"You are a farmer from the village of ——, are you not?"
"I am."
"Just inform us, if you please, what you were doing on the night of the murder."
"I was returning home after selling some cattle at the ——dorf market, and it was about midnight when I passed close to the Henker's cottage. I heard cries and groans as of someone being murdered not far off. I stopped and listened for a moment, then set off on tip-toe to the spot whence the sounds proceeded. It was very dark, and the groans at length ceased.
"I placed myself behind some brushwood to watch who should issue from the copse, when a friar passed me."
"Stay, are you quite sure the friar came from the very spot from whence you heard the groans?"
"Well, as to swearing to it, I don't know, but I heard the sound as of brushwood being trampled under foot, and the next instant the friar passed close to me. He did not appear to observe me, but moved onward in the direction of the village of Ahlden."
"Did you follow him or take any further notice of him?"
"To say the truth, I was too frightened to move, but I kept my eye on him as far as I could see him."
"But you tell me it was very dark."