"You are fairer than your aunt," said the detective once more. "Go slow. She's only an acid-drop, and you can't size her up, just as an ordinary girl. She was crazy on Markham, the father of this young Ainsleigh, and----" "And proposes to hang the son to avenge herself on his father. A nice woman, truly. But it seems to me Mr. Burgh that if anyone killed Miss Wharf, Hwei is the man." "Might be. He wasn't at the ball anyhow. Tung-yu was." "But Tung-yu--as I understand from Miss Pewsey--intended to call the next day--to-day that is--and buy the fan for five thousand." "Huh," Clarence heaved up his shoulder again, "perhaps he thought he'd settle in another way. 'Day. I'll be along here whenever you like to call. I wish to see this biznai through, you bet." Rodgers departed, and sought out Rupert at Royabay. The young man was walking up and down the terrace smoking furiously. At the sight of the stranger he frowned and Rodgers noted that he looked worn and ill. "Might be money worries," thought the detective, "and it might be the other thing." However, he kept these thoughts to himself and merely detailed what he had learned from Miss Pewsey and set forth the accusation she brought against him. Ainsleigh heard the detective quietly enough, and smiled wearily when the explanation was concluded. "Miss Pewsey doesn't love me," he said quietly, "and would like to see me out of the way, so that Miss Rayner could marry her nephew." "I see," nodded Rodgers, "Miss Rayner will have the dead lady's money, and the nephew is poor." "I really don't know," replied Rupert coldly, "Mr. Burgh is a mystery to me. He comes from nowhere, though I believe he has been in China." "And knows what about the fan?" "I think so. At all events, young Walker declares that Burgh was talking to a Chinaman near the Mansion House. Burgh admits this, and also admits that the Chinaman was Hwei, who put in that advertisement. "I'm inclined to suspect Hwei himself," said Rodgers looking keenly at the worn face of the young man, "but this silk tie----" "It is mine, Mr. Rodgers. Miss Rayner gave it to me last night." "So Miss Pewsey says--on the balcony." "Quite so. Miss Pewsey was spying and saw the tie given. As the colours are rather pronounced, she could easily identify it. I took it to the cloak-room and placed it in the pocket of my overcoat." "And took it out again?" "No." Rupert rose and grew crimson, "surely you are not so unjust as to believe Miss Pewsey's malignant tale." "You may be sure, Mr. Ainsleigh, that I'll act fairly towards you," said the detective dryly, "but the tie having been used to strangle--" "I don't know how it came round her throat," interrupted Ainsleigh imperiously, "I placed the tie in my overcoat pocket--that was the last I saw of it, until I noticed it on Miss Wharf's dead body." "Did anyone else see the tie?" "Yes, Major Tidman?" "Who is he?"