I

came here for the purpose of meeting her.’

“Old Lobbs opened his eyes very wide at this, but not wider than Nathaniel Pipkin.

“ ‘You did?’ said Lobbs, at last finding breath to speak.

“ ‘I did.’

“ ‘And I forbade you this house, long ago.’

“ ‘You did, or I should not have been here, clandestinely, tonight.’