“Now you, on the other hand, have, by that happy suggestion of yours, attracted the notice of the king, and he is pleased to nominate you to a mission in which there is a chance of your distinguishing yourself in another way, and of being employed in other and more important business.  All this will place you much farther on the road towards making a fortune, than marching and fighting with your company would be likely to do in the course of twenty years, and I think it would be foolish in the extreme for you to exhibit any disinclination to undertake the duty.”

“I suppose you are right, Harry, and I am much obliged to you for your advice, which certainly puts the matter in a light in which I had not before seen it.  If I thought that I could do it well, I should not so much mind, for, as you say, there will be some fun to be got out of it, and some excitement, and there seems little chance of doing anything here for a long time.  But what am I to say to the fellows?  How can I argue with them?  Besides, I don’t talk Polish.”

“I don’t suppose there are ten men in the army who do so, probably not five.  As to what to say, Count Piper will no doubt give you full instructions as to the line you are to take, the arguments you are to use, and the inducements you are to hold out.  That is sure to be all right.”

“Well, do not say anything about it, Harry, when you get back.  I still hope the colonel will dissuade the king.”

“Then you are singularly hopeful, Charlie, that is all I can say.  You might persuade a brick wall to move out of your way, as easily as induce the King of Sweden to give up a plan he has once formed.  However, I will say nothing about it.”

At nine o’clock, an orderly came to the hut with a message that the colonel wished to speak to Lieutenant Carstairs.  Harry gave his friend a comical look, as the latter rose and buckled on his sword.

“What is the joke, Harry?” his father asked, when Charlie had left.  “Do you know what the colonel can want him for, at this time of the evening?  It is not his turn for duty.”

“I know, father; but I must not say.”

“The lad has not been getting into a scrape, I hope?”

“Nothing serious, I can assure you; but really, I must not say anything until he comes back.”

Harry’s positive assurance, as to the impossibility of changing the king’s decision, had pretty well dispelled any hopes Charlie might before have entertained, and he entered the colonel’s room with a grave face.

“You know why I have sent for you, Carstairs?”

“Yes, sir; I am afraid that I do.”

“Afraid?  That is to say, you don’t like it.”

“Yes, sir; I own that I don’t like it.”

“Nor do I, lad, and I told his majesty so.  I said you were too young for so risky a business.  The king scoffed at the idea.  He said, ’He is not much more than two years younger than I am, and if I am old enough to command an army, he is old enough to carry out this mission.  We know that he is courageous.  He is cool, sharp, and intelligent.  Why do I choose him?  Has he not saved me from the loss of about four or five thousand men, and probably a total defeat?  A young fellow who can do that, ought to be able to cope with Jewish traders, and to throw dust in the eyes of the Poles.