"The smugglers are getting bolder and bolder, confound ’em," Mr. Mildmay went on. "With the land force so weak, what’s the result? If I’m called to a spot, ten to one by a trick, I must leave the rest of the coast unguarded. As you know, the only man permanently in this neighbourhood is old Penwarden, who is zealous enough, but not so active as a younger man would be." "No, poor man," said Mrs. Trevanion. "He has often said to me that he fears the Government will replace him. He will cling to his duty as long as he can for the sake of his old sister. You know he supports her, in Truro, Mr. Mildmay." "I know it, and I’m not the man to put him out of a job, though one of these days a Commissioner of Customs will make his appearance, and then I’ll get a wigging." All this while Dick had been considering whether he ought to tell the lieutenant about the strange vessels he had seen. He knew that smuggling was the only matter on which there was a certain constraint between his father and Mr. Mildmay. It was tacitly understood between them that the Squire would not round on the smugglers. On the other hand, the revenue officer knew that anything he told the Squire would be perfectly safe with him. He therefore discussed the subject quite openly with his old messmate, though, like a wise general, he never spoke about any plans that he had in view. Dick made up his mind to say nothing. The lieutenant’s cutter was lying in the little harbour, and if he mentioned what he had seen, Mr. Mildmay would certainly hurry away and sail in chase of the stranger. What the Squire would not do, his son could not. But he had scarcely come to this decision when matters took an unexpected turn. "By the way, Squire," said the lieutenant, "I’ve just heard from Plymouth that the _Aimable Vertu_—precious fine name for a rascally privateer—is showing herself very active in the Channel. She made two captures last week, and was sighted two days ago off Falmouth, where a barque only just managed to escape her. She’s said to be a vessel of extraordinary speed. The Government would give a good deal to catch her and hang her captain, that daredevil Frenchman, Delarousse; but it’s with privateers as it is with smugglers: we can’t be everywhere at once, and while we’re fighting the French on the high seas, I suppose our home waters must be left to the enemy."