"No. You needn't worry. Burgh has fully convinced them, that Forge has the fan."
"Then they'll make for him."
"No doubt, and perhaps that is why Forge cleared out. But I don't understand why our friend Burgh should make himself scarce."
"I do," said Tidman sitting down and wiping his bald forehead, "he isn't a man with a clean past, and Forge knows about it. It's just on the cards that, to revenge himself on Burgh for having told Hwei about the fan. Forge has written to the police giving an account of Master Clarence's delinquency."
"But, on the other hand, if Burgh warned Forge that I had written to Rodgers, the doctor might forgive him."
"Not he. Forge is a bitter hater, and after all, Clarence would only be trying to right, what he had put wrong. If he'd held his tongue about the fan and the murder, there would be no need for Forge to cut. As it is, I believe the doctor will make it hot for our mutual friend."
"When did you see Burgh last?"
"At dinner last night. He said nothing about going away, and I quite believed he would stop on. He's in good quarters here and Miss Pewsey is paying the bill. But he took a small bag with him, saying he was going up town for a few days, and left by the nine evening train."
"Ah! He may come back after all."
"He may: but I doubt it. He doesn't want to face an inquiry. You see he gave the tie to Forge and said nothing about it at the inquest, so that makes him an accessory after the fact."