"Yes, the name of the guilty person is here. Who do you think killed poor Milly?"
"I did--I did!" cried Herne, beating his breast.
"You!" cried Paul, astonished. "Nothing of the sort! The wretch who killed Milly was none other than Mother Jimboy herself."
CHAPTER XXVI.
["ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL."]
The three men were amazed at this statement, so different from what they expected, and looked at Paul with incredulity. Herne was the first to recover his presence of mind, and, carried away by his feelings, fell on his knees with clasped hands in a frenzy of relief and gratitude.
"O God!" he cried with a broken voice, "I thank Thee that Thou hast removed this doubt from my mind, this sin from my soul. I am innocent of this crime."
"I knew you were," said Chaskin, laying a kind hand on his friend's shoulder. "Did I not tell you so? Rise, Darcy, and let us hear the particulars. No doubt Mr. Mexton can tell us how the crime was committed."
"Certainly," said Paul, who had thrown himself into a chair. "But I have no breath left to tell you the details. They are all in the confession which Drek holds in his hand."
"Read the confession, Mr. Drek," said the Vicar.