The Mandarin's Fan
jumped up and came forward, with his usual grace and invariable
impudence.
"Glad to see you out again, Ainsleigh," said he taking off his hat, "and
you look well, Mrs. Ainsleigh--just like a picture."
"Thank you," replied Olivia, concealing her dislike with difficulty,
"you wish to see my husband I presume."
"Just for two shakes," said Clarence easily, "say old man, what about
Forge. Are y' going to round on him?"
Rupert nodded, "I have written to Rodgers to-day. But I'll give him this
chance of escape--warn him if you like."
"Not me," said Burgh coldly, "every man for his own durned skin--begging
your pardon Mrs. Ainsleigh. I saw him while you were trying for Kingdom
Come, and told him that he'd the fan."
"What did he say?"
"Gave me the lie. Swore he'd been in the card-room between eleven and
twelve, and never saw the old girl. Said he'd had enough of the fan, as
it had nearly caused his death. Then he said he'd split on me if I gave
him away."
"But you told him, you did confess to the Chinaman."
"Oh that's all right. Forge don't care a red cent for their telling the
police. They won't engineer the biznai into the courts. So long as they
get the fan, they don't mind. Forge knows they won't make the matter
public, but now he's in mortal fear, lest they should kill him."
"Thinking he's got the fan."
"You bet--on my evidence. Well," said Burgh calmly and with a twinkle in
his evil eyes. "I reckon old man Forge is in an almighty fix. He's in
danger of being knifed by Hwei--thanks to me, and of being hanged for
killing the old girl--thanks to you."
Olivia's face expressed her disgust. "If you have heard all you wish to
hear, we'll go away," she said to her husband.
"Right oh," said Burgh. "Don't mind me. Pretty place y'have here," he
added looking round the beautiful cloisters, "that's the place where
they lynched the old monk I reckon. I've heard that silly rhyme of
yours, Ainsleigh. I guess you've fulfilled one part."
"How so?" asked Rupert stiffly.
"About the marriage y'know. A poor Ainsleigh has wedded a poor wife. So
that's all right. Now I--"
"I must be going," interrupted Ainsleigh annoyed by the man's glib talk,
"have you anything else to say?"
"Only this. Forge is going to hitch long-side Aunt Lavinia to-morrow,
and if you run him in, she'll get left."
"All the better for her," said Ainsleigh calmly, "he's a bad lot."
"That's so. Much worse than you think. He was the man who tried to stab
you in Penter's Alley."
"No."
"He was though. I saw his face under the lamp, as he let fly. Then he
cut and--you know the rest. But I'm off. My eye," Clarence chuckled,
"what a shine there'll be to-morrow, when Aunty gets left."
Burgh strolled away whistling, and Olivia expressed her disgust at his
free and easy manners. Rupert, reflecting on what Clarence had told him
of Forge's assault, resolved to be a fair and open enemy. He decided to
call on Forge and tell him that he had written to Rodgers. Also, he
desired to ask why he attempted the second crime. Olivia approved, so
Rupert went early next day to Tidman's Avenue. The door was opened by
Mrs. Bressy who was wiping her mouth as though she had just been at the
bottle, which was probably the case. In reply to Rupert's enquiry for
her master, she told him that Dr. Forge had gone. "He went to Londing,
sir--larst night," said Mrs. Bressy.
"Did he leave any address?"
"No, Mr. Ainsleigh, he did not."
The inference was easy. Forge had bolted.
CHAPTER XVIII
A SURPRISE
Rupert was much disappointed that Forge had not been arrested. Apart
from the fact that he thought the old scoundrel should suffer for his
dastardly crime in killing an inoffensive woman, he wished to learn what
Forge could reveal of his father's death. The explanation already given,
did not satisfy him, and he suspected that the doctor knew more than he
chose to admit. But under pressure, and standing in danger of his life,
he might be induced to be more explicit. But, as the man, apparently
warned by Clarence, had disappeared, there was no more to be said. And
Forge had taken a large trunk, and all his loose cash, so there was no
doubt that he intended to keep away from Marport.
Ainsleigh, much disgusted, went to seek Clarence Burgh at the Bristol
Hotel, but learned, that he also, had gone away. Much perplexed the
young man sought out Major Tidman, and laid the case before him. The
Major was much astonished at the recital, and very angry to learn that
Hwei and Tung-yu suspected him of the murder. "But I guessed they did,
from the fact of that letter asking after the fan," said Tidman, pacing
his room, much agitated. "I hope Ainsleigh, they don't think I have it
now, or my life will not be worth a moment's purchase."
"No. You needn't worry. Burgh has fully convinced them, that Forge has
the fan."
"Then they'll make for him."
"No doubt, and perhaps that is why Forge cleared out. But I don't
understand why our friend Burgh should make himself scarce."
"I do," said Tidman sitting down and wiping his bald forehead, "he isn't
a man with a clean past, and Forge knows about it. It's just on the
cards that, to revenge himself on Burgh for having told Hwei about the
fan, Forge has written to the police giving an account of Master
Clarence's delinquency."
"But, on the other hand, if Burgh warned Forge that I had written to
Rodgers, the doctor might forgive him."
"Not he. Forge is a bitter hater, and after all, Clarence would only be
trying to right, what he had put wrong. If he'd held his tongue about
the fan and the murder, there would be no need for Forge to cut. As it
is, I believe the doctor will make it hot for our mutual friend."
"When did you see Burgh last?"
"At dinner last night. He said nothing about going away, and I quite
believed he would stop on. He's in good quarters here and Miss Pewsey is
paying the bill. But he took a small bag with him, saying he was going
up town for a few days, and left by the nine evening train."
"Ah! He may come back after all."
"He may: but I doubt it. He doesn't want to face an inquiry. You see he
gave the tie to Forge and said nothing about it at the inquest, so that
makes him an accessory after the fact."
"But Burgh didn't know Forge's game."
"No. All the same he should have spoken out at the inquest. Well, and
what is to be done now?"
"Nothing. I'm sick of the whole business. But Forge told me that this
Mandarin, Lo-Keong, holds eight thousand pounds belonging to my father.
I intend to write for it."
Tidman looked doubtful. "I don't think you'll get it," said he, "unless
you produce the fan."
"Oh! I expect Forge has taken that away with him."
"Well then, Tung-yu and Hwei will be on his track, and I shouldn't give
much for his life."
"Wait a bit. He may get the money from Tung-yu."
"If he chances on Tung-yu's day. Queer start that," added the Major
musingly, "the red boy appeared when I just had my big toe cut off and
saved my life. It happened, much the same with you, and Hwei lost his
power, as he was getting ready to kill you. I wonder these two
scoundrels obey the god so slavishly."
"Oh, they are both afraid of the god," said Rupert, rising to take his
leave, "but I must get home. There's nothing more to be discussed."
"Nothing," replied the Major chuckling, "unless it is about that old
cat's disappointment. I'll go up to St. Peter's church and see how she
takes it."
"Of course," said Ainsleigh lingering at the door, "it's her wedding
day. I expect she knows by this time, that Forge has cut."
"I hope not," said the Major cruelly. "I wouldn't lose the fun for
something."
Rupert didn't agree with his callous view of the case, as Miss Pewsey
was a woman after all, although a bad one; and it would be hard that she
should suffer, what she would certainly regard as a public disgrace. So
Rupert avoided St. Peter's Church, and went home again. Here he found
Olivia with a letter.
"This arrived by the early post," she explained, "but you went out so
quickly, that I could not give it to you. Just look at it Rupert, such
beautiful writing."
"A foreigner's evidently," said her husband, looking at the really
elegant calligraphy. "They take more care than we do of their
pot-hook and hangers. Olivia." He started.
"What's the matter?"
Rupert put the envelope under her nose. "Smell it. Don't you recognise
the scent."
"No," said Mrs. Ainsleigh, "it's a strange scent."
"Very, and was used to perfume the letter which Tung-yu sent to
Major Tidman. This may have to do with the fan again."
Olivia looked nervous. "I wish we could hear the last of it," she said.
"It has caused enough trouble already. Open the letter, dear."
Rupert did so and was more astonished than ever. "Here's an unexpected
development," he remarked passing the letter to Olivia, "Lo-Keong is in
England."
Mrs. Ainsleigh read the few lines which stated that the mandarin was
stopping at a fashionable hotel in Northumberland Avenue, and would do
himself the honour of calling on the son of his old friend in a few
days. "He's come to see after the fan personally," said Olivia returning
the letter. "I am glad."
"So am I," said Rupert quickly. "I'll now learn the truth about my
father, and see if I can't get that eight thousand pounds."
"Rupert, do you think Lo-Keong killed your father?"
"I can't say. Forge declared over and over again, that he died of
dysentery, and that Lo-Keong seized the money for the Boxers. But I'll
demand an explanation from the Mandarin."
"Will he give it?" asked Mrs. Ainsleigh doubtfully.
"He'll have to," replied Rupert grimly, "and he'll have to give the
money back also. I don't care for Forge's cash, as a villain such as he
is, doesn't deserve any reward. But I want my own eight thousand, and
I'll have it."
"I hope so," sighed Olivia, "we could then pay off Miss Pewsey, or
rather Mrs. Forge, as she no doubt is by this time."
"No. Forge has bolted."
"What, on the eve of the wedding?"
"Yes. He cleared out last night. Either he fears being arrested for the
murder of your aunt, or he dreads lest Hwei should come down to kill him
for the sake of the fan. At all events he has gone, and Miss Pewsey is
no doubt waiting at the altar of St. Peter's Church, for a bridegroom
who will never come. But we must attend to our own troubles, dear. I'll
write to the Mandarin to-day and ask him to visit us when it suits him.
Or else I can run up----"
"No," interrupted Olivia in a voice of alarm. "I won't have you go away
again, until this fan business is settled. I'm always afraid of your
falling into the hands of these Chinamen. I shall ask Mr. Lo-Keong, to
stop them searching for the fan."
"He can stop Hwei," said Rupert rising, "but Tung-yu is in the
employment of Hop Sing, the Mandarin's rival. Don't be afraid, my
dearest, I have been protected by Providence these many days, and it is
not likely that I'll come to grief. But I fear for Forge and for Burgh,
who has likewise bolted. Those two will certainly get into trouble."
"It is wrong to say so," said Mrs. Ainsleigh with a sigh, "but I _do_
dislike that man Burgh, and Dr. Forge also."
"Leave them in God's hands, dear," replied her husband gravely, "if they
have sinned, they will be punished. What we have to do, is to learn if
Lo-Keong will restore this money. I'll write, asking him to come down to
Royabay," and Rupert went to the library forthwith.
It was an autumnal day with a promise of rain. Ragged clouds drifted
across a cold blue sky, and the wind was rather high. Already many trees
had shed their leaves, but the pine boughs still bore their sombre
burdens. Everything looked old and miserable, and there seemed to lurk a