THE SMUGGLER. 133 



he laid it on the table, exclaiming aloud, "Gentlemen! gentle- 

 men ! a little regularity, if you please. My time is precious. 

 I have an important engagement this afternoon, and I " 



But his whole scheme had nearly been frustrated by the 

 impetuosity of young Radford himself, who at once pushed 

 through officers and soldiers, saying, " And so have I, Sir 

 Robert, a very important engagement this afternoon. I claim 

 to be heard as speedily as possible." 



Sir Robert, however, was determined to carry his point, 

 and to avoid having aught to do with the case of his young 

 friend, even at the risk of giving him offence and annoyance. 

 "Stand back, sir I" he said. "In this court, there is no 

 friendship or favour. You will have attention in turn, but not 

 before. Mr. Mowle, bring forward the prisoners one after the 

 other, as near as possible, in the order of the order of of 

 their capture," he added, at length, after hesitating for a mo- 

 ment to consider whether it was or was not probable that 

 young Radford had been amongst those last taken; " and let 

 all the others be removed, under guard, into the next room." 

 "Won't that make it a long affair, Sir Robert?" asked Mr. 

 Runnington, a neighbouring squire. 



"Oh dear, no I" replied the chairman; "by regularity we 

 shall save time. Do as you are directed, Mowle." 



Young Radford showed a strong disposition to resist, or, at 

 least, to protest against this arrangement; but the officer to 

 whom the baronet had spoken, treated the prisoner with very 

 little reverence; and he, with the rest of the gang, was re- 

 moved from the room, with the exception of three, one of 

 whom, with a smart cockade in his hat, such as was worn at 

 that time by military men in undress, swaggered up to the 

 table with a bold air, as if he were about to address the 

 magistrates." 



" Ah, major, is that you?" asked a gentlemen on Sir Ro- 

 bert's right, known in the country by the name of Squire 

 Jollyboat, though his family being originally French, his real 

 appellation was Jollivet. 



"Oh yes, squire!" answered the prisoner, in a gay, indif- 

 ferent tone, " here I am. It is long since I have had the 

 pleasure of seeing your worship. I think you were not on the 

 bench the last time I was committed, or I should have fared 

 better." 



