“The Patroon of Kinderhook is a bold boarder!” returned the free-trader, laughing.  “He has carried the residence of the lady of the brigantine by a coup-de-main; and he reposes on his laurels!  We of the contraband are merrier in our privacy than is thought, and those who join our mess seldom wish to quit it.”

“There may be occasion to look further into its mysteries—­until when, I wish you adieu.”

“Hold!” gaily cried the other, observing that Ludlow was about to quit the room—­“Let the time of our uncertainty be short, I pray thee.  Our mistress is like the insect, which takes the color of the leaf on which it dwells.  You have seen her in her sea-green robe, which she never fails to wear when roving over the soundings of your American coast:  but in the deep waters, her mantle vies with the blue of the ocean’s depths.  Symptoms of a change, which always denote an intended excursion far beyond the influence of the land, have been seen!”

“Harkee, Master Seadrift!  This foolery may do while you possess the power to maintain it.  But remember, that though the law only punishes the illegal trader by confiscation of his goods when taken, it punishes the kidnapper with personal pains, and sometimes with—­death!—­And, more—­remember that the line which divides smuggling from piracy is easily past, while the return becomes impossible.”

“For this generous counsel, in my mistress’s name I thank thee;” the gay mariner replied, bowing with a gravity that rather heightened than concealed his irony—­“Your Coquette is broad in the reach of her booms, and swift on the water, Captain Ludlow, but let her be capricious, wilful, deceitful, nay powerful, as she may, she shall find a woman in the brigantine equal to all her arts, and far superior to all her threats!”

With this prophetic warning on the part of the Queen’s officer, and cool reply on that of the dealer in contraband, the two sailors separated.  The latter took a book, and threw himself into a chair, with a well-maintained indifference; while the other left the house, in a haste that was not disguised.

In the mean time, the interview between Alderman Van Beverout and his niece still continued.  Minute passed after minute, and yet there was no summons to the pavilion.  The gay young seaman of the brigantine had continued his studies for some time after the disappearance of Ludlow, and he now evidently awaited an intimation that his presence was required in la Cour des Fees.  During these moments of anxiety, the air of the free-trader was sorrowful rather than impatient; and when a footstep was heard at the door of the room, he betrayed symptoms of strong and uncontrollable agitation.  It was the female attendant of Alida, who entered, presented a slip of paper, and retired.  The eager expectant read the following words, hastily written in pencil:—­