"How good and kind of her, Paul! I should like--but, oh!" she burst out, "how can I go to Marborough to be pointed out as the relative of a murderer?" "Wait one moment before you call Dr. Lester by that name, Iris. Are you sure that he is the murderer of Milly?" "I don't know. I can't say. The verdict at the inquest----" "Never mind the verdict at the inquest," interposed Paul quickly. "I want to know what you think." "Why do you want to know what I think?" "Because I believe you can save an innocent man from being hanged." "I? No, no! I can do nothing!" "Iris," said Mexton, taking her hand, "you asked me never to look for the assassin of Milly. Did you do so to save Dr. Lester?" "No. At that time I did not think that he would be accused." "Then you suspect someone?" "I--I have my suspicions," she said, in hesitating tones. "What are they? To whom do they point?" "I can't tell you. I am not certain. I may be deceived. Paul!" cried Iris in desperation, "don't ask me. My answer may condemn an innocent person!" "Your silence acts in the same way, Iris. Dr. Lester is in danger of death, and you know he is innocent." "He is--he is! I don't believe that he killed Milly. But how should I know the name of the real assassin?" "Because you saw him on that night." "I? I was not out on that night--at least, after the body was brought home." "Iris, why will you lie to me? Eliza saw you leave the house after midnight." "Eliza! Ah, that wretched girl has brought ruin on us all!" "Not so--if I can save you. Tell me--did you go out?" "Wait--wait! I'll answer in a moment. Give me time." She rose to her feet, and, with clasped hands, walked twice or thrice up and down the room. Evidently she was considering what to say, and after some thought she faced round on Paul. "I shall tell you," she said slowly, "but you will use the knowledge to hunt down the assassin of Milly?" "Assuredly! I wish to save Dr. Lester from suffering an unjust death." "So do I, so do I! But, oh!"--she struck her hand together--"was ever a woman placed in such a position? If I could only speak!" "You must," said Paul determinedly, "or else have your step-father's death at your door. Come, Iris, do you know the name of the assassin?" "No, but I suspect----" "Suspect whom?" "Lucas Lovel." Mexton rose from his seat in astonishment. "Do you believe him guilty, as Herne does?" "Does Mr. Herne believe in his guilt?" asked Iris quickly. "So thoroughly that he intends to bring Lovel to the scaffold." "He will never succeed in doing so," cried the girl involuntarily. "Why not?" "He will not be able to obtain any evidence." "I'm not so sure of that," said Mexton drily. "Herne is a fanatic; he is clever; he is extremely pertinacious; and he hates Lovel like poison." "For all that, I do not believe he will be able to accumulate sufficient evidence to get Mr. Lovel arrested. Besides, he has a clever foe, who will defend Mr. Lovel."