324
HISTORY OF LACE.
smile, and at once settling him to be a spy, she loudly acceptedthe offer; but that night, before going to bed, secretly caused theveil to be sewn up in the waistcoat of the newly elected M.P., insuch a manner that it filled the hollow of his back. Next morningthey started, and reached London in safety, while her friend,who remained two days later, was stopped, and underwent arigorous but unsuccessful examination from the custom-houseofficers.
The free trade principles of the nineteenth century have put amore effectual stop to smuggling than all the activity of revenueofficers, spies, and informers, or even laws framed for the punish-ment of the offenders.