"He was not!" cried Mrs. Drass eagerly; "he was in Mother Jimboy's tent. She swore that he was!" "I know," replied Paul quietly; "and she swore a lie. Miss Clyde knows." "I know that Lucas went into the Winding Lane with Milly," said Miss Clyde in rather a troubled voice; "but no doubt he left her at the stile and went straight on to the gypsy tent." "But he swore at the inquest that he was not in the lane on that night!" said Iris. "I know; I know, my dear," was Miss Clyde's reply. "But he did that to save himself from being unjustly suspected. I don't believe he killed Milly; and you hear what Mr. Mexton says: that Mr. Herne is of the same opinion." "His opinion has changed then!" remarked Iris, "and I should like to ask him why." "You can't at present, Iris. Mr. Herne has just gone to London." "To London!" echoed Miss Clyde, in surprise. "What bad taste to go away so soon after the funeral. Why has he gone?" "I don't know, Miss Clyde." "But I do," said Mrs. Drass, with a sniff; "he has gone to see that minx!" "What minx?" asked Paul, astonished. "Catinka, the violinist," replied Mrs. Drass, coolly. "Oh, Mr. Lovel told me all about that hussy! Mr. Herne did not love Milly; he loves this Catinka, and she loves him. That was why Mr. Herne went up to town so often; and why he has gone now." "Impossible!" said Mexton, growing pale as he thought of his own passion for the violinist. "I tell you it is so!" rejoined Mrs. Drass, wrathfully. "If she doesn't love him, why did she come down here?" "To Marborough?" "No, to Barnstead. She was in the church on the night Milly was murdered." "What!" cried Iris, sharply. "Was she the strange lady I saw leaving the church?" "She was!" said Mrs. Drass, triumphantly. "I saw her, too, and made it my business to find out all about her. There was a Marborough friend of mine in the church who saw Catinka when she gave her concert. She tells me to-day--I have just parted from her--that the strange lady who was in the church on that night was Catinka. Now what do you say, Mr. Mexton?" Paul had nothing to say. He did not even open his lips, but wondered if Catinka had anything to do with the rainbow feather, the finding of which had disturbed Herne so greatly. CHAPTER XV. DR. LESTER TELLS A STORY.