"Why, Mynheer, he went out at once after receiving your message, and——"
"My message!"
"Ja, Mynheer, the message sent by the boy."
"What boy? Come, Gretel, I sent no message. I know nothing about a boy. Tell me all you know."
"It was about four o'clock, Mynheer, a boy of twelve or so came to the door—a stranger to me. He asked for Sherry Minshull—no mynheer to his tongue. I called to Sherry, and heard the boy say, 'Mynheer Rochester wishes you to come——' then the big bell of the Groote Kerk tolled, and I heard no more. But Sherry reached down his hat and said he was going to you, and he and the boy went away together."
Harry was puzzled, and a little uneasy. He rose from his chair.
"Are you sure you heard the boy mention my name?"
"Quite sure. And Sherry must have thought there was need for haste, for he left his dish of coffee half full, and he is too fond of mocha to do that without a reason."
Just then Mynheer Grootz came in to supper. When Harry had informed him of the strange message and Sherebiah's continued absence, he was at first disposed to make light of the matter.
"Gretel is growing hard of hearing," he said. "Maybe she mistook de name."