culty and delay that they were overtaken, when the
stolen lace was found in her hand. We are often obliged to forego the
gratification of punishing such misdemeanors by the technical
difficulty of proving the crime upon the criminal. You perceive how
the present case stands. I am willing to allow it is but fair you
should be heard, if you have any thing to say in reply."

"I have much to say," resumed Franklin, smiling with assumed
confidence, "enough to satisfy any reasonable man, and I hope I stand
before such a one. That the young lady took the lace no one can deny.
But I will tell you how she took it. For the first time in London, her
mind naturally excited, she was bewildered amid the novel and
interesting objects around her. The splendor of your establishment
dazzled her eyes and distracted her attention. In company with her
mother and myself she came here to see the lace in question, but she
could not have intended to steal it, if I must answer to such a
charge, because it would have been impossible for her to use such an
article without the knowledge of her mother. If she is a thief her
mother and I share her guilt. I therefore repeat to you that these
ladies can command references to raise them above the slightest breath
of suspicion--references sufficient to satisfy the most
incredulous--the most unreasonable. She is a person of the purest life
and strongest principles. Not one of her friends, and, after a proper
examination, not one of the public, will ever believe her guilty of
any thing worse than a mere moment of bewilderment and absence of
mind."

"Upon my word, sir," said Mr. Jennings, "you have undertaken a pretty
difficult task--no less than to convince me that black is white, and
that two and two don't make four. Who are you?--and where are your
references?"

Franklin did not succeed in concealing a certain trepidation at this
blunt demand, and it was not lost upon Jennings.

"My references do not reside in England."

"Ah! ha!"

"I am a stranger in your metropolis."

"Oh! ho!"

"And therefore," added Franklin, "every noble-minded and fair-play
loving Englishman will say, possessing greater claim upon your
moderation. I can bring you, from my own country--through the official
intervention of the American Minister, references to outweigh a
thousand fold--ten million fold--all opposite appearances. I can give
a moral demonstration that the intentional commission by this young
lady of the act