"
"Women are perverse, and sometimes they have pleasure in doing the very
thing they are desired not to do."
"Ma foi, oui!"
"Prudent men should manage them with soft words and rich gifts; with
these, they become orderly as a pair of well-broke geldings."
"Monsieur know," said the old valet, rubbing his hands, and laughing with
the subdued voice of a well-bred domestic, though he could not conceal a
jocular wink; "pourtant il est garcon! Le cadeau be good for de
demoiselles, and bettair as for de dames."
"Wedlock and blinkers! it is we gassons, as you call us, who ought to
know. Your hen-pecked husband has no time to generalize among the sex, in
order to understand the real quality of the article. Now, here is Van
Staats of Kinderhook, faithful Francois; what think you of such a youth
for a husband for Alida?"
"Pourtant, Mam'selle like de vivacite; Monsieur le Patroon be nevair trop
vif."
"The more likely to be sure--Hist, I hear a footstep. We are
followed--chased, perhaps, I should say, to speak in the language of these
sea-gentry. Now is the time to show this Captain Ludlow, how a Frenchman
can wind him round his finger, on terra-firma. Loiter in the rear, and
draw our navigator on a wrong course. When he has run into a fog, come
yourself, with all speed, to the oak on the bluff. There we shall await
you."
Flattered by this confidence, and really persuaded that he was furthering
the happiness of her he served, the old valet nodded, in reply to the
Alderman's wink and chuckle, and immediately relaxed his speed.
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