Ludlow smiled, like one not to be deceived, as he continued.
“Well, sir, this man so far succeeded, as to tempt me to suffer him to land, under the obligation of some half-extorted promise—we came into the river together, and entered your grounds in company.”
Alderman Van Beverout now began to listen like a man who dreaded, while he desired to catch, each syllable. Observing that Ludlow paused, and watched his countenance with a cool and steady eye, he recovered his self-command, and affected a mere ordinary curiosity, while he signed to him to proceed.
“I am not sure I tell Alderman Van Beverout anything that is new,” resumed the young officer, “when I add, that the fellow suffered me to visit the pavilion, and then contrived to lead me into an ambush of lawless men, having previously succeeded in making captives of my boat’s-crew.”
“Seizures and warrants!” exclaimed the burgher in his natural strong and hasty manner of speaking.
“This is the first I have heard of the affair. It was ill-judged, to call it by no other term.”
Ludlow seemed relieved, when he saw, by the undisguised amazement of his companion, that the latter was, in truth, ignorant of the matter in which he had been detained.
“It might not have been, sir, had our watch been as vigilant as their artifice was deep,” he continued. “But I was little guarded, and having no means to reach my ship, I—”
“Aye, aye, Captain Ludlow; it is not necessary to be so circumstantial; you proceeded to the wharf, and——”
“Perhaps, sir, I obeyed my feelings, rather than my duty,” observed Ludlow, coloring high, when he perceived that the burgher paused to clear his throat “I returned to the pavilion, where——”