132 THE SMUGGLER. 



selves, and one of them as it is technically termed moving 

 Sir Robert into the chair. In order to show that this was 

 really as well as metaphysically done, Sir Robert Croyland 

 rose, sat down again, and wheeled himself round to the table. 

 A signal was then given to the constable; and a rush of 

 several persons from without was made into the temporary 

 justice- room, which was at once nearly filled with custom- 

 house officers, soldiers, smugglers, and the curious of the village. 

 Amongst the latter portion of the auditory at least so he 

 supposed at first Sir Robert Croyland perceived his young 

 friend, Richard Radford; and he was in the act of beckoniug 

 him to come up to the table, in order to inquire where his 

 father was, and how soon he would return, when one of the 

 officers of the customs suddenly thrust the young gentleman 

 out of the way, exclaiming, " Stand farther back! What are 

 you pushing forward for? Your turn will come soon enough, 

 I warrant." 



Sir Robert Croyland was confounded, and for a moment 

 or two he sat silent in perplexity and surprise. Not that he 

 ever entertained a doubt of old Mr. Radford still nourishing all 

 the propensities of his youth; nor that he was not well aware 

 they had formed part of the inheritance of his son ; but there 

 were certain considerations of some weight which made Sir 

 Robert feel that it would have been better for him to be in 

 any other spot of the habitable globe than that where he was 

 at the moment. Recovering himself, however, after a brief 

 pause of anxious indecision, he made a sign to the constable 

 door-keeper, and whispered to him, as soon as the man reached 

 his side, to inquire into the cause of Mr. Richard Radford's 

 being there. The man was shrewd and quick, and while half 

 the magistrates were speaking across the table to half the 

 officers and some of the dragoons, he went and returned to 

 and from the other side of the room, and then whispered to 

 the baronet, " For smuggling, sir; caught abetting the others; 

 his name marked upon some of the goods." 



Sir Robert Croyland was not naturally a brilliant man. 

 Though hasty in temper in his early days, he had always been 

 somewhat obtuse in intellect; but this was a case of emergency; 

 and there is no greater sharpener of the wits than necessity. 

 In an instant, he had formed his plan to gain time, which was 

 his great object at that moment; and, taking out his watch. 



