"No," denied Lovel, with vehemence; "he was in one of his trances. I expect he had seen me kissing Milly when we parted, and that the sight had excited his nervous system to such a degree that he went into the cataleptic state. I touched him, I shook him, I spoke in his ear; but all to no purpose; he was quite senseless, and blind to all external things. Then I became aware of my own peril, and was afraid lest I should be accused of killing Milly. I had met her; I was in love with her; and I saw that on all sides I was in danger of being accused of the crime. Mexton," cried Lovel, "I was not master of myself; I felt like a madman, and rushed away. Where I went I don't know; but when I grew calmer I found myself on the high road. Then I thought I would protect myself by an alibi, and swear that I had not met Milly. I went to Mother Jimboy's tent and told her all. She said she would help me, and made me lie down. That is all I know of the crime, Mexton. I did not kill the girl, I swear; and I swear also that Herne is innocent." "Are you so sure of that?" said Paul doubtfully. "Sure! Of course I am. The man was in a trance, and had no pistol in his hand." "It might have fallen," suggested Paul. "No; I looked before I went." "Why did you return after midnight?" "Who told you that I returned?" asked Lovel, curiously. "Iris Link. She thought that her step-father had committed the crime; and, to save him, she went to the spot to look for the pistol she fancied he might have dropped. But we know now that Miss Clyde took away his pistol before the crime was committed." "I heard that story," said Lovel, thoughtfully; "but, of course, I never thought that Dr. Lester was guilty. Did Iris see me?" "Yes; and you ran away?" "I did," said Lovel, flushing. "I went to see if Herne was still there; and hearing footsteps--those of Iris, no doubt--I went away lest I should be implicated in the murder. What else could I do in such a position? Well, Mexton, I have told you all I know. What do you make of my story?" Paul rose. "You come with me, Lovel, and see Mother Jimboy," said he, putting on his hat, "and we'll see what she knows of the matter." "She knows nothing; she was not out of her tent." "I am not so certain of that," said Mexton, quickly. "If she wrote those letters, as I suspect, I am certain she would go to see if Herne was watching you." "She did not say so to me," replied, Lovel, rising in his turn; "but it may be as well to question her. I am as anxious to secure the assassin as you are. Let us go. I only hope that gran is well enough to speak." "Is she ill?" asked Paul, as they left The Herne Arms. "She had an accident yesterday--was run over by a baker's cart, and has suffered some internal injury. Dr. Lester saw her this morning." "I have not seen him, so that is the first I have heard about the accident."