"You shall though." He began to cross-examine the girl. "At what time that night did your father see the hearse?"
"I believe, sir, 'twas soon after eleven. He has a cow, sir, in calf, and went round to the chall to make sure she was all right—"
Mr. Noy nodded. "And the hearse was passing—in what direction?"
"Towards the church town, sir; or, as you may say, towards St. Neot parish."
"Inland, that is?"
"Yes, sir. But later on that same night Reub Clyma, up to Taphouse, saw it too; and this time 'twas moving fast and making towards Polperro."
"Fits like a puzzle. Is Polperro a seaport town?" he asked the farmer.
"A sort of fishing town, sir."
"Your nearest? Good. And you reach it by a road running north and south across the coach-road? Good. Now if you wanted to drive to Polperro you could do so across the downs for some distance, eh? before striking this road. Good again. How far?"
"You'll excuse me, but I don't know that I rightly take your meaning."