The Pagan's Cup

CHAPTER XX

MRS GABRIEL'S SECRET

Mrs Jeal was not pleased. She was a woman who liked to make mischief, and preferred to leave sorrow rather than joy behind her. In her time she had caused a good deal of misery, and she had always rejoiced over it. But now that she had been forced to undo the evil she had committed, her heart ached. Bad as Pratt was, his wife was worse, and if he had indeed killed her, as he had threatened, he would have been doing a service to mankind. Mrs Jeal was a noxious snake who should have been killed without pity.

On leaving the Vicarage she went home at once and found the cottage empty, as Pearl had not yet returned. Mrs Jeal brought out the letter and again read it. Then she turned white and shivered; finally she put it into the fire, and watched it burn to black ashes. Afterwards she filled herself a glass of brandy and drank it neat. Yet she was an abstemious woman as a rule. There must have been something very terrible in that letter to make her take to strong drink. And what was in it no one in Colester ever found out. Having burned it, Mrs Jeal put it out of her mind as well as she was able. Yet often afterwards she shivered to think of what would have happened had it been opened in the Vicarage library. "A narrow shave that," muttered Mrs Jeal.

Shortly, when she had recovered herself in some measure, Pearl danced into the room. She was now quite her old happy self. The restoration of the cup made her believe that God had forgiven her, and that the Master believed her worthy to be the guardian of the Holy Grail. Raston had arranged the matter in order to save her from further misery. Early on Sunday morning he had taken the cup across the moor and had placed it on the turf altar, knowing that there Pearl, as was her custom, would come and seek it. He had not anticipated such a dramatic scene as had taken place in the chapel. Pearl believed in her own weak mind that the Master had brought the cup down again from Heaven. She was therefore glad and merry, and her singing and dancing annoyed Mrs Jeal.

"Keep quiet, you minx!" she cried savagely, "or I'll have you shut up. Where have you been after making an exhibition of yourself?"

"I have been looking at the cup," said Pearl, gaily. "It is on the altar. I am pleased the Master has given it again into my charge. He has forgiven me, and some day I shall be with Him in Paradise."

It was in Mrs Jeal's wicked mind to tell the truth to the girl. But she knew that Pearl would not accept the explanation. Besides, strange as it may seem, even Mrs Jeal had some compunction in making the girl miserable. The woman was evil to the core, but she must have had some good in her. Therefore she held her tongue on the subject of the cup.

"Where were you so early this morning?" she asked. "I found your bed empty at six o'clock."

"I went to the altar to find the cup brought down by the dear Master," replied Pearl, "and I was watching Sir Frank Hale and his sister going away. They drove with two horses and many boxes. I did not – "

Mrs Jeal jumped up and seized Pearl's arm. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Has Sir Frank Hale gone?"

"And his sister," said Pearl, twisting away with a frightened face. "They have left Colester and gone away – away, oh, far away! Oh! Oh! what are – "

"Hold your tongue," said Mrs Jeal, thrusting her into a chair, "and sit you there till I come back." She hurriedly put on her bonnet and shawl. "If you stir I'll kill you," and she hurried out of the house.

Pearl's news was true. There was no one in the Hale's house save an old woman who was to act as caretaker. She explained that Sir Frank and his sister had left early that morning, and by this time were on their way to London, whence they departed in a few days for the Continent.

"Did they leave no message for me?" asked Mrs Jeal, her face growing black as she clenched her hand.

"No; why should they?" asked the crone, contemptuously. "What have fine folks like them to do with a woman like you?"

"I'll slap your face if you talk to me like that," raged Mrs Jeal, her worst nature coming uppermost.

"I have influence with your master. I can have you turned away."

"No, you can't," replied the other hag. "Why I heard Sir Frank say how glad he was to get away without seeing you. He called you a witch. He! He!"

"He did, did he?" muttered Mrs Jeal, furiously. "Now just you – " She was going on to threaten the caretaker when she found the door banged in her face and heard the mocking laughter of the old woman behind it.

Treated thus scornfully, Mrs Jeal stamped and raged like one possessed. "Not a penny," she muttered, "and he promised – ugh, the miser – the beast! I'll be even with him. There's the money for the cup. I can follow. I can – but I want more. Now that I have given up my secret" – her face grew dark as she thought of the burnt letter – "I shall be poor. Ha!" She stopped, and biting her finger looked towards the castle. "I can make her pay. This evening, then. It will be worth more than the cup. One secret is of no use. But I have another – another."

She shook her fist at the house of Sir Frank, said something about him that was not exactly a blessing, then returned home with her mind made up. She wished to leave Colester, which was now too hot for her. As Sybil would look after Pearl, there would be no difficulty in that quarter. She had saved money, and with what she had got from pawning the cup she was fairly well off for her station in life. But Mrs Jeal was greedy and wanted more. Mrs Gabriel was to be the milch cow this time. Thus it came about that Mrs Gabriel was informed that evening that Mrs Jeal wished to see her at once on important business.

The underlying insolence of the message annoyed Mrs Gabriel, who always prided herself on keeping the lower orders in what she called their proper place, which was under her heel. And Mrs Gabriel was in no mood to be merciful to insolence. Some kind friend had informed her of the discovery of Leo's true position. She was savagely angry. On account of Pratt she had hated the young man, and later on, when he came to defy her, she had disliked him on his own account. That he should have a title, and that he should marry Sybil Tempest! These things were all gall and bitterness to the haughty woman. She wanted Leo to be her slave, to punish him for Pratt's misdemeanours. But her slave had escaped, and she could do nothing save sit in the empty room, eating out her heart in the bitterness of impotent anger. She could do nothing. Leo was gone; Pratt was gone, and she was left a lonely woman. She had not even the comfort of feeling that she could revenge herself.

Feeling in this mood, she was not unwilling to see Mrs Jeal. Here, at least, was someone on whom she could vent her rage. With an imperious gesture she ordered the woman to be admitted, and received her with a stormy brow. Mrs Jeal smiled. She knew that she had the upper hand, and was not to be intimidated by stormy looks. Waiting till the servant had departed and the door was closed, she introduced herself.

"I have to speak to you on important business, my lady," she said, with assumed meekness, and addressing Mrs Gabriel by a title to which she laid no claim. This was done to accentuate the later part of the interview. Mrs Jeal was quite as well prepared as was Mrs Gabriel to make herself disagreeable. She also was out of tune.

"What business can a woman like you have with me?" demanded Mrs Gabriel, with scorn, and put up a lorgnette to freeze Mrs Jeal with a look.

But Mrs Jeal had borne the looks of even greater ladies than Mrs Gabriel. "It is strange, is it not, my lady?" she sniggered; "but I have something to talk about which will interest your ladyship very much."

"Indeed!" Mrs Gabriel looked more scornful than ever. "And I believe you have to do with this precious discovery?"

"I have, my lady. Mr Haverleigh is now Lord Morven. I proved his right to the title. You see, my lady, I was a nurse at Kilspindie Castle, and I stole his lordship when a child."

"How dare you speak to me like this?" cried Mrs Gabriel. "Do you not know that I can have you arrested for such an admission?"

"Oh, no; you cannot, my lady," retorted Mrs Jeal, coolly; "only Lord Kilspindie can do that, and he has let me go free."

"Then you leave this place," said Mrs Gabriel, haughtily. "I'll have no one in Colester likely to corrupt the morals of the people."

"Ah, you have great power here, my lady – great power," mocked Mrs Jeal.

Mrs Gabriel's blood grew cold as she saw the look in the woman's eye. "I don't understand you. Leave the room and the place," she said.

"All in good time, my lady," replied Mrs Jeal, calmly, and took a seat. As this was more than Mrs Gabriel could bear, she rose.

"You infamous creature!" she cried furiously. "Out of my house, or I'll have you thrown out by my servants."

"My house, my servants, my estates!" sneered Mrs Jeal, keeping an eye on her victim. "Are you sure you can talk like that, my lady?"

"I repeat I don't understand you," stammered Mrs Gabriel, sitting down. She was beginning to be afraid. Mrs Jeal would not dare to speak so unless she possessed some information dangerous to the lady of the castle.

"I shall leave the parish to-morrow," went on Mrs Jeal, coolly. "I have no wish to remain. Miss Tempest will take charge of Pearl, and – "

"What have I to do with all this?" said Mrs Gabriel, sitting up.

"This much: I want your ladyship to give me a thousand pounds."

"Ah! I thought so. Your mission here is one of blackmail?"

Mrs Jeal shrugged her plump shoulders. "Some people would call it that," she said, dropping the courtesy title; "and as you have paid blackmail to Pratt all these years, I don't see why you should not give me a thousand pounds to get rid of me."

"Pratt!" Mrs Gabriel could hardly speak. "What do you know? – "

"I know that Pratt was married to you in Switzerland when you were Miss Haverleigh, and that you afterwards married Mr Gabriel. The property was left by Mr Gabriel to – 'my wife.' Those were the words used in the will. And you, Miss Haverleigh, were never Mr Gabriel's wife."

"It is not true," muttered Mrs Gabriel, her lips quivering.

"It is true; you know it is!" said the other woman. "A word from Pratt, and you would have been turned out of possession here. He held his tongue so long as you took the child and brought him up. I have held my tongue also, because I was afraid of Pratt. But now he has told my secret about Lord Morven, I want money on my own account, so as to get away from him across the seas."

Mrs Gabriel drummed on the table. She saw that this woman was too much for her. "What you say is perfectly true," she said. "I met Pratt in Switzerland when I was a young girl. We were married in Geneva, and I afterwards found out what a brute he was. We parted. Afterwards I heard that he was dead, and regarded myself as free to marry Gabriel."

"Oh, that was one of Pratt's jokes," said Mrs Jeal, easily. "He was always a merry sort of brute. But, you see, I can turn you out."

"Not without Pratt's aid," said Mrs Gabriel, fiercely. "I won't give up the property to go to the Crown! I love power, and I intend to keep what I have. Pratt made me take that child, and lie about him. He made me introduce him to Colester society, and for years he has taken money from me. After doing all this, do you think I'll give it up? No; I'll fight!"

Mrs Jeal laughed unpleasantly. "I can put a weapon into your hand to fight with," she said; "that is, if you give me a thousand pounds."

"What do you mean" panted Mrs Gabriel, throwing herself forward and seizing Mrs Jeal by the shoulders. "Can you? – will you? – "

"If you give me a thousand pounds," replied the other woman, quite unmoved, and looking up with her wicked eyes into Mrs Gabriel's agitated face.

"What do you know? Quick – tell me!" Mrs Gabriel shook her.

"Don't shake me," said Mrs Jeal, tartly, twisting herself free. "If you want to know my secret, I'll tell it to you – I am Pratt's lawful wife."

Mrs Gabriel put her hand to her forehead, and reeled to the end of the room. "Wife – wife!" she muttered. "Then I am not – "

"You are not his wife," finished Mrs Jeal, coolly. "You never were his wife, seeing he was married to me before he met you. You are Mrs Gabriel, the widow of John Gabriel, and the possessor of this property."

"Can you – can you prove this?" asked the other woman, gasping.

"I'll give you my marriage certificate for a thousand pounds," said Mrs Jeal. "I don't want it. I've had enough of Pratt. Then you can see the church where we were married, and search the register. Oh, it's all right."

"Give me the certificate," Mrs Gabriel stretched out her hand eagerly.

"Not without the thousand pounds," said Mrs Jeal, resolutely.

"I'll give you a cheque," said Mrs Gabriel, hurrying to a writing-desk.

Mrs Jeal shook her head. "Won't do!" she remarked. "I've had to do with ladies before. You might stop that cheque when I had given you what you wanted. No. Come to the bank; give me the money in notes, and I'll place the certificate in your hands."

"We can't go to the bank to-night," said Mrs Gabriel, frowning.

"Oh! I can wait till to-morrow," replied Mrs Jeal, coolly.

Mrs Gabriel lost her temper and stamped her foot. "Give me that certificate, or I'll have you arrested."

"Oh! So you want me to tell my story in court, my lady."

"You dare to!"

"Then give me the thousand pounds." Mrs Jeal was beginning to lose her temper. "Here's a coil about a trifle," she said angrily; "instead of asking you for blackmail, as I could have done, I offer to give you freedom. And you won't pay for it."

"I will. Here's a cheque. Come with me to the bank at Portfront to-morrow, and you can cash it in my presence. The certificate – "

"Will be given to you when the notes are in my hand. You can take me to Portfront with my boxes, as I then can catch the afternoon steamer to London. I have given up my cottage, and sold my furniture, and packed my things. To-morrow I'll take Pearl to Miss Tempest, and then we can drive to the bank."

"You insolent woman!" raged Mrs Gabriel, but she was obliged to yield. For once in her life she had met a person of her own sex who had as bad a temper as herself. The two women had a royal battle, but in the end victory declared itself on the side of Mrs Jeal, and she departed in triumph.

The next morning Sybil was informed that Mrs Jeal and Pearl were waiting to see her. Guessing the woman's errand, Miss Tempest descended. Mrs Jeal, perfectly respectful, dropped a curtsey.

"I've brought you Pearl, my lady," she said.

"I am not 'my lady,'" said Sybil, coldly.

"You soon will be," smirked Mrs Jeal, "Lady Morven. Well, I don't grudge it to you. You're not so bad as some. Here's Pearl."

Sybil took the hand of the poor creature, who was shedding tears at the thought of losing Mrs Jeal. "Don't cry, Pearl, you will be quite happy with me. Remember you have to look after the cup." Whereat Pearl clapped her hands and was joyful again.

"I shan't want you any more," said Pearl to Mrs Jeal; "the Master has given me the cup to look after, and you are too wicked to come near me."

Mrs Jeal winced, and looked down. "Here's gratitude," she sighed. "I've loved but one thing in my life, and it turns against me. Well, Pearl, I hope you will be happy. Good-bye." She paused, and then went on. "And, my lady, I would like to tell you the reason I told that lie about Lord Morven having pawned the cup. It was Sir Frank Hale made me do it."

"Sir Frank!" echoed Sybil in amazement. "Why should he?"

"It was partly your fault, miss," said Mrs Jeal, coolly; "he loved you, and he loved his sister. If Lord Morven had married Miss Edith, and you had married Sir Frank, all would have been well. But on that night I brought back the cup he saw me, and got the truth out of me. There he used me for his own ends, so as to get the blame laid on Mr Haverleigh."

"How wicked of him!" said Sybil, angrily.

Mrs Jeal laughed. "It was his way, my lady. But he has gone away, and will not trouble you again. Neither shall I. Good-bye, my lady. Pearl?"

But Pearl turned away like a cross child. Mrs Jeal had to go without a farewell kiss, and her wicked nature felt the slight. However, she controlled her emotion, and went off to Portfront with Mrs Gabriel. There the cheque was cashed, and Mrs Jeal became possessed of a thousand pounds in Bank of England notes – she would take no other.

"And there's the certificate," she said to Mrs Gabriel.

"Thank God!" cried that lady, seizing it, "now I'm free of that man. If he comes to Colester again I'll put him in gaol. And you, hussey, I'll have you ducked."

"I said you would talk like that," jeered Mrs Jeal. "A lucky thing I have the notes. Good-day, Miss Haverleigh!" And with this last insulting speech, which she knew was untrue, Mrs Jeal went away. What became of her no one ever heard. But creatures like Mrs Jeal always fall on their feet like cats, perhaps because they have so much of the cat nature in them. Mrs Gabriel, rejoicing in her freedom, returned to Colester, and became more domineering than ever. Whether Pratt guessed that his wife would tell her the truth, it is impossible to say. But he never came near Mrs Gabriel again, nor did he write to her. If he had, she would have set to work to trace him out and have him arrested. With the certificate of marriage it was easy for Mrs Gabriel to prove that she had been deceived by a villain, and she would have had no hesitation in making the affair public. Pratt knew this, and knew her savage nature. He therefore kept away, and Mrs Gabriel, unrestrained by any fear, became more of a tyrant than ever.

She refused to come to Leo's wedding, or even to see him, intimating to Sybil, who called upon her to entreat her to be reconciled to the new Lord Morven, that she hated both of them. Mrs Gabriel went away to London for six months, and amused herself by hunting for Pratt. In the meantime, Lord Morven and Sybil were married. Also Raston was united to his Peggy on the same day – Mrs Bathurst bore up heroically. Only she regretted that she had not known of Leo's true parentage. He might have married Peggy. "She would grace a title," said Mrs Bathurst.

"And now," said Lord Kilspindie, when the wedding was at an end, "we will go to our own place and take the cup with us."

So it came about that the Pagan Cup, which was the luck of the Grants, was replaced in Kilspindie Castle. There was a brave home-coming for the long-lost son and his bride. And there Lord and Lady Morven lived beloved by all. It was a happy ending to Leo's troubles.

After a time Mr Tempest found that he could not live without his daughter, so he took up his residence in Kilspindie Castle as a kind of chaplain. Pearl was already established at the castle, and constituted herself the guardian of the cup, which in her mad fancy she still called the Holy Grail. No one tried to undeceive her. But there is no danger of the cup being lost again while Pearl looks after it. And that is a good thing for the Grants, since their luck is wound up in its possession. "And who would doubt the truth of the tradition!" said Kilspindie, "seeing that three times the legend has come true."

Raston succeeded Mr Tempest as vicar of Colester, as Mrs Gabriel rather approved of him. Thus it was that Mrs Bathurst came to think herself entitled to interfere in parish affairs as the mother-in-law of the vicar. She and Mrs Gabriel fought bitterly, and still fight over the affairs of the kingdom. Raston and Peggy take no notice. They are perfectly happy.

Pratt wrote one letter to Lord Morven telling him that he was going to lead a new and decent life in South America, and asking the young man not to think too badly of him. As he gave no address, Leo could not answer the letter, so he burnt it and said nothing about it save to his father. "There was some good in Pratt," said Lord Morven.

"Well, yes," assented Kilspindie; "he was a thief, a liar, and a rogue in grain. Nevertheless, I believe he had a sincere affection for you, my dear boy. He certainly did a kind act when he restored to me my son and my cup – "

"And a daughter," said Sybil, who entered at the moment.

"Who is the light of my eyes," said Morven, kissing her. "We are happy now, father. After the storm comes the calm."

"Therefore, remember to give thanks," said Mr Tempest, pointing to the cup. "I think we can make use of the line on that goblet," and he read out in English the inscription, "'To the great God who maketh the heart joyful.' The God of Israel," said Mr Tempest, solemnly. "Amen, and Amen."