“I drew back, and in the small interval of silence I felt exposed in this crowded restaurant and maybe downright ridiculous. I had thought that Nash would be difficult to win over, but it was turning out to be Goblin. And I was out on a limb in this place, talking to what seemed to be nothing and no one, talking in fear because I knew what that invisible person could do and no one around me could even guess it. Not even Aunt Queen really had a guess at it.

“And then there came one of the rarest moments of my life.

“I was gazing from Nash to Aunt Queen when suddenly I noticed at the next table, behind them, a beautiful red-haired girl who was staring at me fixedly. It was as if Fr. Kevin Mayfair had been metamorphosed into his own divine sister.

“She had his same clear skin with a natural blush to the cheeks and the same rich red hair; and though she had breasts large enough to please any man, she wore ribbons on either side of her hair as if she were still something of a little girl in spirit.

“We locked eyes, the two of us, and then she looked from me to Goblin. She could see Goblin!

“ ‘Dull-witted Quinn,’ he said to me in his icy loveless voice. ‘She has been watching us from the beginning.’

“Of course. He had been staring at her, not at Nash, not at Aunt Queen; he had been staring past them at this person—the first person I had ever known, other than me—who seemed able to completely see him.

“The shock left me speechless. I knew Aunt Queen was asking me questions, and that Nash had just spoken up. But I made sense of nothing. And as I watched, a man who was seated beside this amazing young girl stood up and came towards us. He looked right at me as he approached.

“He was gray-haired, informal yet dignified in a blue blazer and slacks, and very vivacious of expression and of voice as he spoke to me.

“ ‘You’ll forgive my intrusion, please,’ he said. ‘My name is Stirling Oliver. I’m a member of an organization. It’s called the Talamasca. I want to introduce myself to you. We study the paranormal, you see, and I couldn’t help but notice your companion.’

“ ‘You mean you can see him too?’ I asked. But I saw at once he was telling the truth, and Goblin’s eyes moved to his, but Goblin said nothing.

“ ‘Yes, I can see him very well,’ said Mr. Oliver as he presented me with a little card. ‘We’re an old, old Order,’ he went on. ‘We’ve existed for perhaps a thousand years. We study ghosts and those who can see them. We offer assistance. We offer information. I am so very impressed with your friend. Do forgive me.’

“ ‘Goblin, talk to Mr. Oliver,’ I said.