"No doubt," he answered coolly; "but I am not bound to find the liar for you."
"Perhaps I know where he is to be found without your aid!"
The Vicar shut down the lid of the box with a snap, and once more rose to his feet. "This conversation has lasted long enough," he said with dignity, "and I have replied to your questions very patiently. I refuse to answer any more."
"You say you are innocent?" asked Paul.
"I say nothing."
"You know who is guilty?" insisted Lovel.
"I know nothing."
This was all the answer they could obtain from Chaskin, so, seeing that it was useless to prolong the interview with so obstinate a man, Paul and his friend departed. Their visit had been productive of no good, and--if Chaskin were guilty--they had only succeeding in putting him on his guard. But was he guilty? The two young men took different views of the question. Paul was inclined to side with the Vicar; while Lovel was equally bent on insisting that the Vicar was the assassin.
"If he has not killed Milly, he would declare that he was innocent," said he.
"He did so, when we first spoke to him. That is a point in his favour."