“Our mistress has equipped and sent upon the wide and unbeaten sea, many a bark,” he said; “but never a lovelier than our own!—­Captain Ludlow, there has been some double-dealing between us; but that which is to follow, shall depend on our skill, seamanship, and the merits of the two crafts.  You serve Queen Anne, and I the sea-green lady.  Let each be true to his mistress, and Heaven preserve the deserving!—­Wilt see the book, before we make the trial?”

Ludlow intimated his assent, and the boat approached the figure-head.  It was impossible to prevent the feeling, which each of our three adventurers, not excepting the Alderman, felt when they came in full view of the motionless image.  The mysterious countenance appeared endowed with thought, and the malign smile seemed still more ironical than before.

“The first question was yours, and yours must be the first answer,” said Tiller, motioning for Ludlow to consult the page which was open.  “Our mistress deals chiefly in verses from the old writer, whose thoughts are almost as common to us all, as to human nature.”

“What means this?” said Ludlow, hastily—­

“She, Claudio, that you wrong’d, look, you restore.
—­love her Angelo;
I have confess’d her, and I know her virtue.”

“These are plain words; but I would rather that another priest should shrive her whom I love!”

“Hist!—­Young blood is swift and quickly heated.  Our lady of the bark will not relish hot speech, over her oracles.—­Come, Master Patroon, turn the page with the rattan, and see what fortune will give.”

Oloff Van Staats raised his powerful arm, with the hesitation, and yet with the curiosity, of a girl.  It was easy to read in his eye, the pleasure his heavy nature felt in the excitement; and yet it was easy to detect the misgivings of an erroneous education, by the seriousness of all the other members of his countenance.  He read aloud—­

    “I have a motion much imports your good;
    Whereto, if you’ll a willing ear incline
    What’s mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:—­
    So bring us to our palace, where we’ll show,
    What’s yet behind, that’s meet you all should know.”

    Measure For Measure.

“Fair-dealing, and fairer speech!  ’What’s yours is mine, and what is mine is yours,’ is Measure for Measure, truly, Patroon!” cried the Alderman.  “A more equitable bargain cannot be made, when the assets are of equal value.  Here is encouragement, in good sooth; and now, Master Mariner, we will land and proceed to the Lust in Rust, which must be the place meant in the verses.  ‘What’s yet behind,’ must be Alida, the tormenting baggage! who has been playing hide-and-seek with us, for no other reason than to satisfy her womanish vanity, by showing how uncomfortable she could make three grave and responsible men.  Let the boat go, Master Tiller, since that is thy name; and many thanks for thy civilities.”