"Thank you," replied Olivia, concealing her dislike with difficulty, "you wish to see my husband I presume." "Just for two shakes," said Clarence easily, "say old man, what about Forge. Are y' going to round on him?" Rupert nodded, "I have written to Rodgers to-day. But I'll give him this chance of escape--warn him if you like." "Not me," said Burgh coldly, "every man for his own durned skin--begging your pardon Mrs. Ainsleigh. I saw him while you were trying for Kingdom Come, and told him that he'd the fan." "What did he say?" "Gave me the lie. Swore he'd been in the card-room between eleven and twelve, and never saw the old girl. Said he'd had enough of the fan, as it had nearly caused his death. Then he said he'd split on me if I gave him away." "But you told him, you did confess to the Chinaman." "Oh that's all right. Forge don't care a red cent for their telling the police. They won't engineer the biznai into the courts. So long as they get the fan, they don't mind. Forge knows they won't make the matter public, but now he's in mortal fear, lest they should kill him." "Thinking he's got the fan." "You bet--on my evidence. Well," said Burgh calmly and with a twinkle in his evil eyes. "I reckon old man Forge is in an almighty fix. He's in danger of being knifed by Hwei--thanks to me, and of being hanged for killing the old girl--thanks to you." Olivia's face expressed her disgust. "If you have heard all you wish to hear, we'll go away," she said to her husband. "Right oh," said Burgh. "Don't mind me. Pretty place y'have here," he added looking round the beautiful cloisters, "that's the place where they lynched the old monk I reckon. I've heard that silly rhyme of yours, Ainsleigh. I guess you've fulfilled one part." "How so?" asked Rupert stiffly. "About the marriage y'know. A poor Ainsleigh has wedded a poor wife. So that's all right. Now I--" "I must be going," interrupted Ainsleigh annoyed by the man's glib talk, "have you anything else to say?" "Only this. Forge is going to hitch long-side Aunt Lavinia to-morrow, and if you run him in, she'll get left." "All the better for her," said Ainsleigh calmly, "he's a bad lot." "That's so. Much worse than you think. He was the man who tried to stab you in Penter's Alley." "No." "He was though. I saw his face under the lamp, as he let fly. Then he cut and--you know the rest. But I'm off. My eye," Clarence chuckled, "what a shine there'll be to-morrow, when Aunty gets left."