“We may then resume our commerce,” said the trader, cooly seating himself before the open bale, while Ludlow and the maiden stood regarding each other in mute surprise.  “It is pleasant to exhibit these forbidden treasures to an officer of the Queen.  It may prove the means of gaining the royal patronage.  We were last among the velvets, and on the lagunes, of Venice.  Here is one of a color and quality to form a bridal dress for the Doge himself, in his nuptials with the sea!  We men of the ocean look upon that ceremony as a pledge Hymen will not forget us, though we may wander from his altars.  Do I justice to the faith of the craft, Captain Ludlow?—­or are you a sworn devotee of Neptune, and content to breathe your sighs to Venus, when afloat?  Well, if the damps and salt air of the ocean rust the golden chain, it is the fault of cruel nature!—­Ah! here is—­”

A shrill whistle sounded among the shrubbery, and the speaker became mute.  Throwing his cloths carelessly on the bale, he arose again, and seemed to hesitate.  Throughout the interview with Ludlow, the air of the free-trader had been mild, though, at times, it was playful; and not for an instant had he seemed to return the resentment which the other had so plainly manifested.  It now became perplexed, and, by the workings of his features, it would seem that he vacillated in his opinions.  The sounds of the whistle were heard, again.

“Ay, ay, Master Tom!” muttered the dealer in contraband.  “Thy note is audible, but why this haste?  Beautiful Alida, this shrill summons is to say, that the moment of parting is arrived!”

“We met with less of preparation,” returned la belle Barberie, who preserved all the distant reserve of her sex, under the jealous eyes of her admirer.

“We met without a warning, but shall our separation be without a memorial?  Am I to return with all these valuables to the brigantine, or, in their place, must I take the customary golden tribute?”

“I know not that I dare make a traffic which is not sanctioned by the law, in presence of a servitor of the Queen,” returned Alida, smiling.  “I will not deny that you have much to excite a woman’s envy; but our royal mistress might forget her sex, and show little pity, were she to hear of my weakness.”

“No fear of that, lady.—­’Tis they who are most stern in creating these harsh regulations, that show most frailty in their breach.  By the virtues of honest Leadenhall itself, but I should like to tempt the royal Anne, in her closet, with such a display of goodly laces and heavy brocades!”

“That might be more hazardous than wise!”

“I know not.  Though seated on a throne, she is but woman.  Disguise nature as thou wilt, she is a universal tyrant, and governs all alike.  The head that wears a crown dreams of the conquests of the sex, rather than of the conquests of states; the hand that wields the sceptre is fitted to display its prettiness, with the pencil, or the needle; and though words and ideas may be taught and sounded forth with the pomp of royalty; the tone is still that of woman.”