"I do not wonder at her belief," answered Chaskin quietly; "the pistol is mine; it has my name on the butt, and it was found on the spot where the poor girl's body was discovered by me. Men have been hanged on less evidence, Mr. Drek."
"No doubt; but they have made some attempt to defend themselves," retorted the inspector. "You, sir, as I understand from Messrs. Lovel and Mexton, decline to say if you are innocent or guilty."
"I did decline," was the Vicar's reply, "for the sake of my poor friend; but----"
"Ah!" cried Drek, sharply, "then you were afraid lest he should be arrested; you refused to speak, so as to screen him?"
"I did," said Chaskin simply. "You must remember, sir, that Mr. Herne is my dearest friend, and I would do much to save him from the consequences of his own folly."
"What folly? The public confession?"
"Yes--a public confession which is false?"
"If it is false, why should Mr. Herne make it? A man does not put his neck in danger for nothing."
"Are you so sure of that, Mr. Drek? I have heard of many men giving themselves up for crimes of which they were guiltless."
"Uneducated men."