CHAPTER XXI

WHO IS GUILTY?

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 Chinamen 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 Chinamen

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 Chinamen

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 Chinamen--"

"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 Chinaman 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 Chinamen, 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."