"I will say no more, Hale, save that when I am able the money shall be repaid. I thank you heartily for your kindness."
Sir Frank bit his lip, but summoned up sufficient dignity to be gracious. He and Leo were both wearing masks for the benefit of Edith. "Pay the money when you like," he said, sitting up. "I am shortly going abroad with my sister, and I do not think we shall see one another for a long time. However, my solicitor at Portfront will attend to the matter of the loan."
"Then there really _was_ a loan," said Marton, determined to get the plain truth out of Hale in the presence of witnesses.
"Certainly. I gave Leo three hundred pounds in gold. I have already said so."
"And it was with that loan he paid his debts?" pursued Marion.
"Yes," said Leo, seeing his drift, "I paid them with that money. But the good people here declared that I sold the cup to pay them!"
"How could they! How could they!" muttered Edith.
"Because they are fools," cried Sir Frank, seeing that he was completely beaten. "For my part, I never believed that Haverleigh did such a thing!"
"Thank you," said Leo, inwardly smiling at the lie.
"Then you will be delighted to hear that the thief has been found."
As Marton spoke Hale suddenly turned pale, and rose with an effort. "The thief has been--found!" he stammered.
"Yes," replied Marton, with a swift glance, thinking at once of his theory of a conspiracy. "It seems that this man Angel--I beg your pardon, you know him as Pratt--stole the cup."
"But it was Mr Pratt who gave it!" cried Edith.
"Quite so, Miss Hale. Afterwards he was sorry that his generosity had led him to make so great a sacrifice. Therefore he stole what he had bestowed."
"And what about this story of Mrs Jeal?" asked Hale, trying to be amiable.
"Oh! that was part of the business, Sir Frank. Pratt thought the cup would be seen here, even if he kept it in his house. So he sent it up to London to be pawned for safe keeping. You do not understand why this should be done. But then you have never come into contact with a man like Pratt. However, for reasons I need not explain, he pawned the cup. His servant Adam is rather like Mr Haverleigh, and it was thus that Mrs Jeal, not having a clear view, made a mistake. You understand, Sir Frank?"