Page 171 - A Jacobite Exile

until he had learned the language.

"The Scots know their business," the landlord grumbled. "They and the
French and the Jews, together, have their hand in everyone'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 country, getting all the profits of the
transaction; while, as to the nobles, there is scarce one who is not deep in

their books."

"Still, you could not do without them," Stanislas said. "There must be
somebody to buy and to sell, and as the nobles won't do it, and the peasants
can't, I don't see that the foreigners are to be blamed for coming in and

taking the trade."

"That is true enough," the landlord admitted reluctantly. "Still, there is no
doubt the country is kept poor, while, between them, these men gather up
the harvest."

"Better that than let it rot upon the ground," Stanislas said unconcernedly;

and then, having obtained the name of the street where several of the
Scottish traders had places of business, he and Charlie started on foot. They
were not long in finding the shop with the sign of the merchant swinging

over the door.

"You had better wait outside, Stanislas, while I go in and see the master.
No; if he is not in the shop, his men will not understand me, so come in
with me till you see that I have met him, and then go back to the inn for the

night. Whether I join you there will depend upon the warmth of my
welcome."

Two or three young Poles were in the shop. Stanislas asked them for Allan
Ramsay, and they replied that he was taking his evening meal upstairs,

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

later the inner door opened, and a tall man with a ruddy face and blue eyes
entered, holding the open letter in his hand. Charlie took a step forward to