"Certainly," replied Drek, obligingly. "Catinka is innocent, although, as you see, the evidence against her is very strong. Now we come to you, Mr. Lovel." "Oh," said that young man, ironically, "and how do you intend to prove my guilt?" "I am not presuming your guilt," said the inspector. "I merely intend to state the evidence against you." "I am all attention," said Lovel. "Well, sir, to put it briefly, you love this girl; you are with her at the hour of the murder; you set up a false alibi; you do everything to bring suspicion of guilt on yourself." "But I am innocent." "We will presume so for the moment," replied the inspector, coolly; "but you must know, Mr. Lovel, that beyond your bare word we have no proof that; you did not kill the girl." "Drek!" Lovel jumped to his feet with almost a shriek. "You don't say that I killed Milly?" "Going by the evidence----" "Hang the evidence! Isn't it stronger against Herne and Chaskin? Did you find my handkerchief, bloodstained? Did you discover a pistol with my name on it?" "No; but some lawyers might say that you stole the pistol out of Chaskin's room to inculpate him in a projected crime; also, that you took Herne's handkerchief out of his pocket when he was in a trance, and dropped it into the blood to get evidence against him. Oh, I don't say that you are guilty, Mr. Lovel, but you must admit that the evidence is strong. You think that Mr. Chaskin killed the girl; Mexton here inclines to think that Mr. Herne is guilty; but the evidence against the two is no stronger than that against you. A lawyer could build up a powerful----" "Stop! stop!" cried Lovel, sitting down. "Stop! You will make me believe that I killed the poor girl after all!" CHAPTER XXIV. THE TRIAL. "You see," said Drek, complacently, "that it is quite easy to get up a case against you, Mr. Lovel; yet I feel convinced from your late actions that you are innocent. Therefore you will understand that I am inclined to doubt even the strong evidence you have obtained against Mr. Chaskin. He may be as guiltless as you are. The evidence against Herne is as strong; yet you think his hands are clean of blood. Why, then, should you suspect Chaskin so much?" "He refused to explain the loss of the pistol." "So far as that goes, he refused because he did not think either you or Mexton had any right to examine him. But if a person like myself, having authority----" "Go and see him, Drek, and find out if he will confess to you!" said Paul, eagerly. "No; I shall take no steps in the matter until this trial of Dr. Lester's is concluded." "And in the meantime Chaskin will run away," said Lovel, bitterly. "I don't think so," rejoined the inspector, nettled by the sneering tone of the young man, which cast a reflection on his judgment. "The conduct of Mr. Chaskin does not augur that he intends to fly; and if he did, I would take means to prevent his flight." "You will have him watched?"