"Then Herne must be guilty!" cried Paul, looking at the name on the handkerchief.  
"I am not sure," replied Iris². "If he were guilty, he would not accuse Mr. Lovel."
 
"He was forced into that position," rejoined the journalist quickly. "He accused Lovel until the discovery of the rainbow feather led him to believe that Catinka had been on the spot, and might have seen him commit the crime. Then he changed his tune³, and asked me to seek no further evidence against Lovel until he returned from seeing Catinka. I know now that the violinist saw nothing, and, reassured⁴ on that point, I am certain that Herne will return here tomorrow, and go on accusing Lovel."
 
"But, Paul," urged Iris, "he might have seen Lovel kill Milly?"
 
"No; if he had done so, he would have had Lovel arrested. Iris, this handkerchief shows that Herne was in the Winding⁵ Lane on the night and at the time of the murder. He came to Barnstead in disguise; and, see, this handkerchief is spotted⁶ with blood--with Milly's blood. I feel sure that Herne is the guilty man."
 
Iris covered her face with her hands and shuddered⁷. "Oh!" she moaned, "I have tried to put this frightful⁸ suspicion out of my mind, because I loved the man. I fancied that he might have killed Milly in a fit of rage, and it was because I was sorry for him that I asked you not to search for the assassin."
 
"You thought I should find Herne?"
 
"Yes; but I could not believe him guilty. When I heard of Mr. Lovel's false alibi⁹ at the inquest I truly believed that he had killed Milly."
 
"But, Iris," expostulated Paul, "the handkerchief is spotted with blood!"
 
"I know. Perhaps Mr. Herne let it fall when he found the body."
 
"If so, and he found the body, why did he not call in the police? Why did he sneak¹⁰ away to London in disguise, and let Mr. Chaskin bring home the corpse¹¹? No, Iris; I believe that Herne killed Milly. Only one man can tell us the truth, and the truth he must tell to save his own neck. I shall see Lovel."
 
"Do you think he will accuse Mr. Herne?" faltered¹² Iris.
 
"My dear, I don't know," replied Paul, rising; "his own conduct is quite as mysterious as that of Herne. All I do know is that both of them were lurking¹³ about the spot at the time the shot was fired, and that one of the two must have fired it. I suspect Herne, but I shall do nothing against him at present."
 
"Don't say anything to Drek until you see Mr. Herne."
 
"No, I shall not," promised Paul; "but Herne does not return till to-morrow, and in the meantime I shall interview Lovel. His evidence may either clear or inculpate¹⁴ Herne."
 
"I can't believe Mr. Herne is guilty!" cried Iris in despair.
 
"Ah," said Paul, looking at her with a frown, "that is because you love him."
 
"No, no! I did love him, but now I do not care for him save as a friend; and for such friendship's sake I should be sorry to see him convicted of a crime which he may not have committed."
 
"Well. I'll say nothing against him until I see Lovel. This very moment I'll go to The Herne Arms and question him."
 
"Do, do; and come back to tell me if he can prove the innocence¹⁵ of Mr. Herne."
 
"I suspect he'll have enough to do to prove his own," said Paul grimly; and forthwith left the house on his errand. With him he carried the incriminating handkerchief, which Iris had forgotten to ask for back again.
 
On his way to the inn Paul wondered why he had not adopted before the very obvious course of questioning Lovel. He should have gone to him after Brent's confession¹⁶ of the false alibi and have forced the young man to explain why he and the old gipsy had perjured¹⁷ themselves at the inquest; but on further reflection Paul recollected¹⁹ that circumstances had intervened which had made it impossible to seek the interview with Lovell. But now all obstacles had been removed; he had accumulated from Brent, Miss Clyde, Catinka and others a mass of circumstantial evidence; and at the coming conversation he was fully²⁰ prepared to encounter any further deceptions²¹ which Lovel might employ to evade²² discovery. Paul did not believe that Lovel was guilty, as even the passion of jealousy²³ would hardly have incited²⁴ him to slay²⁵ the girl who loved and trusted him; but he was certain that Lovel knew the name of the assassin; and he was equally certain that such name would be Darcy Herne.
 
At the inn Mexton learnt that Lovel was in his sitting-room²⁶, and at once he sent up his card with a request for an interview. He had a fancy that Lovel, for obvious reasons, would refuse to see him; but, rather to his surprise, he was requested to walk upstairs. When the servant closed the door behind him Paul found himself in a comfortable apartment, alone with the man who, as he believed, held in his hands the sole clue to the mysterious death of Milly. Lucas looked worn and ill; there were dark circles under his eyes, and he appeared listless and indifferent, as though his vitality²⁷ was exhausted²⁸. Without offering his hand to Mexton, he bowed and pushed forward a chair.
 
"Hast thou found me out, O my enemy?" he said softly.
 
Mexton stared, as well he might, for the Biblical quotation²⁹ was a strange one for Lovel to use. Paul thought it rather theatrical³⁰. "I am not your enemy, Mr. Lovel," he said, taking his seat. "I think you know that very well."
 
"How should I know, when Brent tells me that you go to him to worm out my secrets?"
 
"As to that," replied Paul coldly, "I have a right to discover any secrets which are likely to lead to the detection of Milly's assassin."
 
"And you think I am the man?" questioned Lovel, looking fixedly³¹ at his visitor.
 
"No; I do not think you killed the poor girl. I will give you the credit that you loved her too well to take her young life. But I think also," said Paul with energy, "that you know who fired the shot."
 
"No; I am as doubtful of that as you are."
 
"I decline to believe that. Herne killed the girl, and you know it."
 
"So far as I do know, Herne did not kill the girl," replied Lovel emphatically.
 
"Then, if he is innocent, and you also, who is the murderer?"
 
"I don't know, I cannot say," said Lucas wearily. "I have asked myself that question fifty times a day, but to it I can find no answer."
 
"The police might find an answer."
 
Lovel laughed. "The police might arrest me, and find their answer by getting me hanged," he said coolly.
 
"Well, Drek may arrest you yet," said Paul, raising his eyebrows³². "You must be aware, Mr. Lovel, that your actions are very suspicious."
 
"Because I told a lie ............