"Well," went on Olivia rapidly, "Miss Pewsey wrote to the Marquis saying the fan was in England--"
"Here is the letter," said Rodgers nodding towards the epistle.
"Yes. How strange I should see it almost immediately after Dr. Forge wrote," said Mrs. Ainsleigh innocently.
"Miss Pewsey laid her plans well," said Rupert, looking again at the letter, "she intended to tell Hwei that Olivia had the fan so that she should be killed. But Olivia refused the fan, and Miss Pewsey made Clarence give it to Miss Wharf, so that the poor lady might be killed. But Miss Pewsey delayed the death at the hands of Hwei by holding her tongue, till a will was made in her favour. Chance favoured her, for she got the will altered."
"By learning of our marriage when she played the spy," said Olivia.
"Quite so," said Ainsleigh, "she then read the advertisement and knew that the two men, Hwei and Tung-yu, were in England. She wrote and told them that Miss Wharf had the fan. The letter was sent shortly before the ball, and after the new will was made. Tung-yu, therefore, came down to the ball to get the fan. This was not what Miss Pewsey wanted, as she desired Hwei to kill the woman."
"She knew about the god Kwang-ho, then?" asked Lo-Keong.
"I think so, but Forge isn't clear on that point. However, he declared that he does not know who killed Miss Wharf, nor who has the fan. He was told by Clarence, how he,--Burgh, had accused him to the Chinamen, and then grew fearful. Also, he heard that the Marquis was in England, and so he knew the whole story would come out. As he dreaded arrest, he fled."
"But he could have prevented Burgh from speaking," said Olivia, "you know, Rupert, how Mr. Burgh told you that Forge knew things about him."
"I daresay if the Marquis had not come to England, Forge would have silenced Clarence and fought the matter out. But he knew that the truth about my father's death would be told by the Marquis, and also dreaded, lest he should be accused of Miss Wharf's murder. He says that Clarence never gave him the tie as he says he did, and declares that he was in the card-room all the evening."