Evidently the boy was satisfied, for he threw open the door, and the two adventurers entered. They passed along a narrow corridor to a second door. On this being opened, they turned down a long passage to the right and were conducted by the red boy into a small room decorated in Chinese fashion, somewhat after the style of that in Dr. Forge's house. At the end there was a shrine with a hideous god set up therein, and before this, smoked some joss sticks giving out a strange perfume. A tasselled lantern hung from the ceiling. The chairs and table, elegant in design were of carved black wood, and the walls were hung with gaily pictured paper. The room was neat and clean, but pervaded by that strange atmosphere of the East which brings back curious memories to those who have travelled into those parts. After conducting them into this room, the red boy vanished and the men found themselves alone. "Well I reckon we're got to make ourselves comfortable," said the buccaneer sitting, "rum shanty--just like an opium den I know of, down 'Frisco way. Ho! I wonder how Tung-yu's escaped the police?" "I wonder rather who it was that tried to knife me," said Rupert sitting. Clarence looked queer. "We'll talk of that when we get through with this business. Here's some fairy." Even while he spoke a tall lean Chinaman entered noiselessly. He had a rather fierce face and one eye. Burgh started up. "Hwei," said he amazed. "I thought you had lighted out for 'Frisco." CHAPTER XVI THE FAN MYSTERY The one-eyed Chinaman did not smile, nor did he greet Burgh in any way, friendly or otherwise. He simply looked at the two, with an impassive gaze and then glanced at a clock, the hands of which pointed to thirty minutes past eleven. What a clock should be doing in this Eastern room, the visitors could not make out. It seemed to be out of place. Yet there it was, and there was Hwei staring at it. He still preserved silence and brought his one eye from the clock to Rupert with a malevolent glare. "Major Tidman has not come," said Hwei in English, as good as that spoken by Tung-yu, but in a grating voice. "No," said Rupert who was addressed. "He received your note,--or rather Tung-yu's letter,--and asked me to come here on his behalf." "And I guess Hwei," drawled Clarence, "that I have come to see the business through." "That will not take long," said the Chinaman cheerfully, yet with an unpleasant stare, "where is the fan of the Mandarin?" "I have not got it," replied Ainsleigh shortly. "Major Tidman did not send it perhaps." "No. For the simple reason that it is not in his possession." "That," said Hwei grimly, "is a lie." "It's the truth," chipped in Burgh suddenly, "old man Tidman didn't choke that woman!" "You mean Miss Wharf." Burgh nodded. "That's so," said he in a curt way, but with a watchful eye on the one-eyed Chinaman.