"But he will start no more burrows," said Marton, when all was at an
end. "He never expected that I should find him here, and therefore
collected all his treasures. His life is not long enough to enable him
to bring together such a collection of things again. Besides, he has not
the same wide field for his knaveries. The police are one too many for
him now."
Marton said this to the vicar, who was deeply shocked to hear of the
wickedness of the man from whom he had accepted the cup. "Do you think
that sacred vessel was stolen also, Mr Marton?" asked the good man.
"I am perfectly sure of it," replied the detective, promptly; "but we
have not got the cup down on our list, and no one has come forward to
claim it."
"It has not been advertised, Mr Marton."
"Pardon me, sir, it has been advertised, and by someone in this place. I
saw this notice in the _Daily Telegraph_, also in the _Times_. Can you
tell me who 'S.T.' is, Mr Tempest?"
The vicar took the newspaper handed to him and looked at it in a
bewildered manner. He read the notice carefully, but it never struck him
that the initials were those of his own daughter. "I really do not know
who can have inserted this, Mr Marton," he said. "It seems to be
carefully worded, too, and a reward of fifty pounds has been offered.
Dear me!"
"I have a rival who is investigating the case," said Marton, with a
smile. "Is the description accurate, vicar?"
"Perfectly; even the inscription. If you will permit me to take this
away, Mr Marton, I will see if I can discover who has put it in. I am
annoyed that the thing should have been taken out of your hands. But, Mr
Marton, before I leave you, let me state to you my conviction that my
young friend Leo Haverleigh did not steal the cup."
"Ah, indeed, Mr Tempest," said Marton, eyeing the old man keenly. "And
what has led you to such a happy conclusion?"
"I have no grounds for it save my inward conviction."
"There is the story of Mrs Jeal, you know."
Mr Tempest looked troubled. "Most remarkable story," he said. "But we
have heard of many cases of accidental resemblances, Mr Marton. I fear I
have been unjust to Leo, and I wish to withdraw any charge I may have
made against him. I heard his defence, and saw his face while he was
making it. Unless the face is not the index of the mind, I cannot bring
myself to believe that he lied. No, Mr Marton, I cannot give you my
reasons, but I am convinced that I misjudged Leo."
"Were you prejudiced against him by Mrs Gabriel?" asked Marton, for Leo
had told him his suspicions on this point.
Mr Tempest hesitated. "I admit that I was," he said at length. "She said
something to me which I am not at liberty to repeat."
"Does it make Mr Haverleigh out a villain?"
"By no means," said the vicar, hastily. "What she told me is sad, but
not wicked. More his misfortune than his fault. I can say no more. I can
keep this paper, Mr Marton? Thank you, sir. Good-day, good-day!" and the
vicar walked away, leaving Marton pondering.