The Mandarin's Fan
"No! I'll put it in my overcoat in the cloak room," said Rupert, rising,
"but I must take you back to Miss Wharf, or she will be angry."
"I wish this deception was at an end and I could be with you
altogether," said Olivia rising with a sigh.
It was at this moment that Miss Pewsey chose to come forward. She was
furious at the way in which the couple spoke of her, but long habit
enabled her to smooth her face to a treacherous smile.
"Oh dear Olivia," she said. "I have been looking for you everywhere."
"Does my aunt want me?" asked the girl calmly.
"No. She is in the supper-room with Mr. Forge. But Mr. Walker--"
"I don't want him," said Miss Rayner quickly, and with a change of
voice.
"Yes--yes," said Rupert in a low voice. "Go with her, and dance with
Walker; it will prevent Miss Wharf being cross."
"Very well," rejoined Olivia quietly: then turned to Miss Pewsey who
smiled like a grotesque image. "Let us go to the ball-room."
"Won't Mr. Ainsleigh escort us?" asked the old maid, blandly. Rupert
bowed, and smothering his feelings, which always revolted at the sight
of the woman, he walked beside the two to the ball-room. Miss Pewsey
took Olivia's arm and chattered effusively all the time. At the door
they met Chris Walker, who hurried up at once and asked for a dance.
Leaving the two ladies with him, Rupert went towards the cloak room.
Here to his surprise he saw Major Tidman clothed in a heavy fur coat,
talking to Tung-yu. Tidman looked white and uneasy, but the Chinaman
still preserved his impassive face. Rupert took no notice but simply
nodded to the Major as he passed, pulling out the yellow and red tie as
he did so. Tidman changed colour, apparently not pleased at being found
talking to Tung-yu, and laughed uneasily. "That's a bright piece of
goods Ainsleigh."
"It's a present," said Rupert thrusting the tie into the pocket of his
over coat. "I should think it would match your friend's dress."
"Hush," said Tidman quietly, "he speaks English. He will hear," then he
added aloud. "Let me introduce you to Mr. Ainsleigh, Tung-yu."
The Chinaman turned and looked impassive enough. But his eyes had an
enquiring look in their black depths. "Tung-yu and I met in Canton,
where we had an adventure," said the Major, with a titter.
"About that famous fan?" asked Rupert smiling.
Tung-yu started and looked quickly at Tidman, who was again pale. "I
don't remember about the fan," said Tung-yu, "did our friend find it in
Canton?"
"No! No I never did," said Tidman hurriedly,--"that is Forge found the
fan--"
"And gave it to Miss Wharf. Quite so," replied Tung-yu blandly. "I see
her to-morrow about the matter," then he bowed to Rupert and moved away
slowly.
"I thought you had a bad cold," said Rupert to Tidman, who was looking
after the Chinaman with a scared expression.
"Yes--yes--but that is better now," said the Major hurriedly, "so Miss
Wharf is here, and has the fan?"
"Yes, she offered to give it to me if I surrendered Olivia."
"Refuse--refuse," cried Tidman hurriedly: he approached his lips to
Ainsleigh's ears. "There is death in the air to-night."
"Tidman," cried Ainsleigh starting away and staring.
"Yes--yes--say nothing. I wish you hadn't mentioned about my having the
fan. Tung-yu never knew--but it can't be helped. Ainsleigh, is there
another Chinaman here to-night?"
"I have seen none. Do you expect Hwei? If so we had better warn Miss
Wharf. She has the fan and--"
"No! No--say nothing. Don't touch the accursed thing."
"How do you know it is accursed?"
"I knew in Canton, and in a very unpleasant way. But I'll tell you my
adventure to-morrow--yes I will--if nothing happens to-night."
Rupert stared still harder. "What can happen to-night man alive?"
"Nothing--nothing," said the Major hurriedly. "I'll get back to my
room--you needn't say you have seen me. I--"
"Just the man I want," cried a bold free voice, and Burgh's slim hand
fell on the Major's shoulder. "Miss Pewsey asks for you."
"For me. Any more trouble?"
"I guess not. She wants to fuss round about your cold. Heaping coals of
fire's the English of it."
"Let her leave me alone," said the Major petulantly. "I'm quite
well. I am going back to my room," and with a nod to Rupert, he marched
out.
Burgh looked after him with a smile and a shrug: then he turned to
Rupert who was moving towards the door. "Can I speak with you?" he asked
with a frown.
"Not here Mr. Burgh," cried Ainsleigh, "this is not the place for a
quarrel."
"And why not," cried the other, advancing with clenched fists, "I--"
"Keep your distance," said Ainsleigh sharply starting back on his guard,
"the attendant is looking on," and he pointed to the man behind the
counter who attended to the hats and cloaks.
Burgh tossed him a shilling, "Go and get a drink," he ordered.
"Stop where you are," commanded Rupert, "or I'll report you."
But the man, who was a dissipated-looking waiter pretended not to hear
this last remark, and disappeared from behind the counter. The two men
were alone, and Burgh spoke first. "I guess I'm going to lay you out,"
said he, "on account of--"
"Stop," said Rupert, "mention no names."
"I'll mention what I like and Olivia--"
Ainsleigh let drive before he could finish the word and in a second
Burgh was sprawling on the floor. He rose with an oath and slipped round
his right hand. "You draw a revolver and I'll break your neck," panted
Rupert, "you bully, what do you mean by--"
Burgh drew his hand away--perhaps he was afraid a shot would bring in
others to see the fray. But he dashed again at the young man. A short
struggle ensued, which ended in Burgh being thrown again. Then Rupert,
disinclined for a vulgar row, walked away. He stopped at the door to
give his antagonist a bit of advice. "You touch me again," he said, "and
I'll hand you over to the police after giving you a good thrashing. It's
what a bully like you deserves. And if you dare to speak to Miss Rayner
I'll make Marport too hot to hold you." When Rupert vanished, Burgh
raised himself slowly and with an evil smile. "Perhaps the place will be
too hot for you my fine gentleman," he said savagely, and began to
think.
Meanwhile Rupert went to the ball-room and saw that Olivia was dancing
with Dr. Forge. Chris Walker told him that Miss Wharf had gone on to the
balcony for the fresh air. Miss Pewsey was not to be seen or Rupert
would have told her to look after her disreputable relative in the
cloak-room. The young man thought he would go up to the Major's room and
have a smoke, when he felt a light touch on his shoulder. There stood
Tung-yu.
"Excuse me sir," said the Chinaman in his excellent English, "I am your
friend. Major Tidman and Dr. Forge are your enemies, and you have a
third enemy in that young man Burgh."
"But how do you know--" began Rupert.
Tung-yu bent forward and whispered. "I know how your father died," he
said softly and before Rupert could detain him, he vanished.
But Ainsleigh waited but for a moment. The speech was so surprising,
that he determined to learn more. At once he ran after the Chinaman but
could not see him. In spite of his noticeable clothes, he was swallowed
up in the crowd and Rupert plunged into the gay throng determined to
find the man who could solve the mystery of Markham Ainsleigh's death.
The night wore on and the fun became fast and furious. Towards twelve
the guests began to depart, but many choice spirits declared they would
keep the ball rolling till dawn. One of these was Chris Walker, who had
imbibed more champagne than was good for him. While he talked excitedly
Miss Pewsey came to him hastily. "Where is my dear Sophia?" she asked,
"I can't find her, and with her delicate health it is time she was home
in bed."
"I have not seen her. Have you, Dr. Forge?"
The lean doctor shook his head, "I have been in the card room for the
last hour," he said, "and as Miss Wharf's doctor I assuredly say, she
should go home, there's midnight," and as he spoke the strokes boomed
from a tall clock in the hall.
"Clarence, have you seen her?" asked Miss Pewsey of the buccaneer who
had Olivia on his arm.
"No! I've just been waltzing with Miss Rayner."
"Then you Mr. Ainsleigh?"
"I have been smoking on the balcony," said Rupert, who looked tired.
"Oh, dear me," said Miss Pewsey wringing her hands, "I wonder if dear
Sophia has gone to see Major Tidman. She is so kind-hearted and he is
ill--at least he says he is. Did he tell you Clarence?"
"I saw him only for a minute and he went back to his room I guess."
"Then Sophia must have gone there," cried Miss Pewsey and hurried away.
Olivia followed with Forge as she thought also, that her aunt ought to
go home, and Clarence's attentions were becoming so embarrassing that
she feared there would be trouble with Rupert. But soon, Miss Pewsey
appeared again and said that Miss Wharf was not in the Major's room, nor
was the Major there. Taking Olivia and Clarence and Forge, she went to
search for the missing lady. Rupert lingered behind as he did not wish
to come into contact with the buccaneer.
The hunt proceeded for some time, and every room in the hotel was
searched. But Miss Wharf could not be found. Finally everyone--for many
of the guests were hunting by this time--, went out on the balcony. Miss
Wharf was not there. "Oh, dear me," cried Miss Pewsey, "wherever can she
be."
The balcony was searched from end to end. Then one of the guests more
venturesome, descended the steps. He gave a cry of horror. "Bring a
light," he cried.
Lights were brought and everyone rushed after them. Half way down the
steps lay Miss Wharf--dead--strangled, and round her throat tightly bound
was a yellow and red silk tie.
CHAPTER X
A MYSTERIOUS CASE
The murder of Miss Sophia Wharf at the Bristol Hotel ball made a great
sensation. She had been well-known in Marport, and her many friends were
enormously excited that each and everyone of them had been acquainted
with a person who had been--as one of them put it--done to death. Also
the circumstances of the murder were most extraordinary. It seemed
almost incredible that a popular lady should be murdered in so public a
place; though many said, that the safety of the assassin lay in the very
fact that he had chosen to commit his crime a few yards away from a spot
where many people were congregated. But who had killed Miss Wharf and
why she was killed in so brutal a manner, no one could understand.
When the local police heard of the assassination, an Inspector with two
subordinates took possession of the hotel, and obtained from the manager
a list of the guests present at the ball. As these amounted to something
like two hundred, it seemed like looking for a needle in a haystack to
search for the criminal amongst them. And many of them did not know Miss
Wharf even by sight, so it was certain that the task of identifying the
assassin would be one of enormous difficulty. And the question was asked
on all hands. "What had taken the deceased lady down the
little-frequented steps?" The fan was missing--Miss Pewsey noticed that,
when she bent over the dead, but the story of the fan was not yet public
property.
According to custom the local police communicated with the Treasury, who
placed the case in the hands of the Criminal Investigation Department,
and thus it came about, that a plain clothes officer--in other words a
detective--was sent down to Marport. This individual was called Rogers,
and after paying a visit to the Superintendent of the Marport Police
Office, he went to Ivy Lodge. Here, everything was gloomy and silent.
The body of the unfortunate woman had been brought home, and was laid
out for burial. Dr. Forge, who with others had been on the spot at the