‘If you _have_ admitted anybody, you have done very wrong,’ said Lucius decisively. ‘What does it all mean? I find Mrs. Milderson returning from a two-hours’ absence, and you in a state of alarm. What is the matter?’ A straight answer was beyond Mrs. Magsby’s power to give; she always talked in circles, and began at the outermost edge of the centre she wanted to reach. ‘I’m sure, Dr. Davoren, I shouldn’t have dreamt of doing it if it hadn’t been for the order.’ ‘Shouldn’t have dreamed of doing what? What order?’ demanded Lucius impatiently. ‘When first he came to the gate—which he rang three times, for my good man was taking a stretch after his tea, and baby was that fractious with the spasms I couldn’t lie him down—I told him it was against my orders, and as much as my place was worth, being put in charge by a gentleman.’ ‘Who came to the gate?’ demanded Lucius; but Mrs. Magsby rambled on, and was not to be diverted from her circuitous path by any direct question. ‘If the order hadn’t been reglar, I shouldn’t have give way; but it was perfeckly correck, from Mr. Agar, the house-agent, which has put me into many a house hisself, and his handwriting is well beknown to me. The gentleman wanted to buy the house of the owners, with a view to turnin’ it into a factory, or works of some kind, which he explained hisself quite affable.’ ‘_That_ man!’ cried Lucius aghast. ‘You admitted that man—the very man of all others who ought to have been kept out of this house—to prevent whose admittance here I have taken so much trouble? You and your husband were put into this house to defend it from that very man.’ ‘Lor, sir, you must be dreaming surely,’ exclaimed Mrs. Magsby. ‘He was quite the gentleman, and comin’ like that with the intention to buy the house, which I have heard Mr. Agar say as how the owners wanted to get rid of it, and with the border to view in Mr. Agar’s own handwriting, how was I to—’ ‘This house belongs to Mr. Sivewright, so long as he occupies it and pays the rent,’ said Lucius indignantly. ‘You had no right to admit any one without his permission.’ ‘Which I should have ast his leaf, sir, if the dear old gentleman hadn’t been asleep. Mrs. Milderson had took up his cup of tea not a quarter of a hour before, and she says to me as she goes out of this very hall-door, she says, which Mrs. Milderson herself will bear witness, being too much of a lady to go from her word, she says, “Don’t go for to disturb the old gentleman, as I’ve left him sleepin’ as quiet as an infant.” And as for care of the property, sir, it wasn’t possible to be more careful, for before I showed the gentleman over the place, outbuildins, and suchlike, which he was most anxious to see, bein’ as it was them he wanted for his factory, I calls my husband and whispers to him, “Look sharp after the property, Jim, while I go round the place with this gentleman;” and with that my husband kep in the room where the chaney and things is the whole time I was away.’