CHAPTER VI

BURGH'S STORY

Next morning Major Tidman was seated in his well-furnished room in the

Bristol Hotel. From the window he commanded a fine view of the mouth of

the Thames, of the pier, and of the picturesque lower town. But the view

did not gain the attention of the Major, worthy as it was of his notice.

He seated himself at the table which was spread for breakfast, and

proceeded to make a good meal. Perhaps he did not eat so well as usual

for the Major was worried, as was evident from the cross expression of

his face. On the previous night he had gone to see Forge, and had told

him how Miss Wharf became possessed of the fan. The doctor had listened

to him quietly, but had refrained from making any observation, even when

Tidman reminded him of his remark, as to his life being at stake. The

interview had on the whole been unsatisfactory, and Tidman was not at

all pleased. He wished to learn the truth about the fan.

"There's some secret connected with it," muttered the Major, while he

devoured buttered eggs rapidly, "and that secret means a lot of money.

Five thousand pounds is worth having. I could buy that plot of waste

land near the church and build an hotel there. I believe it would pay.

Then there's Forge's life, which, as he says, hangs on the fan, though

in what way I can't find out. If I got the fan, I might be able to get

something out of him. I would make Forge and Tung-yu bid against one

another, and perhaps I'd get even more than is offered. Ainsleigh can't

say anything against me now, as I am acting quite square and above

board. He's got no enterprise," thought the little man with some scorn,

"or he'd get Olivia to take the fan from her aunt and make the money out

of it. But if he won't, I will, so I'll see Miss Wharf to-day and try

what I can do. I daresay I'd get it from her for a five pound note--that

is if she hasn't seen the advertisement. She's keen after money, too--as

keen as I am. Humph," added Tidman, filling himself a second cup of

coffee. "I wonder why Tung-yu was such a fool as to tell Ainsleigh he

was willing to give five thousand. Anyone, not knowing the value of the

fan, would get it cheap. There's a mystery about it, and the mystery

means money. I must get to the bottom of the affair. Forge is no good,

as he is holding his tongue: even when I told him that Miss Pewsey stole

it, he did not seem to mind. But he'll never marry her after this, so

I've spoilt her chance of marriage, the cat. Though why Forge should

marry an old fiend who is eighty, if she's an hour, I can't make out.

But Forge was always secretive," ended the Major in disgust, and reached

for the _pate-de-foi-gras_.

His meal was interrupted by a smart young waiter, who intimated that a

lady and gentleman wished to see the Major. Tidman was rather surprised

at a call being paid at ten o'clock in the morning: but he was still

more surprised, when at the heels of the waiter appeared Miss Pewsey and

Dr. Forge. The latter looked much his usual self, hungry, dismal, and

like a bird of prey: but Miss Pewsey had a colour in her cheeks and a

fire in her black eyes, which made her look younger. It seemed that her

errand was not a peaceful one.

"To what am I indebted--?" began the courtly Major, when the little old

maid cut him short with vinegary politeness.

"Indebted," she said, standing very straight and stiff, and quite

ignoring the chair placed for her. "Oh, indeed,--how very polite we are.

Judas!" she snapped out the word with flaming eyes. "Oh, Judas!"

"Really, Miss Pewsey----"

"You'd like to see me in the dock would you?" cried Miss Pewsey tossing

her head and trembling with wrath, "I'm a thief am I--oh you military

fat Judas."

"Did you come here to insult me?" asked Tidman growing purple.

"If you put it in that way I did," sniffed the lady, "and also to ask

plainly, what you meant by stating to my promised husband here, that I

stole a fan from his cabinet?"

Tidman changed from purple to scarlet. He had not reckoned on the doctor

speaking to Miss Pewsey, and he turned a look of reproach on his friend.

The doctor immediately took up the challenge, "I see you think I have

been too free with my tongue," said he deliberately, "it is not my

custom as you know. But I told you Major that I was engaged to Miss

Pewsey, and I thought it only right that she should know the aspersions

you have cast on her character."

"A character," cried the lady, "which has stood the test of years and

which stands deservedly high. I am a Pewsey of Essex," she added as

though the whole county belonged to her, "and never before have I been

accused of thieving--Judas," she shot out the name again, and the Major

quailed. He saw that he was in the wrong, owing to Forge's betrayal, and

had to make the best of it.

"I am extremely sorry," he said apologetically, "quite a mistake."

"Oh, indeed. A jury will give their opinion on that," sniffed the

maiden.

"No! No I beg of you----"

"The damages will be laid at five thousand pounds."

"The price of the fan," said Tidman starting.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Miss Pewsey, her eyes glittering.

"I mean, just nothing."

"Oh yes, you do. Make a clean breast of it Benjamin Tidman. Oh, to think

that the son of a farmer, who was almost a labourer, should dare to

speak evil of a Pewsey of Essex. But the law--the law," said the irate

lady shaking a thin finger, "and five thousand pounds."

"Get it out of the fan."

"Is it worth that?" asked Forge coldly.

"You heard what young Ainsleigh said," answered Tidman as coldly.

"Yes I remember; but we have not come about the price, but about your

libel on this lady."

"I apologise," said Tidman, seeing nothing else was to be done.

"Apology isn't money," snapped Miss Pewsey.

"Oh, if you want money, again I refer you to the fan."

The Major was getting angry. He didn't very much care if Miss Pewsey did

bring an action at the moment, though with saner thoughts he would have

been horrified at the idea. "I apologise," said he again, "but I was

misled by Dr. Forge."

"How were you misled by me?" demanded Forge impassively.

"You said you had the fan in your cabinet, and that it had been stolen.

Mrs. Bressy swore she did not take it, and I thought--"

"That I was the thief," cried Miss Pewsey shrilly, "oh how clever of

you--how very, very clever. You thought that I got the key from the

watch-chain of Dr. Forge where he always carries it, to open the cabinet

and steal a fan, I knew nothing about it. I never even knew of the

existence of the fan--there Judas," snapped the lady once more.

"Then I was mistaken, and Dr. Forge was mistaken also."

"I confess that I did make a mistake," said the doctor with a sad face,

"but that does not excuse your libelling the lady I hope to call my

wife. My memory is not so good as it was, and I fear that the drugs I

take to induce sleep have impaired what memory I have left. I suffer

from neuralgia," added the doctor turning to Miss Pewsey, "and in China

I contracted the habit of opium smoking, so--"

"Marriage will put that right," said the lady patting his hand. "I do

not expect a perfect husband--"

"I never knew you expected a husband at all," said Tidman injudiciously.

"Ho," cried Miss Pewsey drawing herself up. She had been standing all

the time, "another libel. I call Dr. Forge to witness it."

"I really think Tidman you'd better hold your tongue," said the doctor

gently, "but I must explain, that I quite forgot that I had parted with

the fan. Yes. I received it from you, seven years ago when I brought you

home after that adventure in Canton. Two years later I returned to

China, to see Lo-Keong on business, and I took the fan with me. He

received it."

"No," said the Major shaking his bald head, "I can't believe that,

Forge. You declared that you hated Lo-Keong and that the fan would harm

you and him also."

"I do hate the man," cried Forge looking more like a bird of prey than

ever, "but I got a concession about a gold mine, by giving back the fan.

I wanted the money more than Lo-Keong's life. As to my own life, it was

in danger from the enemies of the Mandarin, who want the fan to ruin

him. That was why I spoke as I did. Are you satisfied?"

"Not quite," said Tidman who was puzzled, "how did the fan come to

England again?"

"My nephew Mr. Burgh will tell you that," said Miss Pewsey, "when he has

administered the beating I have asked him to inflict."

"Beating," shouted the Major snatching a knife from the breakfast table,

"let that young whelp dare to hint such a thing, and I'll kick him round

Marport."

"Clarence is not the man to be kicked."

"Nor am I the man to be beaten. I have apologised and that is quite

enough. If you are not satisfied Miss Pewsey, you can bring your action

and I'll defend it. Beating indeed," snorted Tidman, "I'd like to see

anyone who would dare to lay a hand on me," and he looked very fierce as

he spoke.

"Very good," said Miss Pewsey in a stately manner, "if you will tell me

all about the fan, I shall ask Clarence to spare you the beating."

"Clarence can go to--" the Major mentioned a place which made Miss

Pewsey shriek and clap her fingers to her ears. "I am not the least

afraid of that cad and bounder--that--that----"

"Libel again Major Tidman."

"Pooh--Pooh," said Forge rising, "let us go Lavinia."

"Not till I hear about the fan. For the sake of my dear Sophia who has

the fan, I want to hear."

"All I know, is, that the fan was advertised for----"

"I saw the advertisement," said Miss Pewsey, "but I said nothing to dear

Sophia, although I recognised the fan from the description in the

newspaper. She never looks at the papers, and trusts to me to tell her

the news."

"So you kept from her a piece of news out of which she could make five

thousand pounds."

"Really and truly," said Miss Pewsey clutching her bag convulsively and

with glittering eyes, "who says so--who pays it--who--?"

"One question at a time," interrupted Tidman, now quite master of

himself. "Tung-yu, the man Ainsleigh saw at the Joss House in Perry

Street Whitechapel, offered five thousand pounds for the return of the

fan. Ainsleigh saw the advertisement and--"

"I know how he came to inquire about the fan," said Miss Pewsey, "Dr.

Forge told me, but I did not know the amount offered."

"Will you tell Miss Wharf now."

"No," said Miss Pewsey very decisively, "nor will any one else. My

Sophia's health is delicate and if she had a shock like that inflicted

on her, she would die."

"What the offer of five thousand pounds--"

"The chance of being killed," said Miss Pewsey, "but I will leave my

nephew Mr. Burgh to explain that Major Tidman. I accept your apology for

thinking me a--but no," cried the lady, "I can't bring myself to

pronounce the nasty word. I am a Pewsey of Essex. All is said in that, I

think. Good morning, Major. My abstinence from bringing an action lies

in the fact, that you will refrain from unsettling my Sophia's mind by

telling about the fan. Good-morning. My Theophilus will we not go?"

Before the Major could recover from the bewilderment into which he was

thrown by this torrent of words, Miss Pewsey taking the arm of the

melancholy doctor had left the room. When alone Tidman scratched his

chin and swore. "There's something in this," he soliloquised. "I believe

the old woman wants to get the money herself. By George, I'll keep my

eyes on her," and the Major shook his fist at the door, through which

the fairy form of Miss Pewsey had just vanished.

Later in the day Tidman dressed to perfection, walked up the town

twirling his stick, and beaming on every pretty woman he came across.

The stout old boy was not at all appalled by the threat of Miss Pewsey

regarding her buccaneering nephew's attentions. When he saw the

gentleman in question bearing down on him, he simply stopped and grasped

his stick more firmly. If there was to be a fight, the Major resolved to

have the first blow. But Burgh did not seem ready to make a dash. He

sauntered up to Tidman and looked at him smilingly, "Well met old pard,"

said he in his slangy fashion.

"My name to you, is Major Tidman," said the old fellow coolly.

"I guess I know that much. Can't we go a stretch along the lower part of

the town?"

"If there's any row to come off," said the Major, keeping a wary eye on

the young man. "I prefer it to take place here. On guard sir--on guard."

Clarence shrugged his shoulders and produced a cigarette. "Oh that's all

right," said he striking a match. "I guess my old aunt's been at you.

I'm not going in for any row--not me."

"Just as well for you," said the Major sharply, "how dare you threaten

me, you--you--"

"Now I ask you," said Clarence, "if I have threatened you? Go slow. I

guess the old girl's been piling on the agony. She's got old Forge to

fight her battles. When I make trouble," added Clarence musingly, "it

will be for a pretty girl like Olivia."

"You can have your desire for a row by telling that to young Ainsleigh."

"Huh," said Burgh with contempt, "I guess I'd lay him out pretty smart.

I tell you, Major, I'm dead gone on that girl: but she treats me like a

lump of mud."

"And quite right too," said Tidman coolly, "you aren't worthy of her.

Now Ainsleigh is."

Clarence pitched away his cigarette with an irritable gesture. "Don't

get me riz," said he darkly, "or I'll make the hair fly with Ainsleigh."

"Pooh. He's quite able to look after himself."

"Can he shoot?" demanded the buccaneer.

"Yes. And use his fists, and fence, and lay you out properly. Confound

you, sir, don't you think I've travelled also. I've been in the Naked

Lands in my time, and have seen your sort growing on the banana plants.

You're the sort to get lynched."

"Oh, tie it up," said Burgh with sudden anger, for these remarks were

not to his mind. "I want to tell you about the fan."

"Why do you want to talk of that?" asked Tidman with suspicion, "I don't

care a straw for the fan."

"Oh, I reckon you do, Major. But you're well out of it. If you'd kept

that fan there would have been trouble--yes, you may look, but if you'd

held on to that article you'd have been a corpse by now."

Tidman sneered, not at all terrified by these vague threats. "What do

you mean by this drivel?"

"Let's come to anchor here," said Clarence pulling up beside a seat in a

secluded part, near the old town beach. "I'll spin the yarn."

"About the fan," said the Major sitting promptly. "I confess I am

curious to know how it came to England again, after Forge took it again

to the Far East. Didn't he give it to Lo-Keong?"

"So he says," said Clarence with a side-long look at his companion. "I

don't know myself. All I know is, that I got it from a pirate."

"From a pirate?"

"That's so. I was in Chinese waters a year or so ago, and I reckon

pirates swarm in those parts--"

Tidman shivered. "Yes," he admitted, "I had an adventure myself in

Canton with a pirate of sorts."

"Old Forge told me something about it," said Clarence lighting a fresh

cigarette, "but my yarn's different. I was out with some of the boys in

Chinese water, and a pirate tried to board us. We were down Borneo way,

looking out for a ruby mine said to be in those parts. My pals--there

were two of them, and myself engineering the job--hired a boat and cut

across to Borneo. The pirates tried to slit our throats and our Chinese

crew tried to help them. But we used our Winchesters and six shooters

freely, and shot a heap. The pirates cleared off and we brought our

barky into port safe enough."

"But about the fan?"

"I'm coming to that. The Boss pirate was shot by me--a big six foot

Northern Chinee, got up, to kill, like a tin god. He had this jade fan,

and directed operations with it. When his pals cleared I found him as

dead as a coffin and nailed the fan. It was pretty enough, but didn't

appeal to me much. I clapped it away in my box, and when I reached

England I offered it to Aunt Lavinia. She wants me to marry Miss Rayner,

and said I should offer it to her, and cut out that aristocratic

Ainsleigh chap. Olivia--ripping name, ain't it--well, she didn't catch

on, so I thought I'd gain the goodwill of old Miss Wharf, and passed it

along to her."

The Major listened in silence to this story, which seemed reasonable

enough. "Strange it should have come back to England, and to a small

place like this, where Forge had it," he mused. "A coincidence I

suppose. By the way did you see the advertisement?" he asked.

"You bet I did, and it made me sick to think I'd parted with the fan.

Leastways, it made me sick till I saw Hwei!"

"You mean Tung-yu."

"No, I don't. I mean the Chinee as calls himself Hwei, who put that

advertisement in every newspaper in London, and the United Kingdom."

"What, in everyone?" said the Major, "must have cost----"

"A heap you bet, Major. Well I struck Hwei--"

"That's the name of a river, man."

"Maybe: but it's what this celestial calls himself. I struck him near

the Mansion House, and knew him of old in Pekin I reckon, where we

chin-chined over some contraband biznai. I spoke to him in Chinese--I

know enough to get along on--and he told me he had come to this country

about Lo-Keong's fan. I never said I'd got it, though by that time I'd

seen the advertisement. I know Chinamen too well, to give myself away in

that fashion. I pumped him, and learned that Hwei intended to scrag the

chap who held the fan, so I concluded to lie low."

"But he offered wealth to whomsoever gave it up."

"Maybe. I don't know exactly how the thing figures out. I guess Hwei

does the killing, and Tung-yu the rewarding. But you can take it from

me, Major, that unless Miss Wharf gets rid of that fan she'll have her

throat cut. So I guess, you must be glad you didn't handle the biznai,"

and Clarence puffed a serene cloud of smoke.

"It's more of a mystery than ever," said the Major. And so it was.