“Zephyrs and Spas! but this is the abode of health, Patroon!” cried the burgher, as soon as these demonstrations of his own bodily condition had been sufficiently repeated.  “One sometimes feels in this air equal to holding a discourse, across the Atlantic, with his friends at Scheveling, or the Helder.  A broad and deep chest, air like this from the sea, with a clear conscience, and a lucky hit in the way of trade, cause the lungs of a man to play as easily and as imperceptibly as the wings of a humming-bird.—­Let me see; there are few four-score men in thy stock.  The last Patroon closed the books at sixty-six; and his father went but a little beyond seventy.  I wonder, there has never been an intermarriage, among you, with the Van Courtlandts; that blood is as good as an insurance to four-score and ten, of itself.”

“I find the air of your villa, Mr. Van Beverout, a cordial that one could wish to take often,” returned the other, who had far less of the brusque manner of the trader, than his companion.  “It is a pity that all who have the choice, do not profit by their opportunities to breathe it.”

“You allude to the lazy mariners in yon vessel!  Her Majesty’s servants are seldom in a hurry; and as for this brigantine in the Cove, the fellow seems to have gotten in by magic!  I warrant me, now, the rogue is there for no good, and that the Queen’s Exchequer will be none the richer for his visit.  Harkee, you Brom,” calling to an aged black, who was working at no great distance from the dwelling, and who was deep in his master’s confidence, “hast seen any boats plying between yonder roguish-looking brigantine and the land?”

The negro shook his head, like the earthen image of a mandarin, and laughed loud and heartily.

“I b’rieve he do all he mischief among a Yankee, an’ he only come here to take he breat’,” said the wily slave.  “Well, I wish, wid all a heart, dere would come free-trader, some time, along our shore Dat gib a chance to poor black man, to make an honest penny!”

“You see, Patroon, human nature itself rises against monopoly!  That was the voice of instinct, speaking with the tongue of Brom; and it is no easy task, for a merchant, to keep his dependants obedient to laws, which, in themselves, create so constant a temptation to break them.  Well, well; we will always hope for the best, and endeavor to act like dutiful subjects.  The boat is not amiss, as to form and rig, let her come from where she will.—­Dost think the wind will be off the land this morning?”

“There are signs of a change in the clouds.  One could wish that all should be out in the air, to taste this pleasant sea-breeze while it lasts.”

“Come, come,” cried the Alderman, who had for a moment studied the state of the heavens with a solicitude, that he feared might attract his companion’s attention.  “We will taste our breakfast.  This is the spot to show the use of teeth!  The negroes have not been idle during the night, Mr. Van Staats—­he-e-em—­I say, Sir, they have not been idle:—­and we shall have a choice among the dainties of the river and bay.—­That cloud above the mouth of the Raritan appears to rise, and we may yet have a breeze at west!”