The Pagan's Cup Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  THE DINNER-PARTY

  Built on the lower slopes of the Castle Hill, Mr Pratt's residence,commonly known as The Nun's House, stood a little distance back from thehighway which led down to King's-meadows. It was a plain, rough stonebuilding of great strength, two storeys in height, and with a high roofof slate. Gloomy in the extreme, it was rendered still more so from itsbeing encircled by a grove of yew trees which gave it a churchyard air.Not the kind of residence one would have thought attractive to acheerful and dapper man like Richard Pratt. But he had, so he declared,fallen in love with it at first sight, and Mrs Gabriel, always having aneye to business, had only too readily granted him a seven years' lease.She was delighted at the chance of securing a tenant, as the house hadbeen empty for a long time owing to its uncomfortable reputation. Therewas not a man, woman or child in Colester that did not know it washaunted.

  The name came from a tradition, probably a true one, that when theColester convent had been suppressed by Henry VIII., the evicted nunshad found refuge in this dismal house, a dozen of them. In time theydied, and the mansion was inhabited by other people. But queer soundswere heard, strange sights were seen, and it became known that thetwelve nuns re-visited the scene of their exile. There never was a houseso populated with ghosts; and the tenants promptly departed. Others,lured by a low rent, came, and after a month's trial departed also.Finally no one would stop in the ill-omened mansion until Mr Prattarrived. He liked the place, laughed at the gruesome reputation of thedwelling, and announced his intention of making it his home.

  "Ghosts!" laughed Pratt, with his cheery smile. "Nonsense. Ghosts wentout with gas. Besides, I should rather like to see a ghost, particularlyof a nun. I am partial to the fair sex."

  "I wonder, then, you never married," said the person who had warned himagainst the house, with the best intentions, of course.

  Pratt looked at her--she was Mrs Bathurst, the gossip of theneighbourhood--under half-closed eye-lids, and smiled. "Ah!" said he,rubbing his plump white hands, "I have admired so many beautiful women,dear lady, that I could not remain constant to one;" which reason,although plausible, did not satisfy Mrs Bathurst. But then she was oneof those amiable persons always willing to believe the worst of people.

  However, Pratt took up his abode in the chief Colester inn, and sent forcartloads of furniture, while the house was being re-decorated. He tooka deal of trouble to make it comfortable, and as he was a man ofexcellent taste, with an eye for colour, he succeeded in making itpretty as well. In six weeks the place was ready to receive him, and upto the period of his walk with the vicar, Pratt had occupied it foranother six without being disturbed by the numerous ghosts. The Colesterfolks quite expected to hear that he had been carried off like Dr Faust,and were rather disappointed that he met with no ghostly adventure. Butthen Mr Pratt, as he said himself, was not imaginative enough forspectres.

  Failing his leaving the house, the gentry expected that he wouldentertain them and show his treasures, for it was reported that he hadmany beautiful things. But Pratt was in no hurry. He wanted first tostudy his neighbours in order to see who were the most pleasant. In asurprisingly short time he got to know something about everyone, and onthe knowledge thus acquired he selected his guests. In addition to thosealready mentioned, he invited Mrs Bathurst and her daughter Peggy. Thegirl was pretty and the mother talkative, so, in Pratt's opinion, itpaid to ask them. "There is no chance of an entertainment being dull ifMrs Bathurst has her legs under the table," he said, and this beingreported to the lady, she accused Pratt of coarseness. Nevertheless, sheaccepted the invitation. Not for worlds would Mrs Bathurst have missed asight of re-decorated Nun's House. Besides, it was her duty to go. Shesupplied all the gossip of the neighbourhood.

  Anxious to see as much as possible of the house, Mrs Bathurst was thefirst to arrive. Pratt, in a particularly neat evening dress, advancedto meet her and Peggy with a smile. He knew very well that herungovernable curiosity had led her to be thus early. "I am glad to seeyou, Mrs Bathurst," he said genially; "pray sit down. You are the firstto arrive."

  "I always like to be punctual," responded the lady, nodding to herdaughter that she also should be seated. "Dear me, how well this roomlooks! I can see you have spared no expense."

  "I like to make myself comfortable, Mrs Bathurst. We only have onelife."

  "I wonder you care to spend it in such a dull place as Colester. If MrBathurst were rich I should make him take me to London."

  "You would soon get tired of the roar of that city."

  Here Peggy, who was fair and pretty and fond of gaiety, shook her blondehead vigorously. "I should never get tired of fun," she said. "I couldgo to a dance every night and still want more."

  "Ah, Miss Peggy, you are young and active!"

  "Well, dear Mr Pratt, you are not old," said Mrs Bathurst, flatteringly;"we must make you happy here. I am sure you are quite an acquisition. Wemust find you a wife."

  "I shall apply to you when I want one," he said, with a laugh; "but Iguess I'm not made to run in double harness."

  "What odd expressions you use! I daresay that comes from your being anAmerican. Never mind, you'll soon lose all Americanisms here. I lookupon you as quite one of ourselves, dear Mr Pratt."

  The fact is that Mrs Bathurst wished to bring about a marriage betweenher daughter Peggy and the newcomer. He had been introduced by MrsGabriel, so his social position was secure; and if one could judge fromthe magnificent furnishing of the house, he was a wealthy man. ThatPeggy herself should be consulted never entered her mother's head.

  Pratt guessed what Mrs Bathurst was after, and chuckled. He had nointention of having the good lady for a mother-in-law. Moreover, he knewthat Peggy was in love with Raston, the curate. Nevertheless, having alove of tormenting people, and wishing to punish Mrs Bathurst, hesighed, cast a languishing look at Peggy, and allowed the mother tothink that he might be guided by her wish. Seeing this, the lady pushedher advantage vigorously, and was getting on very well by the time theother guests arrived. Then, after some desultory conversation, dealingwith the weather and the crops, all went in to dinner.

  The table was beautifully set out. The linen was snowy white, the silverand crystal of the best, and the flowers, which Pratt had personallyarranged, were skilfully chosen and blended. The women present wererather annoyed that a man should be able to manage a house so well, forthe dinner was one of the best that had ever been eaten in Colester, andthe service was all that could be desired. What was the use, thought MrsBathurst, of suggesting a wife to a man who knew so well how to dispensewith one? She could not have arranged things better herself, and it wasvexing that a mere man should be able to beat a woman on her ownground.

  "You have certainly made a very pretty place of it, Mr Pratt," said MrsGabriel, when they returned to the drawing-room. "I suppose you willlive here for many a long day?"

  "I hope to die here," he replied, smiling. "But one never knows. I maytake a fancy to resume my travels."

  "You are like Ulysses," put in the vicar, "you know men and cities."

  "And, like Ulysses, I don't think much of either, Mr Tempest."

  "Come now!" cried Leo, laughing. "I never heard that Ulysses was acynic."

  "He was not modern enough," said Sybil, who was looking particularlycharming, much to the anger of Mrs Gabriel, who saw in her a man-trapfor her adopted son.

  "I don't think cynicism is altogether a modern disease," remarked SirFrank Hale. "Solomon had not much belief in human nature."

  "What could you expect from a man who had so many wives?" put in Pratt,in a dry voice. The remark annoyed Mrs Bathurst. It augured ill for herscheme to marry Peggy. A man who talked thus of women could never bebrought to respect his mother-in-law.

  While this conversation was taking place Mrs Gabriel kept a vigilant eyeon Leo. Whenever he tried to edge up to Sybil she contrived to get inthe way, and, finally, by a dexterous move, she placed him 'longside thebaronet's sister. Edith Hale was a tall, raw-bon
ed, thin girl, withsmall pretensions to beauty or wit. She had a freckled skin and redhair, an awkward way of carrying herself and a silent tongue. She was sodeeply in love with Leo that she followed his every movement with hereyes, until he found her regard most embarrassing. However, Leo, toavert a storm when he returned home, was obliged to show her everyattention, and strolled away with her into Mr Pratt's new conservatory.Sybil looked disappointed, but controlled herself sufficiently to playan accompaniment for Peggy. Raston turned over the leaves of the music,and Mrs Bathurst, with a glance at Pratt, settled herself to listen. Asto Mr Tempest, he was moving round the room examining the objects of artin his usual near-sighted way. Seeing everyone thus occupied, MrsGabriel drew aside Sir Frank into a convenient corner.

  The baronet was a pale-faced, hunchback, lame creature, with a shrewishexpression and a pair of brilliant grey eyes. He had been an invalid allhis life, and his temper had been spoilt thereby. The only person in theworld for whom he cherished the least affection was his sister. In hiseyes she was as beautiful as Helen and as clever as Madame de Stael. Heknew that she was breaking her heart for Leo, and resented the youngman's indifference. And as Hale had the spite of a cripple, hisresentment was not to be despised. But Leo did not know that.

  "Frank," said Mrs Gabriel, addressing him thus familiarly, as she hadknown him from his cradle, "I want to speak to you about Leo. It istime he was married. Nothing but marriage will steady him."

  "Sybil Tempest is ready enough to become his wife, Mrs Gabriel," snarledthe little man. "Why don't you speak to her?"

  "Because she is not your sister," replied Mrs Gabriel, coldly. "I do notintend that Leo shall throw himself away on a penniless girl who hasnothing but her face to recommend her. Edith has both brains andbeauty."

  "Leo does not see that," said Hale, who implicitly believed in hiscompanion; "he is infatuated with Sybil. I don't say a word againsther," he added hastily; "I want to marry her myself."

  Mrs Gabriel looked with secret contempt on the deformed man, andwondered how he could have the impertinence to think that any womancould take him for her husband. However, she was pleased to hear of thisnew complication. If Sybil could be induced to marry the baronet--andfrom a worldly point of view the match was a good one--she would be outof the way. In despair Leo might marry Edith, and thus all would be asMrs Gabriel wanted. She wished to move human beings as puppets to suither own ends, and never thought that she might be thwarted by theindividual will of those with whom she played. However, she had an ideaof how to entangle matters so as to carry out her schemes, and commencedher intrigue with the baronet. She knew he would help her, both for hisown sake and for the sake of his sister. At the same time she movedwarily, so as not to make a false step. It was no easy matter to dealwith Hale, as she knew. Once or twice he had got the better of her inbusiness.

  "I don't mind being candid with you," said Mrs Gabriel softly. "It is mywish that Leo should marry Edith, and I shall be delighted to help youto become Sybil's husband."

  "It's easy saying, but harder doing," said Hale, snappishly. "Sybil isin love with Leo, and the woman who admires Apollo will not look uponCaliban. Oh, I am under no delusions respecting myself," he added, witha hoarse laugh. "I am not agreeable to look upon, but I have money, atitle and a good position. Nine women out of ten would be content withthese things."

  "I am afraid Sybil is the tenth," said Mrs Gabriel, coldly. "However,neither she nor Leo know what is good for them. Help me to marry him toyour sister, and then Sybil will fall into your arms."

  "Do you think so?"

  "I am certain of it."

  "How are we to manage?" asked Hale, after a pause. "You have somescheme."

  "It is in order to explain my scheme to you that I have brought aboutthis conversation. Listen. I am not pleased with Leo. He has beenleading a wild life in Town, and is in debt to the tune of three hundredpounds."

  "Humph!" said Frank, under his breath. "These Apollos know how to wastemoney. I shall see that Edith's dowry is settled on herself."

  "And I shall tie up the Gabriel property so that Leo cannot waste it."

  Hale looked at her from under his bushy eyebrows. "You intend that heshall be your heir, then?"

  "Assuredly. If he does what I want him to do."

  "What is that?"

  "He must marry Edith and take up his residence in the castle. No moregadding about, no more wild living. Let Leo be a respectable countrygentleman and his future is secure."

  "Have you explained that to him?" asked the baronet, sharply.

  "No. Leo is a fool, and infatuated with that girl. I must force him todo what I want. It is for his own good. You must help, both for the sakeof Edith, and because it is your only chance of marrying Sybil."

  "I'm quite ready to help you, Mrs Gabriel. Go on."

  Mrs Gabriel glanced round, bent her head, and spoke lower. "I intend torefuse to pay this three hundred pounds for Leo. There is no chance ofhis earning it for himself, and he will soon be in serious difficulty.Now if you come forward as his old friend and--"

  "I don't like lending money," said Hale, who was something of a miser.

  "If you want to gain Sybil and make your sister happy, you must lend Leothree hundred pounds. When he is in your debt, well--the rest is easy."

  Hale nodded. "I see what you mean," said he, ponderingly. "The idea isnot a bad one. But Leo--humph! Three hundred pounds! A large sum!"

  "Oh, I will be your surety for it," said Mrs Gabriel, impatiently. Shedid not want her plans upset by this miser. "But if you want to gainanything you must sacrifice something. You love Sybil?"

  "With my whole soul," said the cripple, and flushed.

  "And your sister?"

  "I would give anything to secure her happiness."

  "Three hundred pounds will be enough," said Mrs Gabriel, coolly. "MakeLeo your debtor, and then you can deal with him. He is so honourablethat he will keep his word even at the cost of his happiness. Well?"

  Hale reflected. "I will think of it," said he, cautiously.

  "As you please. But remember that if I do not have this settled withinthe week, I shall allow Leo to marry Sybil."

  Of course Mrs Gabriel had no such intention, but she determinedoutwardly on this course to frighten the baronet. It had the desiredeffect.

  "I will see to the matter," he said hastily; "to-night I will ask Leo tocome and see me. It will all be arranged. But three hundred pounds!" Hewinced and Mrs Gabriel smiled.

  "I will be your surety," she said, rising. "Let me know when you havemade Leo your debtor. Come, we must not talk any more. Here is MrPratt."

  It was indeed the host who came to disturb them. He wished to take thewhole party round his house. Leo and Edith returned from theconservatory, the former looking bored, the latter brilliantly happy.Sybil did not like this, and glanced reproachfully at Leo, whoimmediately would have gone to her side, but he was anticipated by Hale."Help me to get round the house, Miss Tempest," he said, pointing to hislame leg. "You must be my crutch."

  Sybil could not but assent, and so Leo found himself out in the cold.Peggy, who approved of his love for Sybil, took his arm. "Never mind,"she said softly, "I will manage to take Sir Frank away," and Leo gaveher hand a grateful squeeze.

  "Come, all of you!" cried Pratt, cheerily. "The museum is open."

  He led them through a series of rooms crammed with treasures. There werevaluable pictures, pieces of rich tapestry, exquisite examples ofgoldsmith's work, and many other things of value. Mr Pratt had a storyfor every object. This he picked up in the Great Bazaar at Stamboul;that was a bargain obtained in an Italian town; the silver crucifix camefrom Spain; the lacquer work from Japan. Apparently he had been all overthe world, and had made purchases in every part. Here was the evidenceof his travels and his wealth before the longing eyes of Mrs Bathurst.More than ever was she determined that Peggy should become Mrs Pratt.

  While Pratt discoursed and the company exclaimed at the treasuresdisplayed to their wondering ey
es, Mrs Gabriel maintained her haughtysilence. She surveyed all the beautiful things in a cold, unemotionalmanner, and kept an eye on the movements of Leo. He felt uncomfortableunder her gaze, and once or twice looked angrily at her. But Mrs Gabrielmet his indignant looks with a calm smile.

  "You must have spent a fortune on all this," said Hale, inspecting atray of antique coins. "What a collection!"

  "I have been buying for years," explained Pratt, smiling. "Mine has beena varied life. I was born of poor parents and had to make my own way inthe world. For years I worked in the States, in South America andelsewhere to make money. Finally I secured a fortune in South Africa,and for the last ten years I have devoted myself to collecting thesethings. They have been stored for years, and now that I have a house ofmy own, this is the first time I have been able to arrange them. I amglad you are pleased."

  "We are more than pleased," gushed Mrs Bathurst. "It is a most beautifultreat to see these lovely things and hear you talk about them. What isthis cup, dear Mr Pratt?"

  "Ah!" said Pratt, taking it up. "This is the property of the vicar."

  "Mine!" said Mr Tempest in mild surprise. "Dear me, Mr Pratt, what doyou mean? It would take half my year's stipend to buy this!"

  "It is the cup of which I spoke to you, vicar." Pratt handed it toTempest and then turned to the group. "I wish to present this cup to thechapel, Mr Raston," he said, "and I hope that you and Mr Tempest willaccept it on behalf of the town. It is an old Roman goblet, and hasbeen used for centuries as a communion chalice in an Italian city. Ibought it many years ago. Is it not beautiful?"

  The cup was indeed an exquisite object of art. Of considerable size, itwas of pure gold. The rim and the stem were set round with gems of greatvalue, and the outside was embossed with faces peering from out a tangleof flowers. It had two handles formed of twisted snakes with ruby eyesand round its broadest part ran an inscription in Latin. The vicar heldthe goblet to the light and translated the inscription. "'To the greatGod, who maketh the heart joyful,'" he said, then added dubiously, "Doesthat refer to a pagan god, or to the Maker of all things?"

  "If the cup is Roman, probably it is an inscription to Bacchus," saidthe curate, a shadow on his face. "If so, we cannot use it as acommunion cup." Pratt laughed and raised his eyebrows at this scrupulousregard. "You can set your mind at rest," he said. "The priest who soldit to me on account of the poverty of his parish church said that theinscription was inscribed during the Middle Ages. It refers to the Godof Christendom."

  "In that case," said the vicar beaming, "I accept the cup with pleasureand with many thanks. It shall be consecrated and placed on the altar bythe end of this week."

  While the others were thanking and congratulating Mr Pratt, anexpression of relief might have been noticed on his face. Mrs Gabriel,who knew his every look, wondered to herself why he appeared to be sopleased. Evidently he was thankful to be rid of the cup. However, shesaid nothing, as she was a wise woman, but added her congratulations tothose of the others.

  "Everyone will be delighted," she said coldly. "Such generosity isunusual in Colester." But her glance hinted unusual as regarded Pratt.He received the hint smilingly.

  "I hope it will make me popular," said he. "I am weak enough to wish tobe liked, and hitherto I have not secured the goodwill of the people."

  "You will have it now," said Raston, "and particularly that of PearlDarry. She loves beautiful things for the altar, and as she attends tothe decorating of the chapel, it will be a constant pleasure to her tokeep this cup bright and spotless."

  "I hope it will be safe with her!" cried Mrs Bathurst. "These insanepeople are like magpies, and steal anything glittering that attractstheir weak fancies. Are you _sure_ she will not take it away, MrRaston?"

  The curate was indignant. "Pearl would no more do such a thing than takeher own life, poor soul," he said. "She is devoted to the church.Religion, so far as her own poor brain understands it, is her oneconsolation."

  "She ought to be shut up," said Mrs Gabriel.

  "There I differ from you," said the vicar, mildly. "She is not harmfulenough to be placed in durance. Let her enjoy liberty and sunshine, MrsGabriel. It is little pleasure she has."

  "She seems to me harmless enough," said Pratt, "and if this cup will bean additional pleasure to her, I am the more glad that Mr Tempest hasaccepted it. I shall have it wrapped up, vicar."

  "Thank you. Be very careful, Mr Pratt. So beautiful an object must notbe carelessly dealt with." From which remark it will be seen that nowthe Roman goblet was the property of the Church it assumed quite a newvalue in the eyes of the priest. Formerly it was merely a beautifulexample of the goldsmith's art; now it was sacred.

  After this the company repaired to the drawing-room, where Mr Pratt toldstories until quite a late hour for Colester. Never had there been soagreeable a host in the dull little provincial town, and one and allconfessed themselves charmed with their evening. "Quite an acquisition,"repeated Mrs Bathurst as she departed. "Mind you come and see me, MrPratt. Peggy will never forgive you if you do not." A foolish speechwhich sent poor Peggy away covered with blushes. But then Mrs Bathurst'szeal always outran her discretion.

  As Mr Pratt stood at his door waving a hearty good-bye to his guests, hesaw that Hale was beside Leo and overheard a remark. "Come and see me inthree days, Leo," the baronet was saying. "I want to speak to you mostparticularly."

  "Most particularly," echoed Pratt, thoughtfully. "Humph! What's upnow?"