188 THE SMUGGLER. 



note. Baba, bid the fellow wait for a moment;" and stepping 

 into the library, Mr. Croyland sought for a pen that would 

 write, and then scrawled, in a very rude and crooked hand, 

 which soon made the paper look like an ancient Greek manu- 

 script, a few lines, to the beauty of which he added the effect 

 of bad blotting-paper. Then folding his note up, he sealed 

 and addressed it, first reading carefully over again the epistle 

 which he had just received, and with which it may be as well 

 to make the reader acquainted, though I shall abstain from 

 looking into Mr. Croyland's answer till it reaches its destina- 

 tion. The letter which the servant had brought was to the 

 following effect: 



" The gentleman who had the pleasure of travelling with 

 Mr. Croyland from London, and who was introduced to him 

 by the name of Captain Osborn, was about to avail himself of 

 Mr. Croyland's invitation, when some circumstances came to 

 his knowledge, which seem to render it expedient that he 

 should have a few minutes' conversation with Mr. Croyland 

 before he visits his house. He is at present at Woodchurch, 

 and will remain there till two o'clock, if it is convenient for 

 Mr. Croyland to see him at that place to-day. If not, he will 

 return to Woodchurch to-morrow, towards one, and will wait 

 for Mr. Croyland till any hour he shall appoint." 



"There! give that to the gentleman's servant," said Mr. 

 Croyland ; and then depositing his spectacles safely in their 

 case, he walked out into the garden to seek Edith. 



The servant, in the mean while, went at a rapid pace, over 

 pleasant hill and dale, till he reached the village of Wood- 

 church, and stopped at a little public-house, before the door of 

 which stood three dragoons, with their horses' bridles over 

 their arms. As speedily as possible, the man entered the 

 house, and walked up stairs, where he found his master talking 

 to a man, covered with dust from the road. 



"Mr. Mowle should have given me farther information," 

 the young officer said, looking at a paper in his hand. " I 

 could have made my combinations here as well as at Hythe." 



"He sent me off in a great hurry, sir," answered the man; 

 "but I'll tell him what you say." 



"Stay, stay!" said the officer, holding out his hand to his 



