CHAPTER XXIV
THE FULFILLED PROPHECY
When Rupert came to his senses, the surroundings seemed to be familiar.
He had lost consciousness on the banks of the Thames, and during a
fierce struggle with a treacherous foe. He opened his eyes to find
himself in his own bed in his own room at Royabay. But he felt strangely
weak and indisposed to talk. After a glance, he closed his eyes again.
Then, after what seemed to him to be a few minutes--it was really half
an hour--he opened them again, and this time he saw Olivia bending over
him with an anxious face. "Dearest," he murmured weakly.
"Oh Rupert, do you know me?"
"Yes. Where am I--what are you doing here?"
"You are at the Abbey. Don't speak. Take this," and some beef tea was
held to his dry lips.
Ainsleigh drank a little and then fell asleep again. When he did so
there was an artificial light in the room, but when he woke the sun was
streaming in through the window. But his wife was still beside his bed,
and still looked anxious. However, she gave a little cry of joy when
Rupert spoke in a stronger voice. He was beginning to collect his
scattered senses. "Have I been ill long?" he asked.
"Four days," she replied, "don't talk, darling."
"But the packet?"
"The Marquis has it safe."
"Burgh?"
"He has escaped. Don't talk."
"Miss Pewsey," said Rupert faintly.
"She is dead."
"Then Miss Pewsey _did_ strangle your aunt."
"Yes--yes--the doctor says you are not to talk."
"Just one more question. Those Chinamen?"
"Hwei and Tung-yu. They were drowned."
Rupert smiled weakly, and turning on his side went off into a deep
sleep. The doctor who called later, said it was the best thing he could
do. "He has had a severe shock," said he to Olivia, "and his nervous
system is shaken. You may be thankful he did not wake with a disordered
brain."
"Oh, doctor, you don't think--"
"No! No! It's all right. He would not have asked those questions if
anything was wrong with his mind. In a few weeks he will be quite
himself. But I think, Mrs. Ainsleigh, that you should take him abroad
for a time."
Olivia gladly promised to do this, the more so, as she wanted to escape
herself from Marport for a time. The news of Miss Pewsey's death had
caused a great sensation, and a still greater one was caused by the
publication in the paper of her crime. Everyone, now knew that the
bitter little woman had strangled Miss Wharf, and everyone was very
severe on her. The funeral had to be conducted quietly, as the mob
showed signs of intending to interrupt. However, the police kept back
the irate crowd, and Miss Pewsey was buried in a quiet corner of St.
Peter's church-yard, where a few weeks before, she had hoped to be
married. But her intended bridegroom was in America, and Miss Pewsey's
mortal part was in the grave. Where her immortal soul was and what would
become of it, was talked over by people, who were less forgiving than
they ought to have been.
Ainsleigh recovered his strength quicker then the doctor thought he
would. Olivia nursed him with devoted tenderness, and often wept as she
thought how nearly she had lost him. When Rupert was better able to hear
the recital, she gave him a short account of his rescue. "Those three
shots you fired brought up Rodgers and his men, who were searching for
Hwei and Tung-yu. They came, just in time to pull Mr. Burgh off you. He
was holding you down under the water, and Mr. Rodgers thought you were
dead. However the doctor was called, and they brought you round. Then I
was telegraphed for, and I insisted that you should be taken back to
Royabay. I had my way, although the doctor in London said it would be
dangerous. So here you are, darling, in your own home, and soon will be
all right."
"Thanks to your nursing," said Ainsleigh, kissing her, "but Olivia, tell
me about Miss Pewsey."
"She made a confession before she died," said Mrs. Ainsleigh, "oh
Rupert, even though she is dead, I can't help saying, that she was a
wicked little woman."
"Wicked indeed," said Rupert, recalling what Burgh had said, "she wished
you to marry Burgh, because he was married already."
"In which case he would have deserted me," said Mrs. Ainsleigh with a
crimson face, "he was as bad as she. But listen, Rupert, if you feel
strong enough."
"Go on," said Ainsleigh, and held his wife's hand while she talked.
"Well, then," began Mrs. Ainsleigh, "after the Marquis pushed you out of
the Penter's Alley room, he went and got a doctor, who said that Miss
Pewsey was dying. She heard him, having regained her senses, and then
began to cry, saying how wicked she had been. For the sake of everyone,
Lo-Keong asked her to make a confession. As soon as she knew there was
no hope of her recovery, she agreed to do so. A clergyman was called in,
and he took down what she said. The confession was witnessed and signed,
and Mr. Rodgers has it."
"What did she confess?" asked Rupert.
"Oh," Olivia covered her face, "it was really awful. She said that she
was always jealous of Aunt Sophia, and of me. She wished to get the five
hundred a year. At first she thought she would get it by marrying me to
her nephew, and then she could finger the money, when my aunt died. But
she soon saw that I was not to be guided in the way she desired, and
cast about for a new plan."
"But, Olivia, if she knew Burgh was married--"
"Oh, that didn't matter to her. She intended he should marry me and then
if I got the money she intended to say there was no marriage, unless I
gave her the five hundred a year. She wished to disgrace me.
"A kind of blackmail, in fact."
"Yes. But I can't understand, how she intended to reckon with Mr. Burgh,
who is not an easy person to deal with. Well Rupert, when she found that
I would not marry Mr. Burgh, she tried to get a new will made. She did
not succeed for a long time. Meanwhile, she heard about the fan and
wrote to Lo-Keong. When she saw the advertisement she was alarmed,
thinking Aunt Sophia would be killed before the new will was made.
Luckily for her, she overheard about our secret marriage and told Aunt
Sophia, who made a new will, and who intended, after the ball, to turn
me out of the house."
"But your aunt was so kind to you at that time."
"So as to make things harder for me," said Olivia sadly, "poor Aunt
Sophia, she was quite under the thumb of Miss Pewsey, who really did
hypnotise her--at least she confessed she had power over her in the
confession. But I don't think it was difficult to get Aunt Sophia to
alter her will, seeing she hated you so, and could not bear to think
that the five hundred a year, should go to the son of the man, she
thought, had scorned her."
"That was not true: my father--"
"Yes! Yes! I know. Don't talk too much, Rupert you are weak yet. But let
me go on," added Olivia, passing her hand over her husband's forehead.
"Well then, when the new will was made, Miss Pewsey let Tung-yu know
that Aunt Sophia would have the fan at the ball. She didn't know whether
Tung-yu or Hwei was to kill the possessor of the fan, and when she
learned that Aunt Sophia was to sell the fan next day, she was very
angry."
"Why. With her influence she could have got the money."
"Not all to herself, and besides she wanted the five hundred a year, and
Aunt Sophia out of the way. Moreover, that scarf I knitted for you gave
her a chance of throwing the blame on you. She got Clarence to get it,
and then lured Miss Wharf--my aunt--to the steps where she strangled
her."
"Yes. Burgh told me. I know the rest. Her nephew made her give up the
fan, learned the secret, and stole the packet. Then he made his aunt
take it to Penter's Alley."
Olivia nodded. "And Miss Pewsey thought she would get the money, as
Burgh said it was Tung-yu's hour."
"So it was. He spoke truly enough, although he didn't risk giving up the
packet himself. Well."
"But Tung-yu killed Miss Pewsey after all. She asked twenty thousand
pounds and refused to give it for less. Clarence Burgh who had come up
with her, came into the room with Hwei, who saw the packet pass, but
could not interfere."
"Because it wasn't his hour."
"Yes. And all would have been well, had not Tung-yu suddenly disobeyed
the god Kwang-ho's commands and stabbed Miss Pewsey. Of course, Hwei was
released from his oath by this act and tried to get the packet. But
Clarence Burgh snatched it from both and ran away. Tung-yu went after
him, and then Hwei followed, after wiping the knife. Then--"
"I know the rest. I got the packet from Burgh."
"Yes, and he tried to drown you. Hwei and Tung-yu were struggling
together, as Tung-yu wanted to get the packet from you. But Hwei stabbed
him with the same knife he had used to kill Miss Pewsey, and in his
death grip, Tung-yu drew Hwei into the water. Both were dead and still
locked in each other's embrace when they were drawn out. Lo-Keong said
that Tung-yu deserved his doom for having trifled with Kwang-ho, but he
mourns for Hwei."
"It seems to be much of a muchness," said Rupert, "and Burgh?"
"Rodgers threw himself on him, and he was secured. You were taken away,
and I was telegraphed for. But while Burgh was being taken to prison he
contrived to escape, and got away in the darkness."
"But Olivia, it was a bright, moonlight night."
"At first it was, but the moon set and darkness came on. The police have
been searching for Burgh, but he has not been found, and it is supposed
he has got away from England."
"I hope so," said Rupert with a shudder. "I never wish to set eyes on
him again. So that's the end of it all."
"Not quite. Lo-Keong is in the library with Mr. Asher. Oh, Rupert, you
must prepare yourself for the best of news."
The young man rose, and was led downstairs by his wife, "I am quite
ready to hear the good news," he said, as they descended. "I have had
far too much bad news in my life."
As Olivia said, the lawyer was waiting in the library, and stood before
the fire with an expectant face. Lo-Keong, in even more gorgeous robes
than he had worn on the occasion of his first visit, was seated in his
stately manner near the window. He rose as the master of Royabay
entered, and came forward with a serious smile.
"My young friend," said the Mandarin. "I have to thank you for saving my
life. The papers which would have ruined me, and which would have cost
me my head, have been burnt. Hwei is dead, and Tung-yu; so no one but
yourself knows what those papers meant. My august mistress will never
have proof that I was engaged in the Boxer rebellion, and Hop Sing will
be degraded for ever."
"And you, Marquis?"
"I shall receive the yellow jacket," said the Mandarin, proudly, "now I
remain but a short time here. I go to London in an hour, and this
evening I leave for the Continent on my way to China. We shall never
meet again Mr. Ainsleigh, unless you come to Pekin."
"No," said Olivia, instinctively protecting Rupert, "we have had enough
of China, Marquis. Sit down, Rupert."
Ainsleigh took a chair, and the Marquis smiled blandly. "Well, well,
well," he said, "it is natural you should feel rather nervous of my
countrymen, though I assure you, if you do visit me, that you will be
quite safe and highly honoured."
"No, thank you Marquis," said Rupert wearily, for he was beginning to
feel fatigued.
"I see you are tired," said Lo-Keong, in his stately manner, "so I will
merely say I hope to send you some presents from my own country, and
then Mr. Asher can speak," he bowed to the solicitor.
"I am glad to tell Mr. Ainsleigh," said the lawyer, "that the Marquis
has handed me securities which show that the sum of one hundred thousand
pounds is invested in your name. We can transfer the securities to
English investments if you like but--"
"I'll leave them in Chinese," said Rupert quickly.
Lo-Keong bowed in a gratified manner. "You will be wise," he said, "they
are safe investments and all my interest at the Imperial court, will go
to make you richer, if I can."
"You have done enough, Marquis," said Ainsleigh gratefully, "you have
given me back my old home."
"And we will be rich besides," said Olivia delightedly.
"There's another thing," said Mr. Asher, looking at the girl, "Miss
Pewsey made a will in your favour, Mrs. Ainsleigh."
Olivia drew back with a red face. "Impossible! She hated me."
"Well," said Asher dryly, "I expect she repented of her evil deeds, or
perhaps she hated her nephew more than she did you. That gentleman wrote
from a Continental address to Mr. Paster asking if his aunt had left him
the money as she promised. I expect the address is a false one, as Mr.
Burgh won't wish to be caught."
"He is a bold man that," said Lo-Keong.
"He is," assented Asher, "but he won't benefit. Mrs. Ainsleigh gets the
five hundred a year, the freehold of Ivy Lodge, and also the mortgage
which Miss Wharf bought to ruin Mr. Ainsleigh."
"We have everything--everything," cried Olivia.
"I am very thankful," said Rupert. "Mr. Asher--"
"I'll see you about the investments when you are stronger," said the
lawyer, "meanwhile here is the carriage at the door. The Marquis is kind
enough to give me a lift," and Mr. Asher took his leave, with a profound
bow, to so opulent a client as Rupert.
The Marquis Lo-Keong came forward with his kind smile. "Before I wish
you good-bye and all happiness," he said, holding out the famous fan,
"will you take this?"
"No," said Olivia, preventing Rupert from accepting it, "I hate the very
sight of the thing. It has blood on it."
"I think you are right, Mrs. Ainsleigh," said the Chinaman gravely,
"and, as it has done its duty, it may as well go the way of the packet
which now is ashes," and advancing to the fire, he flung the fan on the
burning coals. It burst into a blaze, and in a few minutes all had
vanished save the slivers of jade and the beads. The housemaid collected
these next morning and gave them to Olivia, who threw them off the
Marport pier. So that was the end of the Mandarin's fan.
"And now," said Lo-Keong, bowing, "good-bye, and great happiness to you
both."
Rupert and Olivia shook hands warmly, and thanked him heartily. The
Mandarin walked out of the room in his stately way, and they went to the
window to see him drive off. At the bend of the avenue, he waved his
hand graciously, and that was the last the master and mistress of
Royabay saw of the man who had owned the fan.
A chuckle at the door made the couple turn from the window. There,
peering in, stood Mrs. Petley, who had stuck with her husband to Rupert
during his troubles. Her face was shining, and old John seemed to be
years younger. Mrs. Petley, for some queer reason, threw a shoe at the
pair. "Health and happiness," she said, "begging your pardons both. But
to think of money and happiness, and no walking of that blessed monk,
who--"
"He never walked," said Rupert smiling, "it was Hwei--"
"Begging your pardon, sir, Hwei--whosoever he is, didn't walk _all_ the
time. Abbot Raoul did appear, as I can testify, and so can John here.
But now the prophecy has been fulfilled, perhaps he'll rest quiet in his
grave, drat him."
"The prophecy?" said Olivia, who was holding her husband's hand.
From behind Mrs. Petley came the quavering voice of the ancient butler,
declaiming the rude rhymes:--
"My curse from the tyrants will never depart,
For a sword in the hands of the angel flashes:
Till Ainsleigh poor, weds the poor maid of his heart,
And gold be brought forth from the holy ashes."
"And that's quite true," said a jovial voice, and Major Tidman, as smart
and stout as ever, entered. "How do, Ainsleigh, I'm glad to see you
looking so well. Yes," he added, sitting down, "you _were_ poor
Ainsleigh when you married--"
"And I was poor also," cried Olivia.
"Very good, the third line is fulfilled and the fourth--"
"Was gold brought forth from the holy ashes?" asked Rupert.
"Yes, Master Rupert," said old John, "you picked up the fan in the place
where the ashes were, and out of the fan has come gold. The prophecy is
fulfilled, sure enough, and I hope Abbot Raoul will stop walking for
ever."
"Of course he will," cried Mrs. Petley, dragging her husband outside,
"there's no more trouble for you, Master Rupert and Miss Olivia."
"Mr. and Mrs. Ainsleigh, of Royabay," said Tidman, laughing, "give them
their proper titles, Mrs. Petley. And I think the present occasion
deserves a bottle of port."
The ancient butler went away with his wife, to bring forth one of the
last bottles of that priceless vintage. Major Tidman, gloating in
anticipation, sat still, and smiled with a bland face. But Rupert drew
Olivia to the sofa, and they sat down where they had often mourned on
many a weary day. "Dearest," said Ainsleigh, kissing her.
"We can be happy now," said Olivia putting her arms round his neck, "for
we are rich. We shall take again our proper place in the county."
"We are rich and we are happy," echoed the master of Royabay.
"Ha! ha! You have one hundred thousand pounds, Ainsleigh," said Tidman.
"I have something better."
"What's that?"
"My own dear wife, Olivia Ainsleigh."
THE END
_The Anchor Press, Ltd., Tiptree Heath, Kelvedon, Essex._
Major Transcriber Changes:
In the Table of Contents, Chapter IX was originally listed as Chapter XIV.
On page 8, [arm-chair."] was changed to [arm-chair.].
On page 39, [artficial] was changed to [artificial].
On page 40, [that her own] was changed to [than her own].
On page 54, [annouced] was changed to [announced].
On page 56, [pinting] was changed to [pointing].
On page 95, [Ansliegh] was changed to [Ainsleigh].
On page 119, [roem] was changed to [room].
On page 130, [ubiquitious] was changed to [ubiquitous].
On page 138, [the walking of of] was changed to [the walking of].
On page 153, [propably] was changed to [probably].
On page 155, [Tung-yu aud Hwei] was changed to [Tung-yu and Hwei].
On page 172, [neice] was changed to [niece].
On page 175, [he he] was changed to [he].
On page 176, [It was it] was changed to [It was].
On page 188, [longside] was changed to [alongside].
On page 204, [reath] was changed to [breath].
On page 212, [gavorted] was changed to [cavorted].
On page 214, [tie o] was changed to [tie to].
On page 220, this chapter was mistakenly labelled [CHAPTER XVII], which
was changed to the correct version, [CHAPTER XVIII].
On page 223, [prefume] was changed to [perfume].
On page 231, [too and fro] was changed to [to and fro].
On page 238, [declines] was changed to [declares].
Standardized terms included: joss-stick, joss-house, Markham, Penter's,
foreclose, attendant, Hwei, Pewsey, calligraphy, Tidman, Dr., and t'was.
All uses of these terms were changed to the dominant spelling.
Non-ASCII corrections made by transcriber:
On the page of ads, Athenaeum was spelled with an ae ligature.
On page 66, pate-de-foi-gras was spelled with an accent on the first "e".
On page 246, devotee was spelled with an accent on the second "e".
On page 292, douche was spelled with an circumflex over the "u".
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