The captain at last said, he had one question to ask me, which he should be very much obliged if I would answer with all truth. I trembled to think how deeply scientific it would be: it was, ‘Whether the ladies of Buenos Ayres were not the handsomest in the world.’ I replied, ‘Charmingly so.’ He added, ‘I have one other question. Do ladies in any other part of the world wear such large combs?’ I solemnly assured him they did not. They were absolutely delighted. The captain exclaimed, ‘Look there! a man who has seen half the world says it is the case; we always thought so, but now we know it.’
