"That is not to the point. We want facts, not fancies. Do you know who killed this poor girl?"
"I 'ave my suspicions, Mr. Policeman."
"To whom do your suspicions point?"
"To my master, sir--to Dr. Lester."
"Nonsense!" said Drek, while Paul started up with an exclamation of surprise. "You do not dare to say that Dr. Lester killed his own daughter--knowingly?"
"That's just where it is, Mr. Policeman. He killed her, I could swear; but he didn't know what he was doin'."
"Perhaps you will explain?"
"Certainly, Mr. Policeman. Last night my master was drinking hard, and had had words with Miss Iris on the subject of the late deceased. Miss Iris went to look for the corpse before nine o'clock----"
"What do you mean by that expression?" interrupted Mexton. "Miss Lester was not dead then; and if she was, Miss Link, ignorant of her fate, could not have gone to look for a 'corpse!'"
"I don't quite mean that, sir," said Eliza, rather confused that her attempt at eloquence had proved so misleading; "what I do mean is that Miss Milly 'adn't come 'ome before nine, and Miss Iris went to look for her."