13 - Pagans Cup by Fergus Hume

Set against the backdrop of a tranquil seaside village, this English mystery unfolds through the life of an old family and their domineering matriarch. Striving to shape her adopted son according to her will, she finds herself entangled with the local vicar and his enchanting daughter. A stranger seeking acceptance among the villagers adds another layer of intrigue. The narrative weaves a tale of unseen connections and hidden secrets, all coming together to form an engrossing drama.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter thirteen of The Pagan's Cup by Fergus Hume. This
libervox recording is in the public domain. For more information
or to volunteer, please visit liberyvox dot org. Read by Yoganan,
The Pagan's Cup Chapter thirteen an interesting document. Martin did

(00:27):
not wish the identity of Pratt to be concealed. On
the contrary, he gave it as wide a publicity as possible,
hoping that it might lead to the man's capture. Everyone
from Portfront to Collister knew the would be country gentleman,
so it was not unlikely that he might be caught.
Considering that only a knight had elapsed, it was impossible

(00:50):
that he could have got far away, especially in a fog.
There was always the off chance that Adam might be
laid by the heels. An examination next morning show old
Martin that the two bicycles were missing, so he judged
that both men had gone off together. It was improbable,
in Martin's opinion, that they had gone to Port Front,

(01:10):
as they could not possibly leave before the streamer at
seven o'clock, and the police could be communicated with by
a telegraph before they could get clear of the place.
At half past six, Martin drew to the telegraph operator
out of his bed and set him to work. He
wired to the inspector at Port Frond to arrest Pratt
and his man forthwith or at all events, to detain

(01:31):
them until the London police could be communicated with and
a warrant for Pratt's manifold inquities procured. But to Martin's surprise,
no answer was returned from inspected German. Yet, the inspector
knew Pratt well, and if the man set foot in
Port Front could easily seize him. Later on, somewhere about
nine o'clock, the reason that no answer had arrived became apparent.

(01:54):
A messenger came from Port Frond to say that the
telegraph wire between that place and Port Front had been
cut midway. There was really one line, so all communication
had been broken off. The steamer had started, and without
doubt the two men were on board at once. Martin
started off to Port Front on the curate's bicycle. On
his arrival he went to see German. The inspector was

(02:16):
much astonished when he heard the story. He had not
received the wire and therefore had done nothing in Martin's company.
He hurried to the office of the steamer. You see
the kind of man we have to deal with, German,
said Martin, much vexed. It was a clever dotse to
cut the wire, and yet he gave himself away. I
did not think he would go to port Front, but

(02:38):
the cutting of the wire proves he did. We'll wire
to Worthing and stop him there. And inquiry a steamer
office resulted in nothing. It seemed that mister Pratt had
a season ticket and therefore had not purchased one, nor
had Adam, so it might be that he was still
in the town. The low fers and the peer said
that they had not seen Pratt go aboard. Hum, said Martin.

(03:00):
He sneaked on in some disguise. Is he clever disguising himself,
asked German. I should think so. His own mother would
not know him. Still, he had no time to make
up before he left Kolister, so he may not be
so carefully disguised. I dare say we can catch him
at Worthing. A wire was sent to Worthing forthwith, and
another to Scotland Yard, requesting that someone might be sent

(03:23):
down to take charge of Pratt's house and to identify
the goods he had in it. There was a list
of the houses Pratt had broken into and a list
of the stolen goods also, so it would be easy
to have this brought down and compared with the contents
of the nuns House. Having thus done all that he
could under the circumstances, Martin Britton to Colister, where he

(03:45):
found the Curate and Leo waiting for him. The latter
had not taken up his quarters at the Inn, but
he kept within doors, as now that the identity of
Pratt was known, Leo was credited with having been his confederate.
There was tremendous excitement in Chollister over the discovery that
the village had entertained Unawarrees, a well known London thief.

(04:05):
Many of the villages flattered themselves on the stern and
non commit latitude they had adopted towards the too fascinating stranger.
Mister Pratt had never been very popular, but now he
was spoken inlof On every hand, the whole village would
have been delighted to have seen him in the power
of the law, but Pratt was too clever for them.
All the wire to Worthing produced no result. Neither Pratt

(04:29):
nor Adam were on board. He then appeared that steamer
had put in at Bognor. Martin had omitted to advise
the police dare of the fugitives, so it was presumed
that they had got off with the rest of the passengers.
The captain did not know Adam by sight, and Pratt
had evidently discussed himself well at all events in the crowd.

(04:50):
The two had passed unnoticed. Although the London stations were watched,
no sight could be caught of them. A clever man, Pratt,
said Martin, when formed of his ill success. I'm perfectly
certain of the way in which he went about the matter.
He and his servant got off at Bogno and alighted
at some station just outside the metropolis. They got to

(05:11):
their own haunts by some back way. Do you know
of their haunts? Asked Leo, who was keenly interested in
the matter and could not help feeling believed that Pratt
had escaped. Oh, they changed them every now and then. Besides,
Adam will keep out of sight, and Pratt will so
disguise himself that there will be no recognizing him. He
got clean away this time, And I believe mister Haley,

(05:33):
added Martin with a laugh, that you are rather pleased, well,
said Leo, with some hesitation. In spite of all you say,
I can't bring myself to believe that Pratt is a
bad sort of chair. He was very kind to me.
He is kind to most people. He possess a kind
of Morning Robin hood who robs the rich to give
the poor. I've known him to do many kind actions.

(05:55):
But he's a scamp for all that. And if I
could lay my hands on him, i'd kit him. Missus
Gabriel was much annoyed to find that Pratt was so
not for he as a character. She determined to clear
herself of complicity in his sordid crimes, although no one
ever suspected that she had any knowledge of the man's
true character. She sent for Martin and had a long

(06:15):
talk with him about Pratt. Incidentally, a reference was made
to Leo. I've asked you to see me, mister Martin,
she said, because it was I who introduced mister Pratt
to Collister. I've known him ten yards and he always
appeared to be to be most respectable American. He's not
an American at all, said Martin, but he could assume
any nationality that suited him for the moment. He is

(06:37):
a brilliantly clever man, Missus Gabriel, and I do not
wonder he took you in. He got no money out
of me at all, Evans, said the lady grimly. Ah,
then you escaped easily. The wonder is he did not
try and marry you. A rich widow is exactly the
kind of victim he would like. I'm not the sort
of woman to be anyone's victim, mister Martin. Martin, looking

(06:59):
at hers, turned strong face, quite agreed, but he was
too polite to give vent to his feelings. He merely
inquired how Missus Gabriel had become acquainted with his princes
of swindlers. She had no hesitation in giving him full details.
I met him at a Swiss hotel many years ago,
she said. He was then called Pratt, and he paused
as a rich American. I met with an accident while

(07:21):
out walking on the hill above Montreal and lay out
until nightfall. Mister Pratt rescued me from this very unpleasant
position and took me back to the hotel. A friendship
sprang between us, and when he returned to England, he
called on me, and he was always the same for
ten years, and I saw much of him. I never
suspected he was other than he represented himself to be. Besides,

(07:43):
mister Martin, you must have met. He is a most
fascinating man, much too fascinating, Missus Gabriel, as many have
found to their cost. Missus Gabriel reflected a moment. Do
you think he'll be put in prison? Certainly if he
can catch him, replied Martin quietly. He is a man
dangerous to society all his life. He has been a

(08:03):
rogue and a criminal. All his money comes to him
in the wrong way. That house below, I believe you
led to him. Missus Gabriel is filled with the proceeds
of his robberies. He bought the furniture, but the objects
of art, even the pictures, have all been stolen. In
a few days, I shall have some people down from
Scotland Yard wid in things and restore them to their owners.

(08:24):
But as to mister Pratt, I fear as he escaped
out of the clutches of the law as usual, I
cannot say I regret it, said Missus Gabriel, boldly. Bear
as he is, there are words people in the world,
mister Martin. But tell me, sir, you are investigating this
robbery my adopted said, mister Hey suspected he's perfectly inness in,
Missus Gabriel. The money he was said to have obtained

(08:47):
from the sale of the cup was given to him
by Sir Frank Hale. Sir Frank denies it. So, mister
Haveley says, But I'll see Sir Frank myself and see
what I can make of him. I would rather believes
to Haveley than anyone else. He has an absolutely open nature.
He's a fool, if that is what you mean. Pardon me,

(09:08):
I do not think so. A man can be straightforward
and honorable as mister Havelay is without being a fool.
As yet, I've not investigated this case, as my attention
has been taken up with Pratt. But in a day
or so I hope to go to work, and then
I am prepared to say that the crime will not
be brought home to your nevieux. Have you any suspicions?

(09:29):
Not yet, I have not searched out the evidence sufficiently.
Missus Steele saw mean of you pawned the cup. Ah,
that's a mystery which I must weather, Missus Gabriel, a
person resembling mister Haveley pawned the cup. But I am
sure it was not your nephew. There's a conspiracy against him,
on whose part I am not prepared to say yet,

(09:50):
but I shall find it out clear as character and
punish those who have been concerned in it. And now,
Missus Gabriel, I must bid you a good day, as
my time is fully occupied. Let me, however, in for
you that there is no need to excuse your association
with mister Pratt. I quite understand how he wriggled himself
into your acquaintance, and you are in no way to blame.
Once more, good day. Martin bowed himself out, But he

(10:14):
had seen enough of Missus Gabriel to note the strong
hatred she boree towards Leo, and he wondered what could
be the reason. Also, he saw that for a moment
she had flinched at the mention of conspiracy, which set
him on the alert as to whether her detestation of
a nephew had carried her so far as to plot
against his good name. If there is anything the matter,

(10:35):
Hale is a man to know, murmured the detective, he
lent the money and now declines to acknowledge the loon.
I believe there is something bare at the back of allness.
Poor heavily seems to be the most harmless of men,
yet is being wouned in some underhand way. Well, I'll
settle Pratt's matter and then clear his name. But before
Martin could do this, Providence took the task out of

(10:58):
his hand. For the next time days he was busy
consulting with those sent down from the Scotland Yard about
the numerous stolen articles found in the nuns House. The
cabinet of antique coins was restored to a famous collector
who had lost them five years before. Many pictures were
replaced in the galleries of country houses, and in one
way and another, by the time the nuns House was

(11:20):
denuded of what belonged to other people. They remained very little,
but the furniture and even some choice articles of furniture
were found to be the property of other people. It
was really wonderful the amount of stolen goods the Pratt
had collected. He must have thieved for years to have
got together such a collection. But he will start no
more ballows, said Martin, when all was at an end.

(11:42):
He never expected that I should find him here and
therefore collected all his treasures. His life is not long
enough to enable him to bring together such a collection
of things again. Besides, he has not the same white
field for his knaveries. The police are one too many
for him. Now. Martin said this to the vicar, who
was deeply shocked to hear of the wickedness of the
man from whom he had accepted the cup. Do you

(12:05):
think the sacred person was stolen also, mister Martin, asked
the good man. I am perfectly sure of it, replied
the detective promptly. But we have not caught the cup
down on our list, and no one has come forward
to claim it. It has not been advertised, mister Martin.
Pardon me, sir. It has been advertised, and by some
one in this place. I saw this notice on the

(12:27):
Daily Telegraph, also in the Times. Can you tell me
who his tea is, mister tempest? The wickar took the
newspaper handed to him and looked at it in a
bewildered manner. He read the notice carefully, but it never
struck him that the initials were those of his own daughter.
I really do not know who can have inserted this,
mister Martin, he said. It seems to be carefully worded, too,

(12:48):
and a reward of fifty pounds has been offered. Dear me,
I have a rival who is investigating the case, said
Martin with a smile. Is the description I curate, wickar perfect,
even the inscription. If you will permit me to take
this away, mister Martin, I will see if I can
discover who has put it in. I am annoyed that
the things should have been taken out of your hands.

(13:10):
But mister Martin, before I leave you, let me state
to you my conviction that my young friend Leo havily
did not steal the cup. Ah indeed, mister Tempest, said Martin,
eyeing the old man keenly. And what has led you
to such a happy conclusion? I have no grounds for
its save my inward conviction. There is a story of
missus Jel, you know, mister Tempest looked troubled. Most remarkable story,

(13:35):
he said. But we have heard of many cases of
accidental resemblances. Mister Martin, I fear I have been unjust
to Leo, and I wish to withdraw any charge I
may have made against him. I heard his defense and
saw his face while he was making it. Unless the
face is not the index of the mind, I cannot
bring myself to believe that he lied. No, mister Martin,
I cannot give you any reasons, but I am convinced

(13:57):
that I misjudged Leo. Were you prejudiced against him by missus?
Gabriel asked Martin, for Leo had told him his suspicions
on this point, mister tempest hesitated. I admit that I was,
he said at length, she said something to me which
I am not at liberty to repeat. Does it make
mister hevelee out a villain by no means? Said the

(14:19):
vicar hastily. What she told me is sad but not wicked.
More is misfortune than his fault. I can say no more.
I can keep this paper, mister Martin, Thank you, sir,
Good day, Good day, and the vicar walked away, leaving
Martin pondering. It was three days after this, and when
Martin was about to Beginnes's investigation of the case, that

(14:40):
he received a letter from London. He was more surprised
than he chose to say when he found that it
came from mister Pratt that gentleman gave no address. He
had posted the letter at the general post Office, so
that even the district where he was hidden should not
be traced. The letter, as Martin said afterwards, was one
of consummate imprudence, and it took him all this time

(15:00):
to read it with patience. As a human document, it
possessed a certain value. The letter ran as follows, and
Martin swore as he read, Dear Martin, so you have
let me slip through your fingers again? Is it not
about time that you stopped setting your wits against mine?
Several times you have tried, but always you have been beaten. Really,

(15:25):
you must take lessons in the art of thief catching
if you want to deserve the reputation you possess. I'm
bound to say that, but for the fog, I should
have been caught. But thanks to its friendly shelter, I
ran back to my house while you were blundering about
like a lost shape, and warned Adam. I knew you
would have to get rast and to show you the way,
and would be some time. Still. I knew your infernal pertinacity,

(15:50):
and made myself as scarce as possible in a very
short space of time. I should like to have seen
your face when you came to my house and found
your prey had escaped. I packed up my jewels, which
I always keep prepared for such an emergency as this,
and dressing myself warmly, I mounted my bicycle. Adam, who
had likewise made his preparations, mounted another, and we both

(16:12):
went down the main road. In spite of the mist,
there was no difficulty. The highway runs in a straight
line to port Front, and there was no wake club
road to make our traveling dangerous. We did not hurry,
but took our time, as I did not wish to
get to port Front before the steamer went. As a
matter of fact, we did, but hung about the outskirts
of the town until it was time to be aboard.

(16:33):
Of course, I did not need to tell you how
I stopped you from communicating with the port Front police.
I suggested the idea, and Adam climbed the pole to
cut the telegraph wire. We had a very pleasant trip
as far as Bognow, where we got on the train
and stopped at some station, the name of which I
need not tell you. We are now in London, in
very comfortable circumstances, if you are clever enough to find me,

(16:57):
which I don't think you are. I promised to give
myself up as soon as you appear, but there is
no chance of my seeing you. Better remain in calls
to my dear Martin and turn farmer. It's all you
are fit for upon my honor. It is one thing
I should like to know. How the devil did you
manage to find out my retreat. I never thought you

(17:17):
were it to you. I went to see Raston on
some business, likely to announce my popularity in the parish,
and I dropped across you for the first time in
my life. I was taken aback. Was it design or
accident that I found you there? I do not wish
to compliment you undeservedly. Well. You have drawn me away,
and I must find a new place in which to

(17:38):
pass my old age. It is too bad of you, Martin,
own my soul. Too bad. I was getting so popular
and callster. Now I suppose every one of the honest
men are swearing at me, yet I never robbed them.
One other thing, If you come down to investigate the
robbery of the cup I presented to the church, you
can spare yourself the trouble at myself. It went to

(18:02):
my heart to lose so valuable an object, and I
was sorry when I had given it. I could not
ask for it back, so I resolved to steal it.
I went to the church, and as I am a
small man, I climbed and through the lepers window. I
got the cup, climbed out again and went back to
my house. Then I was afraid lest the cup would
be seen by chance, and all my popularity would go.

(18:25):
I therefore assault upon it. That is a way I've
kept safed many a piece of jewellery. I could not
go myself, but I sent Adam. He's rather like Leo Harveley,
and so that fool of a missus Cheele made the mistake.
You need not look for the cup and battersy. Now
as I have redeemed it, I took the ticket from
Adam and went myself. It's now in my possession again,

(18:47):
and I do not intend to part with it any more.
You know how fond I am of beautiful things. Dear Martin, Well,
I dare say you guess that I stole the cup.
Here's my confession, and you can tell all those fools
a call us, including the Vicar that Leo heavily is
perfectly innocent. He has not enough prayers to steal anything.
I only took back my own and I am proud

(19:08):
of it. And as I've bamboozled the lot of you,
clever mister Martin included, Leo got the money with which
he paid his debts from Sir Frank Hale. You can
ask him, Hale. I mean, if he denies it, I
leave him to you, as you are clever enough to
get the truth out of him. He wants to marry
Sybil Tempest and desires Leo to marry his sister Edith.

(19:30):
All this was a plot to get Leo into his
power and force him to do what was wanted. I
hope you will punish the young man Hale. He's a
cripple and has all the spite of one. I should
have punished him myself, but you have deprived me of
that pleasure. I therefore call upon you to do your best.
And now, my dear Martin, good bye, give my love

(19:52):
to all the morning population of Cholister, and especially to
missus Gabriel, my dear and life long friend. I am
afraid she will not get her rent. Also, I had
the house redecorated at her rixpense. The belts will be
sent in to her. Let her pay them with my blessings.
I will write to Leo myself and give him my blessing.
I've much to say to him that will be of

(20:13):
no interest to you. He's a good fellow, and I
wish to see him married to Sybil. He will be
some day. I can manage a fool of a father,
even at a distance. Now, I hope you will look
after yourself for my sake, Martin. So long as the
Scotland yard idiots keep you on my track, I am safe.
If you died, they might perhaps pick a clever man

(20:33):
dangerous to me, my friend. So with all kind regards
and best wishes, until we meet, believe me, my dear
failure yours never in the flesh. Richard Pratt, the end
of chapter thirteen,