THE SMUGGLER. 401 



loved. " It is false!" he said; "she did not betray your 

 confidence ! She told me no more than was needful to induce 

 me to release her from bonds she was too faithful and true to 

 break. From her I have heard nothing more, but from others 

 I have heard all; and now, Sir Eobert Croyland, you have 

 chosen your part, I have but to call in those who must lay the 

 required information. Our duty must be clone, whatever be 

 the consequences; and as you reject the only means of saving 

 yourself from much grief, though, I trust, not the danger you 

 apprehend, we must act without you;" and he rose and 

 walked towards the door. 



"Stay, Lay ton; stay!" cried Sir Robert Croyland, catch- 

 ing him eagerly by the arm; "yet a moment; yet a moment. 

 You say you know all. Do you know all? all? everything?" 



"All! everything!" answered Layton, firmly; "every 

 word that was spoken; every deed that was done; more than 

 you know yourself." 



" Then, at least, you know I am innocent," said the old 

 man. 



A calm but grave serenity took the place, on Sir Henry 

 Layton's countenance, of the impetuous look with which ho 

 had last spoken. " Innocent," he said " of intentional mur- 

 der; but not innocent of rash and unnecessary anger; and, 

 oh ! Sir Robert Croyland, if I must say it, most culpable in 

 the consequences which you have suffered to flow from one 

 hasty act. Mark me, and see the result! Your own dear 

 child, against your will, is in the hands of a man whom you 

 hate and abhor. You are anxious to make her the wife of a 

 being you condemn and despise! The child of the man that 

 your own hand slew, is now lying a corpse, murdered by him 

 to whom you would give your daughter! Your own life 

 is " 



"What, Kate! Kate Clare!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croy- 

 land, with a sudden change coming over his countenance: 

 " murdered by Richard Radford!" 



"By his hand, after the most brutal usage," replied 

 Layton. 



Sir Robert Croyland sprang to the bell and rang it vio- 

 lently, then threw open the door and called aloud: "My 

 horse! my horse! saddle my horse! If it cost me land and 

 living, life and honour, she shall be avenged!" he added, 

 C c 



