THE SMUGGLER. 407 



" Let us hook up our horses before we ring.'* This was ac- 

 cordingly done, and then taking the long iron handle of the 

 bell, Layton pulled it gently. A minute or two after, a step 

 sounded in the hall, aud a servant appeared: a stout, red- 

 faced, shrewd-looking fellow, who at first held the great door 

 only half open. As soon, however, as he saw Sir Robert 

 Croyland's face, he threw it back, replying, in answer to the 

 baronet's question as to whether Mr. Radford was at home, 

 " Yes, Sir Robert, he has been home this hour." 



Layton had stood back, and, in the darkness, the man did 

 not see him, or took him for a groom ; but when the young 

 officer advanced, and the uniform of the dragoon regiment 

 became apparent, Mr. Radford's servant suddenly stretched 

 his hand towards the door again, as if about to throw it vio- 

 lently to. But Layton's strong grasp was on his shoulder in 

 a moment. " You are my prisoner," he said, in a low tone ; 

 " not a word not a syllable, if you would not suffer for it. 

 No harm will happen to you if you are only quiet." 



At the same moment, Mowle and the rest came running 

 across the lawn, and, giving the man into their hands, Layton 

 entered the house with Sir Robert Crovland. 



