The Mandarin's Fan

Chapter 21

Next morning at the early hour of nine o'clock Orlando Rodgers drove up to Royabay filled with curiosity. He had received Rupert's letter which summoned him to come down on matters connected with the murder, and he was eager to learn details. Rodgers himself, had been unlucky. He had traced The Stormy Petrel to the Thames near Rotherhithe, and had learned from the Captain that two c******n had hired the boat for a couple of days. They went down to Marport and had gone ashore early in the evening. They came on board again after midnight, and then had requested to be put ashore at Rotherhithe. The Captain confessed that he had been paid well for the job, and thought-with a wink-that there was no chance of his knowing his employers again.

Rodgers of course recognised that Tung-yu and Hwei in their queer partnership had hired the yacht-which it seems was a public boat anyone could take for a period,-and he knew also that the den, where Rupert and Clarence had met with their adventures, was in Rotherhithe. He learned of this from no less a person than Mr. Burgh himself, for the buccaneer called at the police office in London to ask if the c******n had been caught. Rodgers had extracted a full account of the adventures, and had gone to the den only to find it empty, and the c******n conspicuous by their absence. Burgh himself had not returned as he promised, and the detective was annoyed at this, after he heard Rupert's story. Had he known what this was, he certainly would have arrested Burgh there and then, for participation in the murder. But the astute Clarence in telling his Penter's Alley adventure, had taken care not to incriminate himself.

On arrival the detective was shown into the drawing-room where Rupert was sitting with the stately Mandarin. Olivia was not present as she had heard quite enough about the fan, and wished to hear no more, not even the end of Lo-Keong's very interesting story. Rodgers recognised that Lo-Keong was of a different type of Celestial to Tung-yu and Hwei, and paid him great deference. He explained to Rupert his ill-success with the yacht Stormy Petrel, and detailed the interview with Clarence.

"I wish I had told you about him in my letter," said Rupert jumping up, much annoyed with himself, "you could have arrested him."

And when Rodgers heard the story, he blamed Ainsleigh, as much as he blamed himself for not having risked an arrest on suspicion.

"But you know, sir," said he, huffily, "Burgh really didn't give himself away. I could do nothing to him-or to the Captain of the Stormy Petrel either on what evidence I hear. As to those c******n-"

"Ah," said Lo-Keong, "you must let me deal with them Mr. Rodgers."

"Can you deal with Tung-yu."

The Mandarin drew down the corners of his mouth. "I think so," said he, "it is my belief that he has the papers."

"What papers, sir?"

Lo-Keong, seeing it was absolutely necessary to make things plain, if he wanted to secure his precious packet, related almost word for word the story he had told on the previous night. "So you see," he observed, "Tung-yu probably strangled Miss Wharf as formerly he strangled Mr. Markham Ainsleigh. I discussed this with Hwei, and he, knowing that Tung-yu had betrayed him once, was much of the same opinion."

"But if Tung-yu has the papers, why did he write to Tidman?" argued Rupert, not inclined to take this view.

"Probably to throw Hwei off the scent. Tung-yu knows well enough that if he started for China, Hwei would suspect he had the papers, and would follow him to get them."

"By murder?"

"Probably," said the Mandarin indifferently, "and after all sir, why not? Tung-yu killed your father and Miss Wharf. Hwei is watching him, and if he can make sure that Tung-yu has my parcel, he will kill him-with my approval," ended Lo-Keong calmly.

"Wait a bit," said Rodgers also coolly, though the speech astonished him not a little, "when you talked to Hwei, you did not know that the papers had been stolen."

"No. But he who has the fan has the papers. Hwei and I both thought that Tung-yu had the fan, and therefore Hwei watches him. I came down unexpectedly last night instead of waiting, so that I might assure myself that the packet was safe. But only a short time before, Mr. Ainsleigh found the fan. Tung-yu must have come down and taken the papers."

Rupert nodded. "Certainly. Without doubt he was the ghost Mrs. Petley saw, and when she came on him suddenly, he dropped the fan and fled. He must have climbed the wall of the park in spite of the spikes."

Lo-Keong smiled sourly, "I do not think anything-spikes or otherwise would have kept Tung-yu from gaining possession of those papers. And of course he knew the way to make the picture visible."

"How was that. I thought only you and my father and Hwei-"

"Ah," said the Mandarin calmly, "it seems that Tung-yu overheard the discussion between myself and your father as to the hiding of the papers and the plan of the fan. When he strangled Markham Ainsleigh, he hoped to find the packet at once. But Hwei secured both the fan and the packet. I have told you how they came to England, and how Hwei gave the fan to his brother. The brother was killed by accident and the coolie I spoke of, found the fan in his clothing, knowing nothing of it's significance. Then he learned the truth from the notice I put in the Pekin paper, and was afraid lest he should offend the god Kwang-ho. No he was not afraid of death-few of us are in China. But the anger of a god is different: it means ages of torment and the chance of being born again in the belly of some creeping animal. So the coolie kept the fan, till he found an opportunity of giving it to a foreign devil, in the person of Major Tidman. I can't understand how he knew the Major wanted the fan, save that he must have heard that Tidman was searching for news as to the death of Markham Ainsleigh. The coolie then knew, from enquiries at the mine, that the fan was connected with the death, and thus that the god Kwang-ho might have appointed the death of Markham. Yes," said the Mandarin complacently, "the coolie was afraid of the god, and no doubt was glad when Major Tidman took the fan."

Rodgers stared as Lo-Keong spoke. "It's rum to hear a gentleman like yourself talk this way, sir," he said.

"Ah," smiled the Mandarin, "our Eastern ways are different to yours."

"Yes," said the detective, "but you are so clever, that I don't see how you can believe in all this stuff about the private god."

Lo-Keong waved his hand imperatively. "Let us not speak of that, or we anger Kwang-ho. He is the controller of my destiny. Rather let us see how we can recover my papers from Tung-yu."

"If he has them," put in Rupert perplexedly. "And if so, Hwei will get them back."

"Assuredly," replied the Mandarin, "the first attempt that Tung-yu makes to leave England for our own land, Hwei will guess the truth, and will kill him to get the fan or the papers."

"But the fan is here."

"Yes. Hwei however thinks Tung-yu has it. I shall tell him that Tung-yu has taken the papers."

"But by breaking the agreement come to before the god, won't Kwang-ho be angry, Marquis."

"Hwei does not mind, he is my slave and will do anything for me. No-No," added the Marquis calmly, "as Tung-yu first disobeyed the god, in not bringing Miss Wharf to meet with her doom at the hands of Hwei, Kwang-ho will give him up to my vengeance."

Neither of the Europeans could make anything of this. "What we want to know," said Ainsleigh, speaking for himself and Rogers, "is, how did the fan get back to you?"

"I told you last night it did not get back," replied Lo-Keong. "I heard from Hwei that the fan was given to Miss Wharf by Burgh-but how he got it-" Lo-Keong shook his head.

"From a pirate in Chinese waters."

"No. The fan never came back to China," Lo-Keong took a paper out of his pocket, "I should have given that to you last night. It will show you why Hwei and Tung-yu came to look for the fan in England," and he gave the paper to Rupert.

The young man read it. It was in scratchy female handwriting, and was to the effect that the fan of the Marquis was in the possession of a certain person in England. No name was signed to this paper, and after Rodgers had read it, Lo-Keong took it again and laid it on the table. "So you see," he remarked, "when I got that letter, I knew the fan was in England. I sent Hwei to search for it, and of course Tung-yu on behalf of Hop Sing came also. They could not find who had written the letter, and advertised the fan as you know."

"Then Burgh told a lie," said Rupert.

Lo-Keong opened his mouth to speak, but before he could do so, Mrs. Ainsleigh entered with a sheet of foolscap in her hand. "I beg your pardon for interrupting you gentlemen," she said excitedly, "but here is something you should know. Rupert," she turned to her husband and thrust the paper into his hand. "It's from Dr. Forge."

"What?" cried Ainsleigh astonished. "Has he dared to write?"

"Yes, and he writes to some purpose. Read it out Rupert. I am sure the Marquis and Mr. Rodgers will be glad to hear."

"If it bears on the case," hesitated the detective.

"It does," answered Olivia seating herself, "listen."

Rupert glanced at the heading of the letter. "He gives London as his address," he said, "so he apparently is afraid of being caught."

"Read, dear," said Mrs. Ainsleigh impatiently.

Thus adjured Rupert began. "My dear Mrs. Ainsleigh," said Forge in his communication, "I write to you rather than your husband, as I think you will judge me fairer than he will."

"As if I could," put in Mrs. Ainsleigh impatiently.

"I am not a good man, and I never pretended to be. But I have been poor all my life, and the lack of money is the cause of my having acted in a way which, otherwise I should not have done. There is much truth in Becky Sharp's remark that anyone can be good on five thousand a year. Had I possessed that amount this letter would never have been written. As it is, I write, because I hear that the Marquis Lo-Keong is in England, and he will no doubt, tell your husband his own story."

"Which is not creditable to Forge," said the Marquis, suavely.

Rupert nodded and proceeded.... "I was at college with Markham Ainsleigh, your husband's father, and he believed in me. But I was always jealous of him, as he was handsomer than I was; he possessed an ancient and honoured name, and was fairly well off. I was born of poor parents and was of humble origin. Markham certainly helped me with money and with influence, so that I obtained my degree."

"And a nice way he repaid his obligations," said Olivia, sharply.

"He's frank enough about his baseness at all events," said Rupert, and then continued the letter. "Markham wanted money, and as the doctor of a liner to Hong-Kong, I had heard of a little-worked gold mine on the Hwei River. I told Markham about it, and proposed that he should go to China to work the mine. He agreed, and took me with him, as he thought that my medical knowledge would benefit him."

"Does Forge say he owned part of the mine?" asked Lo-Keong.

"No. Listen," said Rupert, reading slowly. "I was merely the doctor, as Markham bought the rights to work the mine with his own money. But he promised me a share, and my share now amounts to ten thousand pounds."

"That is true in a way," said Lo-Keong, "out of the money I pay you, Mr. Ainsleigh, this man can certainly claim that amount."

"Then what I receive must be a large sum," said Rupert.

The c******n smiled faintly. "Much larger than you think," said Lo-Keong, "pardon my interruption and proceed."

Rupert continued. "But I was not satisfied with my share, and wanted all the money. Lo-Keong had an enemy called Hop Sing, and he promised if I could ruin Lo-Keong that he would put Markham out of the way, and give me the money which had been obtained by working the mine. I knew that Markham had never sent any money home, as he wanted to wait until he could become a millionaire, and then return to astonish his wife, and restore the splendours of Royabay. I therefore saw Hop Sing--"

"I think you can leave all that out, Mr. Ainsleigh," said Lo-Keong, "it is the story I told you."

"So it is," said Rupert, running his eyes down the closely written page. "Well-hum-hum," he picked up the thread of the tale lower down. "It seems," he said, speaking for himself, "that Hop Sing fell into disgrace, and Forge could not get the money. He went to China several times, as Hop Sing recovered his position--"

"And I fell into disgrace," said the Marquis, "the Empress is a woman you know-pardon me, Mrs. Ainsleigh-and whimsical."

"Well," said Rupert, smiling, "you seem to have been up and down several times. When Hop Sing was in favour, Forge went to China, but the Mandarin refused to help him to get the money which was under the control of Lo-Keong, unless the fan was obtained. Forge learned the conditions of the fan, and finally got it from the Major. He took it to England and locked it up in a cabinet. But he was afraid to take it to China or use it in case Hwei should kill him."

"And Hwei would have killed him," said the Marquis, "it was as well that Forge was so careful. But how did he lose the fan?"

"Miss Pewsey took it," said Rupert glancing at the letter.

"A woman," the Marquis took the note from the table, and passed it to Mrs. Ainsleigh. "Tell me, madam, is that a woman's handwriting."

Olivia looked surprised. "It is Miss Pewsey's handwriting."

"Ah," said Rupert, "so she wrote to Lo-Keong telling him the fan was in England. Listen to what the doctor says," and he began to read again. "Miss Pewsey came to my house and was very friendly. She wanted me to marry her, saying she was trying to get Miss Wharf to leave her the money, that should have been left to you Mrs. Ainsleigh."

"Ah," said Olivia significantly, "so she did work for that. Go on."

The letter went on as follows:-"I didn't like Miss Pewsey who was old and ugly and evil-much worse than I ever was, in my worst days. But she haunted my house and I got used to her. I used to smoke opium, and grew very ill. In fact on more than one occasion I became delirious. Miss Pewsey came and nursed me. She took advantage of my delirium to learn the whole story of the fan, and learned also-don't be startled at this Mrs. Ainsleigh-that through me Markham had lost his life."

"We know that from the Marquis," said Rodgers, "but I suspect Mr. Forge wouldn't have spoken out had he not guessed the Marquis would tell the whole yarn. Go on Mr. Ainsleigh."

"Miss Pewsey," went on the letter, "insisted that I should marry her, or else she threatened to reveal the story to Rupert. I was unwilling that this should be, as I thought-and very rightly-that I should get into trouble."

"And he would have," Rupert, broke off grimly to explain, "I should have shaken the life out of him. However, to continue," and he again began to read this highly interesting letter. "I therefore agreed to marry her, but always sought an opportunity of escape. During one of my insensible fits after a bout of opium smoking, Miss Pewsey took the key from my watch chain and opening the cabinet gained possession of the fan. I denied this to Major Tidman at Miss Pewsey's behest, or else Miss Pewsey would have denounced me."

"Not she," said Rodgers, chuckling, "she would have lost her husband had she done so."

"She has lost him in any case," said Olivia, "but I can tell you what is in the rest of the letter, as I see Rupert is tired of reading. Miss Pewsey gave the fan to Clarence to give to me--"

"To win your favour," said Rupert.

"No. To bring about my death. Miss Pewsey thought if I was out of the way, she would get Aunt Sophia to leave her the money."

"What a wicked woman," said Lo-Keong, "we have none such in China."

"Well," went on Olivia rapidly, "Miss Pewsey wrote to the Marquis saying the fan was in England-"

"Here is the letter," said Rodgers nodding towards the epistle.

"Yes. How strange I should see it almost immediately after Dr. Forge wrote," said Mrs. Ainsleigh innocently.

"Miss Pewsey laid her plans well," said Rupert, looking again at the letter, "she intended to tell Hwei that Olivia had the fan so that she should be killed. But Olivia refused the fan, and Miss Pewsey made Clarence give it to Miss Wharf, so that the poor lady might be killed. But Miss Pewsey delayed the death at the hands of Hwei by holding her tongue, till a will was made in her favour. Chance favoured her, for she got the will altered."

"By learning of our marriage when she played the spy," said Olivia.

"Quite so," said Ainsleigh, "she then read the advertisement and knew that the two men, Hwei and Tung-yu, were in England. She wrote and told them that Miss Wharf had the fan. The letter was sent shortly before the ball, and after the new will was made. Tung-yu, therefore, came down to the ball to get the fan. This was not what Miss Pewsey wanted, as she desired Hwei to kill the woman."

"She knew about the god Kwang-ho, then?" asked Lo-Keong.

"I think so, but Forge isn't clear on that point. However, he declared that he does not know who killed Miss Wharf, nor who has the fan. He was told by Clarence, how he,-Burgh, had accused him to the c******n, and then grew fearful. Also, he heard that the Marquis was in England, and so he knew the whole story would come out. As he dreaded arrest, he fled."

"But he could have prevented Burgh from speaking," said Olivia, "you know, Rupert, how Mr. Burgh told you that Forge knew things about him."

"I daresay if the Marquis had not come to England, Forge would have silenced Clarence and fought the matter out. But he knew that the truth about my father's death would be told by the Marquis, and also dreaded, lest he should be accused of Miss Wharf's murder. He says that Clarence never gave him the tie as he says he did, and declares that he was in the card-room all the evening."

"How does he end the letter?" asked Rodgers.

Rupert read the last words. "So I write you this, Mrs. Ainsleigh, to show you that I am innocent of the death of your aunt. I see that the game is up and that I'll never get the ten thousand from Lo-Keong. Also, if I remain, I shall have to marry Miss Pewsey and cannot bear the idea. When you get this I'll be far away on the sea on a voyage to a land I need not particularise."

"Not China, I hope," said the Marquis, "if he comes there again, I shall have to kill him. He deserves to be punished for having brought about the death of my friend Markham Ainsleigh. What is to be done now, gentlemen? We are no further on than before."

"We certainly don't know who had the fan," said Rodgers.

"Or who has the packet," put in Olivia.

"Tung-yu has it I am sure," said Lo-Keong.

"I don't agree with you, Marquis," said the detective. "Tung-yu and Hwei certainly cleared back to Rotherhithe by that yacht, but if the fan had been on board Hwei would have spotted it."

"Tung-yu is very cunning," said the Marquis doubtfully.

"Well," said Rupert, folding Forge's letter up, "I suggest that the Marquis should offer a large reward for the fan with his own name appended. Then whosoever has the packet will bring it. For of course," added Rupert shrewdly, "those who had the fan-if more than one-will have the packet."

"Tung-yu-Tung-yu," said the Marquis shaking his head, "however, I will try the advertisement, and appoint a place. I am willing to give a large sum for the packet."

"And I am prepared to arrest the person who brings the packet as the murderer of Miss Wharf," said Rodgers, "you leave the thing to me Marquis."

"Come with me to London my friend," said Lo-Keong, "and we will write the advertisement. I shall reward you largely, if you get this packet back again."

"And what will you do, Rupert?" asked Olivia eagerly.

Her husband looked up. "I shall hunt for the packet on my own account."

"Good," said Lo-Keong in his stately manner, "we will see who is fortunate enough to bring me the packet and earn," he looked at Rupert impressively, "one hundred thousand pounds."