However, he told me his version of the story, exactly as he had told it at his trial. "Do you remember meeting Mrs. Gilson?" I asked. "Not particularly." "You didn't stop and ask her the way?" "No. I met two or three people on the way to the farm. They didn't interest me, and I had no reason to suppose that I interested them." "Why did you deny knowing anything about Cross Roads Farm?" "Well, one way and another there was a good deal against me at the time. It was natural to deny a leading statement like that made by the police, and I knew nothing about the murder then. You see, although I was innocent of murder, I wasn't an innocent man. I was in a hole, and attempted to lie myself out of it." "Very foolish! It was a weighty argument against you. Did you see anyone else at the farm beside your uncles?" "It was true what I said at the trial, that one of the workmen had just finished talking to my uncles at the door as I came in. The man gave evidence, said he had parted with the Judds much as I described, but that he had not seen me. I thought he said that to try and help me a bit, because I'm certain he saw me." "Do you think it was the same man?" "I didn't doubt that it was, but I couldn't have sworn to him; I was too much engaged in taking stock of the two men I had come to ask for help." "Did you ask for work?" "No, money." "Did you demand any special sum?" "No; and I didn't demand it, I asked. I was playing the penitent game, the prodigal anxious to reform. Had I demanded I should have got nothing. I had sized up my men all right. I got twenty pounds, which was far more than I expected. I hadn't had such a sum to my name for years." "Was the money given willingly?" "Not exactly willingly. My Uncle Peter did most of the talking--lecturing it was--but he seemed more impressed with my tale than Uncle Simon did. Simon Judd had a good many reasons why I should not have the money, but it was evident that Peter usually had the last word and his own way. I should say he took the lead in most things." "Did he actually give you the money?" "Yes, counting it into my hand quid by quid, as if he'd been parting with a fortune." "Where did he get it from? Did he take it out of his pocket?" "No; he went out of the room, leaving me with Simon, who didn't speak a word the whole time. Peter Judd was away about ten minutes. He came back with the money in his hand." "And then you left the farm?" "Yes; they didn't offer me anything to eat or drink. I have an idea that Peter thought of doing so, but Simon made some remark about throwing money away, and suggested my going at once." "You didn't return to Hanley?" "No, I went in the opposite direction."