176 A JACOBITE EXILE

“They might do something that way,” Allan Ramsay
agreed. “Of course I have no money out on mortgages.
I want badly enough all the money I can lay hands on in
my own business. Giving credit, as we have to, and often
very long credit, it requires a large capital to carry on
trade. But the Jews, who no doubt do hold large mort-
gages on the land, cannot exert much power. ‘They can-
not hold land themselves, and were one of them to venture
to sell the property of any noble of influence he would be
ruined. ‘The whole class would shrink from him, and like
enough there would be a tumult got up, his house would
be burned over his head, and he and his family murdered.
Still, as far as popular opinion goes, something might be
done. At any rate I will get some of my friends here
to-morrow, and introduce you to them and talk it over.
But we must be careful, for Augustus has a strong party
here, and were it suspected that you are a Swedish officer
it would go very hard with you. To-morrow you must
fetch your servant here. JI have already sent round to the
inn, and you will find your valises in your room. You
said you could rely thoroughly upon him?”

“Yes, he was handed over to me by Count Piper himself;
and moreover, from what I have seen of him, I am myself
confident that he can be trusted. He is of Swedish de-
scent, and is, I think, a very honest fellow.”

For a fortnight Charlie remained at Allan Ramsay’s,
and then, in spite of the pressing entreaties of his host
and hostess, took a lodging near them. He had by this
time seen a good many of the leading traders of the town.
The Scotch and Frenchmen had all heartily agreed with
his argument that it was for the benefit of Poland, and
especially for that of Warsaw, that Augustus of Saxony
should be replaced by another king who would be accepta-
ble to Charles of Sweden; but all were of opinion that but
little could be done by them towards bringing about this