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قراءة كتاب The Pagan's Cup
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The Pagan's Cup
BY
Fergus Hume
AUTHOR OF
"THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB,"
"THE RAINBOW FEATHER,"
"CLAUDE DUVAL OF NINETY-FIVE,"
ETC.
NEW YORK
G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1902, by
G. W. Dillingham Company
[All rights reserved]
The Pagan's Cup
CONTENTS
| chap. | page | |
| I. | A Modern Arcadia | 1 |
| II. | The Crusaders' Chapel | 14 |
| III. | The Lady of the Manor | 28 |
| IV. | The Dinner-Party | 42 |
| V. | Love's Young Dream | 58 |
| VI. | Trouble | 71 |
| VII. | A Nine Days' Wonder | 87 |
| VIII. | Haverleigh's Defence | 101 |
| IX. | A Bad Reputation | 113 |
| X. | The Price of Silence | 126 |
| XI. | The London Detective | 140 |
| XII. | A Surprise | 154 |
| XIII. | An Interesting Document | 168 |
| XIV. | An Unexpected Meeting | 183 |
| XV. | A New Complication | 198 |
| XVI. | Sybil's Visitor | 214 |
| XVII. | Lord Kilspindie Explains | 227 |
| XVIII. | A Miracle | 242 |
| XIX. | A Story of the Past | 257 |
| XX. | Mrs Gabriel's Secret | 276 |
THE PAGAN'S CUP
CHAPTER I
A MODERN ARCADIA
Certain portions of England yet remain undiscovered by Americans and uncivilised by railways. Colester village above King's-meadows, in a county which need not be named, is one of these unknown spots. No doubt before long the bicycle and the motor-car will enliven its somnolent neighbourhood, but at present it is free from the summer jaunts of tourists. With this neglect the Colester folk profess themselves satisfied. They have no wish to come into contact with the busy world. This prejudice against intrusion dates from mediæval times, when strangers rarely came to the village with peaceful intentions. Even now a chance comer is looked upon with suspicion.
Mr Richard Pratt said something of this sort to the vicar during a morning ramble, some six weeks after he had taken up his residence in The Nun's House. With the parson and the gentry of the parish Mr Pratt agreed very well, his respectability having been vouched for by Mrs Gabriel, the lady of the manor. But the villagers still held aloof, although the newcomer did his best to overcome their churlish doubts. They did not credit his story that he had settled in Colester to pass his remaining years in peace, and even the money he scattered so freely could not buy their loyalty. Pratt had never met with such people before. In most countries an open purse invites an open heart; but the Colester villagers were above Mammon worship. Such an experience was refreshing to Pratt, and introduced him to a new type of humanity.
"The first place I ever struck in which the dollar is not all-powerful," he said, with his Yankee twang and pleasant laugh.
"We are not sufficiently educated in that respect," replied Mr Tempest in his simple way. "For my part, I am not ill pleased