June 9, 2025 • 18 mins
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.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen of The Pagan's Cup by Fergus Hume. This
liberyvox recording is in the public domain. Wet by Yoganan
The Pagan's Cup, Chapter sixteen. Sybil's visitor, Leo, had never
felt so wretched in his life as he did the
(00:21):
next day. Seeing that he was greatly disturbed, Martin wished
to learn the reason. As Heavily had promised to keep
secret the presence of his father at the castle, he
was obliged to await direct answer. I saw missus Gabriel,
he said quietly. We had a long conversation, and she
told me what she had said to the vicar. Is
it a serious matter, asked the detective. Serious enough to
(00:43):
prevent my marriage? Replied Leo. But what it is I
did not feel called upon to explain. It concerns myself
and no one else. If you can help me, Martin,
I should tell you, but you cannot. No one can.
I don't think there is any more to be said.
Seeing the young man thus determined, Martin said no more,
(01:04):
as he did not wish to force Leo's confidence. The
next morning, he took his departure, assuring Heavily that he
was always at his disposal when wanted depend upon it,
he said, as he took leave. You are not yet
done with Missus Gabriel. She will get you into more
trouble when she does write to that address. Thank you, Martin.
(01:25):
Should I require your assistance, I will write. The two
men parted, Martin to London and Leo back to the Inn.
He was very miserable, the more so as he had
to avoid the society of Sybil. Knowing what he did.
It was impossible for him to talk of love to her.
He felt that he had no right to do so,
(01:45):
that he was gaining her affections wrongly. Sooner or later
he would have to leave here, but he did not
wish to break away abruptly. Little by little, he hoped
to withdraw himself from her presence, and thus the final
separation would be more easy. All the next day he
wandered alone on the moor, where there was no chance
of meeting with Sybil. The morning afterwards, he received a
(02:06):
note from Missus Gabriel stating that a certain person had
taken his departure. Leo was then in a fever of
anxiety lest the person should be captured. However, he learned
within twenty four hours that there was no need to worry.
An unsigned telegram came from London, intimating that the sender
was in safety and would communicate with him when the
time was ripe. Leo took this to mean that Pratt
(02:29):
could not easily get at the papers verifying his story,
owing to the vigilance excess by the police who were
on the lookout for him. Leo therefore possessed his soul
impatience until such time as all should be made clear. Meantime,
as he told Pratt, he was hoping against hope that
the story was not true. Certainly, Pratt had spoken in
(02:50):
what appeared to be a most truthful way. He had
exhibited an emotion he would scarcely have given way to
had he been telling a falsehood. But heavily knew what
an act of the man was, and to proof his forthcoming,
still cherished a hope that a comedy had been acted
for some reason best known to Pratt himself. That is,
it was a comedy to Pratt, but to Leo heavily
(03:10):
it approached pitileously near to tragedy. Afterwards, looking back on
the agony of those few days, he wondered that he
had not killed himself in sheer despair, But he could
not remain in the same place with Sybil without feeling
an overwhelming desire to tell her the whole story and
thus put an end to an impossible situation. Once she
knew the truth that he was the son of a criminal,
(03:32):
she would see that a marriage was out of the question.
Leo was quite certain that she would still love him,
and after all, he was not responsible for the sins
of his father, but for the sake of mister Tempest.
She could not marry him, nor, as he assured himself,
would he ask her to do so. Two or three
times he was on the point of seeking her out
and revealing all, but a feeling of the grief he
(03:54):
would cause her made him change his determination. It is
all finally to leave her in a full sparaitoy until
he had proved from Pratt of the supposed paternity. But
to be near her and not speak to her was unbearable,
so he sent a note saying he was called awab
for a few days on business and went to Port Front.
Here he remained waiting to hear from Pratt, and no
(04:17):
man could have been more miserable and mooth scarcely to
be wondered at considering the provocation. Meantime, Cholister's society had
been much exercised over the discovery of Leo's innocence and
the supposed delinquency of Pratt. Certainly as heavily and Missus
Gabriel knew, Pratt had generously taken on his own shoulders
the blame which had wrongfully rested on those of the
(04:37):
young man. But no one else knew this, And even
if Pratt had come forward and told the truth, no
one would have believed him. He had been so clearly
proved to be a thief, and the scandal concerning the
stolen goods in the nuns House was so great that
there was no ill deed with which the villages and
gentry of Cholister were not prepared to predit him. Missus
(04:57):
Parthurst was particularly vital and in a denunciation of the rascal.
But I always knew that he was a bad lot,
said Missus Barthurst. Did I not tell it was incredible
that a wealthy man should come down to pass his
days in a dull place like Cholister. How lucky it
is that we found his wickedness thanks to that dear
mister Martin, who is I'm sure a perfect gentleman, in
(05:20):
spite of his being a police officer. I shall always
look upon him as having saved Peggy. The creature so
she always called a former favorite, wanted to marry Peggy.
I saw it in his eyes. Perhaps I might have yielded,
and then what would have happened? I should have had
a jack to ripper in the family. Oh scarcely as
(05:41):
bad as that, Missus Parthurst, said Raston, to whom she
was speaking. Pratt was never a murderer. How do you
know that, mister Raston. For my part, I believe he
was capable of the most terrible crimes if he had
married Peggy. The very idea makes me shudder. But the
dear childish escaped the snares of evil, and I hoped
to see her shortly, the wife of a good man.
(06:03):
Here Missus Parthurst cast a look on her companion, Raston smiled.
He knew perfectly well what him meant. Failing the wealthy Pratt,
who had been proved a scoundrel, the humble curate had
a chance of becoming Missus Parthurst's son in law. And
Raston was not unwilling. He loved Peggy and she loved him.
They understood one another and had done so for some time.
(06:26):
Never would Peggy have married Pratt, had he asked her
a dozen times, But as she had told Raston, the
man had never intended to propose. Knowing this, Raston was
glad to see that missus Parthurst was not disinclined to
accept him as a suitor for a daughter. He then
and there struck the iron while it was hot. I
do not know if I am a very good man,
(06:47):
missus Parthurst, he said, still smiling. But if you think
me good enough for Peggy, I shall be more than satisfied.
I have the curacy and three hundred a year. My
family you know all about, and I suppose you have
for your own conclusions as to the merits of my personality.
I am not likely to turn out a criminal like Pratt.
You know, really, mister Raston, you take my breath away,
(07:09):
said missus Parthurst, quite equal to the occasion. I never
suspected that you loved Peggy. Still, if such is the case,
and she loves you, and you're prepared to insure life
in case you die unexpectedly, I do not mind your
marrying her. She's a dear girl and will make you
an excellent wife. Thank you, Missus Bathurst. Then I may
(07:29):
see Peggy now she is in the garden. Herald. Missus
Barthurst had long since informed herself of the curate's Christian name,
so as to be prepared for an emergency of this sort.
Go to her and take with you a mother's blessing.
Thus burden rast in sort of Piggy, and then in
there told her that all was well, they could love
(07:50):
one another without let or hindrance. The engagement had been
sanctioned officially by Missus Barthurst. Peggy laughed consumedly when Praston
related the pretty little comedy played by her mother. She
must think you are donkey, Harold, she said. Mother thinks
everyone is as blind as herself. Missus Parthurs fancies herself
(08:11):
wide awake, my dear, those who are particularly blind always
to Harold. Then they began to talk of their future,
of the probability of Sybil becoming the wife of Leo,
and the chances of Missus Gabriel taking the young man
again to a castle. From one subject to another, they
passed on until Peggy made an observation about Pearl. She
(08:31):
is out and about I see, said Peggy. But she
still looks thin and no wonder Her illness has been
a severe one. But she will soon put on flush
and rigg in her color. She's always wandering on the
more and the winds there will do more to restore
her to health than all the drugs in the pharma
Copya of James. Why does she go on to the moor,
(08:53):
said Peggy. I thought it was a chapel she was
fond of sitting in Ah. She has changed all, said Baston. Sadly,
it seems I think I told you this before, that
missus Cheeld told her some horrible calvinistic dog train, and
poor Pearl thinks she has lost eternally. It was her
idea that the cup was given into her charge, and
(09:14):
now she believes that the Master has taken it from
her because she is not good enough to be the custodian.
Poor girl, said Peggy sympathetically. But I thought, Harold, that
she believed the cup had been taken up to Heaven
for the supper of the Master. She did believe that
till missus Cheeld upset her mind. Anew. Now she thinks
she is lost, and I can't get the terrible idea
(09:35):
out of her head. She's like a lost thing wandering
about them more. Only one cure is possible. What is that, Harold?
The cup must be restored to the altar she has
built an altar? Has she built one? I followed her
on to the moor the other day, wishing to calm
her mind. Some distance away, in the center of the heather,
(09:56):
she has erected an altar of turf, and she told
me that if the asked he forgave her, he would
replace the cup which he had taken from her on
that altar. She goes there every day to see if
the cup has returned. If it did, I believe she
would again be her old, happy's self. But there is
no chance of the cup being briturned, No, said Raston
(10:17):
a trifle grimly. Pratt has taken it again in his possession,
and he will not let it go save for pearl.
I did not think it matters much. We could never
again use it for the service of the chapel. A
cup that has been stolen cannot be put to sacred uses.
Do you think it was stolen? I am certain of it.
Everything belonging to that man was stolen. What a pity, Peggy,
(10:39):
that such a clever fellow should use his talents for
such a bad purpose, A great pity. I like mister Pratt,
and even now, although he is such a wretch, I
can't help feeling sorry for him, So do I, Peggy.
There was good in Pratt. Let us hope he will repent.
But now, Darling, don't let us talk more of him.
He has gone and will never come back. What about
(11:00):
the wedding day, Oh, Harold, began Peggy, and blushed. After
this the conversation became too personal to be reported. It
is sufficient to say that the wedding day was fixed
for two months later. While all these discoveries and connections
with Pratt were being made in Cholister, events which had
to do with Sybil's advertisement had happened, which prevented her
(11:21):
keeping it any longer a secret from her father. She
put off telling him till the very last moment, but
when one day a London visitor arrived, she was forced
to speak out. A card inscribed with the name Lord
Kilspindee was brought to her, and on the back of
it was a pencil note, hinting that the gentleman had
called about the advertisement. Sybil ordered that he should be
(11:41):
shown into the drawing room and went to her father's study.
The vicar was preparing his sermon and looked up, ill
pleased at the interruption. What is it, Sybil, he asked,
I am busy. Please forgive me for interrupting your father.
She replied, coming to the desk and putting her arm
round his neck. But I've something to tell you, something
(12:01):
to confess. You have been doing nothing wrong, I hope,
said tempest suspiciously. I don't think it is wrong, save
in one particular that advertisement. It was I who put
it into the papers, Sybil, and you never told me.
The vicar was annoyed. At the same time, he felt
relieved that it was nothing words. He fancied that she
(12:24):
might be about to confess that she had married Leo.
It was no use telling you until something came of it.
Father replied Sybil calmly, So do not be angry now
that the whole mystery has been clear up. The advertisement
is useless, but I received one answer to it. A
gentleman called Lord Kilspindy wrote to me at the post
office as s t asking to see me about the cup.
(12:47):
He had something serious to say about it. I was curious.
I think you would have been curious to yourself, father,
So I wrote, and, giving my real name and address,
asked him to come down here. He is now in
the drawing room. Tempest rose to his feet, looking vexed.
Lord Kilspindy in the drawing room. And I only know
of the matter now. Really, Sybil, you have behaved very badly.
(13:11):
What does he want to tell something about the cup?
I suppose, said Sybil. Do you know Lord Kilspindlee, father,
no more than that he is a boarder lord and
a wealthy man. I believe he has a splendid and
famous castle near the Tweed. Sybil, you should have told me.
I'm sorry, but I didn't think it was worth while
until he came. You're not angry, father. I've done nothing
(13:33):
so very bad, and it was my eagerness about Leo
that made me take up the matter. You offered a
reward of fifty pounds. How is that to be paid?
Sybil laughed. I don't think there'll be any question of
reward with Lord Kilspindy, she said. Besides, he has not
brought the cup. You know that mister Pratt has it,
and it is likely to keep it. Come, father, forgive
(13:55):
me and let us seek Lord Kilspindy. I'm filled with curiosity.
You are a wicked girl, said the vicar indulgently, and
gave her a kiss. If you do this again, I
never will father, unless Leo is again in danger. The
vicar sighed. His conscience pricked him about Leo, and he
(14:17):
did not know how to act towards making amendment. Certainly,
if he gave his consent to the marriage, Leo would
be more than repaid for the ill thoughts entertained about him.
But Tempest was filled with pride of race and could
not bring himself to give his beautiful daughter to a
nameless man. However, he could not consider the matter now
since his illustrious visitor was waiting the drawing room, So
(14:40):
with Sybil he went to greet him. Miss Tempest, said
Lord Kilspindy, coming forward with a look of admiration of
the beautiful girl before him, and you, Sir Sybil allowed
her father to speak as was right and proper. I
am the vicar of this place, Lord Kilspindy, said Tempest politely,
and this is my daughter. It was she who put
(15:01):
the advertisement in the paper. I presume that it is
to that we owe the pleasure of your company. That
and nothing else, said Lord Kilspindy, taking the seat pointed
out to him by the Vicar. I've been looking for
the cup for over twenty years. It's not in your possession.
It was for a few weeks, replied the vicar, who
(15:21):
was very curious. I had better tell you the whole story,
and then you can judge for yourself, if you'll be
so kind, replied Lord Kilspindley courteously. He listened attentively while
mister Tempest narrated all the events in connection with the
cup from the time Pratted arrived in Kollister. The story
was a strange one, and the visitor was much interested. However,
(15:42):
he did not offer one interruption. Sybil watched him the meanwhile.
He was a tall, gray haired man of over sixty,
but still vigorous and straight. His face was lined, however,
as though he had undergone much trouble. He had a
soldierly look about him, and all the time the vicar
was speaking, tugged at a long gray mustache, the only
hair he wore on his face. Sybil thought of the
(16:04):
lion in the ancient Mariner, about long and lean and
brown as the sea shore sand. She could not quite
recall the quotation, but to her it described Kilspindle perfectly.
He was rather sad looking, and his quite gray eyes
looked as though he had known bitter trouble. And indeed,
he add Sybil learned that later. A very interesting story,
(16:27):
he said, politely, when mister Tempest had finished, but disappointing
in its ending. You say, this man Pratt is now
the cup in his possession. He confessed as much, my Lord,
in a letter to the detective in charge of the case.
It is a pity as he escaped with it. A
great pity, responded the other. I suppose there is no
chance of his being captured. From what mister Martin said,
(16:50):
I should think not put in, Sybil. He says that
Pratt has baffled all the cleverest detectives in England for
a great number of years. Kilspindy sighed. No chance of
getting it back, he murmured, and the luck will still
be bad the luck, echoed Sybil, catching the word. You
will think me superstitious, he said, with a smile. But
(17:10):
the fact is that the cup is said to be
a fairy gift and has been in a family for generations.
The luck of the family goes with the cup, like
the luck of Edenhall, said Sybil, remembering Longfellow's poem, precisely responded, Kilspindey,
the legend is a curious one. I must tell it
to you sometime. Of course, my opinion is that the
(17:31):
cup is of Roman manufacture. I recognized it from its description,
and especially from the Latin motto you set down in
the advertisement. I think that goblet was dedicated to Bacchus
and was probably lost by some Roman gentleman. Scotland was
invaded with the Caesars. All this time mister Tempest was
trying to recover from the horror of his thoughts. A
pagan cup, he gasped, and a stolen cup, oh, my lord,
(17:56):
and it was used as a communion cup. Pratt said
that here I brought it from Italy, where it was
so used by the Romish church. I thought it was
sanctified by such a use, and did not hesitate to
put it again on the altar. I really don't know
what to say. It is like sacrilege. I'm sorry mister tempest.
But the cup has been at Kilspindy Castle for five
(18:16):
hundred years. It never was used in the service of
the church. Over twenty years ago it was stolen by
a woman, by a woman, echoed Sybil. She had quite
expected to hear Pratt's name the end of chapter sixteen.
Chapter sixteen of The Pagan's Cup by Fergus Hume. This
liberyvox recording is in the public domain. Wet by Yoganan
The Pagan's Cup, Chapter sixteen. Sybil's visitor, Leo, had never
felt so wretched in his life as he did the
(00:21):
next day. Seeing that he was greatly disturbed, Martin wished
to learn the reason. As Heavily had promised to keep
secret the presence of his father at the castle, he
was obliged to await direct answer. I saw missus Gabriel,
he said quietly. We had a long conversation, and she
told me what she had said to the vicar. Is
it a serious matter, asked the detective. Serious enough to
(00:43):
prevent my marriage? Replied Leo. But what it is I
did not feel called upon to explain. It concerns myself
and no one else. If you can help me, Martin,
I should tell you, but you cannot. No one can.
I don't think there is any more to be said.
Seeing the young man thus determined, Martin said no more,
(01:04):
as he did not wish to force Leo's confidence. The
next morning, he took his departure, assuring Heavily that he
was always at his disposal when wanted depend upon it,
he said, as he took leave. You are not yet
done with Missus Gabriel. She will get you into more
trouble when she does write to that address. Thank you, Martin.
(01:25):
Should I require your assistance, I will write. The two
men parted, Martin to London and Leo back to the Inn.
He was very miserable, the more so as he had
to avoid the society of Sybil. Knowing what he did.
It was impossible for him to talk of love to her.
He felt that he had no right to do so,
(01:45):
that he was gaining her affections wrongly. Sooner or later
he would have to leave here, but he did not
wish to break away abruptly. Little by little, he hoped
to withdraw himself from her presence, and thus the final
separation would be more easy. All the next day he
wandered alone on the moor, where there was no chance
of meeting with Sybil. The morning afterwards, he received a
(02:06):
note from Missus Gabriel stating that a certain person had
taken his departure. Leo was then in a fever of
anxiety lest the person should be captured. However, he learned
within twenty four hours that there was no need to worry.
An unsigned telegram came from London, intimating that the sender
was in safety and would communicate with him when the
time was ripe. Leo took this to mean that Pratt
(02:29):
could not easily get at the papers verifying his story,
owing to the vigilance excess by the police who were
on the lookout for him. Leo therefore possessed his soul
impatience until such time as all should be made clear. Meantime,
as he told Pratt, he was hoping against hope that
the story was not true. Certainly, Pratt had spoken in
(02:50):
what appeared to be a most truthful way. He had
exhibited an emotion he would scarcely have given way to
had he been telling a falsehood. But heavily knew what
an act of the man was, and to proof his forthcoming,
still cherished a hope that a comedy had been acted
for some reason best known to Pratt himself. That is,
it was a comedy to Pratt, but to Leo heavily
(03:10):
it approached pitileously near to tragedy. Afterwards, looking back on
the agony of those few days, he wondered that he
had not killed himself in sheer despair, But he could
not remain in the same place with Sybil without feeling
an overwhelming desire to tell her the whole story and
thus put an end to an impossible situation. Once she
knew the truth that he was the son of a criminal,
(03:32):
she would see that a marriage was out of the question.
Leo was quite certain that she would still love him,
and after all, he was not responsible for the sins
of his father, but for the sake of mister Tempest.
She could not marry him, nor, as he assured himself,
would he ask her to do so. Two or three
times he was on the point of seeking her out
and revealing all, but a feeling of the grief he
(03:54):
would cause her made him change his determination. It is
all finally to leave her in a full sparaitoy until
he had proved from Pratt of the supposed paternity. But
to be near her and not speak to her was unbearable,
so he sent a note saying he was called awab
for a few days on business and went to Port Front.
Here he remained waiting to hear from Pratt, and no
(04:17):
man could have been more miserable and mooth scarcely to
be wondered at considering the provocation. Meantime, Cholister's society had
been much exercised over the discovery of Leo's innocence and
the supposed delinquency of Pratt. Certainly as heavily and Missus
Gabriel knew, Pratt had generously taken on his own shoulders
the blame which had wrongfully rested on those of the
(04:37):
young man. But no one else knew this, And even
if Pratt had come forward and told the truth, no
one would have believed him. He had been so clearly
proved to be a thief, and the scandal concerning the
stolen goods in the nuns House was so great that
there was no ill deed with which the villages and
gentry of Cholister were not prepared to predit him. Missus
(04:57):
Parthurst was particularly vital and in a denunciation of the rascal.
But I always knew that he was a bad lot,
said Missus Barthurst. Did I not tell it was incredible
that a wealthy man should come down to pass his
days in a dull place like Cholister. How lucky it
is that we found his wickedness thanks to that dear
mister Martin, who is I'm sure a perfect gentleman, in
(05:20):
spite of his being a police officer. I shall always
look upon him as having saved Peggy. The creature so
she always called a former favorite, wanted to marry Peggy.
I saw it in his eyes. Perhaps I might have yielded,
and then what would have happened? I should have had
a jack to ripper in the family. Oh scarcely as
(05:41):
bad as that, Missus Parthurst, said Raston, to whom she
was speaking. Pratt was never a murderer. How do you
know that, mister Raston. For my part, I believe he
was capable of the most terrible crimes if he had
married Peggy. The very idea makes me shudder. But the
dear childish escaped the snares of evil, and I hoped
to see her shortly, the wife of a good man.
(06:03):
Here Missus Parthurst cast a look on her companion, Raston smiled.
He knew perfectly well what him meant. Failing the wealthy Pratt,
who had been proved a scoundrel, the humble curate had
a chance of becoming Missus Parthurst's son in law. And
Raston was not unwilling. He loved Peggy and she loved him.
They understood one another and had done so for some time.
(06:26):
Never would Peggy have married Pratt, had he asked her
a dozen times, But as she had told Raston, the
man had never intended to propose. Knowing this, Raston was
glad to see that missus Parthurst was not disinclined to
accept him as a suitor for a daughter. He then
and there struck the iron while it was hot. I
do not know if I am a very good man,
(06:47):
missus Parthurst, he said, still smiling. But if you think
me good enough for Peggy, I shall be more than satisfied.
I have the curacy and three hundred a year. My
family you know all about, and I suppose you have
for your own conclusions as to the merits of my personality.
I am not likely to turn out a criminal like Pratt.
You know, really, mister Raston, you take my breath away,
(07:09):
said missus Parthurst, quite equal to the occasion. I never
suspected that you loved Peggy. Still, if such is the case,
and she loves you, and you're prepared to insure life
in case you die unexpectedly, I do not mind your
marrying her. She's a dear girl and will make you
an excellent wife. Thank you, Missus Bathurst. Then I may
(07:29):
see Peggy now she is in the garden. Herald. Missus
Barthurst had long since informed herself of the curate's Christian name,
so as to be prepared for an emergency of this sort.
Go to her and take with you a mother's blessing.
Thus burden rast in sort of Piggy, and then in
there told her that all was well, they could love
(07:50):
one another without let or hindrance. The engagement had been
sanctioned officially by Missus Barthurst. Peggy laughed consumedly when Praston
related the pretty little comedy played by her mother. She
must think you are donkey, Harold, she said. Mother thinks
everyone is as blind as herself. Missus Parthurs fancies herself
(08:11):
wide awake, my dear, those who are particularly blind always
to Harold. Then they began to talk of their future,
of the probability of Sybil becoming the wife of Leo,
and the chances of Missus Gabriel taking the young man
again to a castle. From one subject to another, they
passed on until Peggy made an observation about Pearl. She
(08:31):
is out and about I see, said Peggy. But she
still looks thin and no wonder Her illness has been
a severe one. But she will soon put on flush
and rigg in her color. She's always wandering on the
more and the winds there will do more to restore
her to health than all the drugs in the pharma
Copya of James. Why does she go on to the moor,
(08:53):
said Peggy. I thought it was a chapel she was
fond of sitting in Ah. She has changed all, said Baston. Sadly,
it seems I think I told you this before, that
missus Cheeld told her some horrible calvinistic dog train, and
poor Pearl thinks she has lost eternally. It was her
idea that the cup was given into her charge, and
(09:14):
now she believes that the Master has taken it from
her because she is not good enough to be the custodian.
Poor girl, said Peggy sympathetically. But I thought, Harold, that
she believed the cup had been taken up to Heaven
for the supper of the Master. She did believe that
till missus Cheeld upset her mind. Anew. Now she thinks
she is lost, and I can't get the terrible idea
(09:35):
out of her head. She's like a lost thing wandering
about them more. Only one cure is possible. What is that, Harold?
The cup must be restored to the altar she has
built an altar? Has she built one? I followed her
on to the moor the other day, wishing to calm
her mind. Some distance away, in the center of the heather,
(09:56):
she has erected an altar of turf, and she told
me that if the asked he forgave her, he would
replace the cup which he had taken from her on
that altar. She goes there every day to see if
the cup has returned. If it did, I believe she
would again be her old, happy's self. But there is
no chance of the cup being briturned, No, said Raston
(10:17):
a trifle grimly. Pratt has taken it again in his possession,
and he will not let it go save for pearl.
I did not think it matters much. We could never
again use it for the service of the chapel. A
cup that has been stolen cannot be put to sacred uses.
Do you think it was stolen? I am certain of it.
Everything belonging to that man was stolen. What a pity, Peggy,
(10:39):
that such a clever fellow should use his talents for
such a bad purpose, A great pity. I like mister Pratt,
and even now, although he is such a wretch, I
can't help feeling sorry for him, So do I, Peggy.
There was good in Pratt. Let us hope he will repent.
But now, Darling, don't let us talk more of him.
He has gone and will never come back. What about
(11:00):
the wedding day, Oh, Harold, began Peggy, and blushed. After
this the conversation became too personal to be reported. It
is sufficient to say that the wedding day was fixed
for two months later. While all these discoveries and connections
with Pratt were being made in Cholister, events which had
to do with Sybil's advertisement had happened, which prevented her
(11:21):
keeping it any longer a secret from her father. She
put off telling him till the very last moment, but
when one day a London visitor arrived, she was forced
to speak out. A card inscribed with the name Lord
Kilspindee was brought to her, and on the back of
it was a pencil note, hinting that the gentleman had
called about the advertisement. Sybil ordered that he should be
(11:41):
shown into the drawing room and went to her father's study.
The vicar was preparing his sermon and looked up, ill
pleased at the interruption. What is it, Sybil, he asked,
I am busy. Please forgive me for interrupting your father.
She replied, coming to the desk and putting her arm
round his neck. But I've something to tell you, something
(12:01):
to confess. You have been doing nothing wrong, I hope,
said tempest suspiciously. I don't think it is wrong, save
in one particular that advertisement. It was I who put
it into the papers, Sybil, and you never told me.
The vicar was annoyed. At the same time, he felt
relieved that it was nothing words. He fancied that she
(12:24):
might be about to confess that she had married Leo.
It was no use telling you until something came of it.
Father replied Sybil calmly, So do not be angry now
that the whole mystery has been clear up. The advertisement
is useless, but I received one answer to it. A
gentleman called Lord Kilspindy wrote to me at the post
office as s t asking to see me about the cup.
(12:47):
He had something serious to say about it. I was curious.
I think you would have been curious to yourself, father,
So I wrote, and, giving my real name and address,
asked him to come down here. He is now in
the drawing room. Tempest rose to his feet, looking vexed.
Lord Kilspindy in the drawing room. And I only know
of the matter now. Really, Sybil, you have behaved very badly.
(13:11):
What does he want to tell something about the cup?
I suppose, said Sybil. Do you know Lord Kilspindlee, father,
no more than that he is a boarder lord and
a wealthy man. I believe he has a splendid and
famous castle near the Tweed. Sybil, you should have told me.
I'm sorry, but I didn't think it was worth while
until he came. You're not angry, father. I've done nothing
(13:33):
so very bad, and it was my eagerness about Leo
that made me take up the matter. You offered a
reward of fifty pounds. How is that to be paid?
Sybil laughed. I don't think there'll be any question of
reward with Lord Kilspindy, she said. Besides, he has not
brought the cup. You know that mister Pratt has it,
and it is likely to keep it. Come, father, forgive
(13:55):
me and let us seek Lord Kilspindy. I'm filled with curiosity.
You are a wicked girl, said the vicar indulgently, and
gave her a kiss. If you do this again, I
never will father, unless Leo is again in danger. The
vicar sighed. His conscience pricked him about Leo, and he
(14:17):
did not know how to act towards making amendment. Certainly,
if he gave his consent to the marriage, Leo would
be more than repaid for the ill thoughts entertained about him.
But Tempest was filled with pride of race and could
not bring himself to give his beautiful daughter to a
nameless man. However, he could not consider the matter now
since his illustrious visitor was waiting the drawing room, So
(14:40):
with Sybil he went to greet him. Miss Tempest, said
Lord Kilspindy, coming forward with a look of admiration of
the beautiful girl before him, and you, Sir Sybil allowed
her father to speak as was right and proper. I
am the vicar of this place, Lord Kilspindy, said Tempest politely,
and this is my daughter. It was she who put
(15:01):
the advertisement in the paper. I presume that it is
to that we owe the pleasure of your company. That
and nothing else, said Lord Kilspindy, taking the seat pointed
out to him by the Vicar. I've been looking for
the cup for over twenty years. It's not in your possession.
It was for a few weeks, replied the vicar, who
(15:21):
was very curious. I had better tell you the whole story,
and then you can judge for yourself, if you'll be
so kind, replied Lord Kilspindley courteously. He listened attentively while
mister Tempest narrated all the events in connection with the
cup from the time Pratted arrived in Kollister. The story
was a strange one, and the visitor was much interested. However,
(15:42):
he did not offer one interruption. Sybil watched him the meanwhile.
He was a tall, gray haired man of over sixty,
but still vigorous and straight. His face was lined, however,
as though he had undergone much trouble. He had a
soldierly look about him, and all the time the vicar
was speaking, tugged at a long gray mustache, the only
hair he wore on his face. Sybil thought of the
(16:04):
lion in the ancient Mariner, about long and lean and
brown as the sea shore sand. She could not quite
recall the quotation, but to her it described Kilspindle perfectly.
He was rather sad looking, and his quite gray eyes
looked as though he had known bitter trouble. And indeed,
he add Sybil learned that later. A very interesting story,
(16:27):
he said, politely, when mister Tempest had finished, but disappointing
in its ending. You say, this man Pratt is now
the cup in his possession. He confessed as much, my Lord,
in a letter to the detective in charge of the case.
It is a pity as he escaped with it. A
great pity, responded the other. I suppose there is no
chance of his being captured. From what mister Martin said,
(16:50):
I should think not put in, Sybil. He says that
Pratt has baffled all the cleverest detectives in England for
a great number of years. Kilspindy sighed. No chance of
getting it back, he murmured, and the luck will still
be bad the luck, echoed Sybil, catching the word. You
will think me superstitious, he said, with a smile. But
(17:10):
the fact is that the cup is said to be
a fairy gift and has been in a family for generations.
The luck of the family goes with the cup, like
the luck of Edenhall, said Sybil, remembering Longfellow's poem, precisely responded, Kilspindey,
the legend is a curious one. I must tell it
to you sometime. Of course, my opinion is that the
(17:31):
cup is of Roman manufacture. I recognized it from its description,
and especially from the Latin motto you set down in
the advertisement. I think that goblet was dedicated to Bacchus
and was probably lost by some Roman gentleman. Scotland was
invaded with the Caesars. All this time mister Tempest was
trying to recover from the horror of his thoughts. A
pagan cup, he gasped, and a stolen cup, oh, my lord,
(17:56):
and it was used as a communion cup. Pratt said
that here I brought it from Italy, where it was
so used by the Romish church. I thought it was
sanctified by such a use, and did not hesitate to
put it again on the altar. I really don't know
what to say. It is like sacrilege. I'm sorry mister tempest.
But the cup has been at Kilspindy Castle for five
(18:16):
hundred years. It never was used in the service of
the church. Over twenty years ago it was stolen by
a woman, by a woman, echoed Sybil. She had quite
expected to hear Pratt's name the end of chapter sixteen.
Popular Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com