138 THE SMUGGLER. 



clear yourself of this charge, for you ought to know that armed 

 resistance to the king's officers is a transportable offence." 



" I will speak "to the magistrates," replied young Radford, 

 " when I can speak freely, without all these people about me. 

 As to the goods they mention, marked with my name, I know 

 nothing about them." 



" Do you wish to speak with the magistrates alone?" de- 

 manded old Mr. Radford. 



" I must strongly object to any such proceeding," exclaimed 

 Mowle. 



" Pray, sir, meddle with what concerns you,'' said old Ead- 

 ford, turning upon him fiercely, " and do not pretend to dictate 

 here. You gentlemen are greatly inclined to forget your place. 

 I think that the room had better be cleared of all but the pri- 

 soner, Sir Robert." 



The baronet bowed his head ; Squire Jollivet concurred in 

 the same opinion; and, though one or two of the others hesi- 

 tated, they were ultimately overruled, and the room was cleared 

 of all persons but the magistrates and the culprit. 



Scarcely was this done, when, with a bold free air, and con- 

 temptuous smile, young Radford advanced to the side of the 

 table, and laid his left hand firmly upon it; then, looking 

 round from one to another, he said, " I will ask you a question, 

 worshipful gentlemen. Is there any one of you, here present, 

 who has never, at any time, had anything to do with a smug- 

 gling affair? Can you swear it upon your oaths ? Can you, 

 sir? Can you? Can you?" 



The magistrates to whom he addressed himself, looked mar- 

 vellously rueful, and replied not ; and at last, turning to his 

 father, he said, "Can you, sir? though I, methinks, need 

 hardly ask the question." 



"No, by Jove, Dick, I can't!" replied his father, laughing. 

 "I wish to heaven you wouldn't put such awful interrogato- 

 ries; for I believe, for that manner, we are all in the same 

 boat." 



"Then I refuse," said young Radford, "to be judged by 

 you. Settle the matter as you like. Get out of the scrape 

 as you can ; but don't venture to convict a man when you are 

 more guilty than he is himself. If you do, I may tell a few 

 tales that may not be satisfactory to any of you." 



It had been remarked, that, in putting his questions, the 



