Miss Cornelia spoke to him on impulse.

"Billy, what's all this about the cook's sister not having twins?"
she said in an offhand voice. She had not really discussed the
departure of the other servants with Billy before. "Did you happen
to know that this interesting event was anticipated?"

Billy drew in his breath with a polite hiss. "Maybe she have
twins," he admitted. "It happen sometime. Mostly not expected."

"Do you think there was any other reason for her leaving?"

"Maybe," said Billy blandly.

"Well, what was the reason?"

"All say the same thing--house haunted." Billy's reply was prompt
as it was calm.

Miss Cornelia gave a slight laugh. "You know better than that,
though, don't you?"

Billy's Oriental placidity remained unruffled. He neither admitted
nor denied. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Funny house," he said laconically. "Find window open--nobody
there. Door slam--nobody there!"

On the heels of his words came a single, startling bang from the
kitchen quarters--the bang of a slammed door!