"I am not so certain of that," said Mexton, quickly. "If she wrote those letters, as I suspect, I am certain she would go to see if Herne was watching you."
"She did not say so to me," replied, Lovel, rising in his turn; "but it may be as well to question her. I am as anxious to secure the assassin as you are. Let us go. I only hope that gran is well enough to speak."
"Is she ill?" asked Paul, as they left The Herne Arms.
"She had an accident yesterday--was run over by a baker's cart, and has suffered some internal injury. Dr. Lester saw her this morning."
"I have not seen him, so that is the first I have heard about the accident."
The two young men walked through the village, and turned off to the high road. The shortest way to gran's tent was through the Winding Lane and across the common; but for obvious reasons, connected with the memory of the dead, they were unwilling to pass the fatal spot where Milly had come by her timely end. They walked smartly along the high road, and when well on their way Paul produced and showed to Lucas the handkerchief of Herne found by Iris.
"It is spotted with blood, you see," he said earnestly; "that looks as though Herne had something to do with the murder."
"I dare say when he came out of his trance he examined the body," said Lucas, "and dropped the handkerchief in the blood--Milly's blood, poor girl! Ugh!" and he shuddered.
"We'll see what Herne says about it," said Paul, taking back the handkerchief. "I expect him back from London to-morrow."
"He believes me guilty, Mexton, and I quite see how. He saw me with Milly, and then fell into his trance. When he came out of it he discovered that I was gone and the girl dead. I don't wonder he suspects me."