"No. Tung-yu stuck her, and dropped the knife. Aunty was just passing the packet to Hwei, when Tung-yu stabbed her. I reckon he intended to grab the packet, but I was too sharp for him, and caught it away from his hand. Then I raced out and he after me. Hwei stayed behind to clean the knife, I reckon." "No, he followed you two almost immediately." "Then both Chinamen will be here soon. You'd best cut." "Not till I learn the truth." "I've told you the truth," snapped Burgh, in a weary voice. "My old aunt strangled Miss Wharf. Yes. Aunty told me of the tie, and asked me to get it for her. I didn't know what she wanted to do with it, so I did. I took it out of your pocket when Dalham was out of the room. Then I gave it to aunty. She told Miss Wharf that Tung-yu wanted to see her on the steps, after eleven. Miss Wharf went there and then aunty followed and sat down beside her on the steps. I guess she kept her in talk and then slipped the tie round her old throat and pulled with all her might. And she's strong, I can tell you," added Clarence confidentially. "She nearly broke my arm one day twisting it. Miss Wharf hadn't time to call out, and was a deader in two minutes, for aunty froze on to her like death." "Death indeed," murmured Rupert with a shudder. "Well then aunty bucked up round by the front of the hotel with the fan in her pocket and left the tie round the neck of the old girl, so that _you_ might hang. All went well, but the next day I went to aunty and asked for the fan. She was very sick, as she intended to sell it that day to Tung-yu. But Tung-yu had cut along with Hwei in the yacht, both thinking they might be accused of the murder. They thought that old Tidman did the biznai," grinned Burgh, "and I let them think so, having my own game to play with aunty." "Well," said Ainsleigh shortly, "and what did you do?" "I told aunty I'd split if I didn't get the fan, so she passed it along to me. Then I learned about the secret from Tung-yu--the waving in the smoke you know. I found out the kind of smoke from Forge--" "And repaid him by a lying accusation." "That's so," said Burgh coolly, "there ain't no flies on me. But let's heave ahead. It's cold sitting here." "Go on then," said Ainsleigh sharply. "Well I learned about the picture, and guessed about the abbey. The picture was plain enough. I came that day you found me, to see the place." "And stole the packet then?" "No, I waited till night and rigged myself up as the Abbot. I knew it would make anyone sick who saw a monk about at that hour." "Not me," said Ainsleigh, "if I had caught you--"