"Yes, I am." "And you know who is guilty?" "I ain't sure of that," replied Brent, after a pause; "but I saw her creeping after Mr. Lovel and the gal, and when I heard the shot, I ses: 'She's done it!'" "She? Who?" asked Paul, much excited. "Why, Miss Clyde, o' Clyde's Farm. Who else?" replied Brent, coolly. CHAPTER XII. A STARTLING PIECE OF EVIDENCE. "Miss Clyde!" said Paul, staring at his informant; "but what was she doing in the Winding Lane at so late an hour?" "Watchin' Miss Lester, of course, sir!" "Why? For what reason?" Brent laughed in a coarse manner, and there was a leer on his face as he replied to this question. "Don't y' know, sir, Miss Clyde's sweet on Mr. Lovel, and she 'ated Miss Lester like pisin?" "Are you sure?" "Sure?" returned Brent, with contempt--"why, ain't I bin ploughman on Clyde's Farm for years? an' ain't I 'eard arl the talk o' the maids? 'Tis well known theer as Miss Clyde 'ud give 'er ears to be Missus Lovel!" "And you think she killed Miss Lester out of jealousy?" "I'm sure she did, sir. Wot wos she doin' in th' lane creepin' arter them? Why wasn't she 'ome at the Farm? Oh, no, sir; she did it, for I knows the kin' of temper she 'as! Mad bulls is nothin' to it!" "Then Dr. Lester is innocent!" said Paul, half to himself. "Niver thowt he were guilty," returned Brent, drily. "Then why didn't you come forward at the inquest and confess all this, so as to save an innocent man from arrest?" Brent reared himself to a giant height, and he laid down his pipe on the table. "Whoy didn't I," he thundered--'"cause I wished t' be honourable for that there money! If I'd said I seed Miss Clyde, I'd have had to say why she wos theer, wouldn't I? and cud I 'ave said she were watchin' Mr. Lovel and the gal when the five pounds were given to me to 'old my tongue? It was either tell arl or shut up," concluded Brent, dropping back into his seat, "so I shut up." Paul nodded. "It was the only thing you could do," he said, musingly; "but I must see Miss Clyde and get the truth out of her." "An' y' mus' see Mr. Lovel," said Brent, heavily. "I ain't goin' to let the doctor be strung oop. Let Mr. Lovel git away t' Americy, an' then I'll tell arl I've told you about Miss Clyde and Mr. Lovel, an' th' perlice will let t' doctor out o' gaol." "No doubt," said Mexton, rising. "And in the meantime, Brent, you had better hold your tongue until I give you leave to speak." "I shan't speak till Mr. Lovel ses 'es I can," said Brent, doggedly. "I'll see Mr. Lovel about that, Brent. In the meantime, as I said before, hold your tongue. If Inspector Drek knew what you have done you would get into trouble." "Shan't, sir, if y' don't tell him!" "I don't intend to tell him," rejoined Paul, coldly. "I'll thrash out this matter for myself. If Miss Clyde killed that poor girl, she must suffer for her crime." "I 'ope they'll string 'er oop!" said Brent, vindictively. "I 'ate 'er; she turned me off wi'oot a character."