Produced by eagkw, Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) [Illustration: Cover] The Pagan's Cup BY Fergus Hume AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "THE RAINBOW FEATHER," "CLAUDE DUVAL OF NINETY-FIVE," ETC. [Illustration: Vignette] 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.