In this case, the poor aristocrat who is caught up in spying fails to evade a court summons. As evidenced here, spying had become commonplace and even ridiculed. This, however, did not stop spying. On the contrary, spyglasses simply began to be manufactured into everyday objects. From the 17th to 19th centuries, the cane or walking stick was an important accessory for men. Canes converted into spy devices typically had the optics for spying placed in the handle. Canes were often custom made so that while sitting the spyglass would be at eye level. Sometimes the cane shaft was adjustable allowing the gentleman to raise or lower the glass to suit his height. |  |
Canes were versatile accessories for men and were used for a variety of purposes other than as spyglasses. A cane could contain swords, watches, cameras, or even a small bottle for a swallow of liquor. |
