"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."