422 THE SMUGGLER. 



be done! Clear the room of your men, sergeant. They are 

 not wanted here; but stay, I will speak with Mr. Haveland;" 

 and he went out, followed by the sergeant and some half-dozen 

 of the dragoons, who had accompanied their non-commissioned 

 officer into the room. 



Layton soon returned; but the precautions he had gone to 

 enforce were vain. The person who had arrived in the chaise, 

 proved to be a somewhat disreputable clergyman from a distant 

 parish. Young Eichard Kadford was not taken; another fate 

 awaited him. A man, indeed, on horseback, was seen to ap- 

 proach the grounds of Radford Hall towards eleven o'clock; 

 but the lights that were apparent through many windows 

 seemed to startle him as he rode along the road. He paused 

 for a moment, and gazed, and then advanced more slowly; 

 but the eagerness of '"the small guard at that point, perhaps, 

 frustrated their object, for it is not certain to this day who the 

 person was. When he again halted, and seemed to hesitate, 

 they dashed out after him ; but instantly setting spurs to his 

 horse, he galloped oif into the woods and, knowing the country 

 better than they did, he was soon lost to their pursuit. 



In the mean time, the result of the search in Mr. Radford's 

 house was made known, in a formal manner, to the party 

 assembled in the small drawing-room. Abundant evidence 

 was found of his having been implicated in all the most crimi- 

 nal parts of the late smuggling transactions, and the business 

 of the night concluded by an order to remand him, to be 

 brought before the bench of magistrates on the following day: 

 for Sir Robert Croyland declined to commit him on his own 

 responsibility. 



" He has preferred a charge against me," he said, in the 

 same firm tone he had lately assumed, "let us see whether he 

 will sustain it to-morrow.'' 



Before all was concluded, it was near midnight; and then 

 every one rose to depart. Mr. Croyland eagerly asked for 

 Edith, saying he would convey her home in his carriage; but 

 Layton interposed, replying, " We will bring her to you in a 

 moment, my dear friend. Sir Robert, it may be as well that 

 you and I should seek Miss Croyland alone. I think I saw her 

 maid below." 



"Certainly/' answered her father; "let us go, my dear 

 Henry, for it is growing very late." 



