"Heaven help the men of the Old World, if they drink more than they do in our province!" exclaimed Mistress Weasel. "Look in the tap-room, and you may see the end of a day's work in at least ten great loons. One half are sound asleep, and the other of so dim sight that neither can see his neighbour." "The better reason then, Mistress Dorothy," replied Dauntrees, "why you, a reputable woman, should leave such topers, and keep company with sober, waking, discreet friends. That cap becomes thee, mistress. I never saw you in so dainty a head-gear. I honour it as a covering altogether worthy of thy comeliness. Faith, it has been a rich piece of merchandise to me! Upon an outlay of fourteen shillings which I paid for it, as a Michaelmas present to my excellent hostess, I have got in return, by way of profit, full thirteen bottles of Garret's choicest Canary, on my wager. Garret was obstinate, and would face me out with it that you wore it to church last Sunday, when I knew that you went only in your hood that day:--he has never an eye to look on thee, dame, as he ought,--so he must needs put it to a wager. Well, as this is the first day thou hast ever gone abroad in it, here I drink to thee and thy cap, upon my knees--Success to its travels, and joy to the merry eye that sparkles below it! Come, Arnold, drink to that, and get Pamesack another glass of aqua vitae:--top off to the hostess, comrades!" The toast was drunk, and at this moment Garret Weasel returned to the room. A sign from him informed the Captain that the preparation he had been despatched to make was accomplished. "How looks the night, Garret?" inquired Dauntrees; "when have we the moon?" "It is a clear starlight and calm," replied the publican; "the moon will not show herself till near morning." "Have you heard the news, mistress?" inquired the Captain, with an expression of some eagerness; "there is pleasant matter current, concerning the mercer's wife at the Blue Triangle. But you must have heard it before this?" "No, truly, not I," replied the hostess. "Indeed!" said Dauntrees, "then there's a month's amusement for you. You owe the sly jade a grudge, mistress." "In faith I do," said the dame, smiling, "and would gladly pay it." "You may pay it off with usury now," added the Captain, "with no more trouble than telling the story. It is a rare jest, and will not die quickly." "I pray you tell it to me, good Captain--give me all of it," exclaimed the dame, eagerly. "Peregrine Cadger, the mercer, you know," said the Captain--"but it is a long story, and will take time to rehearse it. Garret, how comes it that you did not tell this matter to your wife, as I charged you to do?" he inquired, with a wink at the publican. "I resolved to tell it to her," said Weasel, "but, I know not how, it ran out of my mind--the day being a busy one----"