THE SMUGGLER. 3 73 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



HAVING now led the history of a great part of the personages' 

 in our drama up to the same point of time, namely, the third 

 morning after the defeat of the smugglers, we may as well turn 

 to follow out the course of Sir Edward Digby, on a day that 

 was destined to be eventful to all the parties concerned. On 

 arriving at Woodchurch, lie found a small body of dragoons, 

 ready mounted, at the door of the little inn, and two saddled 

 horses, held waiting for their riders. Without ceremony, he 

 entered, and went up at once to Layton's room, where he found 

 him, booted and spurred to set out, with Mowle, the officer, 

 standing by him, looking on while Sir Henry placed some 

 papers in a writing-desk and locked them up. 



The young commander greeted his friend warmly; and then, 

 turning to the officer of customs, said, " If you will mount, 

 Mr. Mowle, I will be down with you directly;" and as soon 

 as Mowle, taking the hint, departed, he continued, in a quick 

 tone, but with a faint smile upon his countenance, " I know 

 your errand, Digby, before you tell it. Edith has been trans- 

 ferred to the good charge and guidance of Mr. Radford; but 

 that has only prepared me to act more vigorously than ever. 

 My scruples on Sir Robert Croyland's account are at an end. 

 Heaven and earth! Is it possible that a man can be so 

 criminally weak, as to give his child up; a sweet, gentle girl 

 like that, to the charge of such abase unprincipled scoundrel I" 



" Nay, nay, we must do Sir Robert justice," answered 

 Digby. " It was done without his consent; indeed, against 

 his will; and a more impudent and shameless piece of trickery 

 was never practised. You must listen for one moment, 

 Lay ton, though you seem in haste;'' and he proceeded to 

 detail to him, as succinctly as possible, all that had occurred 

 between Mr. Radford and Edith's father on the preceding 

 evening, stating his authority, arid whence Zara had received 

 her information. 



