THE SMUGGLER. 26 1 



with his hand ; but, from beneath, his features could be seen 

 working with the agitation of various emotions, in which rage, 

 impotent though it might be, was not without its share. Sud- 

 denly, however, a gleam of hope seemed to shoot across his 

 mind ; he withdrew his hand, he looked up with some light in 

 his eyes. "A thought has struck me, Radford," he said; 

 "Zara, we have talked of Zara; why not substitute her for 

 Edith? Listen to me; listen to me. You have not heard 

 all." 



Mr. Radford shook his head. "It cannot be done," he 

 replied; "it is quite out of the question." 



"Nay, but hearl" exclaimed the baronet; "not so much 

 out of the question as you think. Look at the whole circum- 

 stances, Radford. The great obstacle with Edith, is that un- 

 fortunate engagement with young Layton. She looks upon 

 herself as his wife; she has told me so a thousand times, and 

 I doubt even the effect of the terrible course which you urge 

 upon me so cruelly." 



Mr. Radford's brow had grown exceedingly dark at the 

 very mention of the name of Layton, but he said nothing, and, 

 as if to keep down the feelings that were swelling in his heart, 

 set his teeth hard in his under lip. Sir Robert Croyland saw 

 all these marks of anger, but went on: "Now, the case is 

 different with Zara. Your son has sought her, and evidently 

 admires her, and she has shown herself by no means unfavour- 

 able towards him. Besides, I can do with her what I like. 

 There is no such obstacle in her case, and I could bend her to 

 my will with a word. Yes, but hear me out. I know what 

 you would say: she has no fortune; all the land that I can 

 dispose of is mortgaged to the full, the rest goes to my brother, 

 if he survives me. True ; all very true 1 But, Radford, listen ! 

 If I can induce my brother to give Zara the same fortune 

 which Edith possesses, if this night I can bring it you under 

 his own hand that she shall have fifty thousand pounds? You 

 shake your head; you doubt that he will do it; but I can tell 

 you that he would willingly give it to save Edith from your 

 son. I am ready to pledge you my word that you shall have 

 that engagement, under his own hand, this very night, or that 

 Edith shall become your son's wife within four days. Let us 

 cast aside all idle circumlocution. It is Edith's fortune for 

 your son that you require. You can care nothing personally 



