At the Inquest
When Mr. Orlando Rodgers of the C.I.D. rolled into the Superintendent's
office the next day to relate what he had heard, he was not so glib
as usual. After sleeping on the extraordinary tale he had heard from
Major Tidman, and considering the fragments imparted by Clarence Burgh,
and young Ainsleigh, he came to look on the matter as something to do
with the Arabian Nights. The fan which the deceased lady had carried
at the ball was certainly gone, and the whole of these marvellous
matters connected with China, hung on the fan. But Miss Wharf may
have been murdered for some other reason, and Rodgers was half
inclined, when looking into the case in the cold searching morning
light, to abandon the fan theory. But he delayed doing this until
he had consulted with Superintendent Young, who looked after the
Marport police.
"What do you think of it?" he asked, when his tale was told. The
Superintendent was a tall thin man with a cold eye and a
distrustful manner. He believed only half he saw, and absolutely
nothing he heard. Consequently when Rodgers ended, and his
opinion was asked, he sniffed disdainfully, and put on his most
official expression. "It's a fairy tale," said Young in his dry
voice, which was like the creaking of a rusty wheel.
"Well now, the woman was murdered."
"But not for this fan, Mr. Rodgers."
"Then what motive do you think--?"
"I don't undertake to say, sir. Let us gather all the evidence
we can and submit it to an intelligent jury at the inquest. It
takes place to-day at the public house near the corner of the
Cliff Road and not far from Ivy Lodge. When the jury has
inspected the body, it will sit with the Coroner at the Bull's
Head."
"A Chinaman calling himself Tung-yu was at the ball you know,"
said Rodgers, unwilling to abandon the theory in spite of his
doubts.
"Where is he now?"
"I can't say. Mr. Christopher Walker brought him down, and I
went to see that young gentleman before he departed for business
this morning. He told me that Tung-yu was a clerk in the same
firm of tea merchants as he was employed with, and had not been
at the office since he left to come to the ball. Mr. Walker last
saw Tung-yu at the door of the hotel, looking out across the
pier."
"Well," said Young drily.
"That yacht was there," went on Rodgers, "and showed a green
light so it's just possible that Mr. Burgh may be right and that
the Chinaman did steam away in her."
"Well then, search for the yacht."
"I intend to, and when I find her--"
"Mr. Tung-yu will have an explanation. No, Mr. Rodgers," said
the Superintendent rising, "I can't believe all this business is
about a trifle such as this fan. Some more serious motive is at
the bottom of this murder. Now Mr. Ainsleigh's tie--"
"I can explain that," said the detective, and he did.
Young listened disbelievingly. "So he says," was his comment.
"But I don't think Mr. Ainsleigh is the sort of man to commit a
brutal crime like this, and in so public a place."
"Everyone's capable of committing a crime if there's anything to
be gained," was the Superintendent's philosophy, "and Mr.
Ainsleigh's very agreeable manner with which you appear to be
struck, may be a mask to hide an evil nature."
"Oh rubbish; begging your pardon Mr. Young. Look at this
joss-stick," and Rodgers held it out, "that was found in the
ruins of Royabay Abbey, so you see some Chinaman must be mixed
up in the job. I am beginning to believe that the tale may be
true after all."
"It's too wild--too far-fetched. I can't believe it."
"Because you haven't imagination."
"We don't want imagination in this matter, Mr. Rodgers. Facts
sir."
Rodgers got up and put on his hat. "Well, we'll not be able to
agree, I can see that," said he, "and as the case is in my
hands, I am going away to look after evidence."
"Why not arrest Mr. Ainsleigh?"
"Because the evidence against him is not sufficiently strong,"
the detective sat down again. "See here Mr. Superintendent, if I
so chose I could manufacture a case against three of these
people at least, and give it to them pretty strong too.
Supposing, for the sake of theorising mind, we say Mr. Ainsleigh
killed the woman--"
"Which I am inclined to think he did, on the tie's evidence."
"Very good, I can show you how strong you can make the case
against him, Mr. Young. This young man was at the ball, he hated
the deceased and she hated him on account of the difficulty of
the marriage with Miss Rayner. Ainsleigh wants money badly, and
might have killed the old woman to get the fan and sell it for
five thousand pounds. Also by marrying Miss Rayner who will
inherit Miss Wharf's money, he gets rid of a mortgage that's
troubling him. What was easier for him, than to pretend to put
the silk scarf in his coat pocket, so as to blind those who saw
him do it, and then to lure Miss Wharf out on to those steps and
scrag her. Then he could pass the fan to Tung-yu who wanted it,
and arrange about the money being paid. After that and when
Tung-yu had gone off to the yacht, Mr. Ainsleigh could slip back
into the ball-room and assist in finding the body. And remember,
he says, he was strolling on the beach smoking, between the
hours of eleven and twelve, and won't prove an alibi, though
between ourselves I think he can through Major Tidman."
"Well," said Young dryly, "doesn't this go to prove his guilt."
"I can prove Tung-yu's in the same way," said Rodger's coolly,
"he was in the cloak-room when Mr. Ainsleigh placed the scarf in
the coat. He could easily have stolen it, as these Chinamen are
clever thieves, and have then lured Miss Wharf on to the steps
under the pretence of treating about the fan. Suddenly he slips
the scarf round her throat before she can cry out, goes down the
steps and on to the beach where a boat is waiting for him, and
by now, may be on his way to his employer the Mandarin Lo-Keong."
"It sounds feasible I admit, but--"
"One moment," went on Rodgers eagerly, "quite as strong a case
can be made out against Major Tidman. He did not come to the
ball, but lurked in his room all the evening. Yet he came down
to see Tang-yu--what about?--to sell the fan of course--"
"You can't prove that."
"Am I proving anything? I am simply showing you what strong
cases can be built up out of nothing. Well then, Tidman sees the
scarf put in the coat by a young man, whom he knows is at enmity
with the deceased, and takes it out again. He gets Miss Wharf to
come on to the terrace--any pretext will do, as he is her lover
and her old friend. There, he strangles her on the steps and
taking the fan, passes it along to the Chinaman who makes for
the yacht. So you see if I chose I can build up a case against
each of these three gentlemen, and each equally strong. Why if I
had a mind to entangle young Mr. Burgh in the affair I could do
so."
"But Tung-yu, Mr. Burgh and Major Tidman might prove alibi's."
"So they might, and Mr. Ainsleigh might do so also."
"He has not done so yet and if he was in danger, he would."
"Quite so," said Rodgers quickly, and seeing the slip, "and his
very reluctance to prove an alibi--for surely someone besides
Tidman must have seen him on the beach--shows me he is innocent.
However this isn't business Mr. Young, so I'll go and see what
evidence I can gather."
So to Dr. Forge went the detective, feeling very bewildered over
the case. And small blame to him, for the matter was surely most
perplexing. It is only in novels that the heaven-born detective
(in the confidence of the author) displays wonderful cleverness
in finding clues where none exist. But a flesh and blood worker
like Rodgers had to puzzle out the matter in real life as best
he could. He was not at all sanguine that he would run down the
assassin of Miss Wharf. On the face of it, Rupert Ainsleigh
appeared to be guilty, and Rodgers doubted his guilt for this
very reason. "I believe one of these Chinaman did it," said
Rodgers as he rang Forge's bell.
Dr. Forge was within, and consented at once to see the
detective. When the two were in the Chinese room, Rodgers
unfolded himself, and asked Forge, who knew the Chinese
character, what he thought.
"My dear sir, the case is plain," said Forge calmly, "Tung-yu
gave Hwei the office, and lured Miss Wharf on to the steps where
Hwei strangled her with the scarf stolen by Tung-yu so as to
throw suspicion on Mr. Ainsleigh."
"Humph. It looks like it," said Rodgers musingly. "So you
believe this wild story of Major Tidman's."
"I _know_ it is true," said Forge quietly. "I helped him to get free
as he related. I was a partner with Mr. Markham Ainsleigh in the mine
on the Hwei River. I went to Pekin about a concession, and while I was
away, Mr. Ainsleigh died of dysentery. As to the fan,--I can't exactly
say. I never knew of this private god business, but it's the kind of
thing Lo-Keong might invent. He is a very superstitious man, and like
Napoleon, he believes in his star. He was concerned in the Boxer
rebellion, but afterwards he joined the Court party of the Dowager
Empress who is now all powerful. I never saw the fan in his hand, but
it might have to do with a secret."
"What kind of a secret?"
"I can't say unless it has to do with Lo-Keong's political
fortunes. He has many enemies, who envy his rapid rise. These
enemies probably stole the fan to ruin him. How this coolie, who
gave it to Major Tidman, got hold of it I don't know. But he was
glad to get rid of it, which makes me think the story of the
alternate days and the blessing of the god Kwang-ho might be
true. The Chinese do not think as we do Mr. Rodgers, and have
their own way of settling these matters. The attack on Tidman,
when he had the fan in Canton, shows clearer than ever, that it
was wanted by Lo-Keong's enemies. He gave it to me--"
"Why did you want it?"
"For two reasons," said Forge quietly, "in the first place from
what happened to Tidman I saw that while he held the fan he was
in danger--"
"But then you were in the same danger," objected the detective.
"I was, and I expected trouble. But I was better able to deal
with the matter than Tidman as I understand the Chinese
character. I got the fan in London and locked it up in yonder
cabinet, I thought it was there all the time, and when I found
it gone, I was quite annoyed, as Major Tidman will tell you.
Then I recollected that I had taken it back to China to give to
Lo-Keong. That is my second reason Mr. Rodgers. I knew I could
get a concession I wanted through Lo-Keong's influence, and I
did. So the fan went back to him."
"And you forgot that you had given it."
"I did. It seems strange to you, but as I told Tidman and Miss
Pewsey, my memory is impaired by opium smoking. However, that is
the story of the fan, and Burgh got it from the hand of the dead
pirate. How the pirate came possessed of it I can't say.
Apparently Lo-Keong lost it again."
"He couldn't have valued it much, if he lost it so often."
"He valued it at five thousand pounds and more," said the Doctor
dryly, "how it was lost I can't say. I may find out when I go to
China again, in a few months. Lo-Keong is in Pekin, and, as we
are friends, he will tell me, and show me the fan again."
"Ah. Then you believe----"
"I believe it is on its way to Lo-Keong, and that Tung-yu and
Hwei came together down here to get it. When only one was on the
spot this god business of alternate days made the matter
difficult. With both together, the owner of the fan was bound to
be killed or made rich. Unfortunately for Miss Wharf the day or
night was Hwei's and he carried out the order of the god
Kwang-ho by strangling her."
"Well," said Rodgers rising, "all I can say is that I'm glad I
do not live in China. How much of this is to be made public."
"My advice to you is to make nothing public, or as little as you
can," said Dr. Forge dryly, "you see how persistent these
Chinamen are. You make trouble and you may be killed also. Your
being in England won't save you any more than it saved Miss
Wharf, poor soul."
"I shall do my duty in spite of all," said Rodgers coolly, "I am
not going to be frightened by a couple of Chinese brutes."
"Very clever brutes," said Forge softly, but Rodgers took no
notice and marched away with his head in the air. Come what may,
he was determined to punish the assassin of Miss Wharf and if it
was Hwei, the man would have to be caught.
"I'll go to Pekin myself for him," said Rodgers angrily, "I'm
not going to be bested by these barbarians."
Little that was new came to his hand before the inquest, which
was a comparatively tame affair. The jury inspected the body and
then adjourned to the Bull's Head to hear the case. Rodgers set
forth what evidence he had gained, but touched as lightly as
possible on the Chinese business. He called Dr. Forge who
deposed to having examined the body and asserted that Miss Wharf
had been killed between eleven and twelve. She must have been
strangled almost instantaneously as, had she cried out, she
would have been overheard by those on the terrace. This
evidence caused but little sensation.
When Rupert was called however, all were excited. He deposed as
to the scarf which he had received from Olivia, and said what he
had done with it. He declared that he had been walking on the
beach smoking, and only returned to the ball-room shortly before
midnight when the body was discovered. He stated that he had
spoken to Major Tidman on the beach. And thus proved an alibi
clearly enough.
The rest of the evidence was not very important. Chris Walker
told how he had brought Tung-yu to the ball and handed in a slip
of advertisement, and then Rupert was recalled to tell what he
knew. Tidman related his interview with Tung-yu, and described
how both had seen Rupert place the tie in the overcoat pocket.
Then it appeared that the whole of the case turned on the fact
that the scarf had been removed from the pocket. No one knew.
Miss Pewsey said that Rupert took it: but her evidence was so
obviously prejudiced that the jury would not believe all she
said.
Lotty Dean who was at the ball, declared that she saw Miss Wharf
cross the terrace about eleven and go towards the floral arch on
the other side of which were the steps. She was quite alone, and
seemed tranquil, "she was fanning herself at the moment," said
the witness.
"Ah!" said the Coroner, "then she had the fan at that time."
"It was gone when we found the body," put in Miss Pewsey, and
was rebuked for speaking out of order.
The interest of the case turned on the evidence of Dalham, the
attendant in the cloak-room. He was a dissipated-looking man,
and gave his evidence very unwillingly. Owing to his having left
the cloak-room at Burgh's request, Rupert, as he threatened to
do, had reported him to the manager and Mr. Dalham had been
dismissed. This loss of his situation did not make him any the
sweeter towards Ainsleigh, but all the same, he could not state
on his oath, that the young man had returned to take the tie
again from the pocket. Nor had the Chinaman, or Major Tidman
returned. Dalham knew the Major well, and as he phrased it,
"would have spotted him at once," while the gay dress of Tung-yu
would have been equally conspicuous had he attempted to meddle
with a coat which did not belong to him.
"You did not leave the room again?" asked the Coroner.
"I only left it once," said Dalham. "Because Mr. Burgh and Mr.
Ainsleigh wanted to fight."
"We've heard about that, and it has nothing to do with the
case," said the coroner. "But you were in the room the rest of
the evening?"
"I've said so a dozen times sir," growled the badgered man.
"Lots of people came for their things and some late arrivals
left theirs but I was at my post all the time, except that once,
when I left Mr. Burgh with Mr. Ainsleigh. I never saw Major
Tidman nor Mr. Ainsleigh nor the Chinaman touch the cloak."
The coroner called Burgh and asked him if he was alone in the
room at any time. Clarence frankly admitted that he was. "But as
I never saw Ainsleigh place the tie in the coat and never knew
that he possessed such a tie, I don't see how you can accuse
me." Much more evidence was given, but it all led to no result.
Finally the jury, having heard much more of the Chinese story
than Rodgers approved of, brought in a verdict against Tung-yu.
Hwei, they could say nothing about, as he had not been present.
But Tung-yu wanted the fan and the fan had disappeared, while
Tung-yu was also absent. "Wilful murder against Tung-yu," was
the verdict, and on hearing the evidence, and on reading all
that had been said in the papers, the general public agreed with
the verdict. Under the circumstances no other could have been
given. Only one person dissented.
"It was that Ainsleigh who killed dearest Sophia," said Miss
Pewsey.