picked up ten words of Swedish

her sorry for. I had always hoped that we should keep together, and that, just as we

you might get it. Indeed, I was surprised that you did not get it, at once, after our fight wit

once, only it would have taken me over the heads of so many men older than myself; but he considered that, now I am going on a sort of

iss you terribly; but I am quite content to be with the regiment, and to work my way up gradually. As it is, I am senior lieutenant in the regiment, and the first battle may give me my company; though I don't expect it, for I do not think my father would wish the colonel to give me the step, if it occurred, for al

you go altogether on to the staff, I shall see a good deal of you, for,

you won't be absolutely alone, especially among people whose language you don't know. Mind, if you are sending letters to Count Piper, be sure you send a few lines, by the same messenger, to

r Warsaw should be talked about. He only joined the party, indeed, after they had ridden out of the camp. He had laid aside his uniform, and was dressed in clothes which Major Jervoise had

young Scotchman and his servant, travelling to Warsaw, to ri

erstein," Charlie said, with a

the hunt where you were taken prisoner; but

ding to orders. Do not address me by my name. I am at pre

ely, by all accounts, to be dull work here for some time. It is hard to be sitting idle, while the Russian guns are t

an chat more freely with my servant. He is a Lithuanian, but

men behind had the baron's permission to ride with them, in order that they migh

aid. "We can talk freely to

, but I never stopped there long. Sti

e you the

was just before I enter

he people say

was no urgency here, and the king made his agreement with the czar and the king of Denmark without anyone knowing of it. He certainly obtained a sort of sanction from the diet afterwards, but everyone knows how these things are worked. He has a strong

benefited them; while, as it is, all sorts of misfortunes and troubles

again against the Swedes, if their country was invaded; but as long as King Charles keeps his arm

ity, to be in the Swedish service, th

scant mercy, were you known to be a Swedish officer; and, in the second place, the lower classes are ever ready to make tumults

, I hope, little danger, especially if yo

is escort had afforded him, fell behind with his servant. Several parties of armed men had been met with, but they knew better than to interfere with the l

y which the Swedes will enter? If so, it would be as well to use it, so tha

itedly in groups, evidently discussing the question of the arrival of the Swedish envoy, and the chances of peace; and no attention was paid to the travellers, whose appearance denoted them to be persons of no importance. R

ries for the shop of Allan Ramsay, mentioning that his employer was a relation of the

ne's pocket. They buy the cattle and grain of the peasants, for what they choose to give for them, and send them out of the co

to buy and to sell, and as the nobles won't do it, and the peasants can't, I don

ly. "Still, there is no doubt the country is kept poor

he name of the street where several of the Scottish traders had places of business, he and Charlie start

hop, his men will not understand me, so come in with me till you see that I have met him, and then g

eupon Charlie produced the letter from Colonel Jamieson, and Stanislas requested one of them to take it up to the merchant. Three minutes later the i

n his eye, "my connection, it seems, and the friend of my dear classm

d to him he owes his fair hair and complexion. He is a Lithuanian.

e will talk about him afterwards. Now come upstair

pick up languages as easily as I can drink whisky, when I get the chance. One of them has been

e we

, comfortably furnished. His wife, a boy eight years of

airs, alias Sandy Anderson, a connection of ours,

; for her husband, after opening and partly reading the

siness and language, with the intent of some day entering into partnership with me; also, which is more

said warmly, holding out her hand to Charlie, "though I do not in the least

rvice, and am here on a mission for King Charles. Colonel Jami

t our Jock Jamieson is a colonel? Well, well, who would

ishmen," Charlie said; "and he was promoted,

nners, indeed, to keep you talking while the meat is getting cold on th

any questions were asked as to Colonel

ew days with Jock. Many of the names of the officers are well known to me, and two or three of the captains were at Glasgow Co

pipe. A bottle of wine and two glasses were placed on the table, and Mrs. Ra

on a mission, which he would leave it to yourself to explain; but it is no busine

Ramsay, for it is to you and to other merchants here that I hav

s pipe in silence, for some m

ng; and it would be weary work to keep touch with it all, much less to take part in it. It is our business to buy and to sell, and so that both parties come to us, it matters little; one's money is as good as the other. If I had one set of creditors deeper in my books than another, I might wish their party to gain the day, for it would, maybe, set them up in funds, and I might get my money; but

for money, it is not a Scotchman that should throw it in their teeth; for there is scarce a Scotch noble, since the days of Bruce, who has not been ready to sell

kindly masters, they are recklessly brave; and, if they are unduly fond of finery, I, who supply so many of them, should be the last to find fault with them on that score. They are proud, and

Suppose we took sides with one of the parties, and the other got the upper hand. Why, they might make ordinances hampering us in every way, laying heavy taxes on us, forbidding the export of

n, in the districts where they take place, they do not touch us here in the capital. But this is a different affair. Augustus has, without reason or provocation, brought down your fiery King of Sweden u

tain any substantial aid. With Saxon troops in the town, and the n

y opposed to Augustus of Saxony, it would have a great moral effect, and that, perhaps, they might influence some of the nobles

ong credit, it requires a large capital to carry on trade. But the Jews, who no doubt do hold large mortgages on the land, cannot exert much power. They cannot hold land themselves, and, were one of them to venture to sell

ds here tomorrow, and introduce you to them and talk it over. But we must be careful, for Augustus has a

y sent round to the inn, and you will find your valises i

rom what I have seen of him, I am myself confident that he can be trus

f the leading traders of the town. The Scotch and Frenchmen had all heartily agreed with his argument, that it was for the benefit of Poland, and especially for that of Warsaw, that Augustus

Warsaw taken by the Swedes, but, as Poles, they retained their confidence in the national army, and were altog

he matter, and, to some of these, Charlie was obliged to us

stified in promising him such a sum. He did not like the man's face, and did not rely upon the promises of silence he had given, before the mission was revealed to him. It was for this reason, principally, that he determined to go int

your arrest, he might get little thanks and no profit, while he would be incurring the risk of the vengeance of Charles, should he ever become master of the town

r with the king's party by doing you harm, without ap

ave a good deal of influence one way or another, and Augustus, at this time, would not care to make fresh enemies. However, lad, I will not further dispute your decision. Were I quite alone

rs to the shop, where he kept up his assumed character by aiding to keep the ledgers,

ng after supper to his lodg

ay, and there are several rough-looking fellows hanging about the house this ev

I denounced, but I apprehend no danger from men of the class you speak of. However, if

hem moved, as he passed, and pushed rudely against him, sending his ha

eath to the

ough the body. The others drew instantly, and fell upon Charlie with fury, keeping up the shout of, "Death to the Swedi

d himself against a dozen assailants. "Tell Ram

ow on the back of the head, from an iron-bo