400 THE SMUGGLER. 



proper person to make the application. It might easily be 

 made by another, who is without; but I have reasons for 

 what I am doing, and reasons, believe me," he added, after 

 a moment's pause and reflection, " not unfriendly to Sir Robert 

 Croyland." 



Again his words and manner were peculiar. Sir Robert 

 Croyland began to feel some apprehension lest he might push 

 his coldness too far. Bat he did not see how he could change 

 his tone; and he was proceeding with the same distant re- 

 serve, to repeat that he was ready to receive the information 

 in a formal manner, when Layton suddenly interrupted him, 

 after a severe struggle with himself. 



" Sir Robert Croyland," he said, " let us speak as friends. 

 Let griefs and complaints on both sides be forgotten for the 

 moment; let us bury, for the time, seven years in oblivion. 

 Look upon me, if it be but for a few minutes, as the Henry 

 Layton you knew before anything arose to produce one ill 

 feeling between us; for, believe me, I come to you with kindly 

 sentiments. Your own fate hangs in the balance at this hour. 

 I would decide it favourably for you, if you would let me. 

 But, you must shake off doubt and timidity; you must act 

 boldly and decidedly, and all will be well." 



" I do not understand what you mean, sir," cried Sir 

 Robert Croyland, astonished at his change of tone, and with- 

 out time to collect his ideas, and calculate the probabilities. 

 " My fate! How can you affect my fate?" 



" More than you are aware," answered Layton; "even now 

 I affect your fate, by giving you the choice of at once pro- 

 ceeding in the line of your duty, against a bad man who has 

 overruled your better nature too long, by allowing you to con- 

 duct the search, which must be instituted either by yourself or 

 others. In one word, Sir Robert Croyland, I know all, and 

 would serve you, if you would let me." 



u You know all!" exclaimed Edith's father, in a dull, 

 gloomy tone; "you know all! She has told you, then! That 

 explains it; that shows how she retracted her consent; how 

 she was willing to-day to sacrifice her father. You have seen 

 her ; you have taught her her part ! Yes, she has betrayed 

 her parent's confidence." 



Layton could bear no more. Himself he could have heard 

 slandered calmly; but he could not hear such words of her he 



