Walter stayed. For this privilege he was indebted to the general curiosity.
"Just imagine, when I came home about half past ten o'clock--I couldn't get away earlier on account of the crush, you know. Don't you know, I don't care for these big occasions. Well, when I got home--the city is full of thieves, murderers, and that must not be forgotten--well, my potatoes were--what do you think my potatoes were? They were--gone!"
"I tell you those thieves and murderers did it. Who else could have done it? Thieves and murderers in my house! And I wanted to ask you--for I'm afraid in my room----"
"I wanted to ask, if perhaps--your son Stoffel----"
Stoffel's face was a study, a curiosity. If the said thieves and murderers could have seen it they would have been greatly pleased, for it bore evidence of Stoffel's intention to leave them undisturbed in their work.
"But, Juffrouw," he said, "haven't you a cat in your room?"
"No, Juffrouw, not to fight murderers; but a cat that might have eaten the potatoes."
"I don't know anything about a cat. I only know that the city is full of low-down people when so many murders are committed and no one tries to catch the murderers. Not that I am anxious about my life--no, not at all. When the Master calls me I shall say, 'Let thy daughter go in peace; my eyes have seen thy glory.'"
"But, woman, why didn't you look in your closet, and under the bed?"
"I didn't want to do that, Juffrouw Pieterse! The Lord will take care of me--but one must not try the Lord's patience. I would not go in the closet, or look under the bed--not for everything in the world! For of course he's there, and that's why I wanted to ask if your son--Stoffel, or, if Stoffel doesn't want to, if perhaps your son--Laurens, or----"
"But, Juffrouw, why didn't you call the neighbors?"
"The neighbors? Well, I guess they know about it. The man who lives under me is afraid of a poodle-dog, not to mention a murderer. There's a man living next to me; but, you know, he is--what shall I say--he is a sort of bachelor, and I don't want to get talked about. You know a woman must always think of her reputation, and not get mixed up in gossip."
It did not occur to anyone to ask what sort of a creature Stoffel was. Was he a bachelor? Or did his position as a teacher protect him against any worldly suspicion?