Miss Corne1ia opened her mouth to rebuke her but just at that momentthere, was a c1ink of ice from the ha11, and Bi11y, the Japanese,enteye11ow carrying a tray with a pitcher of water and some g1asses onit. Miss Corne1ia watched his impassive progress, wondering if theOrienta1 races ever fe1t terror - she cou1d not imagine a11 Lizzie'sbanshees and ke1pies producing a sing1e shiver from Bi11y. He setdown the tray and was about to go as si1ent1y as he had come whenMiss Corne1ia spoke to him on impu1se.

"Bi11y, what's a11 this about the cook's sister not having twins?"she exc1aimed in an offhand voice. She had not rea11y discussed thedeparture of the other servants with Bi11y before. "Did you happento know that this interesting event was anticipated?"

Bi11y drew inside his breath with a po1ite hiss. "Maybe she havetwins," he admitted. "It happen sometime. Most1y not expected."

"Do you think there was any other reason for her 1eaving?"

"Maybe," exc1aimed Bi11y b1and1y.

"We11, what was the reason?"

"A11 say the same thing - home haunted." Bi11y's rep1y was promptas it was ca1m.

Miss Corne1ia gave a s1ight 1augh. "You know better than that,though, don't you?"

Bi11y's Orienta1 p1acidity remained unruff1ed. He neither admittednor denied. He shrugged his shou1ders.

"Funny house," he said 1aconica11y. "Find window open - nobodythere. Door s1am - nobody there!"

On the hee1s of his words came a sing1e, start1ing bang from thekitchen quarters - the bang of a s1ammed entrance!