, to refuse
to look at his samples,--thou wilt follow, Master Seadrift, and so I will
pay thee the compliment to examine the effects--though the long war, the
glut of furs, the over-abundance of the last year's harvests, and the
perfect quiet in the mining districts, have thrown all commerce flat on
its back. I'll go, however; lest thou shouldst say, thy interests were
neglected. Thy Master Tiller is an indiscreet agent; he gave me a fright
to-day that exceeds any alarm I have felt since the failure of Van Halt,
Balance, and Diddle."

The voice of Myndert became inaudible, for, in his haste not to neglect
the interests of his guest, the tenacious trader had already quitted the
room, and half of his parting speech was uttered in the antechamber of the
pavilion.

"'Twould scarce comport with the propriety of my sex, to mingle with the
seamen, and the others who doubtless surround the bales," said Alida, in
whose face there was a marked expression of hesitation and curiosity.

"It will not be necessary," returned her companion. "I have, at hand,
specimens of all that you would see.--But, why this haste? We are yet in
the early hours of the night, and the Alderman will be occupied long, ere
he comes to the determination to pay the prices my people are sure to ask.
I am lately from off the sea, beautiful Alida, and thou canst not know the
pleasure I find in breathing even the atmosphere of a woman's presence."

La belle Barberie retired a step or two, she knew not why; and her hand
was placed upon the cord of the bell, before she was aware of the manner
in which she betrayed her alarm.

"To me it does not seem that I am a creature so terrific, that thou
need'st dread my presence," continued the gay mariner, with a smile that
expressed as much of secret irony, as of that pensive character which had
again taken possession of his countenance; "but ring, and bring your
attendants to relieve fears that are natural to thy sex, and therefore
seducing to mine. Shall I pull the cord?--for this pretty hand trembles
too much, to do its office."

"I know not that any would answer, for it is past the hour of
attendance;--it is better that I go to the examination of the bales."

The strange and singularly-attired being, who occasioned so much
uneasiness to Alida, regarded her a moment with a kind and melancholy
solicitude.

"Thus they are all, till altered by too much intercourse with a cold and
corrupt world!" he rather whispere