that fortune had placed him in a
profession, in which their use was nearly denied.

"It is not common for those who live on the sea, to feel this interest in
the trifles which constitute a woman's pleasure," she said, lingering,
spite of her better resolution to depart.

"The spirit of our rude and boisterous trade is then known to you?"

"It were not possible for the relation of a merchant, so extensively known
as my uncle, to be ignorant altogether of mariners."

"Ay, here is proof of it," returned the stranger, speaking so quick as
again to betray how sensitively his mind was constructed. "The History of
the American Buccaneers is a rare book to be found in a lady's library!
What pleasure can a mind like that of la belle Barberie find in these
recitals of bloody violence?"

"What pleasure, truly!" returned Alida, half tempted, by the wild and
excited eye of her companion, not withstanding all the contradictory
evidence which surrounded him, to believe she was addressing one of the
very rovers in question. "The book was lent me by a brave seaman, who
holds himself in readiness to repress their depredations; and while
reading of so much wickedness, I endeavor to recall the devotion of those
who risk their lives, in order to protect the weak and innocent--My uncle
will be angered, should I longer delay to apprize him of your presence."

"A single moment! It is long--very long, since I have entered a sanctuary
like this! Here is music; and there the frame for the gaudy tambour--these
windows look on a landscape, soft as thine own nature; and yonder ocean
can be admired without dreading its terrific power, or feeling disgust at
its coarser scenes. Thou shouldst be happy, here!"

The stranger turned, and perceived that he was alone. Disappointment was
strongly painted on his handsome face; but, ere there was time for second
thought, another voice was heard grumbling at the door of the saloon.

"Compacts and treaties! What, in the name of good faith, hath brought thee
hither? Is this the way to keep a cloak on our movements? or dost suppose
that the Queen will knight me, for being known as thy correspondent?"

"Lanterns and false-beacons!" returned the other, mimicking the voice of
the disconcerted burgher, and pointing to the lights that still stood
where last described. "Can the port be entered without respecting the
land-marks and signals?"

"This comes of moonlight and sentiment! When the girl should have been