The Pagan's Cup

The chapel was empty; even Sybil was not in sight. Hearing the halting steps of the cripple behind him, Leo led the way into the crusaders' chapel, where he sat down beside one of the tombs. Hale paused before him and looked down in a whimsical manner. "You have chosen a strange place," he said, looking round.

"It is a sacred place," replied Leo, coolly; "and you may be the less inclined to tell lies. I presume you have some religion."

"How dare you say I tell lies?" cried the baronet, scowling.

"Because I have had some experience of your capability in that direction. And now I should like to know what you mean by denying that you lent me the three hundred pounds?"

Hale shrugged his unshapely shoulders and sat down with a painful effort, placing his crutch beside him. "You were fool enough to speak to me in the presence of my sister," he said. "I could only say what I did say. Now that we are alone I am willing to answer any questions you may put to me."

"You will answer truthfully, I hope?"

"Assuredly. It is time we understood one another. Go on."

"You lent me three hundred pounds?" said Leo, in the form of a query.

"In gold," assented Sir Frank, coolly.

"Why did you lend it to me in gold?"

"A whim of mine."

"I don't think so," said Leo, slowly. "You had some scheme in your head. I believe you wanted to deny the loan if you found it convenient."

"You are very clever, Haverleigh. That is just what I did want. Had I given you a cheque you could have proved the loan. Even notes might have shown the truth. But I wanted to be free to act as I pleased, so I went to the trouble of getting gold from the bank."

"Then it seems to me that you had this cup stolen by some confederate, and intended to lay the blame on me so as to get me into a trap!"

"Indeed, no," protested Hale, so loudly that Leo believed he was speaking the truth. "The stealing of the cup, and the subsequent blame being thrown on you, was unexpected. But I took advantage of the opportunity. You can prove your innocence only by my help, Haverleigh, and I give my evidence only on conditions."

"I was prepared for such a speech," said Leo, calmly; "but it won't do, my friend. You must go to Tempest and tell him that you gave me three hundred pounds to pay my debts. Perhaps then he may disbelieve this ridiculous story of my being a thief."

Hale sat up alertly. "Then you didn't steal the cup?"

"Certainly not. How dare you suggest such a thing? I suspect you know more about the loss of the cup than I do."

The baronet looked down on his crooked leg and smiled ironically. "Do you mean to infer that I thrust this misshapen body through that window?"

"No! But you have plenty of money to pay for any rascality."

"I am not so fond of parting with money," said Hale, dryly. "I know nothing about the cup. But I really thought you stole it. Mrs Jeal's tale – "

"Ha!" Leo started up. "She told you that? Why?"

"Because she is a woman who is fond of money," said Hale, quietly. "Knowing that my sister is in love with you, Haverleigh, she came to threaten me. She declared that she would proclaim you a thief if I did not pay her. It was her belief that such a course would break my sister's heart."

"And what did you do?"

"I told her I would inform the police if she dared to speak to me in that manner again. I believe she then went to the vicar. But if I come forward, Haverleigh, and state that I lent you the money, it will go a long way towards clearing you. Of course, I do not understand this pawning business. The woman says she saw you."

"She saw my double, or someone dressed up to resemble me," said Leo, vehemently; "but she did not see me. I was never near the shop."

"So you say," said Hale, smiling cruelly. "However, you must see that I can help you. I will do so on one condition – no, on two."

"I can guess the two," said Leo, looking at his mean face. "You want me to surrender Sybil so that you may marry her, and to make your sister my wife? Is that not so?"

Hale smiled again. "You save me the trouble of an explanation," he said.

"Then I absolutely refuse to do what you want, Hale. I respect your sister, who is a kind and good-hearted girl; but I do not love her, and not for all the gold in the world would I marry her. On the other hand, nothing will induce me to give up Sybil. She shall never become your wife. I wonder you have the impertinence to propose such a thing to me!"

"If you don't do what I ask," said Hale, very pale and venomous, "I shall refuse to help you. I shall deny that I lent you the money."

"Deny what you please!" Leo walked to the door of the chapel. "Everything is in your favour, and you can have me arrested if you choose. But I decline to sell my love to buy my safety. Good-day, Hale," and he marched away.

CHAPTER XI

THE LONDON DETECTIVE

Sybil had seen Leo go into the room where her father was waiting with Mrs Jeal, and wondered what the woman had to do with her lover. She was called out to see a sick woman on behalf of her father, and on her way home bethought herself how she could see Leo. The girl was in a perfect fever of nervous fear for the young man. Then it struck her that the best thing to do would be to call at Mr Pratt's. No sooner had she made up her mind to brave her father's anger in this respect than she went at once to The Nun's House. She feared if she delayed that her courage might evaporate.

The door was opened by Adam, who explained that Mr Pratt was from home. "He went into Portfront to-day, miss," said Adam. "I only hope he will be able to get back this night, as there is a sea-fog coming up the Channel."

"There is no danger of his losing the road, Adam," said Sybil, cheerfully; "but I don't want to see Mr Pratt. It is Mr Haverleigh who – "

"He is in the library, miss," replied Adam, and admitted her into the house. When Sybil found herself alone with Leo she had a qualm. What would her father say should he ever come to know that she had paid such a visit?

Leo was seated at the desk, his face hidden in his arms, looking most dejected. He lifted his head as she entered, and, at the sight of his face, Sybil forgot all about her father and the impropriety of the visit. At once she ran to her lover, and drew his head down on to her breast with a look of almost divine pity. "My darling Leo," she said, "I knew that you were miserable, and I have come to comfort you."

"How good of you, dear!" replied Haverleigh, stroking her hair; "but your father? I did not think he would let you come to me."

"My father does not know that I am here," said Sybil, blushing, as he placed a chair for her; "but I knew you had been to see him, and I could not rest until I heard all about the interview. Was he very angry?"

"No; I think he is inclined to believe in my innocence in spite of Mrs Jeal's story. And Heaven knows she has painted me black enough!"

"I wondered what Mrs Jeal was doing at the Vicarage, Leo; I don't like that woman. She looks sly and wicked. But what story can she have to tell about you, dear?"

"Sybil, she says that she saw me pawning the cup in London," and while Sybil, filled with surprise, sat looking at his agitated face, Leo told all that Mrs Jeal had said. "So you see, dear," he continued, "that there is some sort of conspiracy against me. I believe Hale is in it too."

"It is a strange story," she said musingly. "I wonder who it was could have impersonated you? Did the man give your name?"

"By Jove!" cried Leo, starting up, "I never thought of asking. Yet the rascal must have given it for the pawn-ticket. Sybil, I can't help thinking that Hale knows something about this. He saw me in the chapel an hour ago and said that he would make a statement to the effect that he had paid me the money if I would give you up and marry his sister."

Sybil's eyes flashed. "How dare he?" she cried. "He wants to drive you into a corner, Leo. What did you say?"

"I refused to have anything to do with him, dear. He can join with your father in having me arrested for all I care. I would rather that than give up my Sybil! But you see the position. What is to be done?"

"Can't you go to London and see this man Penny?"

"No. I dare not leave the place. Your father and the others would think that I was seeking safety in flight. I might be arrested before I got as far as Portfront. I don't say that your father would go so far but there is always the chance. I am sure Mrs Gabriel would not counsel mercy. For some unaccountable reason she hates me thoroughly."