evidence must be a matter of some consideration with us, must have weight with us,--yet when we are led on to a certain point, and have averred our belief in any absurdity, we are disposed to admit its logical consequences, however wide apart from good sense they may be. In this narrative I have first to deal with parties of high social position--of education, and much refinement, of course,--but descended from a long line of ancestors more or less noted for their inclination to believe everything which came to them under the similitude of religion or superstition of any kind--anything which seemed to them inexplicable; anything, in other words, mysterious to them. A lawyer of my acquaintance--in fact an old friend, who had employed me many times before, especially in the ferreting out of legal evidence in criminal matters--came one day into my office with a broad grin on his face. I was in pretty good humor, and was beguiling an hour or two,--while I was awaiting the advent of a party who I hoped would bring me some valuable news of the working of a little plot of mine in the investigation of a case,--with Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit. Of course I was in good humor, enjoying that rare word-painter's faithful pictures of American society as he found it; and my friend, the lawyer, was of course enjoying himself, otherwise why that irresistible grin, which, in my mood, stirred me up to outright laughter as he entered? "What's up?" I said. "Deliver yourself _instanter_; for I want to hear the fun." "O, ho," he replied, "I've the jolliest affair to tell you of that ever occurred in the line of my experience. I am counsel, advocate, and judge in the matter, and expected to be constable, jury, and executioner, all in one; for the whole thing, involving love and lovers, 'potions and pills,' quacks, schemers, thieves, and everything else, is left in my hands, and I've come over to divide the honors with you--" "Well, well; after your long opening, suppose you come down to the points in the matter--'judge,' 'executioner,' or whatever you please to call yourself in the premises."