Page 176 - A Jacobite Exile

upon whose estates they may hold mortgages, to join the party against the
king."

"They might do something that way," Allan Ramsay agreed. "Of course, I

have no money out on mortgages. I want badly enough all the money I can
lay hands on in my own business. Giving credit, as we have to, and often
very long 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 the property of any noble of influence, he would be ruined. The
whole class would shrink from him, and, like enough, there would be a
tumult got up, his house would be burned over his head, and he and his

family murdered.

"Still, as far as popular opinion goes, something might be done. At any rate,
I will get some of my friends here tomorrow, and introduce you to them
and talk it over. But we must be careful, for Augustus has a strong party

here, and, were it suspected that you are a Swedish officer, it would go very
hard with you.

"Tomorrow you must fetch your servant here. I have already sent round to
the inn, and you will find your valises in your room. You said you could

rely thoroughly upon him?"

"Yes, he was handed over to me by Count Piper himself; and moreover,
from what I have seen of him, I am myself confident that he can be trusted.
He is of Swedish descent, and is, I think, a very honest fellow."

For a fortnight, Charlie remained at Allan Ramsay's, and then, in spite of

the pressing entreaties of his host and hostess, took a lodging near them. He
had, by this time, seen a good many of 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
of Saxony should be replaced by another king, who would be acceptable to

Charles of Sweden; but all were of opinion that but little could be done, by
them, towards bringing about this result.