"Yes, full well," I answered.
"Ah! and who then was he?"
"Tubal Ammon!"
My father started back.
"What!" he cried, "the man who held thee on the road three nights ago?"
"The very same, sir," I replied.
"Then, indeed, it hath an ugly look. What, think you, brought him prowling round our place?"
"The hope of thieving, sir, I fancy."
"Ah! so you think he is then but a common thief?" exclaimed the old man hopefully.
"Nay, far from common," I replied; "for, verily, he spouted Latin by the yard."