"--Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed, to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood
I am not to his manners.--"
Merchant of Venice.
The moment the stranger was again alone, the entire expression of his
countenance underwent a change. The reckless and bold expression deserted
his eye, which once more became soft, if not pensive, as it wandered over
the different elegant objects that served to amuse the leisure of la belle
Barbérie. He arose, and touched the strings of a lute, and then, like
Fear, started back, as if recoiling at the sound he had made. All
recollection of the object of his visit was evidently forgotten, in a new
and livelier interest; and had there been one to watch his movements, the
last motive imputed to his presence would probably have been the one that
was true. There was so little of that vulgar and common character, which
is usually seen in men of his pursuit, in the gentle aspect and subdued
air of his fine features, that it might be fancied he was thus singularly
endowed by nature, in order that deception might triumph, if there were
moments when a disregard of opinion was seen in his demeanor, it rather
appeared assumed than easy; and even when most disposed to display lawless
indifference to the ordinary regulations of society, in his interview with
the Alderman, it had been blended with a reserve of manner that was
strangely in contrast with his humor.
On the other hand, it were idle to say that Alida de Barbérie had no
unpleasant suspicions concerning the character of her uncle's guest. That
baneful influence, which necessarily exerts itself near an irresponsible
power, coupled with the natural indifference with which the principal
regards the dependant, had caused the English Ministry to fill too many of
their posts of honor and profit, in the colonies, with needy and dissolute
men of rank, or of high political connexions at home. The Province of
New-York had, in this respect, been particularly unfortunate. The gift of
it by Charles to his brother and successor, had left it without the
protection of those charters and other privileges that had been granted to
most of the governments of America. The connexion with the crown was
direct, and, for a long period, the majority of the inhabitants were
considered as of a different race, and of course as of one less to be
considered, than that of their conquerors. Such was the laxity of the
times on the subject of injustice to the people of this hemisphere, that
the predatory expeditions of Drake and others against the wealthy
occupants of the more southern countries, seem to have left no spots on
their escutcheons; and the honors and favors of Queen Elizabeth had been
liberally extended to men who would now be deemed freebooters. In short,
that system of violence and specious morality, which commenced with the
gifts of Ferdinand and Isabella, and the bulls of the Popes, was
continued, with more or less of modification, until the descendants of
those single-minded and virtuous men who peopled the Union, took the
powers of government into their own hands, and proclaimed political ethics
that were previously as little practised as understood.
Alida knew that both the Earl of Bellamont and the unprincipled nobleman
who has been introduced in the earlier pages of this tale, had not escaped
the imputation of conniving at acts on the sea, far more flagrant than any
of an unlawful trade; and it will therefore create little surprise, that
she saw reason to distrust the legality of some of her uncle's
speculations, with less pain than might be felt by one of her sex and
opinions at the present hour. Her suspicions, however, fell far short of
the truth; for it were scarce possible to have presented a mariner, who
bore about him fewer of those signs of his rude calling, than he whom she
had so unexpectedly met.
Perhaps, too, the powerful charm, that existed in the voice and
countenance of one so singularly gifted by nature, had its influence in
persuading Alida to reappear. At all events, she was soon seen to enter
the room, with an air, that manifested more of curiosity and wonder, than
of displeasure.
"My niece has heard that thou comest from the old countries, Master
Seadrift," said the wary Alderman, who preceded Alida, "and the woman is
uppermost in her heart. Thou wilt never be forgiven, should the eye of any
maiden in Manhattan get sight of thy finery before she has passed judgment
on its merit."
"I cannot wish a more impartial or a fairer judge;" returned the other,
doffing his cap in the gallant and careless manner of his trade. "Here are
silks from the looms of Tuscany, and Lyonnois brocades, that any Lombard,
or dame of France, might envy. Ribbons of every hue and dye, and laces
that seem to copy the fret-work of the richest cathedral of your Fleming!"
"Thou hast journeyed much, in thy time, Master Seadrift, and speakest of
countries and usages with understanding," said the Alderman. "But how
stand the prices of these precious goods? Thou knowest the long war, and
the moral certainty of its continuance; this German succession to the
throne, and the late earthquakes in the country, too, have much unsettled
prices, and cause us thoughtful burghers to be wary in our traffic.--Didst
inquire the cost of geldings, when last in Holland?"
"The animals go a-begging!--As to the value of my goods, that you know is
fixed; for I admit of no parley between friends."
"Thy obstinacy is unreasonable, Master Seadrift. A wise merchant will
always look to the state of the market, and one so practised should know
that a nimble sixpence multiplies faster than a slow-moving shilling. 'Tis
the constant rolling of the ball that causes the snow to cleave! Goods
that come light should not go heavy, and quick settlements follow sudden
bargains. Thou knowest our York saying, that 'first offers are the best.'"
"He that likes may purchase, and he that prefers his gold to fine laces,
rich silks, and stiff brocades, has only to sleep with his money-bags
under his pillow. There are others who wait, with impatience, to see the
articles; and I have not crossed the Atlantic, with a freight that
scarcely ballasts the brigantine, to throw away the valuables on the
lowest bidder."
"Nay, uncle," said Alida, in a little trepidation "we cannot judge of the
quality of Master Seadrift's articles, by report. I dare to say, he has
not landed without a sample of his wares?"
"Custom and friendships!" muttered Myndert; "of what use is an established
correspondence, if it is to be broken on account of a little cheapening?
But produce thy stores, Mr. Dogmatism; I warrant me the fashions are of
some rejected use, or that the color of the goods be impaired by the usual
negligence of thy careless mariners. We will, at least pay thee the
compliment to look at the effects."
"'Tis as you please," returned the other. "The bales are in the usual
place, at the wharf, under the inspection of honest Master Tiller--but if
so inferior in quality, they will scarce repay the trouble of the walk."
"I'll go, I'll go," said the Alderman, adjusting his wig and removing his
spectacles; "'twould not be treating an old correspondent well, 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 Barbérie 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 whispered, than uttered aloud. "Would that thus
they might all continue! Thou art a singular compound of thy sex's
weakness, and of manly resolution, belle Barbérie; but trust me," and he
laid his hand on his heart with an earnestness that spoke well for his
sincerity; "ere word, or act, to harm or to offend thee, should proceed
from any who obey will of mine, nature itself must undergo a change. Start
not, for I call one to show the specimens you would see."
He then applied a little silver whistle to his lips, and drew a low signal
from the instrument, motioning to Alida to await the result, without
alarm. In half a minute, there was a rustling among the leaves of the
shrubbery, a moment of attentive pause, and then a dark object entered the
window, and rolled heavily to the centre of the floor.
"Here are our commodities, and trust me the price shall not be dwelt on,
between us," resumed Master Seadrift, undoing the fastenings of the little
bale, that had entered the saloon, seemingly without the aid of hands.
"These goods are so many gages of neutrality, between us; so approach, and
examine, without fear. You will find some among them to reward the
hazard."
The bale was now open, and as its master appeared to be singularly expert
in suiting a female fancy, it became impossible for Alida to resist any
longer. She gradually lost her reserve, as the examination proceeded; and
before the owner of the treasures had got into the third of his packages,
the hands of the heiress were as actively employed as his own, in gaining
access to their view.
"This is a stuff of the Lombard territories," said the vender of the
goods, pleased with the confidence he had succeeded in establishing
between his beautiful customer and himself. "Thou seest, it is rich,
flowery, and variegated as the land it came from. One might fancy the
vines and vegetation of that deep soil were shooting from this labor of
the loom--nay, the piece is sufficient for any toilette, however ample;
see, it is endless as the plains that reared the little animal who
supplies the texture. I have parted of that fabric to many dames of
England, who have not disdained to traffic with one that risks much in
their behalf."
"I fear there are many who find a pleasure in these stuffs, chiefly
because their use is forbidden."
"'Twould not be out of nature! Look; this box contains ornaments of the
elephant's tooth, cut by a cunning artificer in the far Eastern lands;
they do not disfigure a lady's dressing-table, and have a moral, for they
remind her of countries where the sex is less happy than at home. Ah! here
is a treasure of Mechlin, wrought in a fashion of my own design."
"'Tis beautifully fancied, and might do credit to one who professed the
painter's art."
"My youth was much employed in these conceits," returned the trader,
unfolding the rich and delicate lace in a manner to show that he had still
pleasure in contemplating its texture and quality. "There was a compact
between me and the maker, that enough should be furnished to reach from
the high church-tower of his town, to the pavement beneath; and yet, you
see how little remains! The London dames found it to their taste, and it
was not easy to bring even this trifle into the colonies."
"You chose a remarkable measure for an article that was to visit so many
different countries, without the formalities of law!"
"We thought to start in the favor of the church, which rarely frowns on
those who respect its privileges. Under the sanction of such authority, I
will lay aside all that remains, certain it will be needed for thy use."
"So rare a manufacture should be costly?"
La belle Barbérie spoke hesitatingly, and as she raised her eyes, they met
the dark organs of her companion, fixed on her face, in a manner that
seemed to express a consciousness of the ascendency he was gaining.
Startled, at she knew not what the maiden again added hastily--
"This may be fitter for a court lady, than a girl of the colonies."
"None who have vet worn of it, so well become it;--I lay it here, as a
make-weight in my bargain with the Alderman.--This is satin of Tuscany; a
country where nature exhibits its extremes, and one whose merchants were
princes. Your Florentine was subtle in his fabrics, and happy in his
conceits of forms and colors, for which he stood indebted to the riches of
his own climate. Observe--the hue of this glossy surface is scarcely so
delicate as I have seen the rosy light, at even, playing on the sides of
his Apennines!"
"You have then visited the regions, in whose fabrics you deal?" said
Alida, suffering the articles to fall from her hand, in the stronger
interest she began to feel in their owner.
"'Tis my habit. Here have we a chain from the city of the Isles. The hand
of a Venetian could alone form these delicate and nearly insensible links:
I refused a string of spotless pearls for that same golden web."
"It was indiscreet, in one who trades at so much hazard."
"I kept the bauble for my pleasure!--Whim is sometimes stronger than the
thirst of gain; and this chain does not quit me, till I bestow it on the
lady of my love."
"One so actively employed can scarcely spare time to seek a fitting object
for the gift."
"Is merit and loveliness in the sex, so rare? La belle Barbérie speaks in
the security of many conquests, or she would not deal thus lightly, in a
matter that is so serious with most females."
"Among other countries your vessel hath visited a land of witchcraft, or
you would not pretend to a knowledge of things, that, in their very
nature, must be hidden from a stranger.--Of what value may be those
beautiful feathers of the ostrich?"
"They came of swarthy Africa, though so spotless themselves. The bunch was
had, by secret traffic, from a Moorish man, in exchange for a few skins of
Lachrymyæ Christi, that he swallowed with his eyes shut. I dealt with the
fellow, only in pity for his thirst, and do not pride myself on the value
of the commodity. It shall go, too, to quicken love between me and thy
uncle."
Alida could not object to this liberality, though she was not without a
secret opinion that the gifts were no more than delicate and
well-concealed offerings to herself. The effect of this suspicion was
two-fold; it caused the maiden to become more reserved in the expression
of her tastes, though it in no degree lessened her confidence in, and
admiration of, the wayward and remarkable trader.
"My uncle will have cause to commend thy generous spirit," said the
heiress, bending her head a little coldly, at this repeated declaration of
her companion's intentions, "though it would seem that, in trade, justice
is as much to be desired as generosity;--this seemeth a curious design,
wrought with the needle!"
"It is the labor of many a day, fashioned by the hand of a recluse. I
bought it of a nun, in France, who passed years in toil, upon the conceit,
which is of more value than the material. The meek daughter of solitude
wept when she parted with the fabric, for, in her eyes, it had the tie of
association and habit. A companion might be lost to one who lives in the
confusion of the world, and it should not cause more real sorrow, than
parting from the product of her needle, gave that mild resident of the
cloisters!"
"And is it permitted for your sex to visit those places of religious
retirement?" asked Alida. "I come of a race that pays little deference to
monastic life, for we are refugees from the severity of Louis; but yet I
never heard my father charge these females with being so regardless of
their vows."
"The fact was so repeated to me; for, surely, my sex are not admitted to
traffic, directly, with the modest sisters;" (a smile, that Alida was
half-disposed to think bold, played about the handsome mouth of the
speaker) "but it was so reported. What is your opinion of the merit of
woman, in thus seeking refuge from the cares, and haply from the sins, of
the world, in institutions of this order."
"Truly the question exceedeth my knowledge. This is not a country to
immure females, and the custom causes us of America little thought."
"The usage hath its abuses," continued the dealer in contraband, speaking
thoughtfully; "but it is not without its good. There are many of the weak
and vain, that would be happier in the cloisters, than if left to the
seductions and follies of life.--Ah! here is work of English hands. I
scarcely know how the articles found their way into the company of the
products of the foreign looms. My bales contain, in general, little that
is vulgarly sanctioned by the law. Speak me, frankly, belle Alida, and say
if you share in the prejudices against the character of us free-traders?"
"I pretend not to judge of regulations that exceed the knowledge and
practices of my sex," returned the maiden, with commendable reserve.
"There are some who think the abuse of power a justification of its
resistance, while others deem a breach of law to be a breach of morals."
"The latter is the doctrine of your man of invested moneys and established
fortune! He has entrenched his gains behind acknowledged barriers, and he
preaches their sanctity, because they favor his selfishness. We skimmers
of the sea--"
Alida started so suddenly, as to cause her companion to cease speaking.
"Are my words frightful, that you pale at their sound?"
"I hope they were used rather in accident, than with their dreaded
meaning. I would not have it said--no! 'tis but a chance that springs from
some resemblance in your callings. One, like you, can never be the man
whose name has grown into a proverb!"
"One like me, beautiful Alida, is much as fortune wills. Of what man, or
of what name wouldst speak?"
"'Tis nothing," returned la belle Barbérie, gazing unconsciously at the
polished and graceful features of the stranger, longer than was wont in
maiden. "Proceed with your explanation;--these are rich velvets!"
"They come of Venice, too; but commerce is like the favor which attends
the rich, and the Queen of the Adriatic is already far on the decline.
That which causes the increase of the husbandman, occasions the downfall
of a city. The lagunes are filling with fat soil, and the keel of the
trader is less frequent there than of old. Ages hence, the plow may trace
furrows where the Bucentaur has floated! The outer India passage has
changed the current of prosperity, which ever rushes in the widest and
newest track. Nations might learn a moral, by studying the sleepy canals
and instructive magnificence of that fallen town; but pride fattens on its
own lazy recollections, to the last!--As I was saying, we rovers deal
little in musty maxims, that are made by the great and prosperous at home,
and are trumpeted abroad, in order that the weak and unhappy should be the
more closely riveted in their fetters."
"Methinks you push the principle further than is necessary, for one whose
greatest offence against established usage is a little hazardous commerce.
These are opinions, that might unsettle the world."
"Rather settle it, by referring all to the rule of right. When governments
shall lay their foundations in natural justice, when their object shall be
to remove the temptations to err, instead of creating them, and when
bodies of men shall feel and acknowledge the responsibilities of
individuals--why, then the Water-Witch, herself, might become a
revenue-cutter, and her owner an officer of the customs!"
The velvet fell from the hands of la belle Barbérie, and she arose from
her seat with precipitation.
"Speak plainly," said Alida with all her natural firmness. "With whom am I
about to traffic?"
"An outcast of society--a man condemned in the opinions of the world--the
outlaw--the flagrant wanderer of the ocean--the lawless 'Skimmer of the
Seas!'" cried a voice, at the open window.
In another minute, Ludlow was in the room Alida uttered a shriek, veiled
her face in her robe, and rushed from the apartment.