Kitabı oku: «The Mandarin's Fan», sayfa 13
CHAPTER XX
The Mandarin Explains
"I must apologise for this very late visit," said Lo-Keong, when he was conducted to the drawing-room by his surprised host, "but I must explain – "
"Not now, Marquis," replied Ainsleigh, giving his visitor the rank which he claimed, "you must be weary and hungry."
"No. I am perfectly well, and enjoyed a meal before I left London. If you will give my servants orders to take up my luggage, and will then hear what I have to say, you will do everything I desire."
Rupert went again to the hall to tell the two Chinese servants, which Lo-Keong had brought with him, to take the trunks up to the bed-room which the Marquis would occupy. Then he went to the back and made Mr. and Mrs. Petley rise. Both were disturbed when they heard that a Chinese grandee was in the house. "I do hope he won't bring trouble with him," said Mrs. Petley to her husband. "I never could abear them things, since I saw that creature who brought home the old master's baggage. And, Missus, as is dead, couldn't bear him either."
"He was a cock-eyed man," said old John reflectively.
"Cock-eyed yourself," retorted the housekeeper who had a better memory, "he was one-eyed, and a nice ugly thing he looked. Ah well, as I always says, Abbot Raoul don't walk for nothing, and this Chiner gentleman coming here, means trouble."
Old John who was much the same way of thinking himself, grew annoyed by his wife's pessimism and told her to hurry up and come to the kitchen. Then he went to see after the bed-room which his master had selected for the untoward guest. Mrs. Petley came down to find her kitchen in the possession of two grave silent Chinamen who had lighted the fire and were boiling water for tea. "Well, I'm sure," said Mrs. Petley surveying both with distaste, "the idear of these furreiners taking liberties," and she sniffed at the Far East.
Meanwhile, Rupert returned to the drawing-room and found the Marquis paying attentions to his wife. Lo-Keong was a tall, fine-looking man, grave and extremely polite. He had admirable manners, and his clothes were of the finest. Olivia in her rich dinner dress, felt quite plainly dressed beside this gorgeous gentleman, who wore a jacket of rose-pink, a coat of grass green satin, pale blue silk trousers, and thick-soled white green shoes. He also had a glossy pig-tail woven with silk, and carried a small fan – at which Olivia shuddered. Seated in a deep arm-chair, he looked a potentate, quite out of place in that sober English drawing-room. The Marquis was very affable, and deferential to Mrs. Ainsleigh, who quite overcame her dislike to Celestials after a few moments converse with this splendid specimen of the aristocracy of Cathay.
"You are quite sure you won't have some refreshment?" she asked.
Lo-Keong waved his slim hand graciously. "I thank you, no," said he, "and if you will allow me to explain myself, you can then retire. I am ashamed of having called at this hour. But," he looked at Rupert first and at Olivia afterwards, "my excuse is a good one. I have seen Hwei – whom you know."
Ainsleigh shuddered. "Yes, and I don't retain any very pleasant recollections of that gentleman," said he.
Lo-Keong laughed quietly, "Hwei is a true devotée of the god Kwang-ho."
"I don't understand about that god," said Olivia.
"I have come to explain," said the Chinaman, "it is a great pity I did not come before. You would then have had no trouble about this," and he took up the famous fan which Olivia had tossed on the sofa.
"Oh," the young couple looked at one another, and if they did not say "oh," the expression of "oh" – an amazed "oh" was on their faces.
Lo-Keong seemed to have his eyes everywhere, and took up the fan as if it was the most natural thing it should be lying there. "You understand," he went on in his calm well-bred voice. "I have seen Hwei and he told me everything."
"About the murder?"
"About the murder, Mrs. Ainsleigh, and about the hunt for the assassin; also about your husband's visit to London, and full details concerning the folly of Tung-yu – my enemy's servant, who related how the picture on this," he laid a long yellow finger on the fan, "could be brought to light," his eyes wandered to the fragment of the joss stick within the fender. "I observe that you have been clever enough to see the picture."
"Yes," said Rupert, quite amazed at this penetration, "but how do you know that?"
"Very easily. Hwei told me that he came to the cloisters one night to see that all was well – "
"He knew of the hiding place then?" asked Olivia, eagerly.
"Certainly. I have always trusted Hwei, but Tung-yu did not know, and hence his desire to procure the fan. Hwei was here on the night poor Miss Wharf was killed, and dropped the joss stick. You have been clever enough to make use of it. Well, now you both know where the packet is?"
"The packet?"
"Of papers which mean my life – papers connected with the Boxers, which the Mandarin Hop Sing would give much to possess."
"We know that the packet is hidden in a tree," said Rupert, "but which tree we cannot guess."
"Ah," Lo-Keong slipped the beads through his fingers, "here is a piece of jade with a gold band round it."
"The third bead – "
"Consequently the third tree. We will look for the packet, as soon as I explain myself. The packet must be safe, as you have the fan, and I know, Mr. Ainsleigh, you are my friend, as I was the friend of your father before you."
"What," Rupert threw back his head. "I understood from Dr. Forge, that you were my enemy."
Lo-Keong frowned. "Ah! he goes as far as that," said he, then paused a moment. "I will explain."
Olivia would have interrupted, but he threw out a long arm in an imperious manner, and began his story without further preamble, playing with the fan all the time.
"My name," said the Marquis, "is Lo-Keong, and I am a native of the province of Kan-Su – "
"Where the mine is," murmured Rupert.
"Exactly, Mr. Ainsleigh. My native town is on the Hwei River, and not far from the mine your father bought – "
"Along with Dr. Forge,"
"Pardon me, sir, but Dr. Forge did not buy it. He was merely a servant of your father's. The mine was owned by your father alone. I conducted the negotiations on behalf of the owner of the land."
"But Forge says – "
"I can guess." Lo-Keong waved his hand coldly. "He blackens my name to you, and lies about the mine. Always bad – always foul, always a liar – that man must be killed. I have spared him too long."
Olivia shuddered. "No Marquis," said she, "I beg that there may be no more murders."
"Not in England, but when this Forge comes again to China," here the Marquis smiled in a cruel way, but made no further remark. The young people shuddered. He smiled benignly on them, and went on with his story in a calm level voice.
"My respected parent was a merchant," said he calmly, "and he gave me a fine education, of which, as you know, we think greatly in the Middle Kingdom. I secured the Hanlin degree, which is very high, and so became greater than my friend Hop Sing, who failed. That success made Hop Sing my enemy. I returned home, and Hop Sing made trouble. It is not necessary to explain how," added the Marquis with another wave of his hand. "But the trouble resulted in my leaving my parental roof, and becoming a soldier with the Boxers who then conspired against the Empress Dowager. But before I left my native town, I acted as the middle man between a respected resident and Mr. Markham Ainsleigh who desired to lease a gold mine on the Hwei River. I left him in full possession of the rights to work the mine, and Dr. Forge assisted him."
"Not as a partner?" asked Rupert breathlessly.
"By no means, Mr. Ainsleigh. Forge was a good doctor, but he knew nothing about mining. He doctored the Coolies, and attended to minor matters. Your father looked after the mine personally. I understand he learned how to do so in California."
"Yes – He was there before I was born, but – "
"Permit me to continue, Mr. Ainsleigh. Well then, I left your father in possession of the mine, and joined the Boxers. I rose to be a leader, and afterwards returned to see my parents. At that time the rebellion – for that it was – proved unfortunate, so it was necessary that I should conceal myself, I took service with your father as a foreman of the mine, and I can safely say," said Lo-Keong with a certain show of emotion, "that your father saved my life. I consider myself indebted to him, and now I am indebted to his son."
"It is very good of you," said Rupert. "I need a friend."
"You have one in me," said the Marquis courteously. "But to proceed, as the night grows darker. I was your father's friend, Hop Sing was his enemy, and Forge sided with Hop Sing."
"But why did he do that?" asked Ainsleigh impetuously. "Forge was at college with my father – they were great friends – "
"So Mr. Markham Ainsleigh thought. But Dr. Forge was greedy and wished to have the mine to himself. Hop Sing, who had some influence at the Imperial Court, promised to help Dr. Forge to get rid of your father and secure the mine provided I was ruined."
"And Forge acted this base part."
"He did," said the Mandarin quietly. "I may tell you Mr. Ainsleigh that I was completely in your father's confidence. He made a great deal of money out of the mine, and I arranged for it to be turned into safe investments through a third person whose name need not be mentioned. A large sum was placed out at interest and all these many years the interest has been accumulating. You will receive a handsome sum I assure you, Mr. Ainsleigh."
"But," broke in Olivia perplexed. "Dr. Forge told my husband that the whole amount was eighteen thousand, of which ten thousand belonged to him and eight thousand to Rupert."
"Dr. Forge places the money obtained from the mine at a low figure," said the Chinaman smiling, "what the amount is, I shall tell you later. Meanwhile I must explain the intrigue which led to your father's murder – "
"Ah," Rupert leaped to his feet, "then he was murdered."
"He was – by the emissary of Hop Sing. Be calm, Mr. Ainsleigh, and be seated. Your father died quietly enough by strangulation – "
"What. Was he killed in the same way as Miss Wharf?"
Lo-Keong bowed his stately head. "Yes, and by the same person – "
"Tung-yu," cried Olivia starting to her feet in her turn.
"Exactly, Mrs. Ainsleigh. I know that Tung-yu strangled Mr. Markham Ainsleigh, and I believe that he strangled your aunt."
Rupert sat down on the sofa and drew his wife down beside him. "But Tung-yu was the man who was to buy the fan – "
"Quite so." Lo-Keong folded and unfolded the fan calmly. "You know of the god Kwang-ho."
"Yes – but I can't understand – "
"Naturally," the Marquis laughed quietly, "that is a thing beyond the comprehension of a Western barbarian – your pardon for so calling you. Kwang-ho," went on the Mandarin, "is an ancestor of mine who lived during the Ming dynasty. He was a sage, and very famous, so I took him as my private god."
Olivia looked amazed and a little shocked. "A private god. I never knew that anyone could have a private god even in China," she said.
"If you have read Roman history, Mrs. Ainsleigh, you will remember the Lares and Penates, which were something of the same kind. I was very unfortunate with the public gods of my country, so I chose Kwang-ho to be my genius – my destiny. I had an image made and offered him incense. It was, in fact what you might call ancestral worship; only I looked upon Kwang-ho as one who could control my destiny. I was right," said Lo-Keong emphatically, "for, from the moment I sacrificed to Kwang-ho, my fortunes changed."
"In what way?" asked Rupert, wondering that a clever man like this should talk so superstitiously.
"In every way. The priest of my new god Kwang-ho consulted the deity and ordered that I should leave the Boxers and attach myself to the party of the Empress Dowager, who was to be all powerful in the future. I think," added Lo-Keong smiling blandly, "that Kwang-ho was right in that. Who is so powerful as my august mistress."
"True enough," admitted Ainsleigh impatiently, "but what has this to do with the death of my father?"
"Patience, Mr. Ainsleigh. I arranged to leave the Boxers. We were fighting for the Emperor, who was then being crushed by the Empress Dowager. I had many papers showing my devotion to the Boxer cause and to His Imperial Majesty. These papers I intended to destroy: but remembering that some day the Emperor might overcome the Empress, I decided to keep the papers. They would show that I had worked for the Emperor, and thus my fortunes would be secure should His Imperial Majesty reign alone. As yet," added Lo-Keong with a shrug, "he has not reigned alone and my august mistress still rules the destinies of the middle kingdom."
"Ah. And if she got those papers? – "
"She would cut off my head," replied Lo-Keong quietly, "so now you see why I thought it best to conceal them. I wished to preserve the papers so as to keep myself in favour with the Emperor, when he became supreme, and I wished to conceal them from the Empress Dowager and her spies, while she ruled China. You understand?"
"We do," said the young couple. "So you used the means of the fan to tell where they were hidden?" asked Rupert,
The Mandarin assented. "I did. I spoke to your father about this plan of concealment. I knew the papers would not be safe in China, as the emissaries of Hop Sing would find them, and I should be ruined, so on the suggestion of your father, I decided to hide them in England."
"But why in the Abbey?"
"Mr. Markham Ainsleigh's suggestion, sir. He said that this place had been in the possession of his family for years and would likely continue to remain under the Ainsleigh – "
"Alas – alas," sighed Rupert.
"Not at all, sir," was Lo-Keong's brisk reply, "you will have enough money to keep this place I assure you. But to continue – your father, whose health was very bad, arranged to take his money back to this place, and to take also the papers I wished to hide. We arranged that they should be concealed in the third tree and then I hit upon the plan of an invisible picture on the fan with the assistance of the beads to identify the hiding-place."
"But was that necessary when you knew the hiding-place?"
"I wished my heirs to benefit by my services to the Emperor during the Boxer rising; and they were not to know of the existence of these papers till I died. So you will understand – "
"Yes! It's very interesting, so please go on."
"Well while we were arranging these things Forge went to Pekin, and got a concession to work the mine from the Empress through the influence of Hop Sing. Meanwhile, I arranged to enter the service of my Imperial Mistress, and left your father ill of dysentery."
"Of which, according to Forge, he died."
"No," said the Mandarin decisively, "he was recovering. He had the packet and the fan which he was to take to this place. Hwei was to go with him, and design the invisible picture and hide the packet. I went to see about letting your father have the money which I had invested for him. All was ready and he was winding up his affairs. Then the emissary of Hop Sing strangled your father – "
"Tung-yu," said Rupert much agitated.
"I have already said that," replied the Marquis rather tartly, "your father died, and Forge obtained the mine. But he did not hold it long. I represented that Forge had obtained the death of Mr. Markham Ainsleigh through Hop Sing. The Empress took my view. Hop Sing was disgraced and I was promoted. Forge had to leave China for the time being, but he came back several times. I sent Hwei to this place with your father's effects and with the fan. He concealed the packet and drew the picture. Your mother was alive then, Mr. Ainsleigh, and Hwei showed her the fan, though he did not tell her the secret."
"Ah," cried Rupert, "now I remember where I saw the fan."
"Yes," Lo-Keong nodded, "as a boy of five you may remember it."
"I certainly do. But Marquis, why did you not send my father's money to my mother?"
"Ah. She died, and although I knew you were the heir and in the guardian-ship of Forge who was your enemy I could do nothing. Hop Sing got the upper hand again and I was in my turn disgraced. Then Hop Sing learned about the papers, and about the fan being the means of finding the hiding-place. He ordered Tung-yu to find the fan. Hwei was bringing the fan back from England to me. He was assaulted when he landed in China, but he luckily had given the fan to a brother of his, so Hop Sing could not find it. Then the brother was killed and a coolie, who knew nothing of the fan, took possession of it. Afterwards, I wanted the fan. Hop Sing told me what he suspected, so I applied to the god Kwang-ho. The god declared, through his priest, that Hop Sing was to come with me to the shrine. He did so, and thus, bitter enemies as we were, we came for a time to be in peace."
"And then the arrangement was made?"
"Yes. The god said that an equal chance must be given to good and evil. Hwei was appointed to find the fan for me, and to give death to the person who had it. Tung-yu acted for Hop Sing and was to give a reward of not less than five thousand pounds so that the person who held the fan should be rich for life. Each was to hold sway for twenty-four hours. I caused this to be published in the Chinese newspaper in Pekin. The coolie heard it and being fearful lest he should be killed, he kept the fan for years and said nothing. Then Major Tidman – "
"Ah I know. He came to see how my father died."
"Quite so, Mr. Ainsleigh, and the coolie, knowing the fan was connected with the death – for he afterwards went to Kan-su mine and asked questions – gave the fan to the Major to get rid of it, and – "
"And we know the rest," said Rupert rising. "Tidman gave it to Dr. Forge, and he gave it to you – or rather you caused it to be taken from him."
"No," said the Mandarin, "that is not true. I never saw the fan till now. All these years I have never set eyes on it."
"But Dr. Forge said – "
"Whatever he said he speaks falsely," said Lo-Keong, "but it is growing late, Mr. Ainsleigh, and I see that your wife is weary. Let us retire and I shall tell you the rest of the story to-morrow. But before I go to rest," added the Mandarin decidedly, "I must assure myself that the packet is still in the trunk of the third tree."
Rupert was quite ready and lighted the lantern. The two men went to the Abbey into the pitchy darkness, and walked to the third tree near the bare spot. Lo-Keong who seemed to be able to see in the dark like a cat looked round, and laid his finger on a huge oak. "This is the tree," said he confidently.
"But I can't very well see," said Rupert, "from which side do you count?"
"From the left to right," explained the mandarin, "in these robes, Mr. Ainsleigh, I cannot climb the tree, will you please to do so. You will find the hollow trunk and the line. Pull it up: the papers will be at the end. Bring them to me if you please."
So speaking Lo-Keong took the light and Rupert although in thin evening dress began to climb the tree. Luckily it was not difficult as the branches hung low, but it was disagreeable on account of the dripping wet. Every movement shook down much moisture. However, the active young man disappeared in the foliage and then felt round. He could not see, and came down to get the lantern, which the Chinaman passed to him. Then he found that the trunk of the tree was broken off, amidst the thick branches, and that the centre was hollow. He espied a rusty thin chain, and pulled it up. At the end there was a small box, which he brought down. With an exclamation of joy Lo-Keong took it. It opened easily in his hand.
"Gone," cried the Marquis in a voice of anguish.
He spoke truly. The box was empty.
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."
