"Why are you afraid of him?" asked Kathrien. "Was Frederik the man that came to see Anne Marie——?"
"Kathrien!" primly reproved Mrs. Batholommey.
Kathrien caught hold of the boy's hand as he rose, shaking, to his feet. She knelt before him.
"Willem!" she implored. "Was Frederik the man who came to see Anne Marie? Tell me!"
"Surely," expostulated Mrs. Batholommey in pious horror, "surely, Kathrien, you don't believe——?"
"I have thought of a great many things this evening," replied Kathrien, vibrant with excitement, yet instinctively lowering her voice so as not to break in on Willem's semi-trance. "Little things that I've never noticed before. I'm putting them together. Just as Willem put that picture together. And I must know who the Other One was."
"Hurry, Willem!" exhorted the Dead Man. "Hurry! Frederik is listening at the door."
The announcement brought Willem around with a gasp toward the door. He stared at its panels, quaking, aghast.
"I won't say any more!" he whimpered, pointing at the door. "He's there!"
"Who was the man, Willem?" entreated McPherson. "Come, lad! Out with it!"