"I don't mind about the income," said Mrs. Ainsleigh, for that Olivia secretly was. "I'd live on a shilling a day with you, darling. But aunt threatens if I marry you to cut me out of her will. She would do so at once if she knew the truth, and leave the money to Miss Pewsey." "Let her. I daresay that old maid has schemed for it. She's a wicked old woman that and worthy of her bounder of a nephew. Never mind about the money or the mortgage. Let us announce the marriage. I don't like the position you occupy. It is not fit that my wife should be exposed to the attentions of a cad like this Burgh." "Wait till the end of the year," said Olivia feverishly, "then you may be able to get money, to put things straight. It is best to keep the matter quiet now. Oh how I wish we had money Rupert." "I may be able to make it out of the fan?" "What fan?" asked Olivia looking at him. Rupert laughed. "I forgot you don't know." He took the slip of paper from his pocket-book and lighting a match he read the description of the fan. "I went up to the place," he continued dropping the lucifer, "and saw a Chinaman, Tung-yu--" "What," said Olivia starting, "why that is the man Mr. Walker is going to bring to the ball. He's a clerk in the firm of Kum-gum-Li and Company." "That's strange. I thought he was the keeper of the Joss house in Perry Street, Whitechapel. Humph! Does Walker know of the fan?" "I don't know. But he knows this Tung-yu, and I think, so does Mr. Burgh. He seemed much annoyed when he heard the name." "What about?" "I can't say. And Rupert. Mr. Burgh speaks Chinese--" "He must be very clever then for I hear it is a most awful language to get hold of. Was Burgh ever in China?" "Yes. He brought the fan from that place?" "Fan." Rupert turned round sharply, "what fan?" "The one you talk about," said Olivia innocently. "I recognised it at once from the description you read just now." "Are you sure," said Rupert much excited, for he never expected to hear of the missing fan from Olivia of all people. "Quite sure--positive. The fan is painted green on one side and the sticks on the other are overlaid with thin jade, so I suppose it gets its name from the mineral. Then it has a cord of yellow silk with four beads and half a bead, and----" "It is the same. Where did Burgh get it?" "I don't know. He says he brought it from China, and offered it to me. I refused it----" "I should think so," said Ainsleigh fuming, "well?" "Then he gave it to my aunt." "And has Miss Wharf got it now?" "I think so, but I have not seen it lately. I expect if she has, she will use it at the ball." "And Tung-yu who advertises, is coming to the ball," mused Rupert, "there doesn't seem much chance for me. I expect your aunt will make the money after all." "It won't be much. Who would give a large sum for that fan?" "Tung-yu will. He is ready to give five thousand pounds." "Oh," said Olivia with real regret, "and I refused it."