THE SMUGGLED. 75 



times take place in conversation, Mr. Croyland, the clergyman, 

 ami Mr. Radford himself were once more talking together;, the 

 latter having apparently overcome his indignation at the 

 nabob's tart rejoinder, in the hope and expectation of saying 

 something still more biting to him in return. Like many a 

 brave general, however, he had not justly appreciated the 

 power of his adversary as compared with his own strength. 

 Mr. Croyland, soured at an early period of life, had acquired 

 by long practice and experience a habit of repartee when his 

 prejudices or his opinions (and they are very different things) 

 were assailed, which was overpowering. A large fund of 

 natural kindness and good humour formed a curious substratum 

 for the acerbity which had accumulated above it, and his love 

 of a joke would often show itself in a hearty peal of laughter, 

 even at his own expense, when the attack upon him was made 

 iii a good spirit, by one for whom he had any affection or 

 esteem. But if he despised or disliked his assailant, as was 

 the case with Mr. Radford, the bitterest possible retort was 

 sure to be given in the fewest possible words. 



In order to lead away from the obnoxious subject, the cler- 

 gyman returned to Mr. Croyland's hatred of London, saying, 

 not very advisedly perhaps, just as young Mr. Radford entered, 

 " I cannot imagine, my dear sir, why you have such an ani- 

 mosity to our magnificent capital, and to all that it contains, 

 especially when we all know you to be as beneficent to indivi- 

 duals as you are severe upon the species collectively." 



44 My dear Cruden, you'll only make a mess of it," replied 

 Mr. Croyland. " The reason why I do sometimes befriend a 

 poor scoundrel whom I happen to know, is because it is less 

 pleasant for me to see a rascal suffer than to do what's just by 

 him. I have no will and no power to punish all the villany I 

 see, otherwise my arm would be tired enough of flogging in 

 this county of Kent. But I do not understand why I should 

 be called upon to like a great agglomeration of blackguards in 

 a city, when I can have the same diluted in the country. 

 Here we have about a hundred scoundrels to the square mile ; 

 in London we have a hundred to the square yard." 



" Don't you think, sir, that they may be but the worse 

 scoundrels in the country because they are fewer?" demanded 

 Mr. Radford. 



"I am beginning to fancy so," answered Mr. Croyland, 



