"I am not a good man, and I never pretended to be. But I have been poor all my life, and the lack of money is the cause of my having acted in a way which, otherwise I should not have done. There is much truth in Becky Sharp's remark that anyone can be good on five thousand a year. Had I possessed that amount this letter would never have been written. As it is, I write, because I hear that the Marquis Lo-Keong is in England, and he will no doubt, tell your husband his own story."
"Which is not creditable to Forge," said the Marquis, suavely.
Rupert nodded and proceeded . . . . "I was at college with Markham Ainsleigh, your husband's father, and he believed in me. But I was always jealous of him, as he was handsomer than I was; he possessed an ancient and honoured name, and was fairly well off. I was born of poor parents and was of humble origin. Markham certainly helped me with money and with influence, so that I obtained my degree."
"And a nice way he repaid his obligations," said Olivia, sharply.
"He's frank enough about his baseness at all events," said Rupert, and then continued the letter. "Markham wanted money, and as the doctor of a liner to Hong-Kong, I had heard of a little-worked gold mine on the Hwei River. I told Markham about it, and proposed that he should go to China to work the mine. He agreed, and took me with him, as he thought that my medical knowledge would benefit him."
"Does Forge say he owned part of the mine?" asked Lo-Keong.
"No. Listen," said Rupert, reading slowly. "I was merely the doctor, as Markham bought the rights to work the mine with his own money. But he promised me a share, and my share now amounts to ten thousand pounds."
"That is true in a way," said Lo-Keong, "out of the money I pay you, Mr. Ainsleigh, this man can certainly claim that amount."
"Then what I receive must be a large sum," said Rupert.
The Chinaman smiled faintly. "Much larger than you think," said Lo-Keong, "pardon my interruption and proceed."