ends of the dead
lover. Notwithstanding the fact that Tai-K'an devoted the whole of his
possessions to his daughter's defense, and that strong proof of guilt
fell upon a young Chinaman who was jealous of the dead man, the poor
girl was convicted of murder.

Sir Polworth remembered all the circumstances well. At the time he did
not believe in the girl's guilt, but the court had decided it so,
therefore why should he worry his official mind over the affairs of
mere natives? The day came--he recollected it well--when the sentence
of death was put before him for confirmation. Tai-K'an himself, a
youngish man, came to his house to beg the clemency of the great
British mandarin. With him was his wife and the brother of the
murdered man. All three begged upon their knees that the girl should
be released because she was innocent. But he only shook his head, and
with callous heartlessness signed the death-sentence and ordered them
to be shown out.

The girl's father then drew himself up and, with the fire of hatred in
his slant black eyes, exclaimed in very good English:

"You have sent my daughter to her death though she is innocent! You
have a daughter, Sir Polworth Urquhart. The vengeance of Tai-K'an will
fall upon her. Remember my words! May the Great Meng place his curse
upon you and yours for ever!" And the trio left the Deputy-Governor's
room.

That was nearly ten years ago.

He paced the room, for his reflections even now were uneasy ones. He
remembered how the facts were placed before the Colonial Office and
how the sentence of death was commuted to one of imprisonment. For
five years she remained in jail, until the real assassin committed
suicide after writing a confession.

Yet like all Chinese, Tai-K'an evidently nursed his grievance, and
time had not dulled the bitterness of his hatred.

But the offensive Chinaman was in Hong Kong--therefore what mattered,
Sir Polworth thought. So he seated himself and wrote his letters.

CHAPTER XIV

THE VENGEANCE OF TAI-K'AN

At that moment Lola, who was shopping in London, entered and her
father cut off quickly.

The girl glanced at me and smiled. Then she asked some question
regarding the purchase of some cutlery, and on her father replying she
left the flat.

After she had gone, he resumed the narrative, which was certainly of
deep interest, as you will see.

He went on:

In the first week in January, a gay house-party assembled at Hawstead
Park, Lo