"No," said the young man decisively. "I shall certainly not do
that. Forge deserves some punishment and shall have it, by being
deprived of the money he sinned to obtain. He did not kill my poor
father, but he certainly brought about his death indirectly. Leave
him to God, Olivia. As for ourselves, we will get our own money from
Lo-Keong, and restore the Abbey."
"And Miss Pewsey's mortgage?"
"It is due shortly before Christmas, and I shall be able to pay
it off before then. Miss Pewsey has done her worst, Olivia.
Henceforth she will be harmless."
"And what about her punishment, Rupert?"
"I should think the loss of Forge has punished her. And, if she
really intends to follow him, she will be more disappointed. The
man will not marry her. No, Olivia, Miss Pewsey also sinned to
get money, but she will be punished, you may be certain."
The next evening Rupert again assumed his old suit and heavy
cloak and went away. Olivia clung to him as he left the door.
"Oh my darling be careful," she said, "if you are killed--"
"I won't be," Rupert assured her. "I have taken the precaution
to write telling Rodgers of this meeting. He will bring, by my
advice, a couple of plain-cloth policemen to Penter's Alley, and
if there is trouble, both the Major and I will be able to get
away."
Comforted thus, Olivia kissed her husband, and saw him drive
down the avenue. Then she returned to her room to count the
moments, until he returned. All their troubles had brought
Olivia and Rupert closer together, and in their implicit trust
in one another, lay the elements of future happiness.
Ainsleigh found the Major also plainly dressed, waiting at the
station, and the two were speedily on their way to town. Owing
to an accident to the train, they were late in arriving at
Liverpool Street station and the Major fumed. "We won't be in
time," he said when they went to the underground railway.
"Oh, I think so," said Rupert calmly, "it's just as well, we
should not be too early. I want Rodgers and his men to be on the
spot."
"But what do you think will come of all this?" asked Tidman,
nervously.
"I think we will find the papers."
"But if Tung-yu had them, he would not have written to me."
"He is playing some sort of game. I can't understand, and I have
given up theorizing. Let us wait."
The Major grumbled a little, but finally agreed that Ainsleigh
was right. They soon arrived at Rotherhithe, and stepped out
into the main street. The night was fine, and there was a bright
moon. "I like this better than when I was here last," said
Rupert, as the two went down to Penters' Alley.
"It's a good thing there's a moon," said the Major casting a
glance upward, "if these Chinamen try to bolt, we can chase
them."
"Do you expect Hwei to be there also?"
"I can't say," said Tidman, "but if Tung-yu is, I suspect Hwei
won't be far off. They work in couples as you know."
"And pull against each other like ill-matched dogs," said
Rupert, "a queer compact, this."