Mr. Rodgers produced a red silk handkerchief and wiped his face for it was noon and very warm. "A guess on my part," he answered, "Mr. Ainsleigh said you might come here, to tell him of your Canton adventure, and I fancied it might be you, Major Tidman." "I am not aware," said the Major loftily, "why you should interest yourself in my private affairs." "I interest myself in everybody's private affairs, when they have to do with murder," said Rodgers quietly. Tidman stared and gasped. "Then you are?"-- "The detective in charge of the Wharf murder case. I am glad to see you, sir," he laid a finger on Tidman's chest, "you have something to tell me no doubt?" "No," said the Major gasping again, "I have not." Rupert looked at him suddenly and the Major's small eyes fell before that direct gaze. "Let us go, into the library," said Ainsleigh tranquilly, "we may as well have a long talk before I am arrested." Tidman jumped. "Arrested," he cried staring. Something in his looks, made Rodgers take the cue thus offered, "I may have to arrest Mr. Ainsleigh for the murder," he said significantly. "But that's rubbish, why should he murder Miss Wharf?" "On account of the fan," put in Rupert grimly. "I'll never believe that--never," said Tidman vigorously. Rodgers looked at him sideways. "Well you see," said he in a cheerful voice. "Miss Wharf was strangled with a red and yellow silk tie, belonging to Mr. Ainsleigh." "I know, and I saw him place that tie in his overcoat pocket." "You say that. Quite so. Mr. Ainsleigh might have taken it out again." "No. He couldn't have done that. The attendant came back, and remained in the room all the rest of the evening." "How do you know that?" "Because I returned to the cloak-room to see if Mr. Ainsleigh was there. I learned from the attendant," said the Major volubly, "that Mr. Ainsleigh and Mr. Burgh had been fighting--" "Oh," said the detective, "so Mr. Burgh knew of the tie also?" "He did not," put in young Ainsleigh rapidly, "he came in, after I put the tie away. He insulted me, about--about a lady," said Rupert hesitating, "and I knocked him down twice." "Didn't the attendant interfere?" "No. Burgh threw him a shilling and told him to cut. I ordered the man to stay, but he obeyed Burgh. Then we had a row, and I went away." "Leaving Mr. Burgh in the cloak-room?" asked Rodgers shrewdly. "Yes. But he knew nothing about the tie. He could not have taken it. I am sure he didn't." The detective smiled in a puzzled manner. "Upon my word Mr. Ainsleigh, you defend everyone. First Tung-yu, now Mr. Burgh, who is your enemy." "I have so many enemies," said Rupert with a shrug, "Tung-yu told me that Burgh and Forge and Major Tidman were my enemies." "That's a lie on Tung-yu's part," chimed in the Major angrily. "I am not your enemy." Rupert turned on him quickly. "Prove it then," he said, sharply, "by stating that I was with you on the beach last night after eleven."