Rupert shrugged his shoulders. "There's nothing to be learned," said he, "Mrs. Petley won't give in. She believes she has seen a ghost, and declines that her days are numbered. As she is nearly seventy, I daresay they are. But this fan"--he took it out of his pocket.
"Let me see it," said Olivia stretching out her hand.
But Rupert drew it away and spread out the leaves. "No, my dear, I don't like you to handle the horrible thing. And besides, you have seen it often enough in the hand of your aunt."
"Yes, but now there is an awful significance about it."
"There's blood--"
"Blood," cried his wife shuddering, "but she was strangled."
"I speak figuratively, my dear. This little trifle has cost one life: it may cost more. I am quite sure Lo-Keong's life hangs on this fan, or he would not be so anxious to get it back. It has a secret, and I intend to learn what the secret is."
"Oh, you mean to wave it in the smoke," said Olivia remembering what Rupert had told her of Tung-yu's speech.
"Yes I do. I want to see the invisible picture. Then, we may learn of this hiding place which contains the things, Lo-Keong's enemies wish to secure. I expect it is some treasonous correspondence."
"But, Rupert, the hiding-place will be in China. Lo-Keong would not send papers of that kind to be concealed in England."