“I was sent by King Charles to Warsaw, to ascertain the feeling of the trading classes there.  I had an introduction to a Scottish merchant, and I passed as a countryman of his, who had come out to enter his business.  One of the objects of my mission was to endeavour to induce the foreign merchants in Warsaw to do what they could to promote a feeling in favour of peace with the Swedes, and the substitution of another king in place of Augustus.”

“It is not very clear, Captain Carstairs, how you can be fulfilling that object by passing your winter with a party of robbers—­for I suppose your disbanded soldiers were little better—­in a forest on the confines of Russia.”

Charlie laughed.

“It is rather a long story, count.  Perhaps you will kindly tell me the news about public affairs, first.”

“By no means,” the count said.  “That is a long story, too, and my wife would much rather hear yours than listen to it.  She has not yet recovered from the events of this morning.  But we will wait until we are at the village.  We have left the forest behind us, and another half hour will take us to Stromoff, where we can get pretty good accommodation.”

The horses, a splendid pair of animals, had, during their passage through the forest, shown every sign of fear; starting nervously, swerving, and going in sharp, sudden rushes, and always needing a constant strain on the reins to keep them from bolting.  Once away from the trees, however, they settled down into a fast trot, and the seven miles to Stromoff were done in less than half an hour.

No sooner did the landlord of the inn learn the name of his guest, than he, his wife, and sons bustled about in the greatest haste to make things comfortable for them.  Huge fires were lighted in the guest rooms, and the common room was cleared of the other customers, until the chamber should be sufficiently warmed for occupation; while in the kitchen preparations were made for a meal, to which, in half an hour from their arrival, the party in the sledge sat down.  When this was over, settles were placed round the fire, and Charlie then gave a full account of his adventures, from the time he was attacked in the streets of Warsaw.

“So it was you, Captain Carstairs, after whom there was so keen a search in September.  The death of Ben Soloman made a great stir, and I can assure you that there are a great many people who owe you a debt of gratitude.  The man had no sons, and all his property passed to his widow, whom he had, it seems, treated harshly during his lifetime.  She was from Holland, and wished to return to her people, so, as his means were very large, she made the easiest terms with all those on whose estates her husband had held mortgages, in order to wind up her affairs as soon as possible.  Thus, his death was the subject of wide rejoicings.  However, if you had been caught at the time, I fear it would have gone hard with you; for the Jews were all very keen about it—­as the man, rascal though he was, was one of the chief heads of their religion—­and were you to fall into their hands in any of the towns, they would either kill you or send you to Warsaw.”