THE SMUGGLED. 417 



Croylafld entered, exclaiming, " How's this, how's 

 this? I came to take a dove out of a hawk's nest, and here 

 I find the dogs unearthing a fox." 



" I am very glad you are come, sir," replied Mr. Radford, 

 before anyone else could speak; "for, though you are the 

 brother of that person sitting there, you are a man of honour, 

 and an honest man " 



"More than I can say for you, Radford," grumbled Mr. 

 Croyland. 



"And, moreover, a magistrate for this county," continued 

 Mr. Radford. 



" I never act, I never act!" cried the old gentleman. " I 

 never have acted; I never will act." 



" But in this case I shall insist upon your acting," said the 

 prisoner; "for your brother, who is now proceeding thus 

 virulently against me, does it to shield himself from a charge 

 of murder, which he knew I was about to bring against him." 



" Fiddlesticks' ends!" cried Mr. Croyland. " This is what 

 people call turning the tables, I think. But it won't succeed 

 with me, my good friend. I am an old bird, a very old bird, 

 indeed ; and I don't like chaff at all, Radford. If you have 

 any charge to make against my brother, you must make it 

 where you are going. I'll have nothing to do with it. I 

 always knew him to be a fool; but never suspected him of 

 being anything else." 



"At all events," said Mr. Radford, in a gloomy tone, 

 " since simple justice is denied me at all hands, I require that 

 the papers which have been seized in this house, be placed in 

 proper hands, and duly authenticated. The important evi- 

 dence of the crime of which I charge him, has been given by 

 your brother, sir, to one who has but too great an interest, I 

 believe, to conceal or destroy it. I say it boldly, those papers 

 are not safe in the keeping of Sir Henry Layton; and I 

 demand that they be given up, duly marked by the clerk, and 

 signed by myself, and some independent person." 



Layton's eyes flashed for a moment, at the insinuation which 

 the prisoner threw out ; but he overcame his anger instantly, 

 and took the papers which had been handed him, from his 

 pocket, saying, " I will most willingly resign these documents 

 whatever they may be. Mr. Croyland, this person seems to 

 wish that you should keep them rather than myself; but here 

 DD 



