The Mandarin's Fan
grass. Olivia went to a certain corner, and, as she expected, found her
lover. He was not in evening-dress, but for the sake of the meeting had
assumed a dark serge suit. As she advanced, he recognised her and came
forward taking off his hat. Then he gave her his arm and the two
strolled to the far end of the green where they sat down under the fence
which was round the flag-staff. There, removed from everyone, they could
talk in moderately loud tones.
"My darling," said Rupert, possessing himself of Olivia's hand. "I
thought you would not come. You were late."
"I could not get away before. Miss Pewsey watches me like a cat does a
mouse, and with the same disposition to pounce, I expect."
"She's a detestable woman," said Rupert angrily, "why can't she leave
you alone?"
"I don't know. Rupert, she wants me to marry her nephew."
"What, that bounder who rides so furiously," cried Rupert fiercely, "you
don't mean to say that he dares----"
"Not in words, but he looks--oh," Olivia shivered, "you know the sort of
look a man like that, gives you."
"I'll twist his neck if he insults you."
"Then Miss Pewsey would complain to my aunt and I should get into
trouble. Oh, Rupert," she said softly, "I am so afraid."
"Of that man. Nonsense."
"No--of everything. I can keep Mr. Burgh off--"
"Who is he?" asked Rupert jealously.
"Miss Pewsey's nephew. I can manage him, bold as he is. But it is you I
am afraid of. Listen," and Olivia told the young man what she had
learned from Miss Wharf that afternoon. "She can ruin you," said the
poor girl, almost crying, "and she will if she learns the truth."
Rupert pressed the hand he held. "Why not tell her the truth," he said.
"I'm willing to face poverty if you are."
"Rupert, are you mad? If Aunt Sophia learned that we were married--hark,
what was that?" and Olivia rose, and nervously peered into the shadows,
"I thought I heard a noise."
"It's nothing. Only some rats in the long grass within the fence. No
one's about. They're all over at the band. But about our marriage,
Olivia. Miss Wharf must learn sooner or later."
"Yes. But you know I asked you to keep it quiet that I might not have
trouble with her. It was selfish of me, for it would have been braver of
me to have faced her anger and then have told all the world that we were
married at that Registry Office. But I'm glad now I didn't. She would
have ruined you."
"She can't do anything till the end of the year."
"But why didn't you tell me she held this mortgage?"
"Well, I thought that before the end of the year I might manage to pay
it and the other mortgages off. Then we could announce that we were
married, and live at Royabay on what small income I have."
"I don't mind about the income," said Mrs. Ainsleigh, for that Olivia
secretly was. "I'd live on a shilling a day with you, darling. But aunt
threatens if I marry you to cut me out of her will. She would do so at
once if she knew the truth, and leave the money to Miss Pewsey."
"Let her. I daresay that old maid has schemed for it. She's a wicked old
woman that and worthy of her bounder of a nephew. Never mind about the
money or the mortgage. Let us announce the marriage. I don't like the
position you occupy. It is not fit that my wife should be exposed to the
attentions of a cad like this Burgh."
"Wait till the end of the year," said Olivia feverishly, "then you may
be able to get money, to put things straight. It is best to keep the
matter quiet now. Oh how I wish we had money Rupert."
"I may be able to make it out of the fan?"
"What fan?" asked Olivia looking at him.
Rupert laughed. "I forgot you don't know." He took the slip of paper
from his pocket-book and lighting a match he read the description of the
fan. "I went up to the place," he continued dropping the lucifer, "and
saw a Chinaman, Tung-yu--"
"What," said Olivia starting, "why that is the man Mr. Walker is going
to bring to the ball. He's a clerk in the firm of Kum-gum Li and
Company."
"That's strange. I thought he was the keeper of the joss-house in Perry
Street, Whitechapel. Humph! Does Walker know of the fan?"
"I don't know. But he knows this Tung-yu, and I think, so does Mr.
Burgh. He seemed much annoyed when he heard the name."
"What about?"
"I can't say. And Rupert. Mr. Burgh speaks Chinese--"
"He must be very clever then for I hear it is a most awful language to
get hold of. Was Burgh ever in China?"
"Yes. He brought the fan from that place?"
"Fan." Rupert turned round sharply, "what fan?"
"The one you talk about," said Olivia innocently.
"I recognised it at once from the description you read just now."
"Are you sure," said Rupert much excited, for he never expected to hear
of the missing fan from Olivia of all people.
"Quite sure--positive. The fan is painted green on one side and the
sticks on the other are overlaid with thin jade, so I suppose it gets
its name from the mineral. Then it has a cord of yellow silk with four
beads and half a bead, and----"
"It is the same. Where did Burgh get it?"
"I don't know. He says he brought it from China, and offered it to me. I
refused it----"
"I should think so," said Ainsleigh fuming, "well?"
"Then he gave it to my aunt."
"And has Miss Wharf got it now?"
"I think so, but I have not seen it lately. I expect if she has, she
will use it at the ball."
"And Tung-yu who advertises, is coming to the ball," mused Rupert,
"there doesn't seem much chance for me. I expect your aunt will make the
money after all."
"It won't be much. Who would give a large sum for that fan?"
"Tung-yu will. He is ready to give five thousand pounds."
"Oh," said Olivia with real regret, "and I refused it."
"I'm glad you did," cried Rupert angrily, "I would rather everything
went than that you should accept presents from that bounder. Well I fear
my chance is gone Olivia. I'm ruined."
"Dearest I will face the ruin with you," and in the shadows they kissed.
CHAPTER V
CONCERNING THE FAN
Rupert returned to Royabay in rather a melancholy frame of mind. He
found himself in a very difficult situation, and there did not seem to
be any chance of his extricating himself therefrom, now that Miss Wharf
possessed the fan. It was strange that she should have received it from
Clarence Burgh, and Rupert wondered how that dashing young gentleman
became its owner. However, there was little use speculating on this.
Miss Wharf had the fan, and probably she would keep it, unless the large
sum of money offered by Tung-yu tempted her to do business. Ainsleigh
wondered also, if the old maid had read the papers, and if she had seen
the advertisement.
"But what does it matter to me," said Rupert, as he turned up the
avenue. "I won't get the money, and Miss Wharf will see me hanged first
before she will let me make such a sum. While I am poor, she holds me in
her clutches, and thinks by means of that mortgage to prevent my
marriage with Olivia. What would she say if she knew that we were
already married. I was wrong to consent to keep the affair secret, even
though Olivia wished it. In any case Miss Wharf can do nothing, till the
end of the year, and the truth is bound to come to her ears sooner or
later. Then she will strike and spare not. I believe that's the motto of
the Wharfs, and it fits her spiteful temper excellently."
Then Rupert went on to reflect on what Olivia had told him of Aunt
Sophia's romance with Markham Ainsleigh. The young man had never heard
of it before, as he knew little of his father, who had gone to China, a
few years after his heir was born. In fact Markham only waited till
there was a male Ainsleigh to carry on the succession and to inherit
what remained of the estates, and then steamed to the Far East to seek
fortune. But fortune had proved unkind and the poor man had
died--whether of dysentery or by violence, it is difficult to say. Some
people said one thing and some another, but even Rupert did not know the
truth. Dr. Forge, who had worked the mine in the Kan-su province along
with Markham, knew the absolute truth, and he ascribed the death to
dysentery, so Rupert, for the time being at all events, was willing to
accept this explanation. He had no reason to doubt the loyalty of
Theophilus Forge who had been a college chum of his father's.
Thinking in this way and considering whether it would not be advisable
to proclaim his marriage so as to release his wife from the odious
attentions of Clarence Burgh, the young man arrived at the house. He was
met in the hall by Mrs. Petley, who announced that Major Tidman was
waiting to see her young master. Rupert nodded in an absent-minded way
and was going to the library where the Major was kicking his heels, when
Mrs. Petley caught him by the arm. "It's walking again," said Mrs.
Petley, whose fat face was pale, "and say what you like Master Rupert,
trouble is coming."
She was a stout old dame with a red face suggestive of drink, a most
unfair thing to be said of her as she drank nothing stronger than gin
and water, one tumbler a night before retiring. But Mrs. Petley had been
a cook in her early days; later on she assumed the position of Rupert's
nurse, and finally, having married Petley the butler, she became
housekeeper of Royabay. She was a common vulgar old woman, but loyal to
the core, and adored Rupert. When he had to dismiss the greater part of
his servants he retained John Petley, and John Petley's wife, who
continued to serve him faithfully and always hoped for better days. Mrs.
Petley, being intensely superstitious, was always influenced by the
appearance of Abbot Raoul whose walking was supposed to predict bad luck
to the Ainsleighs. If the ghost did not appear Mrs. Petley was happy,
but when it did she always prognosticated evil. And it must be admitted
that Rupert usually had more trouble with his creditors when Abbot Raoul
_did_ visit his old haunts. He seemed to be a most malignant spirit. But
Rupert as an educated man, was not going to admit occult influence.
"Nonsense Mrs. Petley," said he, shaking her off, "so far as trouble is
concerned Abbot Raoul might remain visible for ever. Am I ever out of
trouble?"
"No, that you ain't, worse luck. But this walking means something extra
special as I said to John."
"Where did you see the old beast, I mean Abbot Raoul of course."
Mrs. Petley started. "Hush deary," she whispered looking round in a
fearful manner, "don't speak evil of speerits. It may be round, and you
might anger it. I saw it in the cloisters."
"Near the place?" asked Rupert.
"Aye, standing on the black square where its mortal body was burnt poor
soul. It was pointing to a tree."
"To what tree--there are plenty in the cloisters."
"To the copper beech, as you might say Master Rupert. And angry enough
he looked. I nearly fainted."
"You should be used to the ghost by this time Mrs. Petley."
"Ghosts is things custom won't help you with," said Mrs. Petley
mysteriously, "they freeze your blood every time. Just as I was thinking
of a good scream and a faint, it vanished."
"Into thin air like the witches in Macbeth," said Rupert lightly. "Well
it doesn't need Abbot Raoul to come and tell me trouble is near. I'm
likely to have a good deal by the end of the year."
"Oh Master Rupert what is it?" gasped the old woman.
"Nothing I can tell you at present," said Ainsleigh carelessly, "I have
a good mind to seek Abbot Raoul myself and see if he can't help me; but
I'm not psychic as you are Mrs. Petley. I see nothing."
"And a good thing too," said the ex-cook solemnly, "if it spoke to you it
would be to make matters worse, though worse they can't be."
"Oh yes they can," said Rupert grimly. "I may have to leave--"