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210 A JACOBITE EXILE

there, and that they were boasting of having caused the
death of Ben Soloman, who had fallen by your hand. He
managed to escape from the brigands, and on the road
found the dead body of his employer, who was, he knew,
that morning coming out to give him some instructions.
My opinion, and that of my friends who knew you, was
that the fellow had himself killed and robbed his master;
but your letter, of course, showed that his account was
true to some extent—that Ben Soloman had fallen in a
struggle with you, and that you yourself were a prisoner
in the hands of these bandits. Still, as it would be next
to impossible for you to prove the truth of your story, and
as the Jews of the place, who are numerous and influential,
are dead against you, your life would certainly be forfeited
were you to be captured.

“T know your story to be true, but it would appear wildly
improbable to others that this wealthy Jew should have
conspired in the first place to cause an attack to be made
upon an unknown young stranger, still less that he should
have had him carried off to the forest, and should have
gone to visit him there. ‘The explanation that you were a
Swedish officer in disguise would not benefit you in any
way, while it would involve us who knew you, in your
danger, and would cause the Jew to be regarded as a man
who had lost his life in endeavouring to unmask a plot
against Poland. ‘Therefore, I think it is extremely fortu-
nate that you are for the present safe in the hands of
these brigands, and should certainly advise you to make
no attempt to leave them until you are perfectly well and
strong.

“1 have, as you directed me, hidden a few pieces of
gold in your shoe, and have handed the rest of your money
to your man, who is starting to join you. He will conceal
it about him. I have just heard that a body of troops are
starting at once for the forest, and that orders have been