"Willem," said McPherson quietly, "you said just now that Mr. Grimm was in this room. What made you think so?"
"The things he said to me," returned Willem, readily enough.
His simple reply had a galvanic effect on his three hearers.
"Said to you?" bleated Mrs. Batholommey. "Said? Did you say 'said'?"
"Why, Willem!" gasped Kathrien.
"Old Mr. Grimm?" insisted Dr. McPherson. "Willem, you're certain you mean old Mr. Grimm? Not Frederik?"
"Why, yes," assented Willem with calm assurance. "Old Mynheer Grimm."
And now, even Mrs. Batholommey's awed curiosity dulled her chronic conscience-pains into momentary rest. And, with Kathrien, she sat silent, eager, awaiting the doctor's next move.
"And," continued McPherson, "what did Mr. Grimm say to you? Think carefully before you answer."
"Oh," replied Willem, in the glorious vagueness of childhood, "lots and lots of things."