19 - 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 (00:00):
Chapter nineteen of The Pagan's Cup by Fergus Hugh. This
Libervox recording is in the public domain. Read by Yoganan
The Pagan's Cup, Chapter nineteen, a Story of the Past.

(00:21):
Half an hour later, and Lord Kilspindy was back in
the vicarage library with Janet Grant or, as it may
be more convenient to call her, missus Cheal. Mister Tempest
was present, together with Leo and mister Raston, and they
had assembled to force the truth out of missus Cheal.
This was no easy matter. All the evil in the
woman was uppermost, and with a shawl wrapped round her tightly,

(00:45):
she sat there and defied them all. You may burn me,
you may put me in prison, said missus childs savagely,
but I won't open my mouth. I'll have your rested
unless you tell the truth, said Lord kilspindle Me then
snoled missus Cheel. There's a policeman handing my lord. Why
are you behaving like this woman, asked the Vickers sternly.

(01:08):
Why she retarted violently Because I was badly treated by
my lord there. I served him faithfully for many years,
Yet in place of giving me the position to which
I was entitled, he said, another woman, A woman I hated.
Oh my head, but I paid him out, she said revengefully.
Oh many a sad eye you have had, my lord,

(01:28):
and many more you will have. I know where your
son is, but I won't tell you have got back
the cup. But the son, my Lord Marwn, she sneered,
will remain in the humble position in which I have
placed him. Something is kain, said Kilspundy. You have revealed
that my son is alive, and well, I'll get the
rest out of you. Never. Missus Jeles shut her mouth

(01:49):
with a snap and shook herself. I will not speak
another word. What a wicked woman you are, said the
vickers sadly. Missus Jeles's eyes flashed a wicked glance at him,
but true to her determination, she held a peace. It
seemed impossible to do anything with so pronounced a vixen.
Hitherto Raston had been silent. Now he came forward. I

(02:12):
am able to deal with this matter, he said quietly,
And I have a way of making the woman speak.
Missus Jill shook her head and glad The vicar and
Kilspindy both looked at the curate, so did Leo, it
was beginning to have a faint hope that the scene
would end in the discovery that he was the rightful
son of Lord Kilspindley. With an anxious face, he sat

(02:35):
in the corner and drank in eagerly every word which
filled from Raston's lips. Missus Jill maintained his self imposed silence.
Mister Tempest, said, rast When I asked you if I
might go to London, I did not tell you my
errand I tell it to you now. It was to
see the man known as Pratt. What exclaimed the Vicar?

(02:56):
You saw that man two days ago, he wrote, asking
me to see him, hinting that he had something to
tell about the cup which he stole, said Kilspindle, No,
my lord Pratt did not steal the cup. He took
the blame upon himself so as to clear the name
of my friend heavily. Both the old men looked at Leo,

(03:16):
who winced. Are you sure of that? Asked the vicar.
Pratt wrote, Martin, remember to take the blame upon himself.
Quite so, But he was not guilty. For all that
his record was so black when Martin unmasked him that
he thought a crime more or less would not matter.
But why should he shield? Heavily, asked mister Tempest. Leo

(03:39):
started forward. He saw that the time had come for
him to speak out. I can answer for that, he said.
Pratt told me that I was his son. Tempest uttered
an exclamation. You must be mistaken, he said. Missus Gabriel
informed me that you were illegitimate. That would not have
made any difference, said Leo bitterly. I might as well

(03:59):
be the illegitimate son of Pratt as of any one else.
As a matter of fact, however, he told me that
I was born in wedlock his wife, my mother died,
and he placed me with Missus Gabriel to bring up.
She believed that I was a nameless often, and what
she told you, mister Tempest, was true so far as
she knew. Her telling was none the less spiteful. However,

(04:21):
it was that which made you unwilling that I should
marry Sybil. Yes, said the becard with a flush. I
did not like to think that a daughter of mine
should marry a nameless man. And you visit the sins
of the parents on the head of the innocent offspring,
said Leo. You have not treated me well mister tempest,
you thought me guilty of theft, scorn me because I

(04:41):
was nameless? Is this the conduct of a minister of
the gospel. The gray head of the vicard drooped. I
admit that I have been wrong, Leo, he said, in
a faltering tone. You have vindicated your character. I ask
your pardon, and more, said he when Leo grasped his hand,
Even though there is a stain on your earth, No,
said Leo. I don't want you to bind yourself to anything.

(05:05):
Wait till this mystery is cleared up. At present, so
far as I know, I am the son of a criminal.
If that is true, I should refuse to marry Sybil. Here,
missus Child burst out into a taunting laugh. Lord Kilspinty
frowned upon her and took Leo's disengaged hand. The vicar
held the other. You are a good man, heavily said

(05:25):
his lordship, far from suspecting the truth. I wish I
had had you for a son, And missus Cheeld laughed again.
When quite mist restored, Rastorn went on with his story. First,
he said, I must tell you how I recovered the cup.
I went up and met Pratt as he promised, not
to deliver him into the hands of the law, much

(05:46):
as he deserved punishment. He spoke to me freely, and
he was with him three hours. I do not know
if I was right in letting such a dangerous criminal escape,
said the curate, looking round. But if I had given
information to the police, I should ever have heard the
truth about Leo, nor should I have secured the cup.
Then I'm not a son, cried Leo eagerly. No, Pratt

(06:08):
gave me his word for that, who you are, you
shall hear presently. Here. Raston gave a glance at Missus Jeal,
who was moving her hands restlessly and seemed to be
ill at ease. Meantime, I must go on with the
story of the cup. It seemed that Pratt knew the
pawn broke a penny, and having learned from Missus Cheald's
story that he had the cup, he went to get

(06:29):
it back and to learn both who had pawned it
and who did, asked the vicar sharply. Raston gave the
answer he least expected. Missus Steele pawned it, said he.
The woman sprang on her feet and found a tongue.
It's a lie, she shouted, furious with rage, and she
made a rush for the door. Lord Kilspendy put his

(06:50):
hand on her shoulder and forced her back into the chair.
I'm beginning to suspect the truth, he said, sternly, sit still,
or I'll have you punished. Scowled and relapsed into her
dogged silence. Raston went on to tell how the cup
had been stolen. It seems that when Pearl Dairry was ill,
he said, this woman washed by a bed. The poor

(07:11):
mad creature was delirious and raved about the cup. Missus
Cheel persuaded her that she would be eternally punished. What
for Heaven only knows. She's a child of sin, crowned
missus Cheel. She's as pure and good as an angel, cried, cured, frowning.
It's you who are the evil doer, missus Cheel. Well,
mister tempest. The girl thought, in her half delirious state,

(07:32):
that she should test the goodness of God. She proposed
to take the cup out of the chapel and place
it on an altar of turf, which she had prepared
on the moon. It was her idea that if God
wished to save her, he would take the cup up
to heaven and then replace it at a later date
on the altar. She therefore, while Missus Jeele was absent,
breast herself and ran out of the house. She went

(07:54):
to the house of Old Barker, the sexton. His door
was not locked. He told a lie about that to
save him. And she knew where the key of the
church hung. It was in a hand. In a moment,
and she went to the church some time about ten o'clock.
She entered and took the cup. Then she replaced the
key on his nail. After relocking the door. One moment

(08:14):
interrupted mister Tempest. Those scratches on the lepper's window, we thought,
if you remember that the robber had entered that way,
I shrewdly suspect that old Barker made those scratches to
save his own skin, said Raston, you had better ask him,
And it may here be mentioned that the wiccard did
and learned that what Raston said was true. The old sexton,

(08:36):
finding the cup corn, feared lest he might be accused
of the robbery, and so conceived the idea of making
marks as though some one had entered at a window
which his fat body could not possibly have squeezed through.
It was clever idea and misled all but Old Barker
was punished by being sent to port Front after he
had confessed. It was when Pearl left Barker's cartage with

(08:59):
the cup that missus Cheel met her. Went on the Curate.
She had missed her out of bed, and, thinking that
the mad girl had gone to the chapel, followed. She
met her at the door of the cottage and saw
that she had the cup. It was then that the
idea came into her wicked head to steal the cup.
It's a lie, cried missus Cheel again. It's what you

(09:20):
told old Penny. Any How, he is prepared to swear
and caught, said the Curate coolly. He would not give
you what you asked for the cup until you told
him where you got it. For a wonder you told
the truth. Yes, missus Cheel. You followed Pearl on to
the moor and saw her set the cup on the
turf alter, waiting till she got back to your cottage.
You took the cup and concealed it under your shawl.

(09:42):
You took it home and found the girl back again
in bed, very ill from the effects of exposure. For
a time you nursed her while the hue and cry
was being made about the cup. Then you made the
excuse that your father was ill and went to London.
You have no father, Missus Cheel and Old Penny in
answer to a letter of your sent the wire. You
told him you had something for him, and so he

(10:04):
aided you with your plot. You took the cup to London.
Pawnded to Old Penny after telling him the story, and
got five hundred pounds for it. I did not, I
did not. Missus Steele tried again to rise, and again
had to remain. Lord Kilspendy kept his heavy grip on
his shoulder in his rage at a duplicity. He could
have slain her, but he spared her for the moment

(10:27):
that he might learn the truth. After many years of darkness,
dawn was breaking. Missus Steele saw that the inn was
in sight and began to sob. Then continued raston. You
banked the money and came down to tell that Wicket
lie about Leo heavily. You know that he was never
near the place, that he was innocent, and that you

(10:47):
were guilty. However, Brad got all this out of Old penny,
and then gave him the five hundred pounds for the cup.
He took it to his own place, and when I
was with him, he handed it to me. Come, said Kilspondy,
some good in the man. He has to make reparation
to you, My lord, said Baston solemnly, for he is
this woman's husband, and it was by his direction that

(11:10):
your son was stolen. Yes, here, the curate pointed to Leo,
and there is your son. Leo rose slowly, as pale
as a corpse. He had expected this, yet when it
came the thing was too much for him. He could
only look at his newly found father in silence. Lord
Kilspindley gasped, and he too turned pale. Then he made

(11:32):
one straight forward and grasping Leo's hands, stared into his face. Yes,
he murmured, I believe you have her. Her. He turned
on missus Jeal woman. Is this true, he demanded, But
Missus Jeal, with a cruel smile on a fat, puffy face,
still sat silent. I could strangle you, muttered Lord Kilspindlee,

(11:57):
exasperated by an obstinacy, I can make a speak, said Raston,
taking an envelope out of his pocket, and here is
the means of doing so. Still holding Leo's hand, Lord
Kilspindley looked at the Curate. Missus Jeal remained quite a
contemptuous smile on her lips, and her eyes on the floor. Tempest,
much interested in the strange scene, sat waiting for the end.

(12:20):
It would seem that the result was in Raston's hands.
After I had received the cup and had heard its story,
the Curate continued. I began to question Pratt about Leo
at portrait. Leod already told me of the claim Pratt
had made to a being his father. I did not
believe it, for I know Haaveley's upright nature and could
not think that he was a child of such a

(12:41):
bad man. At first, Pratt insisted that he was the father.
I then appealed to his better instincts and told him
how Leo had made up his mind to give up
Miss Tempest rather than make her the wife of a
man with such an antiherence as his. I think Pratt
really loves you, Leo, for after a time he yielded
to my entreaties and the truth, I am sure he

(13:02):
likes me, said heavily quietly. He was always very kind
to me, bad as he is, I at least have
no reason to complain of his treatment. But what did
he say? Asked Lord Kilspindy, anxiously, I shall leave missus
Chield to tell she can repeat to you the story.
Pratt told me. I will not say a word, muttered

(13:22):
the woman resolutely. I can compel you, replied Raston sternly.
Try was Missus Jeles's disdainful retort. The Curate turned towards Kilspindy.
Pratt's story had a great deal to do with his wife,
my lord, and on several points he referred me to her.
I told him that she would never speak, for I
well know how obstinate she is. Prad then agreed to

(13:45):
help me for Leo's sake. He said, he wrote out
something in place what he had written in this envelope.
I did not see what it was, and I do
not know now. The envelope is sealed, as you see now,
added the Curate, looking at Missus Jeal, who was beginning
to show signs of uneasiness. If you will tell the
story of how you stold the child and prove that

(14:06):
mister Haley is really Lord Morven, I will hand this
letter to you, with the seal unbroken. If you refuse,
I will open the envelope now and act on the contents.
Pratt assured me that what it contained herein would cost
you much more than your liberty. The three men looked
at the woman. Her face was delibid and perspiration beaded

(14:26):
afore it. Twice she tried to speak, but her mouth
opened and shut without a sound. Will you speak, asked Raston.
Quietly give it to me, she muttered in a husky tone,
and stretching out her hand for the envelope. Raston withdrew
it beyond a reage. Not until you have told us
the story, he said. If I do, will you give

(14:47):
me the letter? Yes, with a seal unbroken. I do
not know what inquity you have been guilty of, but
we are all willing not to know, so long as
you inform us of your mine of fault. I have
your promise to give me the letter as it is,
asked missus Steele. Yes, said Raston, and the other three
men a chorous response. Missus Chele nodded, well satisfied, and

(15:10):
wiped a pale face with the end of a shawl.
She then took a key out of her pocket. Will
one of you gentlemen go to my cottage, she said,
and opened the third drawer in the chest of drawers
in my bedroom, standing opposite to the door. There you
will find a parcel wrapped in brown paper. I want
it broughtyer immediately. Shall I go, said Leo rising, No,

(15:32):
said Lord Kilspendy. I have you, and I mean to
keep you. Mister Tempest, no doubt has a servant whom
he can trust. Tempest nodded and touched the bell. The
old butler, who had been with the vicar for over
twenty years, appeared. Take this key, said his master, handing
it to him. Missus Jele will give you directions how
to use it. Lose no time in coming back. Missus

(15:56):
Steele repeated her instructions, and the servant departed on his
Errand then the woman rose to her feet and began
to talk, with an assumption of courage which would have
been ludicrous had it not been so pitiful. Still, she
fought well and was game to the last. You have
got the better of me, she said, Or rather that

(16:16):
brute of a torny angel as speeched. If he had
held his tongue, I could have defied the Lord of
you as it is. She shrugged her fat shoulders and paused,
Ask me what questions you like? She said, I am
in your power. I must reply. Is this my son,
asked Kilspindy, his hand on Leo's shoulder. Yes, that is,

(16:38):
Lord Mormon. Leo uttered a cry and looked at his
father with moist eyes. The revulsion of feeling was too
much for Kilspinde, and he sank down into a chair.
Leo held his hand and there was a silence for
a few moments. And thankful to God that he has
spared me to see my son again, said Kilspindy solemnly,
and Vickar added a solemn amen. And thank God that

(17:00):
I have a father and an unsullied name, said Leo,
almost too more to speak. Nor was his emotion unmanly
on the part of father and son. The least sentimental person,
miss grant this much. Kilsmendy remained seated in his chair
and holding the hand of his newly recovered son. Both
men fixed the eyes, and missus Jeale, who in a
cold and unemotional way, continued a confession. I was brought

(17:24):
upon your estate, my lord, she said, and there I
met with Pratt, or rather with Tony Angel. He came
on a visit to the village to get away from
the police. He was a handsome and fascinating man, and
I fell in love with him. Whether he loved me
or not, I cannot say. At all events he pretended to.
I left your service and married him. We went to London,

(17:45):
and then I discovered that my husband was a thief.
At first I was horrified. In those days, my lord,
I was not the hardened sinner you may see me now.
But after a time Pratt, as I may call him,
made me as bad as himself. He taught me to
love fine things and comfort, and as he always made
plenty of money by stealing her a gay life. Oh

(18:07):
we had fine times, I can tell you. He go
on with your story, missus Chiell, said the vickers sternly.
She tossed her head but obeyed. After a time things
got bad. Pratt was so well known to the police
that he was not so successful as he had been.
I used to tell him about Kilspindy Castle and the cup. Pratt,
who loved beautiful things, wanted to get the cup. He

(18:29):
proposed that I should go back and steal it. I
was already known in the castle, so there would be
a better opportunity for me to get it there himself.
As he wanted money, I agreed and he came back
to the castle. Did you re enter my service in
order to steal the cup, asked Lord Kilspindy. Yes, replied
Missus Cheile defiantly. You had plenty without it. I entered

(18:52):
as an under nurse maid, and as it was comfortable,
I thought I would stay for a while. Pratt came
up and urked me to steal the cup. At once.
I refused, as he did not wish to leave my
good situation. Then an idea came into his head that
if I could obtain the child of a nobleman, he
could hold it as a hostage. What do you mean,
asked Raston. The meaning is not difficult, said Missus jeal coolly.

(19:16):
Pratt was always in danger of being taken by the police,
and his record was so bad that he would have
been shown no mercy. He thought, if he had Lord
Kilspindy's son, that when he got into trouble, he could
promise to restore the child on condition that he was
set free. A clever idea muttered the vicar, and a
very wild one said his lordship, what influence could I

(19:38):
bring to bear towards helping a criminal? What? Indeed? Sneered
missus Jell. I assured Pratt that your lordship had no power.
But the idea of getting the child as a hostage
fascinated him, and he commanded me to steal the boy.
For a time, I refused. Then the head nurse died
and another woman was set over my head. My lady treated
me badly. She insulted me. She showed me that she

(20:01):
had mistrusted me. I was angry, and he determined to
be revenged. I was revenged by obeying Pratt. I took
the cup and the child and went away. How I
I know how you stole both the child and the cup,
said Lord Kilspindley. Very good, my lord. Well, I went
to London with Pratt. He pawned the cup and on

(20:21):
the money we lived for a time. Then he insisted
that as he might some day have to restore the child,
we called him Leo, said Jeal with a glance at
the young man. It was necessary that he should be
brought up as a gentleman. He knew missus Gabriel, whom
he had met abroad. He had some power over her,
and what is the power, asked Leo. Missus Jeal shook

(20:42):
her head. That has nothing to do with you over
the restoration of your rights, Lord Marven, She said, I
keep that secret to myself. Pratt had a power over
her and used it. He brought the child to her
and said he was a natural child. He insisted that
she should bring him up as the son of a
breather who had just died abroad. How Pratt knew this

(21:03):
I do not know, but then he knew everything. Well.
It was done, and Leo was established at the castle.
Missus Greebriel brought him up. Yes, said Leo bitterly. She
brought me up, and he looked back on the long
life of petty worry and contemptible tyranny that had been his.
I know all this, but yourself, Missus Jeel, I remained

(21:25):
with Pratt. I was really too glad to get rid
of you, or hated you for your mother's sake. Stop that,
cried Lord Kilspindy, and Missus Jeele dropped a mocking curtsy.
Art your Lordship's service. However, I found out that Pratt
was treating me badly. He went about with other women.
He even struck me. I made up my mind to

(21:45):
leave him, and I did. I went from one place
to another, and finally I came to settle in Cholister.
Why did you come here, asked the bekhar. Oh, your
reverence can understand that I wanted to keep and I
on the young lord, said missus cheill obsequiously. He was
my property as well as Pratt's. And when the day

(22:07):
came to give him up to his father, I wanted
my share of the spoil. You shall have nothing, said
Lord Kilspindy, sternly. You ought to be glad that I
do not hand you over to the police. She scowled
and would have become bitterperative, but Raston knowed the hand
which held the envelope significantly. At once a frightened look
came over her face, and she sat down. I stayed here,

(22:29):
she continued, feebly, all the strength having gone out of her,
and save Pearl Daddy from her father. When Pratt came.
I was afraid. I was always afraid of Pratt. No
one knows but myself what a devil he is. He
told me to hold mic tongue, and I was too
frightened of him to disobey. Now I'll go away from
here with the hails. Since Miss Sybil has promised to

(22:50):
look after Pearl, I won't to put the seas between
myself and that man. He terrifies me, and am not
a woman easily terrified. But why did you that lie
about my having porn the cup, asked Leo. Missus Jeal
shook her head. I can say no more, she said.
Leo would have incested, But at the moment the servant
entered with the parcel of which the woman had spoken.

(23:12):
When he went out, missus Jeal opened this and spread
out the cuntents on the table. Here are the evidences
your lordship wished for, she said, glancing at Lord Kilspindley.
This is addressed Lord Mouven wove when I took him away.
His name is marked, The underclothing is also marked. The
coral necklace, which your lordship may perhaps recognize, is on
hare loom, and your lordship may perhaps remember some mark

(23:35):
by which Lord Morven can be recognized. There is some
mark if your lordship remembers Kilspandley drew his hand across
his forehead, and thought. My wife showed me the child
one day and pointed out the mark. Yes, three moles
in a line just above the elbow of the left arm.
Missus jeal nodded, and Leo, hastily stripping off his coat,
drew up his sleeve to show the three moles in question.

(23:58):
But I don't need that to assure me that you
are my son, said the old nobleman. You have the
eyes of your mother. Yes, you are my son, and
Lord Mawwn, I congratulate you, Leo, said Raston, shaking his
friend's hand. And I have to thank you with all
my heart, said the new Lord Mauven, for if it

(24:18):
had not been for you, this would never have been discovered.
I should like to know, however, how it was that
Pratt plained nears the son. That was Missus Gabriel's fault,
said Raston. She told him that you intended to denounce
him to the police when he discovered him at the
castle that night. He was afraid lest you might do so.
Therefore he said you were his son, so as to

(24:39):
put such a betroyal out of your power. As if
I would ever have betrayed him, said Leo. It was
good in Pratt. There is no good in him, cried
missus Jile fiercely. How dare you say so? He is
a bad and wicked man. I hate him with all
my soul, but never will I set eyes on him again.
He might kill me, as he has often threatened to do.

(25:01):
But I've told all. I have proved your identity, Lord Mauven,
and you have the cup, my Lord Kilspindy, the the letter.
She hesitated. Those presents looked at one another. Should this
dangerous woman go free to be a pest to society?
Said the wicker sternly, you promised, said missus Cheile, terrified

(25:22):
and white to the lips. Leo looked at her for
a moment, then took the letter from the hands of
Raston and gave it to her. We must keep a word,
he said, And you must leave this place at once,
said mister Temples austerely. But missus Jeel was paying no
attention to them. She had torn open the letter and
was reading the few lines it contained. I thought, so,

(25:43):
she muttered, with a black look. I wish I could
kill him. She crushed up the paper and put it
into her pocket again. Then she walked to the door.
Good day, my Lord Mauven, and good bye Lord Kilspindy,
your poor creatures, both of you, your reverence will now
be glad to sell a daughter for a title. As
to you, mister Raston, the girl you love would have

(26:04):
been sold to my husband by a mother. I wish
you joy, all you men fools, And with a mocking courtesy,
missus jeal walked out of the room. Let her go,
We know the truth, said Lord Kilspindy Leo. But Leo,
with a nod, was making for the door. I must
tell Sybil, he said, and vanished. Half an hour later,

(26:28):
the vicar and his father went in search of him.
They found him sitting hand in hand with Sybil in
the drawing room. It's really wonderful, wonderful, she was saying.
And your father will let me marry you now, darling,
said Leo. If you will grant him your pardon, said
the voice of mister Tempest. Leo shook the Vicar's hand,
kiss Sybil, and Kilspindy smiled well pleased. The end of

(26:53):
chapter nineteen