The Pagan's Cup

"Thank God!" cried Mrs Gabriel when alone. "I am rid of him at last!"

CHAPTER IX

A BAD REPUTATION

Pratt sat alone in his library. He was not reading, for although he had many books he rarely looked into one of them. He collected rare editions, he indulged in gorgeous bindings, and placed all his gatherings on shelves behind glass doors. It was the look of the thing Pratt liked. If his collection had been so many volumes of blank pages he would have been just as well pleased.

As the evening was cold there was a fire in the steel grate. The room looked comfortable and luxurious. It was decorated in dark red, with bookcases of rosewood, and many busts of celebrated men. On the desk stood a reading lamp, and this was the only light in the room. Before the desk sat Pratt. He was playing with a small pile of precious stones which he had shaken out of a leathern belt. The jewels gleamed in the light with rainbow hues, and Pratt fingered them with loving care, recalling where each one had been bought and found. He was crazy about his gems, but never showed them to anyone. Moreover, in addition to his liking for such things, it was a portable way of carrying about his wealth.

The door opened softly and a servant entered. Pratt did not turn his head, for he knew the footstep. But when he heard that Leo wished to see him, he poured the jewels back into the belt, flung it into a drawer and told Adam – that was the man's name – to admit Mr Haverleigh. Adam was a tall, soldierly looking man, of the fair Saxon type. He had been with Mr Pratt for years, knew all his secrets and was absolutely devoted to him. As well he might be, for Pratt had once saved his life. Adam never forgot the obligation, and was Pratt's devoted slave.

"Hullo, Leo!" said Pratt, rising, when the young man entered the room. "Where did you come from?"

"From London, if you want to be precise," said Leo, after shaking hands. "My bag is in the hall, Pratt."

"What? Have you not been to the castle?"

"I have been there, and I have come away. In fact, Pratt, she has turned me out at last. I always knew that it would come to this."

As Leo sat down Pratt frowned, and when he frowned he did not look pleased. "Ah!" said he, calmly, "so she has turned you out – on account of this theft, I suppose?"

"Yes. It is the first I ever heard of it!" said Leo, looking up. "Your wire said nothing about such an accusation. I don't suppose you could very well have mentioned it in a telegram. However, Mrs Gabriel insisted that I had stolen the cup and sold it in London in order to pay my debts. We had a few words on the subject and parted. I am now here to ask you for a bed!"

"My dear fellow, you shall stay here as long as you please. Let me ring for Adam to bring you some supper!" and Pratt touched the bell.

"A few sandwiches and a glass of port will be sufficient," said Leo. "I am not in the humour to eat. By the way," as Adam entered, "I see he has got back?"

"Who? Adam? Yes. Where did you meet him?"

"At Portfront," said Leo, with a nod to Adam, who smiled. "He told me he had been up to London on your business. I gave him a lift part of the way. Didn't I, Adam?"

"I shouldn't have got home otherwise, sir," said Adam, respectfully, and departed to get food for his benefactor. Pratt seemed pleased that his servant was so friendly with Leo. He had a great opinion of Adam's intelligence. Also, Adam was a power in the house – but Leo did not know that. Later on, he learned all about it, to his great astonishment.

"Come now," said Pratt, when Leo had eaten and had finished a glass or two of port. "Tell me about this cup. Did you take it?"

"I certainly did not!" said Leo, stiffly. "I wonder at your asking me such a question, Pratt! I am not a thief!"

His host laughed somewhat nervously. "I only wanted to be sure, my dear lad," he said. "Don't get angry with your best and only friend."

"I have another friend," said Leo, looking up from the cigar he was cutting, "and that is Sybil. She does not believe that I am guilty."

"Have you seen her, then?"

"No. But I do not want to see her in order to know that. She loves me, Mr Pratt, and would never believe me guilty. No; not though the evidence was twice as strong against me!"

"The evidence is strong," said Pratt, rubbing his chin. "You were seen at the chapel, and – "

"And I have paid my debts," finished Leo. "So I have, and I can explain how I paid them; also my movements on that night." And he forthwith related to Pratt the story he had already told Mrs Gabriel. The man believed him much more readily than the woman. But then Pratt liked Leo, and Mrs Gabriel – as she had shown plainly – hated him with all the intensity of her stern and cruel nature.

"You say that Hale lent you the money?" asked Pratt.

"As I told you – in gold."

"And he now denies that he did so?"

"So Mrs Gabriel says. But I shall see for myself to-morrow."

Pratt reflected, staring into the fire. "It seems to be a conspiracy," he said slowly. "I wonder what his game is?"

Leo remembered that Sybil had also been uncomfortable when she heard that Hale intended to lend him the money. A thought flashed into his mind as Pratt spoke. "I believe that Hale is in love with Sibyl," said he.

"Humph! And his sister Edith is in love with you."

Leo coloured a little at this very direct remark. "I believe she is," said he, with an embarrassed laugh; "but I assure you, Pratt, the feeling is not reciprocal. The only woman I have ever loved, whom I shall ever love, is Sybil Tempest. And the course of our true love does not run smooth," he finished, with a sigh.

"A conspiracy," repeated Pratt, who was not paying much attention to what Leo was saying. "Yes! I believe it to be one. By lending you that money Hale hoped to get you into his power, so as to induce you to give up Sibyl to him and marry Edith."

"If he ever did have so ridiculous an idea," said Leo, angrily, "he has thrown away the fruits of it by denying the loan."

"No! The unforseen has happened and he is simply making use of the new development," said Pratt. "You are accused of having sold this cup to pay your debts. If Hale acknowledged that he gave you the money he would take away the motive and would in a measure prove your innocence. That is exactly what he will not do. Unless – " he hesitated.

"Unless I give up Sybil and marry his sister?"

"Precisely," replied Pratt. "However, this is only a theory. You had better wait until you see Hale before you make up your mind. I don't mind making you a bet, Leo, that what Mrs Gabriel says is true."

"Do you think Hale will deny the loan?"

"I am certain of it. I have studied human nature a great deal during a not uneventful life, and if ever I saw a crafty scoundrel Hale is the man. I wish you had told me that he was the friend who was to lend you the money. I would rather have found it for you myself than have let you go to him."

"I wish I had spoken out. But it's too late now. And how did I know the man would be such a scoundrel? Not that we yet can be certain that he is, Pratt. Only the worst of it is," added Leo, wrinkling his young brows, "that I cannot now repay the money."

"If he denies the debt you will not need to repay it."

"I shall insist upon doing so when I am able!" cried Leo, vehemently. "But Mrs Gabriel won't help me."

"I will let you have the three hundred pounds," said Pratt.

"I don't see why you should, Pratt. As it is, you are too kind to me. No! I will borrow no more. This interview with Mrs Gabriel has fixed my mind as to enlisting. I shall see if I can't arrange about the money for Hale. I have some jewellery and other things I can sell. In some way or another I'll contrive to get out of his debt."

"He won't admit that you are in his debt," persisted Pratt; "but it is no use talking all night about these things, Leo. You have a friend in me, and as I know you are innocent I'll get you out of this trouble somehow. To-morrow you can see Hale and Miss Sybil."

"I'll see him first," said Leo, grimly, after which speech – ominous of evil – he retired to bed. Worn out with his long journey and by the anxiety attendant on his new position – which was that of an absolute pauper – he soon fell into a dreamless sleep. Pratt remained in the library and for a long time sat watching the dying fire. He also saw trouble ahead, but it had to do more with himself than with his guest.

Since the illness of Pearl, Sybil had attended to the decorating of the altar. Sometimes she had the assistance of Peggy Bathurst. But Mrs Bathurst, still fearful lest Peggy might become engaged to the curate, would not let her come as often to the chapel as Sybil wished. So Miss Tempest usually decked the altar alone. The morning after Leo's arrival she was in the chapel at mid-day with her arms full of flowers. Taking these and the altar vessels into a quiet corner she began to arrange the blossoms. While thus engaged she heard a step. At once she sprang to her feet with the love-light in her eye. She had no need to see the newcomer. Her heart told her it was Leo.

"My dear!" She took him into her arms. "How glad I am to see you again! Oh, Leo, I have so many sad things to tell you."

"I know all, my love," said the young man, kissing her. "I arrived last night and saw Mrs Gabriel. She did not spare me."