"Not a word said I. My friend Mr. H. told me they were genteel people, and their appearance warrants his opinion." "'Well, really,' said Mrs. R., 'how easy it is to be deceived by people that one knows nothing about. You would not believe it--I am sure I would not, if Mrs. S. had not told me with her own lips--I say, otherwise, I would not have believed that Mr. S. was going to Washington in such a _menial capacity_.'" "What!" said I. "'_Menial capacity?_' said one member of Congress." "'_Menial capacity?_' echoed the other member." "'I took him for a gentleman,' said the naval officer--'Confound the fellow's impudence.'" "But, said I, you must be mistaken, I'm sure. I am to go to Washington with him." "'There must be some mistake,' said the two members of Congress, and the young naval officer, all in a breath." "'Why we have engaged to make up a game of whist with him this evening,' said the latter." "'Certainly!' said one member of Congress." "'Certainly!' said the other member of Congress. 'Oh, there must be some mistake, my good madam. _Menial capacity!_ Impossible!'" "'No mistake at all,' retorted Mrs. R., with some asperity. 'I tell you I had it from Mrs. S's own mouth, and she owned it after a good deal of hesitation and reluctance. I put twenty questions to her before I could get an answer.'" "Well, said I, if you are so well satisfied that you are right, we are interested to know who and what these people are. I do not choose to travel under the protection of a man of _menial capacity_." "'Yes, yes,' said the naval officer, '_what_ the deuse is the fellow. I should not wonder if he were a pick-pocket, or a black-leg, to judge by his easy impudence.'" "'Very likely,' said one member of Congress." "'I have not a doubt of it,' said the other member. 'But let us know, if you please madam, what he is.'" "'As I said before, I would not have believed it if Mrs. S. had not told me herself,' said Mrs. R., hesitating." "'Oh, no doubt you are right,' said the naval officer: 'but please let us know who it is we have been so familiar with.'" "'Well,' said Mrs. R. 'Mrs. S. told me that her husband was going to Washington to be _Porter_ to the Senate.'" Here my wife interrupted Mrs. M. with a fit of laughter almost equal to that with which Mrs. M. had indulged herself in the outset. "So," said the former, "Mrs. R. mistook the word _Re_porter, for that of _Porter_,--an important omission." "So it would seem," rejoined Mrs. M. "But let me go on." "'_Porter to the Senate!_' exclaimed every voice." "'A fellow who runs errands for the Senators, fetches and carries bundles, &c., I suppose,' said the naval officer." "'I can't conceive what station he is to fill,' said one of the members of Congress, 'unless it is that of _old Tobias, the black man_, who kindles fires, and carries messages.'" "'That is it I dare say,' said the other member." "'We must cut him,' said the naval officer." "'To be sure.'" "'To be sure.'"