“I don’t think that they could have belonged to the butler,” said Miss Macmanus, with much authority, “seeing that domestics in this country are never clad in garments of that description; so far my own observation enables me to speak with certainty. But it is equally sure that they were never the property of the general lately in command at Antwerp. Generals, when they are in full dress, wear ornamental lace upon their--their regimentals; and when--” So much she said, and something more, which it may be unnecessary that I should repeat; but such were her eloquence and logic that no doubt would have been left on the mind of any impartial hearer. If an argumentative speaker ever proved anything, Miss Macmanus proved that General Chassé had never been the wearer of the article in question. “But I know very well they were his!” said Miss Grogram, who was not an impartial hearer. “Of course they were; whose else’s should they be?” “I’m sure I hope they were his,” said one of the young ladies, almost crying. “I wish I’d never taken it,” said the other. “Dear, dear, dear!” said Mrs. Jones. “I’ll give you my needle-case, Miss Grogram,” said Aunt Sally. I had sat hitherto silent during the whole scene, meditating how best I might confound the red-nosed harpy. Now, I thought, was the time for me to strike in. “I really think, ladies, that there has been some mistake,” said I. “There has been no mistake at all, sir!” said Miss Grogram. “Perhaps not,” I answered, very mildly; “very likely not. But some affair of a similar nature was very much talked about in Antwerp yesterday.” “Oh laws!” again ejaculated Mrs. Jones. “The affair I allude to has been talked about a good deal, certainly,” I continued. “But perhaps it may be altogether a different circumstance.” “And what may be the circumstance to which you allude?” asked Miss Macmanus, in the same authoritative tone. “I dare say it has nothing to do with these ladies,” said I; “but an article of dress, of the nature they have described, was cut up in the Castle of Antwerp on the day before yesterday. It belonged to a gentleman who was visiting the place; and I was given to understand that he is determined to punish the people who have wronged him.” “It can’t be the same,” said Miss Grogram; but I could see that she was trembling. “Oh laws! what will become of us?” said Mrs. Jones. “You can all prove that I didn’t touch them, and that I warned her not,” said Aunt Sally. In the mean time the two young ladies had almost fainted behind their fans. “But how had it come to pass,” asked Miss Macmanus, “that the gentleman had--” “I know nothing more about it, cousin,” said I; “only it does seem that there is an odd coincidence.”