That thought saved our lives as well as your own,
for our fate would have been the same as those unfortunate
travellers, whose horses you saw, and who brought the wolves upon
you.
"And now, sir, would it be impertinent to ask for what purpose you
have come to Poland? Believe me, I only put the question in order
to see if I can in any way be of assistance to you."
"I do not know, count, whether my avowal will affect you
unfavourably, but I know that it will make no difference in your
conduct towards me. I am, as my servant told you, an Englishman by
birth; but I and my father were obliged, in consequence of
political opinions, to leave the country, and I am now a captain in
the service of Charles of Sweden."
Exclamations of surprise broke from his hearers.
"Well, sir," the count said, smiling, "as his majesty King Charles,
although not yet one-and-twenty, is one of the greatest generals in
Europe, I cannot consider it strange that you, who appear to me to
be no older, should be a captain in his service. But I own that I
pictured, to myself, that the officers of these wonderful soldiers
were fierce-looking men, regular iron veterans."
"I am but eighteen," Charlie said, "and I myself feel it absurd
that I should be a captain.
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