"Mother Jimboy says she met you."
"True." Chaskin again passed his hand across his face. "I did meet her. I was going to see a sick man on the other side of the common."
"Away from the village?"
"Yes. I went there and saw this man immediately after evening service. It was on my return about midnight that I found the body of that poor girl, and gave the alarm. But I stated all this at the inquest."
"I remember," said Paul, with a nod. "But Mrs. Jimboy declares that before nine o'clock you were going towards the Winding Lane, and----"
"She is making a mistake," interrupted the Vicar hurriedly. "I was going in the other direction."
"She denies that," said Lovel, sharply; "and it was shortly after she saw you go into the woods about the Winding Lane that she heard the shot."
"I did not fire it!" said Chaskin, emphatically; "and let me ask you, Mr. Lovel, if you were with Miss Lester on that night, at that hour?"
"I was," admitted Lovel. "I don't mind saying so, as I can prove my innocence."
"Then you must know who killed Miss Lester!"