rie may serve to prevent any misconceptions,
that might bring our connexion to a premature close. Let her be summoned."

"The girl is altogether ignorant of traffic, and it might unsettle her
opinions of her uncle's stability. If a man does not maintain credit
within his own doors, how can he expect it in the streets?"

"Many have credit on the highway, who receive none at home. But thou
knowest my humor; no niece--no traffic."

"Alida is a dutiful and affectionate child, and I would not willingly
disturb her slumbers. Here is the Patroon of Kinderhook, a man who loves
English legislation as little as myself;--he will be less reluctant to see
an honest shilling turned into gold. I will awake him: no man was ever yet
offended at an offer to share in a profitable adventure."

"Let him sleep on. I deal not with your lords of manors and mortgages.
Bring forth the lady, for there will be matter fit for her delicacy."

"Duty and the ten commandments! You never had the charge of a child,
Master Seadrift, and cannot know the weight of responsibility--"

"No niece--no traffic!" interrupted the wilful dealer in contraband,
returning his invoice to his pocket, and preparing to rise from the table,
where he had already seated himself.--"The lady knows of my presence; and
it were safer for us both, that she entered more deeply into our
confidence."

"Thou art as despotic as the English navigation-law! I hear the foot of
the child still pacing her chamber, and she shall come. But there need be
no explanations, to recall old intercourse.--The affair can pass as a bit
of accidental speculation--a by-play, in the traffic of life."

"As thou pleasest. I shall deal less in words than in business. Keep thine
own secrets, burgher, and they are safe. Still, I would have the lady, for
there is a presentiment that our connexion is in danger."

"I like not that word presentiment," grumbled the Alderman, taking a
light, and snuffing it with deliberate care; "drop but a single letter,
and one dreams of the pains and penalties of the Exchequer.--Remember thou
art a trafficker, who conceals his appearance on account of the cleverness
of his speculations."

"That is my calling, to the letter. Were all others as clever, the trade
would certainly cease.--Go, bring the lady."

The Alderman, who probably saw the necessity of making some explanation to
his niece, and who, it would seem, fully understood the positive character
of his companion,