“’Tis impossible.  The flood is entering it like water rushing through a race-way, and we have the wind at east.  But, fear not; the brigantine carries no vulgar freight, and your commerce has given us a swept hold.  The Queen and the Braganza, with Holland ducats, might show their faces even in the Royal Exchequer itself!  We have no want of passes, and the Miller’s-Maid is just as good a name to hail by, as the ‘Water-witch.’  We begin to tire of this constant running, and have half a mind to taste the pleasures of your Jersey sports, for a week.  There should be shooting on the upper plains?”

“Heaven forbid!  Heaven forbid!  Master Seadrift.—­I had all the deer taken for the skins, ten years ago;—­and as to birds, they deserted us, to a pigeon, when the last tribe of the savages went west of the Delaware.  Thou hast discharged thy brigantine to better effect, than thou couldst ever discharge thy fowling-pieces.  I hope the hospitality of the Lust in Rust is no problem—­but, blushes and curiosity!  I could wish to keep a fair countenance, among my neighbors.  Art sure the impertinent masts of the brigantine will not be seen above the trees, when the day comes?  This Captain Ludlow is no laggard when he thinks his duty actually concerned.”

“We shall endeavor to keep him quiet.  The cover of the trees, and the berth of the boat, make all snug, as respects his people.  I leave worthy Tiller to settle balances between us; and so, I take my leave.  Master Alderman—­a word at parting Does the Viscount Cornbury still tarry in the Provinces?”

“Like a fixture.  There is not a mercantile house in the colony more firmly established.”

“There are unsettled affairs between us.—­A small premium would buy the obligations——­”

“Heaven keep thee, Master Seadrift, and pleasant voyages, back and forth!  As for the Viscount’s responsibility—­the Queen may trust him with another Province, but Myndert Van Beverout would not give him credit for the tail of a marten; and so, again, Heaven preserve thee!”

The dealer in contraband appeared to tear himself from the sight of all the little elegancies that adorned the apartment of la belle Barberie, with reluctance.  His adieus to the Alderman were rather cavalier, for he still maintained a cold and abstracted air; but as the other scarcely observed the forms of decorum, in his evident desire to get rid of his guest, the latter was finally obliged to depart.  He disappeared by the low balcony, where he had entered.

When Myndert Van Beverout was alone, he shut the windows of the pavilion of his niece, and retired to his own part of the dwelling.  Here the thrifty burgher first busied himself in making sundry calculations, with a zeal that proved how much his mind was engrossed by the occupation.  After this preliminary step, he gave a short but secret conference to the mariner of the India-shawl, during which there was much clinking of gold pieces.  But when the latter retired,