d given you up for lost. We heard first that
you had been murdered in the streets of Warsaw. A month later, a
man brought a letter to me from your Scotch friend Ramsay, to say
that you were accused of the murder of a Jew trader, a man, it
seems, of some importance in Warsaw. Ramsay said that you were in
the company of a band of brigands, and that the man who went with
you as your servant had joined you, and had taken you some money.
He forwarded the letter you had sent him explaining your position,
and said he thought that, upon the whole, it was the best thing you
could have done, as a vigorous search had been set on foot, at the
instance of the Jews, and there would have been but little chance
of your making your way through the country alone. He added that he
felt confident that, if alive, you would manage somehow to rejoin
us before the campaign opened in the spring.

"I am glad that you have been able to do so, but your appearance,
at present, is rather that of a wealthy Polish noble, than of a
companion of brigands."

"I was able to do some service to Count Staroski, as, when
travelling with his wife and child, and his brother, Count John, he
was attacked by a pack of wolves. I have been staying with him for
some weeks, and his brother has now had the kindness to accompany
me here. He has thereby made my passage through the country easy,
as we have travelled with fast horses in his sledge, and have
always put up at the chateaux of nobles of his acquaintance. I
have, therefore, avoided all risk of arrest at towns. In the letter
forwarded to you I explained the real circumstances of the death of
the Jew."

"Yes, we quite understood that, Captain Carstairs. You had a very
narrow escape from death at his hands, and, as the danger was
incurred purely in the king's service, it will not be forgotten. Up
to the time when the Jew organized the attack upon you in Warsaw, I
was well satisfied with your reports of your work. So far nothing
has come of it, as Augustus has been too strong for any movement
against him, but we hope, ere long, to defeat him so decisively
that our friends will be able to declare against him. I will inform
the king of your return, and I have no doubt he will be glad to
hear your story from your own lips. He loves tales of adventure,
and time hangs somewhat heavily on hand, as, until the frost
breaks, nothing can be done in the field."

On the following day, indeed, Charlie was sent for to the