the face of the Braganza, that thou
studiest it so hard?"

"The piece peems none of the heaviest--but, luckily, I have scales at
hand,--"

"Hold!" said the stranger, laying his hand, which according to a fashion
of that day, was clad in a delicate and scented glove, lightly on the arm
of the other: "No scales between us, Sir! That was taken in return for thy
adventure; heavy or light, it must go down. We deal in confidence, and
this hesitation offends me. Another such doubt of my integrity, and our
connexion is at an end."

"A calamity I should deplore, quite or nearly as much as thyself,"
returned Myndert, affecting to laugh; though he slipped the suspected
doubloon into the bag again, in a manner that at once removed the object
of contention from view. "A little particularity in the balance part of
commerce serves to maintain friendships. But a trifle shall not cause us
to waste the precious time.--Hast brought goods suited to the colonies?"

"In plenty."

"And ingeniously assorted? Colonies and monopoly!--But there is a two-fold
satisfaction in this clandestine traffic! I never get the notice of thy
arrival, Master Seadrift, but the heart within me leapeth of gladness!
There is a double pleasure in circumventing the legislation of your London
wiseacres!"

"The chiefest of which is--?"

"A goodly return for the investment, truly--I desire not to deny the
agency of natural causes; but, trust me, there is a sort of professional
glory in thus defeating the selfishness of our rulers. What! are we born
of woman, to be used as the instruments of their prosperity! Give us equal
legislation, a right to decide on the policy of enactments, and then, like
a loyal and obedient subject,--"

"Thou wouldst still deal in the contraband!"

"Well, well, multiplying idle words is not multiplying gold. The list of
the articles introduced can be forthcoming?"

"It is here, and ready to be examined. But there is a fancy come over me,
Alderman Van Beverout, which, like others of my caprices, thou knowest
must have its way. There should be a witness to our bargain."

"Judges and juries! Thou forgettest, man, that a clumsy galliot could
sail through the tightest clause, of these extra-legal compacts. The
courts receive the evidence of this sort of traffic, as the grave receives
the dead; to swallow all, and be forgotten."

"I care not for the courts, and little desire do I feel to enter them. But
the presence of la belle Barbe