CHAPTER XII

AT THE INQUEST

When Mr. Orlando Rodgers of the C.I.D. rolled into the Superintendent's

office the next day to relate what he had heard, he was not so glib as

usual. After sleeping on the extraordinary tale he had heard from Major

Tidman, and considering the fragments imparted by Clarence Burgh, and

young Ainsleigh, he came to look on the matter as something to do with

the Arabian Nights. The fan which the deceased lady had carried at the

ball was certainly gone, and the whole of these marvellous matters

connected with China, hung on the fan. But Miss Wharf may have been

murdered for some other reason, and Rodgers was half inclined, when

looking into the case in the cold searching morning light, to abandon

the fan theory. But he delayed doing this until he had consulted with

Superintendant Young, who looked after the Marport police.

"What do you think of it?" he asked, when his tale was told. The

Superintendent was a tall thin man with a cold eye and a distrustful

manner. He believed only half he saw, and absolutely nothing he heard.

Consequently when Rodgers ended, and his opinion was asked, he sniffed

disdainfully, and put on his most official expression. "It's a fairy

tale," said Young in his dry voice, which was like the creaking of a

rusty wheel.

"Well now, the woman was murdered."

"But not for this fan, Mr. Rodgers."

"Then what motive do you think--?"

"I don't undertake to say, sir. Let us gather all the evidence we can

and submit it to an intelligent jury at the inquest. It takes place

to-day at the public house near the corner of the Cliff Road and not far

from Ivy Lodge. When the jury has inspected the body, it will sit with

the Coroner at the Bull's Head."

"A Chinaman calling himself Tung-yu was at the ball you know," said

Rodgers, unwilling to abandon the theory in spite of his doubts.

"Where is he now?"

"I can't say. Mr. Christopher Walker brought him down, and I went to see

that young gentleman before he departed for business this morning. He

told me that Tung-yu was a clerk in the same firm of tea merchants as he

was employed with, and had not been at the office since he left to come

to the ball. Mr. Walker last saw Tung-yu at the door of the hotel,

looking out across the pier."

"Well," said Young drily.

"That yacht was there," went on Rodgers, "and showed a green light so

it's just possible that Mr. Burgh may be right and that the Chinaman did

steam away in her."

"Well then, search for the yacht."

"I intend to, and when I find her--"

"Mr. Tung-yu will have an explanation. No, Mr. Rodgers," said the

Superintendent rising, "I can't believe all this business is about a

trifle such as this fan. Some more serious motive is at the bottom of

this murder. Now Mr. Ainsleigh's tie--"

"I can explain that," said the detective, and he did.

Young listened disbelievingly. "So he says," was his comment.

"But I don't think Mr. Ainsleigh is the sort of man to commit a brutal

crime like this, and in so public a place."

"Everyone's capable of committing a crime if there's anything to be

gained," was the Superintendent's philosophy, "and Mr. Ainsleigh's very

agreeable manner with which you appear to be struck, may be a mask to

hide an evil nature."

"Oh rubbish; begging your pardon Mr. Young. Look at this joss-stick,"

and Rodgers held it out, "that was found in the ruins of Royabay Abbey,

so you see some Chinaman must be mixed up in the job. I am beginning to

believe that the tale may be true after all."

"It's too wild--too far-fetched. I can't believe it."

"Because you haven't imagination."

"We don't want imagination in this matter, Mr. Rodgers. Facts sir."

Rodgers got up and put on his hat. "Well, we'll not be able to agree, I

can see that," said he, "and as the case is in my hands, I am going away

to look after evidence."

"Why not arrest Mr. Ainsleigh?"

"Because the evidence against him is not sufficiently strong," the

detective sat down again. "See here Mr. Superintendent, if I so chose I

could manufacture a case against three of these people at least, and

give it to them pretty strong too. Supposing, for the sake of theorising

mind, we say Mr. Ainsleigh killed the woman--"

"Which I am inclined to think he did, on the tie's evidence."

"Very good, I can show you how strong you can make the case against him,

Mr. Young. This young man was at the ball, he hated the deceased and she

hated him on account of the difficulty of the marriage with Miss Rayner.

Ainsleigh wants money badly, and might have killed the old woman to get

the fan and sell it for five thousand pounds. Also by marrying Miss

Rayner who will inherit Miss Wharf's money, he gets rid of a mortgage

that's troubling him. What was easier for him, than to pretend to put

the silk scarf in his coat pocket, so as to blind those who saw him do

it, and then to lure Miss Wharf out on to those steps and scrag her.

Then he could pass the fan to Tung-yu who wanted it, and arrange about

the money being paid. After that and when Tung-yu had gone off to the

yacht, Mr. Ainsleigh could slip back into the ball-room and assist in

finding the body. And remember, he says, he was strolling on the beach

smoking, between the hours of eleven and twelve, and won't prove an

alibi, though between ourselves I think he can through Major Tidman."

"Well," said Young dryly, "doesn't this go to prove his guilt."

"I can prove Tung-yu's in the same way," said Rodger's coolly, "he was

in the cloak-room when Mr. Ainsleigh placed the scarf in the coat. He

could easily have stolen it, as these Chinamen are clever thieves, and

have then lured Miss Wharf on to the steps under the pretence of

treating about the fan. Suddenly he slips the scarf round her throat

before she can cry out, goes down the steps and on to the beach where a

boat is waiting for him, and by now, may be on his way to his employer

the Mandarin Lo-Keong."

"It sounds feasible I admit, but--"

"One moment," went on Rodgers eagerly, "quite as strong a case can be

made out against Major Tidman. He did not come to the ball, but lurked

in his room all the evening. Yet he came down to see Tung-yu--what

about?--to sell the fan of course--"

"You can't prove that."

"Am I proving anything? I am simply showing you what strong cases can be

built up out of nothing. Well then, Tidman sees the scarf put in the

coat by a young man, whom he knows is at enmity with the deceased, and

takes it out again. He gets Miss Wharf to come on to the terrace--any

pretext will do, as he is her lover and her old friend. There, he

strangles her on the steps and taking the fan, passes it along to the

Chinaman who makes for the yacht. So you see if I chose I can build up a

case against each of these three gentlemen, and each equally strong. Why

if I had a mind to entangle young Mr. Burgh in the affair I could do

so."

"But Tung-yu, Mr. Burgh and Major Tidman might prove alibi's."

"So they might, and Mr. Ainsleigh might do so also."

"He has not done so yet and if he was in danger, he would."

"Quite so," said Rodgers quickly, and seeing the slip, "and his very

reluctance to prove an alibi--for surely someone besides Tidman must

have seen him on the beach--shows me he is innocent. However this isn't

business Mr. Young, so I'll go and see what evidence I can gather."

So to Dr. Forge went the detective, feeling very bewildered over the

case. And small blame to him, for the matter was surely most perplexing.

It is only in novels that the heaven-born detective (in the confidence

of the author) displays wonderful cleverness in finding clues where none

exist. But a flesh and blood worker like Rodgers had to puzzle out the

matter in real life as best he could. He was not at all sanguine that he

would run down the assassin of Miss Wharf. On the face of it, Rupert

Ainsleigh appeared to be guilty, and Rodgers doubted his guilt for this

very reason. "I believe one of these Chinaman did it," said Rodgers as

he rang Forge's bell.

Dr. Forge was within, and consented at once to see the detective. When

the two were in the Chinese room, Rodgers unfolded himself, and asked

Forge, who knew the Chinese character, what he thought.

"My dear sir, the case is plain," said Forge calmly, "Tung-yu gave Hwei

the office, and lured Miss Wharf on to the steps where Hwei strangled

her with the scarf stolen by Tung-yu so as to throw suspicion on Mr.

Ainsleigh."

"Humph. It looks like it," said Rodgers musingly. "So you believe this

wild story of Major Tidman's."

"I _know_ it is true," said Forge quietly. "I helped him to get free as

he related. I was a partner with Mr. Markham Ainsleigh in the mine on

the Hwei River. I went to Pekin about a concession, and while I was

away, Mr. Ainsleigh died of dysentry. As to the fan,--I can't exactly

say. I never knew of this private god business, but it's the kind of

thing Lo-Keong might invent. He is a very superstitious man, and like

Napoleon, he believes in his star. He was concerned in the Boxer

rebellion, but afterwards he joined the Court party of the Dowager

Empress who is now all powerful. I never saw the fan in his hand, but it

might have to do with a secret."

"What kind of a secret?"

"I can't say unless it has to do with Lo-Keong's political fortunes. He

has many enemies, who envy his rapid rise. These enemies probably

stole the fan to ruin him. How this coolie, who gave it to Major Tidman,

got hold of it I don't know. But he was glad to get rid of it, which

makes me think the story of the alternate days and the blessing of the

god Kwang-ho might be true. The Chinese do not think as we do Mr.

Rodgers, and have their own way of settling these matters. The attack on

Tidman, when he had the fan in Canton, shows clearer than ever, that it

was wanted by Lo-Keong's enemies. He gave it to me--"

"Why did you want it?"

"For two reasons," said Forge quietly, "in the first place from what

happened to Tidman I saw that while he held the fan he was in danger--"

"But then you were in the same danger," objected the detective.

"I was, and I expected trouble. But I was better able to deal with the

matter than Tidman as I understand the Chinese character. I got the fan

in London and locked it up in yonder cabinet. I thought it was there all

the time, and when I found it gone, I was quite annoyed, as Major Tidman

will tell you. Then I recollected that I had taken it back to China to

give to Lo-Keong. That is my second reason Mr. Rodgers. I knew I could

get a concession I wanted through Lo-Keong's influence, and I did. So

the fan went back to him."

"And you forgot that you had given it."

"I did. It seems strange to you, but as I told Tidman and Miss Pewsey,

my memory is impaired by opium smoking. However, that is the story of

the fan, and Burgh got it from the hand of the dead pirate. How the

pirate came possessed of it I can't say. Apparently Lo-Keong lost it

again."

"He couldn't have valued it much, if he lost it so often."

"He valued it at five thousand pounds and more," said the Doctor dryly,

"how it was lost I can't say. I may find out when I go to China again,

in a few months. Lo-Keong is in Pekin, and, as we are friends, he will

tell me, and show me the fan again."

"Ah. Then you believe----"

"I believe it is on its way to Lo-Keong, and that Tung-yu and Hwei

came together down here to get it. When only one was on the spot this

god business of alternate days made the matter difficult. With both

together, the owner of the fan was bound to be killed or made rich.

Unfortunately for Miss Wharf the day or night was Hwei's and he carried

out the order of the god Kwang-ho by strangling her."

"Well," said Rodgers rising, "all I can say is that I'm glad I do not

live in China. How much of this is to be made public."

"My advice to you is to make nothing public, or as little as you can,"

said Dr. Forge dryly, "you see how persistent these Chinamen are. You

make trouble and you may be killed also. Your being in England won't

save you any more than it saved Miss Wharf, poor soul."

"I shall do my duty in spite of all," said Rodgers coolly, "I am not

going to be frightened by a couple of Chinese brutes."

"Very clever brutes," said Forge softly, but Rodgers took no notice and

marched away with his head in the air. Come what may, he was determined

to punish the assassin of Miss Wharf and if it was Hwei, the man would

have to be caught.

"I'll go to Pekin myself for him," said Rodgers angrily, "I'm not going

to be bested by these barbarians."

Little that was new came to his hand before the inquest, which was a

comparatively tame affair. The jury inspected the body and then

adjourned to the Bull's Head to hear the case. Rodgers set forth what

evidence he had gained, but touched as lightly as possible on the

Chinese business. He called Dr. Forge who deposed to having examined the

body and asserted that Miss Wharf had been killed between eleven and

twelve. She must have been strangled almost instantaneously as, had she

cried out, she would have been overheard by those on the terrace. This

evidence caused but little sensation.

When Rupert was called however, all were excited. He deposed as to the

scarf which he had received from Olivia, and said what he had done with

it. He declared that he had been walking on the beach smoking, and only

returned to the ball-room shortly before midnight when the body was

discovered. He stated that he had spoken to Major Tidman on the beach.

And thus proved an alibi clearly enough.

The rest of the evidence was not very important. Chris Walker told how

he had brought Tung-yu to the ball and handed in a slip of

advertisement, and then Rupert was recalled to tell what he knew. Tidman

related his interview with Tung-yu, and described how both had seen

Rupert place the tie in the overcoat pocket. Then it appeared that the

whole of the case turned on the fact that the scarf had been removed

from the pocket. No one knew. Miss Pewsey said that Rupert took it: but

her evidence was so obviously prejudiced that the jury would not believe

all she said.

Lotty Dean who was at the ball, declared that she saw Miss Wharf cross

the terrace about eleven and go towards the floral arch on the other

side of which were the steps. She was quite alone, and seemed tranquil,

"she was fanning herself at the moment," said the witness.

"Ah!" said the Coroner, "then she had the fan at that time."

"It was gone when we found the body," put in Miss Pewsey, and was

rebuked for speaking out of order.

The interest of the case turned on the evidence of Dalham, the attendant

in the cloak-room. He was a dissipated-looking man, and gave his

evidence very unwillingly. Owing to his having left the cloak-room at

Burgh's request, Rupert, as he threatened to do, had reported him to the

manager and Mr. Dalham had been dismissed. This loss of his situation

did not make him any the sweeter towards Ainsleigh, but all the same, he

could not state on his oath, that the young man had returned to take the

tie again from the pocket. Nor had the Chinaman, or Major Tidman

returned. Dalham knew the Major well, and as he phrased it, "would have

spotted him at once," while the gay dress of Tung-yu would have been

equally conspicuous had he attempted to meddle with a coat which did not

belong to him.

"You did not leave the room again?" asked the Coroner.

"I only left it once," said Dalham. "Because Mr. Burgh and Mr. Ainsleigh

wanted to fight."

"We've heard about that, and it has nothing to do with the case," said

the coroner. "But you were in the room the rest of the evening?"

"I've said so a dozen times sir," growled the badgered man. "Lots of

people came for their things and some late arrivals left theirs but I

was at my post all the time, except that once, when I left Mr. Burgh

with Mr. Ainsleigh. I never saw Major Tidman nor Mr. Ainsleigh nor the

Chinaman touch the cloak."

The coroner called Burgh and asked him if he was alone in the room at

any time. Clarence frankly admitted that he was. "But as I never saw

Ainsleigh place the tie in the coat and never knew that he possessed

such a tie, I don't see how you can accuse me." Much more evidence was

given, but it all led to no result. Finally the jury, having heard much

more of the Chinese story than Rodgers approved of, brought in a verdict

against Tung-yu. Hwei, they could say nothing about, as he had not been

present. But Tung-yu wanted the fan and the fan had disappeared, while

Tung-yu was also absent. "Wilful murder against Tung-yu," was the

verdict, and on hearing the evidence, and on reading all that had been

said in the papers, the general public agreed with the verdict. Under

the circumstances no other could have been given. Only one person

dissented.

"It was that Ainsleigh who killed dearest Sophia," said Miss Pewsey.