"Why did you not tell all this to Drek, and prevent the arrest of Lester?"
"My friend," said Miss Clyde, gravely, "I was determined to give Dr. Lester a lesson--such a lesson that in future he might restrain himself from indulging in drink. I thought, when I heard that he was arrested, that the thought that he had killed his own child might induce him to take the pledge. If this lesson does not teach him temperance, nothing will; for if I had not taken the pistol off him, he might have killed, if not Milly, at least Lucas. I intended to go to Drek to-morrow and tell him the truth, and get Lester bailed out of gaol."
"Your lesson is rather a severe one," said Paul thoughtfully; "but perhaps it is needed. If anything can make a sober man of Lester, his imprisonment on such an awful charge will change him. I remember now that he confessed at the inquest that he met someone, but was too confused to say whether it was a man or a woman. It must have been you."
"Yes, it was I, Mr. Mexton. While I was leading him away from the Winding Lane I did not see a soul. As to the red mud on his clothes, you remember I told you how he fell while trying to get over the stile."
"I see you can clear Lester," said Paul with emphasis, "but what about Lovel?"
"Well," said Miss Clyde interrogatively--"you don't suspect him of the crime?"
"I don't know; you left him with Milly!"
"I daresay; at twenty-five minutes to nine; but he no doubt left her before nine o'clock, when the murder was committed."
"He can't prove that."
"He hasn't had a chance of doing so," retorted Miss Clyde, visibly disturbed.