"I have come to explain," said the Chinaman, "it is a great pity I did not come before. You would then have had no trouble about this," and he took up the famous fan which Olivia had tossed on the sofa. "Oh," the young couple looked at one another, and if they did not say "oh," the expression of "oh"--an amazed "oh" was on their faces. Lo-Keong seemed to have his eyes everywhere, and took up the fan as if it was the most natural thing it should be lying there. "You understand," he went on in his calm well-bred voice. "I have seen Hwei and he told me everything." "About the murder?" "About the murder, Mrs. Ainsleigh, and about the hunt for the assassin; also about your husband's visit to London, and full details concerning the folly of Tung-yu--my enemy's servant, who related how the picture on this," he laid a long yellow finger on the fan, "could be brought to light," his eyes wandered to the fragment of the joss stick within the fender. "I observe that you have been clever enough to see the picture." "Yes," said Rupert, quite amazed at this penetration, "but how do you know that?" "Very easily. Hwei told me that he came to the cloisters one night to see that all was well----" "He knew of the hiding place then?" asked Olivia, eagerly. "Certainly. I have always trusted Hwei, but Tung-yu did not know, and hence his desire to procure the fan. Hwei was here on the night poor Miss Wharf was killed, and dropped the joss stick. You have been clever enough to make use of it. Well, now you both know where the packet is?" "The packet?" "Of papers which mean my life--papers connected with the Boxers, which the Mandarin Hop Sing would give much to possess." "We know that the packet is hidden in a tree," said Rupert, "but which tree we cannot guess." "Ah," Lo-Keong slipped the beads through his fingers, "here is a piece of jade with a gold band round it." "The third bead----" "Consequently the third tree. We will look for the packet, as soon as I explain myself. The packet must be safe, as you have the fan, and I know, Mr. Ainsleigh, you are my friend, as I was the friend of your father before you." "What," Rupert threw back his head. "I understood from Dr. Forge, that you were my enemy." Lo-Keong frowned. "Ah! he goes as far as that," said he, then paused a moment. "I will explain." Olivia would have interrupted, but he threw out a long arm in an imperious manner, and began his story without further preamble, playing with the fan all the time. "My name," said the Marquis, "is Lo-Keong, and I am a native of the province of Kan-Su----" "Where the mine is," murmured Rupert. "Exactly, Mr. Ainsleigh. My native town is on the Hwei River, and not far from the mine your father bought----" "Along with Dr. Forge." "Pardon me, sir, but Dr. Forge did not buy it. He was merely a servant of your father's. The mine was owned by your father alone. I conducted the negotiations on behalf of the owner of the land." "But Forge says----"