“We were delighted to see each other, and he stopped with me nearly a week.  He had, after leaving the College, gone into his father’s business, but when the old man died he could not get on with his half brothers, who were dour men, and had little patience with Allan’s restlessness and love of pleasure.  So, after a final quarrel, they had given him so much money for his share of the business, and a letter of introduction to a trader in Poland, who had written to them saying that he wanted a partner with some capital; and Allan was willing enough to try the life in a strange country, for he was a shrewd fellow, with all his love of fun.

“Five years afterwards, he came through Gottenburg again.  I did not see him, for my regiment was at Stockholm at the time, but he wrote me a letter saying that he had been in Scotland to marry and bring back one Janet Black, the daughter of a mercer, whom I remember well enough as an old flame of his.

“He reported that he was doing well, and that the Poles were not bad fellows to live among, though less punctual in their payments than might be wished.  He said he did not suppose that, as a Swedish officer, I should ever be in Poland, unless Sweden produced another Gustavus Adolphus; but if I was, he would be delighted to welcome me, and that anyone I asked in Warsaw would direct me to his shop.  I wonder that I did not think of him before; but that is ten years ago, and it had altogether passed out of my mind, till I saw his name here.  Unless he is greatly changed, you may be sure of a hearty welcome from Allan Ramsay, for my sake.  We need not trouble about the other names.  He will know all about them, and will be able to put you in the way of getting at them.”

This was a great relief to Charlie, who felt that it would be an immense advantage to have the house of someone, from whom he might expect a welcome, to go to on his arrival in Warsaw; and he was able, during the day, to talk over the prospects of the journey, with Harry Jervoise, with a real sense of interest and excitement in his mission.

In the evening, he again went to the house of the minister.  The latter, a close observer of men, saw at once that the young officer was in much better spirits than he had been in the morning.

“Have you obtained information respecting any of the persons whose names I gave you?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.  It seems that, most fortunately, the trader named Allan Ramsay is an old friend of Colonel Jamieson, and the colonel has given me a letter to him which will, he assures me, procure me a hearty welcome.”

“And have you thought anything more of your best plan of action?”

“Yes, sir.  It seems to me that I had better dress myself in an attire such as might be worn by a young Scotchman, journeying through the country to place himself with a relation established in business.  I could ride behind the royal envoy, as if I had received permission to journey under the protection of his escort, and could drop behind a few miles from the capital, and make my way in alone.  I could not, of course, inquire for Allan Ramsay in Polish, but I know enough French to ask for him at any shop having a French name over it, if I did not happen to light upon one kept by a Scotchman.”