Page 161 - A Jacobite Exile

Chapter 9

: In Warsaw.

Upon leaving the quarters of Count Piper, Charlie returned to the camp,
and, after discussing the matter with Major Jervoise, proceeded with him to

the colonel's hut.

"Well, you look brighter this morning, Carstairs. Are you better pleased,
now you have thought the matter over?"

"Yes, sir. What you said last night has been quite confirmed by Count
Piper, and the matter does not really seem so difficult. I am merely, as a

foreigner in the employment of the King of Sweden, to talk 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 themselves favourable to his project
for securing such a peace, by forcing Augustus to resign the crown, and to

use what influence they can in that direction, both upon their fellow traders
and upon the Poles."

"There is nothing very difficult about that," Colonel Jamieson said
cheerfully, "as it happens to be quite true; and there can be no real question

as to the true interest of Poland, and especially of the trading classes in the
great towns, from whom heavy contributions towards 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, unless as a last resource, our king has no
intention of making war upon Poland, and they will certainly be inclined to
bestir themselves to avert such a possibility. You have, I suppose, a list of

names of the people with whom you had best put yourself into
communication?"

"Yes, sir. Here is a list. There are, I see, ten Scotchmen, fifteen Frenchmen,
and about as many Jews."