“Oh,” said he, “you listened just a little bit?”
The poor girl blushed deeply, face, neck and ears were covered with the glow. “Well yes,” said she resolutely, “I did listen. I had heard my father ordering the Oppas to go and fetch Mr. Meidema and somehow I could not get rid of the suspicion that it had something to do with Ardjan. When the inspector called I got behind the screen which masks the door and—”
“Well, yes, Miss Anna, go on, you must tell me all.”
“And then I heard all they said,” continued she.
“What did you hear?” asked the young man, eagerly.
“All they said,” she replied.
“Yes; but,” continued he, “what did they talk about?”
“Oh! Mr. van Nerekool,” said Anna, “I really cannot tell you all that passed.”
“Perhaps not; but yet you can remember the gist of their words. Do try, Miss Anna.”
“Mr. van Nerekool,” said she; “I am not at all sure that I have a right to—”