“‘Then will you be so good as to explain how this heel came to be so much whetted off?’
“‘I cannot tell, unless it was done by Miss Bramlett, as she very frequently wore them, because her foot is smaller than mine, and a number three exactly fits it.’
“‘Are you not wearing a number three shoe now?’
“‘Perhaps I am; in fact, I know I am, because I was pressed for time this morning, and during the confusion my maid put on a pair of number threes, which I did not notice until I got out of the carriage to come into the court-room, and then I found it out, because my feet were being pinched.’
“‘How does it happen that you have so many number three shoes about your house, when you say that you only wear number fours?’
“‘You know how foolish we ladies are about the looks of our feet, and you also know that we very often thrust them into shoes that are too small.’
“‘You admit, then, that you are now wearing number three shoes?’
“‘Yes.’
“‘I see that you have lost the set out of that beautiful ring on the third finger of your left hand; will you be so good as to let me examine it?’
“‘Now I should like to know what you want with one of my rings?’