"Yes; I see no reason why he should lie."
"H'm! the reason might be found in his pocket."
"What do you mean, Herne?" asked Paul, sharply.
"Simply that Brent has been bribed."
"By whom, man?"
"By Lovel. Don't contradict me," said Herne, in authoritative tones. "I am certain of what I say. Milly came to this lane last night, else she would not have been found dead by yonder stile. She must have come to meet someone; and going on what has been told to me, the person she came to meet could only have been Lovel. If they walked up the lane together, they must have been seen by Brent and Jane Bilway. Lovel would be unwilling that I should be told of these stolen meetings, therefore he bribed the man to hold his tongue."
"Herne," burst out Chaskin, who had restrained himself with difficulty during this speech, "do you know what you are saying? You are accusing Brent of a felony--that is," corrected the vicar, "assuming that your belief that Lovel killed the girl is true. If Brent saw Lovel here he must believe the same thing, and he would not hold his tongue knowing that murder had been done."
"That depends on the amount of the bribe," said Herne, grimly; "but I'll find that out later. I am certain that Lovel was here and killed Milly."
"Why not ask Lovel himself?" suggested Paul, looking up. "Here he comes across the common."
"Wants to see the scene of his crime, no doubt!" said the squire, fiercely.