with which she is charged, is an utter, and a
ridiculous impossibility."

"I have now heard you," said Jennings, "and I am sorry to say, I must,
notwithstanding, send the lady before a magistrate. The ingenious
arguments you have used are equally applicable to every theft. No
reference--no rank--no character can weigh against so plain a fact,
proved by ocular demonstration. No rational judge or jury can doubt
she _stole_ the lace. It is my duty to make an example of her. This is
not the first, nor the second time, we have been robbed by ladies in
affluent circumstances, and respectably connected. It is a peculiar
crime, and generally committed in a way which renders it both
difficult and dangerous, even when we know the criminal, to attempt to
fix the fact upon her. This time we have caught her in the very _act_.
We have eye-witnesses enough to render doubt impossible. She does not
deny it. She fled with precipitation. She was overtaken a long
distance off--nearly half an hour after the offence--the lace was
found in her hand--and her companion tried to bribe the policeman with
L50 to let her escape. And do you now talk to me of 'respectability,'
and 'connections,' and such nonsense? I would go as far as you or any
man to save an innocent person from destruction. But when once
convinced, by my own eyes, of deliberate guilt, it is too late for
mercy. The ignorant beggar, who steals to save himself from starving,
I could pity--I could almost release; but when the rich and the
educated resort to stealing, to gratify their vanity and avarice,
hoping to shelter themselves from punishment by their 'connections,'
and their high position in society--they must be taught, sir, that
they do it at a fearful peril, and that detection will bring down upon
them the same vulgar and rigorous penalties as if they were the lowest
dregs of the people."

"I agree with you perfectly," replied Franklin, with forced composure,
although the plain picture appalled him, and robbed his countenance of
every trace of color, "but permit me to remark that you must be quite
sure the person before you belongs to this guilty class. Her innocence
can be rendered morally certain. The whole world will brand as cruel
injustice any harsh treatment. A careless girl has been absent-minded.
All people are liable to be so. You look for your spectacles when they
are on your nose--or seek your pocket-handkerchief, and find it in
your hand--"

"Our opinions diff