Lance made his appearance at breakfast the next morning rather late, and as he entered the room, wondering whether his father knew of the events of the night, he saw at a glance that everything had come out, for the squire was speaking angrily to Alfred, who stood before him with his face cut and scratched, and a great piece of sticking-plaister across one hand.  
"Oh," he cried, "there you are, sir!"
"You may have considered it your duty, sir, still I think it was very dishonourable of Captain Barry to make use of you as his spy without a word to me; but of course he would know that I should not countenance such a thing. It is quite time you went away from home, sir; so prepare yourself, and you will go to one of the big grammar schools as soon as you can make arrangements. That will do, sir: I do not want to hear another word. I am a magistrate, and I want to uphold the law, but all this business seems to me cowardly and bad.—Oh," he cried, "there you are, sir!"
 
"Yes, father," said Lance, drawing a deep breath.
 
"You know, I suppose, that the King's men have found a nest of smugglers here, under my very nose?"
 
"Yes, father."
 
"And you were in bed all night, of course?"
 
"No, father. I found out by accident that Alf was going to betray them."
 
"Betray, eh? And pray how?"
 
"He burnt blue lights at the top window as a signal to bring the French lugger ashore."
 
"Indeed! Worse and worse," cried the squire angrily. "And you, sir—pray what did you do?"
 
"Went and told Old Poltree and his lads to look out.&qu............