La belle Barberie was seated at the little table, by whose side she had been found, earlier in the evening.  An elbow rested on the precious wood, and one fair hand supported a brow that was thoughtful far beyond the usual character of its expression, if not melancholy.  The commander of the Coquette felt the blood rushing to his heart, for he fancied that the beautiful and pensive countenance was that of a penitent.  It is probable that the idea quickened his drooping hopes; for Ludlow believed it might not yet be too late to rescue the woman, he so sincerely loved, from the precipice over which she was suspended.  The seemingly irretrievable step, already taken, was forgotten; and the generous young sailor was about to rush back to la Cour des Fees, to implore its mistress to be just to herself, when the hand fell from her polished brow, and Alida raised her face, with a look which denoted that she was no longer alone.  The captain drew back, to watch the issue.

When Alida lifted her eyes, it was in kindness, and with that frank ingenuousness with which an unperverted female greets the countenance of those who have her confidence.  She smiled, though still in sadness rather than in pleasure; and she spoke, but the distance prevented her words from being audible.  At the next instant, Seadrift moved into the space visible through the half-drawn drapery, and took her hand.  Alida made no effort to withdraw the member; but, on the contrary, she looked up into his face with still less equivocal interest, and appeared to listen to his voice with an absorbed attention.  The gate was swung violently open, and Ludlow had reached the margin of the river before he again paused.

The barge of the Coquette was found where her commander had ordered his people to lie concealed, and he was about to enter it, when the noise of the little gate, again shutting with the wind, induced him to cast a look behind.  A human form was distinctly to be seen, against the light walls of the villa, descending towards the river.  The men were commanded to keep close, and, withdrawing within the shadow of a fence, the captain waited the approach of the new-comer.

As the unknown person passed, Ludlow recognized the agile form of the free-trader.  The latter advanced to the margin of the river, and gazed warily about him for several minutes.  A low but distinct note, on a common ship’s-call, was then heard.  The summons was soon succeeded by the appearance of a small skiff, which glided out of the grass on the opposite side of the stream, and approached the spot where Seadrift awaited its arrival.  The free-trader sprang lightly into the little boat, which immediately began to glide out of the river.  As the skiff passed the spot where he stood, Ludlow saw that it was pulled by a single seaman; and, as his own boat was manned by six lusty rowers, he felt that the person of the man whom he so much envied was at length fairly and honorably in his power.  We shall not attempt to analyze the emotion that was ascendant in the mind of the young officer.  It is enough for our purpose to add, that he was soon in his boat and in full pursuit.