"I told aunty I'd split if I didn't get the fan, so she passed it along to me. Then I learned about the secret from Tung-yu--the waving in the smoke you know. I found out the kind of smoke from Forge--"
"And repaid him by a lying accusation."
"That's so," said Burgh coolly, "there ain't no flies on me. But let's heave ahead. It's cold sitting here."
"Go on then," said Ainsleigh sharply.
"Well I learned about the picture, and guessed about the abbey. The picture was plain enough. I came that day you found me, to see the place."
"And stole the packet then?"
"No, I waited till night and rigged myself up as the Abbot. I knew it would make anyone sick who saw a monk about at that hour."
"Not me," said Ainsleigh, "if I had caught you----"
"Well you very nearly did," confessed Burgh candidly, "I came at night and climbed all four trees before I nipped the box. Then I prized it open and climbed down leaving the box, so that Lo-Keong might get sold when he came to look. Just as I got down, that old housekeeper of yours screeched, and cut. I was startled, and dropped the fan. Not wishing to leave that behind, I began to look for it. Then you and the butler turned up and I lighted out sharp."
"What happened next?"