IN WARSAW 169

the diet afterwards. There was no urgency here, and the
king made his agreement with the czar and the King of
Denmark without anyone knowing of it. He certainly
obtained a sort of sanction from the diet afterwards, but
every one knows how these things are worked. He has a
strong party, of course, because it is the interest of a great
many people to retain him in power, as no one can say
who would be chosen to succeed him. But among the
people in general, the traders and the peasants, he is
hated, and so are his Saxon soldiers. Suppose he had
gained a slice of Swedish territory, it would not have bene-
fited them; while, as it is, all sorts of misfortunes and
troubles have come upon the country, and none can say
how much greater may ensue. Poland is always split up
into parties. They used to unite against the Turk, and
they would unite again against the Swedes if their country
was invaded; but as long as King Charles keeps his army
beyond the frontier, they are too deeply engaged in their
own quarrels to think of anything else.”

“Then, even if I were known in the city to be in the
Swedish service, there would be little danger, Stanislas?”

“T do not say that at all,” the man said gravely. “In
the first place, Warsaw is held by Saxon soldiers, who would
show you but scant mercy were you known to be a Swedish
officer; and in the second place, the lower classes are ever
ready to make tumults; and, if worked upon by the arch-
bishop or the nobles of the king’s party, they would readily
enough tear a stranger to pieces. Going as you do as a
Scotchman, there is, I hope, little danger, especially if you
are received into a Scottish household.”

The journey passed without incident until they were
within a few miles of Warsaw, when Charlie, after formally
thanking Baron Seckers for the protection his escort had
afforded him, fell behind with his servant. Several parties
of armed men had been met with, but they knew better than