THE PASSAGE OF THE DWINA 155

tions are at any rate kind. I am glad to hear you say that
on consideration you think better of the plan. Then I
may mention the matter to Major Jervoise?”

“Certainly, Carstairs, and to his son, but it must go no
farther. J shall put your name in orders as relieved from
duty, and shall mention that you have been despatched on
service, which might mean anything. Come and see me
to-morrow, lad, after you have received Count Piper’s
instructions. As the king reminded me, there are many
Scotchmen at Warsaw, and it is likely that some of them
passed through Sweden on the way to establish themselves
there, and I may very well have made their acquaintance at
Gottenburg or Stockholm.

“Once established in the house of one of my country-
men, your position would be fairly safe and not altogether
unpleasant, and you would be certainly far better off than
a Swede would be engaged on this mission. The Swedes
are of course regarded by the Poles as enemies, but, as there
is no feeling against Mnglishmen or Scotchmen, you might
pass about unnoticed as one oi the family of a Scottish
trader there, or as his assistant.”

“T don’t fear its being unpleasant in the least, colonel.
Nor do I think anything one way or the other about my
safety. I only fear that I shall not be able to carry out
properly the mission intrusted to me.”

“Vou will do your best, lad, and that is all that can be
expected. You have not solicited the post, and as it is
none of your choosing, your failure would be the fault of
those who have sent you, and not of yourself; but in a mat-
ter of this kind there is no such thing as complete failure.
When you have to deal with one man you may succeed or
you may fail in endeavouring to induce him to act in a
certain manner, but when you have to deal with a consid-
erable number of men, some will be willing to accept your
proposals, some will not, and the question of success will