"After you went away the other day I asked him to give me the fan back, as I wanted to get the money from Tung-yu. Forge refused, as he said the fan has something to do with a secret--"
"Whose secret?"
"Lo-Keong's secret. He is the real owner of the fan you know. Forge seems to hate Lo-Keong, and said the fan would get him into trouble."
"But how--how?" asked Ainsleigh impatiently.
The Major wiped his face again, "I don't know--I can't say. But Forge said there was a secret connected with the fan--"
"You said that before," cried Rupert becoming exasperated.
"I don't know what I am saying, and that's the truth," stammered Tidman becoming hotter and redder, "but Forge said if I found the secret he would give me the fan. He then opened the cabinet and found that the fan was gone."
"What did he say?"
"He turned as white as a sheet, and said that his life was at stake."
Rupert rose to pace the room. The mystery of the fan piqued him, "I wonder what he meant by that?" he asked himself.