It was a human impossibility actually to identify any such objects, and yet these eminently respectable and intelligent gentlewomen swore positively that they could recognize their jewels.

They drew the inference merely that as the prisoner had stolen similar jewels from them these must be the actual ones which they had lost, an inference very likely correct, but valueless in a tribunal of justice.
Where their inferences are questioned, women, as a rule, are much more ready to "swear their testimony through" than men.

They are so accustomed to act upon inference that, finding themselves unable to substantiate their assertion by any sufficient reason, they become irritated, "show fight," and seek refuge in prevarication.

Had they not, during their entire lives, been accustomed to mental short-cuts, they would be spared the humiliation of seeing their evidence "stricken from the record." One of the ladies referred to testified as follows: "Can you identify that diamond ?" "I am quite sure that it is mine:" "How do you know ?" "It looks exactly like it." "But may it not be a similar one and not your own ?" "No; it is mine." "But how?
It has no marks." "I don't care.

I know it is mine.