"You want to be on the safe side in case he was there!" scoffed Dr. McPherson.
Frederik dropped his voice almost to a whisper, and there was perplexity in it as well as awe.
"How do you account for it anyway, Doctor?" he asked.
Instead of answering, the doctor asked another question.
"Frederik," he said, "when did you see Anne Marie last?"
"Now," said Frederik disagreeably, "I'm not answering questions."
"I think it only fair to tell you," said Dr. McPherson, "that it won't matter a damn whether you answer me or not. Don't fret yourself that I'm not going to find her. This has come home to me. I'm off to the city to-morrow. I'll have the truth from her; if I have to call in the police to trace her."
Frederik looked drearily at the doctor, then took up his gloves and began to put them on. After a pause he said dully, mechanically:
"Oh, I saw her about three years ago."
"Never since?" probed the doctor.