"How does he end the letter?" asked Rodgers.
Rupert read the last words. "So I write you this, Mrs. Ainsleigh, to show you that I am innocent of the death of your aunt. I see that the game is up and that I'll never get the ten thousand from Lo-Keong. Also, if I remain, I shall have to marry Miss Pewsey and cannot bear the idea. When you get this I'll be far away on the sea on a voyage to a land I need not particularise."
"Not China, I hope," said the Marquis, "if he comes there again, I shall have to kill him. He deserves to be punished for having brought about the death of my friend Markham Ainsleigh. What is to be done now, gentlemen? We are no further on than before."
"We certainly don't know who had the fan," said Rodgers.
"Or who has the packet," put in Olivia.
"Tung-yu has it I am sure," said Lo-Keong.
"I don't agree with you, Marquis," said the detective. "Tung-yu and Hwei certainly cleared back to Rotherhithe by that yacht, but if the fan had been on board Hwei would have spotted it."
"Tung-yu is very cunning," said the Marquis doubtfully.
"Well," said Rupert, folding Forge's letter up, "I suggest that the Marquis should offer a large reward for the fan with his own name appended. Then whosoever has the packet will bring it. For of course," added Rupert shrewdly, "those who had the fan--if more than one--will have the packet."
"Tung-yu--Tung-yu," said the Marquis shaking his head, "however, I will try the advertisement, and appoint a place. I am willing to give a large sum for the packet."