THE SMUGGLER. 1 39 



young gentleman had entirely passed Sir Robert Croylancl; 

 and Mr. Jollivet whispered to the gentleman next him, "I 

 think we had better leave him and Sir Robert to settle it, for 

 I believe the baronet is quite clear of the scrape." 



But Mr. Radford had overheard, and he exclaimed, " No, 

 no ; I think the matter is quite clear how we must proceed. 

 There's not the slightest proof given that he knew anything 

 about these goods being marked with his name, or that it was 

 done by his authority. He was not with the men either who 

 were carrying the goods, and they were going quite away 

 from his own dwelling. He happened to come there acci- 

 dentally, just when the fray was going on. That I can prove, 

 for I sent him a note this morning, telling him to join me at 

 Ashford as fast as possible." 



"I saw it delivered myself," said Sir Robert Croyland. 



"To be sure," rejoined Mr. Radford; "and then, as to his 

 talking to the smugglers when he did come up, I dare say he 

 was telling them to surrender, or not to resist the law. 

 Wasn't it so, Dick?" 



"Not a bit of it," answered Richard Radford, boldly. " I 

 told them to be off as fast as they could. But I did tell them 

 not to fire any more. That's true enough." 



" Ay, to be sure," cried Mr. Radford. " He was trying to 

 persuade them not to resist legitimate authority." 



Almost all the magistrates burst into a fit of laughter; but, 

 no way disconcerted, worthy Mr. Radford went on saying, 

 " While he was doing this up comes this fellow, Birchett, and 

 seizes him by the collar; and, I dare say, he abused him into 

 the bargain." 



" He said I was a d d smuggling blackguard myself," said 

 young Radford. 



" Well, then, gentlemen, is it at all wonderful that he drew 

 his sword?" demanded his respectable father. "Is every 

 gentleman in the county to be ridden over, rough-shod, by 

 these officers and their dragoons, and called ' d d smuggling 

 blackguards,' when they are actually engaged in persuading 

 the smugglers not to fire ? I promise you, my son shall bring 

 an action against that fellow, Birchett, for an assault. It 

 seems to me that the case is quite clear." 



" It is, at all events, rendered doubtful," said Sir Robert 

 Croyland, "by what has been suggested. I think the officers 



