Had nature intended rational creatures should do so, she would have made the foot of solid bone, or perhaps of solid iron, instead of bone, muscle, and flesh,--But,--I see.

Hold!" And springing to his own slippered feet, the venerable sage hurried to the door and shot-to the bolt.

Then drawing the curtain carefully across the window looking out across the court to various windows on the opposite side, bade Israel proceed with his operations.
"I was mistaken this time," added the Doctor, smiling, as Israel produced his documents from their curious recesses--"your high heels, instead of being idle vanities, seem to be full of meaning." "Pretty full, Doctor," said Israel, now handing over the papers.

"I had a narrow escape with them just now." "How?
How's that ?" said the sage, fumbling the papers eagerly.
"Why, crossing the stone bridge there over the _Seen_"-- "_Seine_"-- interrupted the Doctor, giving the French pronunciation.--"Always get a new word right in the first place, my friend, and you will never get it wrong afterwards." "Well, I was crossing the bridge there, and who should hail me, but a suspicious-looking man, who, under pretence of seeking to polish my boots, wanted slyly to unscrew their heels, and so steal all these precious papers I've brought you." "My good friend," said the man of gravity, glancing scrutinizingly upon his guest, "have you not in your time, undergone what they call hard times?
Been set upon, and persecuted, and very illy entreated by some of your fellow-creatures ?" "That I have, Doctor; yes, indeed." "I thought so.

Sad usage has made you sadly suspicious, my honest friend.