Lod A JACOBITE EXILE

“This is the gentleman, Stanislas, that you are to accom-
pany to Warsaw as his servant. You will obey him in all
respects as if he had hired you in his service, and should
he arrive at any situation of danger or difficulty I trust that
you will not be found wanting.”

The man had looked closely at Charlie.

“T will do my best, sir, and I doubt not that the gentle-
man’s service will suit me. He has the look of one who
would be kind to his servants.”

“Wait at the outside door,” the count said. “Captain
Carstairs will speak to you as he leaves.”

The man bowed and went out, and the count then said
with a smile at the look of surprise on Charlie’s face, “It
was not a slip of the tongue. Here is a commission signed
by his majesty appointing you to the rank of captain, as he
has long considered that you had well won your promotion
by your suggestion which enabled him to cross the Dwina
without loss, but he thought there would be a difficulty in
placing you over the heads of so many officers senior to
yourself. This inconvenience no longer exists now that
you have what may be considered a staff appointment, and
the rank may, moreover, add to your weight and influence
in your interviews with persons at Warsaw. You will need
money; here is a purse for your expenses. You may meet
with some of these men, especially among the Jewish
traders, who may need a bribe. Bribery is common from
the highest to the lowest in Poland. You will find in this
letter of instructions that you are authorized to promise
sums of money to men whose assistance may be valuable.
It is impossible to fix the sums. ‘These must depend upon
the position of the men and the value of their services;
and I can only say do not be lavish, but at the same time
do not hesitate to promise a sum that will secure the ser-
vices of useful men. Your best plan will be to find out
if you are able what each man expects, and to make what