When he had finished it, he rose from his seat and offered his hand to Fergus.
"You are the Scottish officer who saved the lives of the count, his wife, and daughter," he said warmly.

"How you come to be here I don't know, but it is enough for me that you rendered my dear friend and his wife, who is a cousin of mine, this great service.
You are not here, I hope, on any mission which, as an Austrian noble, I could feel it impossible to further." "No indeed, count.

Had it been so, I should assuredly not have presented this letter to you.

In giving it to me, the countess said that possibly the fortune of war might be unfavourable, and that I might be taken prisoner.

In that case, she said I might find a friend invaluable, and she gave me letters to eight gentlemen in various great towns, saying that she believed that any one of these would, for the sake of the count, do me any kindness in his power.
"Her prevision has turned out correct.