THE SMUGGLE!*. 167 



gazing up into vacancy, Mowle, judging that his presence was 

 not desired, rose to retire. 



" Stay a moment, Mr. Mowle; stay a moment," said Os- 

 born. " This letter requires some consideration. It contains 

 a call to a part of Kent some fifteen or sixteen miles distant ; 

 but as it is upon private business, I must not let that interfere 

 with my public duty. You say that this enterprise of Mr. 

 Badford's is likely to be put in execution to-morrow night.' 7 



"I cannot be sure, colonel," answered the officer; " but I 

 think there is every chance of it." 



" Then I must return before nightfall to-morrow," replied 

 the gentleman, with a sigh. 



" Your presence will be very necessary, sir," said the cus- 

 tom-house officer. " There is not one of your officers who 

 seem up to the business, except Major Digby 'and yourself. 

 All the rest are such fine gentlemen that one can't get on with 

 them." 



" Let me consider for a moment," rejoined the other; but 

 Mowle went on in the same strain, saying, " Then, sir, if you 

 were to be absent all to-morrow, I might get very important 

 information, and not be able to give it to you, nor arrange 

 anything with you either." 



Osborn still meditated with a grave brow for some time. 

 "I will write," he said, at length. "It will be better: it 

 will be only just and honourable. I will write instead of going 

 to-morrow, Mr. Mowle ; and if this affair should not take place 

 to-morrow night, as you suppose, I will make such arrange- 

 ments for the following day, on which I must go over to 

 AYoodchurch, as will enable you to communicate with me 

 without delay, should you have any message to send. At all 

 events, I will return to Hythe before night. Now, good 

 evening;" and while Mowle made his bow and retired, the 

 young officer turned to the letter again, and read it over with 

 glistening eyes. 



