DR. MACPHERSON.  Speak, William.  No one will hurt you.

WILLIAM.  Oh, yes, he will.... [Looking timidly towards the door FREDERIK passed through.] I don’t want to tell his name—­’cause ... ’cause ...

DR. MACPHERSON.  Why don’t you tell the name, William?

PETER.  Make haste, William, make haste.

WILLIAM. [Trembling.] I’m afraid ...  I’m afraid ... he will make
Annamarie cry; ... he makes me cry ...

CATHERINE. [With suppressed excitement—­half to herself.] Why are you afraid of him?  Was Frederik the man that came to see Annamarie?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY.  Catherine!

CATHERINE. [On her knees before WILLIAM.] Was he?  Was it Frederik Grimm? 
Tell me, William.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY.  Surely you don’t believe ...

CATHERINE. [In a low voice.] I’ve thought of a great many things to-day ... little things ... little things I’d never noticed before....  I’m putting them together just as he put that picture together....  I must know the truth.

PETER.  William, make haste....  Frederik is listening at the door.

WILLIAM. [Frightened.] I won’t say any more.  He’s there ... at the door ... [He looks over his shoulder and CATHERINE goes towards the door.

DR. MACPHERSON.  William, tell me.

PETER.  William!

CATHERINE opens the door suddenly. FREDERIK is standing, listening.  He is taken unawares and for a few seconds he does not move—­then he recovers.

WILLIAM.  Please don’t let him scold me.  I’m afraid of him. [Going towards the stairs—­looking at FREDERIK.] I was afraid of him when I lived with Annamarie and he came to see us and made her cry.

DR. MACPHERSON.  Are you sure you remember that?  Weren’t you too small?

WILLIAM.  No, I do remember....  I always did remember; only for a little while I—­I forgot....  I must go to bed.  He told me to. [Goes upstairs.

PETER. [Calling after WILLIAM.] You’re a good boy, William. [WILLIAM goes to his room.

CATHERINE. [After a slight pause—­simply.] Frederik, you’ve heard from Annamarie.... [Gestures towards the desk. FREDERIK sees the photograph and is silent.] You’ve had a letter from her.  You tried to destroy it.  Why did you tell Marta that you’d had no message—­no news?  You went to see her, too.  Why did you tell me that you’d never seen her since she went away?  Why did you lie to me?  Why do you hate that child?

FREDERIK.  Are you going to believe what that boy—­

CATHERINE.  I’m going to find out.  I’m going to find out where she is, before I marry you.  That child may be right or wrong; but I’m going to know what his mother was to you.  I want the truth.

DR. MACPHERSON. [Who has been in thought—­now looking up.] We’ve heard the truth.  We had that message from Peter Grimm himself.