THE SMUGGLER. 263 



Sir Robert Croyland had leaned his arms upon the table, 

 and pressed his eyes upon his arms. His whole frame shook 

 with emotion, and the softer, and seemingly more kindly words 

 of the man before him, were even bitterer to him than the 

 harsher and the fiercer. Though he did not see his face, he 

 knew that there was far more sarcasm than tenderness in 

 them. He had been his slave, his tool for years: his tool 

 through the basest and most unmanly of human passions, fear; 

 and he felt not only that he was despised, but that at that 

 moment Radford was revelling in contempt. He could have 

 got up and stabbed him where he stood, for he was naturally 

 a passionate and violent man. But fear had still the dominion ; 

 and after a bitter struggle with himself, he conquered his 

 anger, and gave himself up to the thought of meeting the cir- 

 cumstances in which he was placed as best he might. He was 

 silent for several moments, however, after Mr. Radford had 

 ceased speaking; and then, looking up with an anxious eye 

 and quivering lip, he said: "But how is it possible, Radford, 

 that the marriage should take place in four days? The banns 

 could not be published; and even if you got a license, your 

 son could not appear at church within the prescribed hours 

 without running a fatal risk." 



" We will have a special license, my good friend," answered 

 Mr. Radford, with a contemptuous smile. " Do not trouble 

 yourself about that. You will have quite enough to do with 

 your daughter, I should imagine, without annoying yourself 

 with other things. As to my son, I will manage his part of 

 the affair; and he can marry your daughter in your drawing- 

 room, or mine, at an hour when there will be no eager eyes 

 abroad. Money can do all things; and a special license is 

 not so very expensive but that I can afford it, still. My 

 drawing-room will be best ; for then we shall be all secure." 



"But, Radford I Radford 1" said Sir Robert Croyland, "if 

 I do if I bring Edith at the time appointed, if she become 

 your son's wife, will you give me up that paper, that fatal 

 deposition?" 



"Oh! yes, assuredly," replied Mr. Radford, with an in- 

 sulting smile; "I can hand it over to you as part of the 

 marriage settlement. You need not be the least afraid ! and 

 now, 1 think I must go; for I have business to settle as well 

 as you." 



