Part 14 (2/2)
”In what manner am I to blame, or why is my privacy to be interrupted, because a wandering seaman has deceived the commander of the Coquette?”
rejoined Alida. ”Not only that audacious mariner, but this--this person,”
she added, adopting a word that use has appropriated to the mult.i.tude, ”is a stranger to me. There is no other connexion between us, than that you see.”
”It is not necessary to say why I landed,” continued Ludlow; ”but I was weak enough to allow that unknown mariner to quit my s.h.i.+p, in my company; and when I would return, he found means to disarm my men, and make me a prisoner.”
”And yet, art thou, for a captive, tolerably free!” added the ironical voice.
”Of what service is this freedom, without the means of using it? The sea separates me from my s.h.i.+p, and my faithful boat's-crew are in fetters. I have been little watched, myself; but though forbidden to approach certain points, enough has been seen to leave no doubts of the character of those whom Alderman Van Beverout entertains.”
”Thou wouldst also say, and his niece, Ludlow?”
”I would say nothing harsh to, or disrespectful of, Alida de Barberie. I will not deny that a harrowing idea possessed me,--but I see my error, and repent having been so hasty.”
”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 s.e.x, 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 s.e.x, 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 s.e.x, 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.”
”Without bringing into question the merits of our present royal mistress,”
said Alida, who was a little apt to a.s.sert her s.e.x's rights, ”there is the example of the glorious Elizabeth, to refute his charge.”
”Ay, we have had our Cleopatras in the sea-fight, and fear was found stronger than love! The sea has monsters, and so may have the land. He, that made the earth gave it laws that 'tis not good to break. We men are jealous of our qualities, and little like to see them usurped; and trust me, lady, she that forgets the means that nature bestows, may mourn in sorrow over the fatal error.--But, shall we deal in velvet, or is your taste more leaning to brocade?”
Alida and Ludlow listened in admiration to the capricious and fanciful language of the unaccountable trader, and both were equally at a loss to estimate his character. The equivocal air was in general well maintained, though the commander of the Coquette had detected an earnestness and feeling in his manner, when he more particularly addressed la belle Barberie, that excited an uneasiness he was ashamed to admit, even to himself. That the maiden herself observed this change, might also be inferred, from a richer glow which diffused itself over her features, though it is scarce probable that she was conscious of its effects. When questioned as to her determination concerning his goods, she again regarded Ludlow, doubtingly, ere she answered.
”That you have not studied woman in vain,” she laughingly replied, ”I must fain acknowledge. And yet, ere I make a decision, suffer me to consult those who, being more accustomed to deal with the laws, are better judges of the propriety of the purchases.”
”If this request were not reasonable in itself, it were due to your beauty and station, lady, to grant it. I leave the bale in your care; and, before tomorrow's sun has set, one will await the answer Captain Ludlow, are we to part in friends.h.i.+p, or does your duty to the Queen proscribe the word.”
”If what you seem,” said Ludlow, ”you are a being inexplicable! If this be some masquerade, as I half suspect, 'tis well maintained, at least, though not worthily a.s.sumed.”
”You are not the first who has refused credit to his senses, in a manner wherein the Water-Witch and her commander have been concerned.--Peace, honest Tom--thy whistle will not hasten Father Time! Friend, or not, Captain Ludlow need not be told he is my prisoner.”
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