"I don't know, doctor, I'm not up in Chinese politics. However, the fan was lost by Lo-Keong some years ago, and being a sacred fan, he wants it back. This Chinaman Tung-yu--" "Oh," said the Major, "then you didn't see Hwei or Kan-su?" "Those are names of a river and a province," said the doctor. "I know," snapped Tidman, "but they were in the advertisement." "Tung-yu explained that they were used only for the purpose of advertisement," said Rupert, "but to make a long story short, I told him that I had seen the fan--" "You saw the fan," asked Tidman directing a side look at Forge. "A dream--a dream," said the doctor. "No," insisted the young man. "I feel sure I have seen that fan, I can't think where. Perhaps it is amongst my father's effects sent from China by Lo-Keong years ago----" "Twenty years ago," said Dr. Forge, "and Lo-Keong would hardly send his own fan. I remember the things coming. I came home immediately before. A Chinaman brought your father's papers and luggage to Royabay. He left them with your mother and went away." "Were you not with my father when he died?" asked Rupert, "I always understood you were." "No. I was at Pekin at the time. Your father and I were working the mine together, and I went about some imperial concessions. While there I heard that your father was dead." "Was he murdered?" asked Rupert earnestly. "I really can't say, Lo-Keong said that he died of dysentery, but he was always a liar. He wouldn't be so high in favour with the Court if he wasn't. Lying is a fine art in the Far East, and--" "Yes--Yes," said Tidman impatiently, "but what has all this to do with the fan?" "I think it's all of a piece myself," said Rupert, "and I intend to get to the bottom of it. I have seen that fan somewhere--but I can't think--I can't," he reflected and shook his head, "no. But I have seen it doctor, so it's no use your shrugging your shoulders. I want to find it and get that five thousand pounds." "What?" cried the Major leaping up on his stout little legs. "Lo-Keong is willing to give five thousand pounds for the return of his fan," said Ainsleigh, who had walked to the door, "and I intend to earn it." "Against my advice," said Forge looking up oddly. Rupert laughed. "Oh you are afraid," he said smiling. "Of you, not of myself. I know what the Chinese are, and have studied the race for years. I know how to deal with them; but you will get into trouble if you meddle with this fan business." "And so I say," cried Tidman emphatically. "Why, what do you know of the Chinese, Major?" asked Rupert. "More than I like to think of," said the little man wiping his bald head. "I went out to China for a trip seven years ago and met with an adventure in Canton--ugh!" "What sort of an adventure?"