The Mandarin's Fan Part 29

"But the verdict said that Tung-yu--"

"Pooh--pooh," cried Forge snapping his long fingers. "Tung-yu would not have dared to disobey the order of Kw.a.n.g-ho the G.o.d. Hwei is the culprit, but I said as little as I could about that, I don't want to be entangled in the matter again. But one of the Chinamen has the fan, and by this time it is nearly at Pekin. There doesn't seem to be much chance of our getting that money Rupert."

"You did give the fan to Lo-Keong," reiterated Ainsleigh.

"Well it was taken from me. I went to his palace and told him I would give him the fan in exchange for the eighteen thousand pounds. I then intended to come back and give you eight, to clear off your mortgages and resolved to live on the remaining ten which are rightfully my own.

But Lo-Keong had me seized, and the fan was taken from me. He then forbade me setting foot in China again. But I am going, for all that,"

said Forge threateningly, "I shall go after Christmas. I am bound to get my money and yours."

"You kept that fan for a long time?"

"For two years only, and then, when I thought everything had blown over, I took it to Lo-Keong with what result you know. Now then, I have been plain with you Rupert. Surely you can see that I am your friend."

"Tung-yu said you were not, Doctor."

"Naturally," replied Forge, "he wanted to make bad blood between us, so that I should not tell you this story. How does he know--Tung-yu I mean--but what you might not go to China and complain about Lo-Keong keeping this money."

"I prefer to stop here with my wife," said Ainsleigh. "But _you_ can complain."

"And be hanged, or sliced, or shot, or fried. No thank you. Remember what kind of treatment Tidman met with at the hands of Hwei."

"What. Was he the one-eyed Chinaman?"

"Yes. He's the gentleman, and I hope he won't come your way. He is a beast. But by this time, he and Tung-yu are on their way back to their own land. And now Rupert, I'll say good-bye. As I am poor myself, lacking this ten thousand pounds, rightfully mine, which Lo-Keong detains, I can't help you. But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll get Miss Pewsey to extend that mortgage."

"No, thank you all the same," said Ainsleigh, throwing back his head.

"I don't want to be indebted to your wife."

"She is not my wife _yet_," said Forge significantly.

"But you intend to marry her."

"Yes--yes--quite so." Forge looked queerly at Rupert, as though about to say something. Then he changed his mind and walked away rapidly, without saying good-bye. Rupert returned to the house and told his wife all that had taken place. She was still doubtful of Forge's good intentions.

"A decent man would not marry that wicked little woman."

"Well," said Rupert doubtfully, "from the way he spoke and looked, I think Miss Pewsey marries him and not Forge, Miss Pewsey."

Mrs. Ainsleigh looked up quickly. "Has she got any hold over him?"

"I don't understand dear?"

"The same as she had over my aunt. Rupert, that little woman looks frail, but she is strong, and has a will like iron. In spite of her looks, Aunt Sophia was wax in Miss Pewsey's hands. She exercised a kind of hypnotic power over Aunt Sophia, and that was how the will came to be made in her favour."

"In that case, why not try and upset the will."

"On a pretext of undue influence. It could be done certainly, but I have no facts to go upon. But it seems to me, from what you say, that Miss Pewsey has hypnotised Forge."

"He's not the kind of man to be hypnotised."

"Yes, he is. He smokes opium. A man who would give way to that vice, is not a strong man. But let her be and let him be also, Rupert. I don't believe about this money in China. It is no use our building on that. If the place has to be sold at the end of the year, we will take what we have left and go to Canada. So long as I have my boy I don't much care,"

and she wreathed her arms round his neck.

"Dear Olivia, I wish I wasn't the hard-up wretch I am."

"I would not have you, any other than you are. If money comes to us, it will come honestly, not through the hands of Dr. Forge or his future wife. Neither one is honest."

Rupert would have argued this point, as he thought his wife was a trifle hard. But Olivia stuck to her guns, and gradually all reference to Forge and his story was dropped by tacit consent. The young couple had quite enough to do, in talking of their future, which was doubtful, to say the least of it. However Rupert had arranged with the lawyers to hold over all claims for another year. It only remained to get Miss Pewsey, who now held the fatal mortgage, to extend the time. But Olivia would not allow her husband to ask a favour of the bitter little woman as she was sure,--and rightly so,--that it would not be granted. The mortgage held by Miss Pewsey was for three thousand pounds, and the two set their wits to work, to see if they could pay this off by Christmas. Then, they would have a good few months left to arrange other matters. If possible, Olivia wished to keep Royabay, though the outlook was not cheering.

Another month slipped by, but few changes took place in Marport. As it was now rather wintry, so many people did not come down to the sea-side.

Rupert and Olivia lived rather a lonely life at the Abbey, but being very much in love, this did not disturb them: in fact it was rather a pleasure. Sometimes Chris Walker and his aunt called. Lady Jabe had got over her disappointment, now that Olivia was poor, and constantly abused Miss Pewsey for taking the money. She was making the unfortunate Chris pay attentions to Lotty Dean, whose father was a grocer and had ample wealth. Things were going on nicely in this quarter, and Lady Jabe was pleased.

Clarence Burgh had left Marport and was now amusing himself in London.

Sometimes he came down to see his aunt, who was getting ready for her bridal and still lived in Ivy Lodge. There, Forge intended to remove when married, as the house was rent free, and already he had given notice to Tidman as the Major told Rupert one evening. "And I'm glad he's going," said the Major, as he sat with his usual bottle of port before the fire, after dinner, "I couldn't stand seeing, that Pewsey cat in my house as Mrs. Doctor Forge."

"I wonder why he marries her?" said Rupert who was smoking on the other side of the fire place.

"Because he is frightened of her, sir. That woman for some reason makes everyone frightened of her--except me," added the Major swelling, "why even that young Burgh hardly comes to see her, though he's down here now--waiting for the wedding I suppose. It comes off next week and a nice fright that Pewsey cat will look as a bride."

Rupert laughed. Olivia had left the room and retired to bed. The Major, who had been fidgeting all the evening, looked round when alone with his host. "I want to talk to you," he said.

"What about? Haven't you been talking all the evening."

"Not on the subject nearest to my heart," said Tidman sipping his port.

"I waited till Mrs. Ainsleigh went away, as I don't want to revive unpleasant memories."

"Oh," said Rupert with a shudder, "surely you are not going to talk of the murder."

"No--certainly not: but I am of the thing that caused it."

Rupert sat up quickly. "The fan. Why that's in China. Tung-yu took it, after he--"

"Tung-yu did _not_ take it," said the Major producing a letter. "I thought he did, if you remember, for you and I saw him on the beach on that night."

"Yes. He was talking to a boatman."

"Arranging for his flight," said Tidman grimly, "and then he went back, as I thought, and murdered that woman. But he didn't," the Major paused to give full dramatic effect. "He thinks I did it."

"Oh, rubbish," said Rupert. "If you can prove an alibi on my behalf, I can prove one on yours. We walked and talked on the beach, till nearly twelve. Then you went back to your bed, and I returned to the ball-room.

Immediately afterwards the body was found. What makes Tung-yu accuse you, and why do you get a letter from China?"

"It's not from China, but from London."

"Is Tung-yu there?" asked Ainsleigh, quickly.

"Yes. In some place in Rotherhithe. He writes from there, in this letter. Read it," and he pa.s.sed it to his host.