"Were his prayers answered?" asked Isabel.
"There were always plenty of wrecks, if that is what you mean."
"The wreckers were a terrible people," said Lord Wrexham, "and it was a terrible state of society which made such things possible."
"It is a comfort to think that these customs were confined to Cornwall and the last century," said Isabel.
"Were they?" asked Madderley.
"I think so," replied Lord Wrexham, "of course one has heard of wrecks and salvage on other shores; but I believe that the custom of deliberately causing wrecks by means of false lights was peculiar to Cornwall."
"I hope you are right," said the artist, "I cannot, of course, give names or dates, but I have an idea that I have heard of cases of cruel and avoidable wrecks in other counties than Cornwall, and considerably later than the last century."
"Indeed! I had believed that such savagery was extinct in England. I suppose, however, that the love of gain was the motive now as then?" And his lordship looked quite distressed.
"And the love of excitement."
"Dear me, how shocking!"