“I am no exciseman, to pry into wardrobes and secret repositories, but one whose duty it is to act only on the high seas, and against the more open violators of the law.  If you have any without, whose presence you desire, let them enter without dread of my office.  When we meet in a more suitable place, I shall know how to take my revenge.”

His companion looked grateful, and bowed her acknowledgments.  She then made a ringing sound, by using a spoon on the interior of one of the vessels of the tea equipage.  The shrubbery, which shaded a window, stirred; and presently, the young stranger, already so well known in the former pages of this work, and in the scenes of the brigantine, appeared in the low balcony.  His person was scarcely seen, before a light bale of goods was tossed past him, into the centre of the room.

“I send my certificate of character as an avant-courier;” said the gay dealer in contraband, or Master Seadrift, as he was called by the Alderman, touching his cap, gallantly, to the mistress of la Cour des Fees, and then, somewhat more ceremoniously to her companion; after which he returned the goldbound covering to its seat, on a bed of rich and glossy curls, and sought his package.  Here is one more customer than I bargained for, and I look to more than common gain!  We have met before, Captain Ludlow.”

“We have, Sir Skimmer of the Seas, and we shall meet again.  Winds may change, and fortune yet favor the right!”

“We trust to the sea-green lady’s care;” returned the extraordinary smuggler, pointing, with a species of reverence, real or affected, to the image that was beautifully worked, in rich colors, on the velvet of his cap.  What has been will be, and the past gives a hope for the future.  We meet, here, on neutral ground, I trust.”

“I am the commander of a royal cruiser, Sir:”  haughtily returned the other.

“Queen Anne may be proud of her servant!—­but we neglect our affairs.  A thousand pardons, lovely mistress of la Cour des Fees.  This meeting of two rude mariners does a slight to your beauty, and little credit to the fealty due the sex.  Having done with all compliments, I have to offer certain articles that never failed to cause the brightest eyes to grow more brilliant, and at which duchesses have gazed with many longings.”

“You speak with confidence of your associations, Master Seadrift, and rate noble personages among your customers, as familiarly as if you dealt in offices of state.”

“This skilful servitor of the Queen will tell you, lady, that the wind which is a gale on the Atlantic, may scarce cool the burning cheek of a girl on the land, and that the links in life are as curiously interlocked as the ropes of a ship.  The Ephesian temple, and the Indian wigwam, rested on the same earth.”

“From which you infer that rank does not alter nature.  We must admit, Captain Ludlow, that Master Seadrift understands a woman’s heart, when he tempts her with stores of tissues gay as these!”