The Lacquer Screen: A Chinese Detective Story (Judge Dee Mystery)

by Robert Van Gulik

  Magistrate Teng jumped up. Agitatedly pacing the floor he shouted:

  ‘You talk nonsense, Dee! Proof? What more proof do you want? My attacks, my dreams, that screen there…’

  ‘Yet there are some very curious features’ Judge Dee interrupted him, ‘features that hint at an outside element.’

  The magistrate stamped his foot on the floor

  ‘Don't try to fool me with idle hope, Dee, that's cruel! Do you mean to make the preposterous suggestion that, just while I had my attack, an intruder murdered my wife? How could there ever be such an improbable coincidence?’

  Judge Dee shrugged his shoulders,

  ‘I don't like coincidences either, Teng. Yet such things have happened. And it is not more improbable than your having an attack and tampering with that screen, without remembering anything about it. Also, when you saw your wife upon entering the dressing-room she was lying with her back turned towards you. She may have been dead already. Have you any enemy here, Teng?’

  ‘Of course not!’ the magistrate replied angrily. ‘Besides, only my wife and I knew the special significance of the screen. And it hasn't been out of the house since we arrived here. No one could have tampered with it!’ Then he took hold of himself and asked in a calmer voice: ‘What do you propose to do, Dee?’

  ‘I propose,’ the judge replied, ‘that you give me tomorrow—one day—for gathering additional evidence. If I fail, I shall accompany you the day after tomorrow to Pien-foo, and explain everything to the Prefect.’

  ‘Delaying the report of a murder is a grave offence, Dee!’ Magistrate Teng cried out. ‘Just now you said yourself you wouldn't impede…’

  ‘I assume full responsibility for that!’ Judge Dee interrupted him.

  Teng thought for a while, nervously walking round. Then he halted and said resigned:

  ‘All right, Dee. I'll leave everything in your hands. Tell me what I should do.’

  ‘Very little. First, take an envelope and inscribe it with your wife's name and address.’

  Teng unlocked the upper drawer of his desk and took out an envelope. After he had jotted down a few lines, he gave it to the judge, who put it in his sleeve. Judge Dee resumed:

  ‘Now get me a set of your wife's clothes from her bedroom, and make a bundle of them. Don't forget a pair of shoes!’

  The magistrate gave him a curious look, then left the room without another word.

  Judge Dee quickly got up and took from the still open drawer a few sheets of official notepaper and envelopes bearing the large red seal of the tribunal. He put them carefully in his sleeve.

  When Teng came in with a bundle wrapped up in blue cloth, he gave the judge a searching look, then exclaimed contritely:

  ‘Excuse me please, Dee! I was so preoccupied by my own problems that I didn't even think of offering you a change! Your robe is dirty all over, and your boots are covered with mud. Allow me to lend you…’

  ‘Don't bother!’ Judge Dee interrupted quickly. ‘I have a few other calls to make, in places where a new dress would attract undesirable attention. First I'll go back to the marsh now, clothe the body and drag it across the path so that it'll be found early tomorrow morning. The envelope I'll put in the sleeve, so that the body will be identified immediately. Then you'll have the autopsy conducted—you have a good coroner, I suppose?’

  ‘Yes, he is the owner of the large pharmacy at the market.’

  ‘Good. You'll say that your wife was murdered on her way to the north gate, and that the investigation is in progress. Then you can have the body placed in a temporary coffin at least.’ He picked up the bundle, laid his hand on Teng's shoulder and said with an affectionate smile: ‘Try to get some sleep, Teng! You'll hear from me tomorrow. Don't bother to show me out, I know the way.’

  Judge Dee found the Student in a pitiful state. He was sitting huddled up on the boulder, with violent shivers shaking his body, despite the heat. Looking up at the judge with a sickly smile he tried to speak, but his teeth started clattering as soon as he opened his mouth.

  ‘Don't worry, master-criminal!’ Judge Dee said. ‘I am back! I'll just have another look at the corpse. Then we'll be off to home and to bed!’

  The youngster was so upset that he didn't notice the bundle Judge Dee was carrying.

  After he had drawn out the dagger he wrapped it up in a piece of oil-paper and put it in his bosom. Then he dressed the dead body. When he had put on the shoes also, he dragged it across the footpath. He called the Student. Silently they walked back through the now deserted city.

  The Student seemed still deeply upset by his lonely wait. The judge reflected that the youngster's show of viciousness was perhaps for the greater part bravado. He was only about eighteen, perhaps his morbid craving for crime would leave him in a year or so. The boy could have done worse things than join the Corporal's gang. The Corporal was a rough-and-ready rascal, but somehow or other the judge didn't think he was a really depraved man. If the Student came through this experience, he might yet repent and return to a normal life.

  When they had gone about half-way, the Student suddenly said:

  ‘I know that you and the Corporal don't think much of me, but I tell you that in a couple of days you'll be surprised! I'll have made more money than the two of you'll ever have in your whole lives!’

  Judge Dee made no response. The youngster was boring him with his boasting.

  At the entrance of the alley where the Phoenix Inn was located the Student halted. He said crossly:

  ‘I'll say goodbye here. I, have other things to attend to.’

  Judge Dee walked on to the inn.

  * * *

  * The four panels are depicted on the end-papers of this book.

  VII

  After Judge Dee and the Student left the Phoenix Inn for the marsh, Chiao Tai drank a few cups with the Corporal. They came to talk about the battles of the Imperial Army in recent years, which evidently was one of the Corporal's favourite subjects.

  ‘If you liked army life’ Chiao Tai asked, ‘why did you leave?’

  ‘I made a stupid mistake, and I had to take to my heels in a hurry!’ the Corporal replied gruffly.

  Small groups of beggars in smelly rags came drifting in. The Corporal got up and started on the accounts together with the bald man. Chiao Tai found the air in the taproom becoming worse and worse. Moreover, he was afraid that the beggar who had sold him the jewels might show up. He went out for a walk.

  In the street outside it was still hot and muggy. Thinking that it might be better downtown near the river, he entered at random a sloping street. After a few wrong turns he finally arrived at the broad, curved bridge over the river. He went to stand on its highest point, leaning his elbows on the carved marble balustrade. Underneath the black water rushed along in a continuous roar, white foam spurting up as it dashed against the rocks that showed their jagged heads here and there. Chiao Tai followed the angry current as it formed swift whirlpools, and inhaled the cool air with relief.

  There weren't many people about. This was evidently a residential quarter; on the right bank he saw the large compounds of opulent mansions, and on the left the long crenellated wall and the impressive gatehouse of the garrison headquarters. The coloured flags hung down limply in the still air.

  Two footpads walked up to him, noiseless on their felt shoes. But when they had come nearer they shook their heads at each other disconsolately. This rough-looking giant was not the man for them to tackle.

  Chiao Tai was at a loss what to do. He tried to figure out what Judge Dee was up to, but soon gave up in disgust. All that was far beyond him. And he knew that the judge would tell him anyway—in his own good time. He spat into the water, the acrid taste of the wine he had drunk in the Phoenix Inn was still in his mouth. He wistfully thought of his comrades, Sergeant Hoong and Ma Joong, back in Penglai. Probably they were at this very moment swilling good wine in the Nine Flowers Orchard, their favourite inn, on the corner opposite the tribunal! If Ma J
oong was not playing games with a nice girl! He could do with a woman himself, for that matter. But he was rather fastidious, he didn't feel like having a look at a brothel. With a sigh he decided to walk back to the inn. The beggars might have left by now.

  He went down the bridge and followed the river-bank for a while. At one moment he again thought he had the eery feeling that someone was following him. But this wasn't possible, because Kun-shan was now their ally. He turned into a side street which led south.

  There his attention was drawn by the open window of a large house, standing back from the street behind a bamboo fence. Raising himself on tiptoe he looked over the fence, curious to see who was still up and about at that late hour. He saw a corner of a richly furnished room, brilliantly lit by two silver candles on a dressing-table. A woman clad only in a single dress of thin white silk was standing before the mirror, combing her hair.

  Since of course no decent woman would thus expose herself, Chiao Tai deduced that she was a courtesan who had her own establishment. He eyed her with approval. She was a well-developed woman of about thirty, with a handsome oval face. She seemed the mature, knowing type that always appealed to him. Pensively pulling at his short moustache, he reflected again that he could do with a really nice woman, he was in the right mood for it. On the other hand, this was a high-class courtesan, and, if she would grant him her favours at all, there still was the problem of money. He had only two strings of coppers in his sleeve, and he estimated that he would need at least five, if not a silver piece. However, he could at least make her acquaintance, and maybe make an appointment for the next evening. It was worth trying anyway.

  He pushed the bamboo gate open, crossed the small but elegant flower garden, and knocked on the plain, black-lacquered door. It was opened by the woman herself. She uttered an astonished cry, then quickly covered her mouth with her sleeve, looking very confused.

  Chiao Tai made a bow and said politely:

  ‘I am sorry to disturb you so late at night, younger sister! Passing by I happened to see you doing your hair by the window, and was deeply impressed by your charm. I wondered whether a lonely traveller might not rest awhile here and profit by your conversation.’

  The woman hesitated. She looked him up and down, a slight frown creasing her white forehead. Suddenly she smiled and said in a soft, cultured voice:

  ‘I was expecting someone else.…But, since it is long past the appointed time, you might as well come in.’

  ‘I wouldn't dream of interfering with other appointments, I'll come back tomorrow!’ Chiao Tai said hastily. ‘Your guest might yet turn up—he'd be a fool if he didn't!’

  The woman laughed. He thought she was really very attractive.

  ‘Do come in!’ she said. ‘I rather like your looks, you know!’

  She stepped back, and Chiao Tai followed her inside.

  ‘Sit down,’ she said coyly, ‘I'll just fix my hair.’

  Seated on a tabouret of coloured porcelain, Chiao Tai reflected ruefully that he would be lucky if he could persuade her to make an appointment for some other night, for this was clearly a courtesan of the most expensive class. A thick blue carpet covered the floor, the walls were decorated with heavy brocade hangings, and the broad couch was made of blackwood inlaid with small figures of mother of pearl. The fragrant smoke of some expensive incense curled up from the gilded burner on the dressing-table. He twirled his moustache, looking with appreciation at her shapely back and rounded hips. He followed for a while the graceful movement of her white arm as she combed her long, glossy tresses. Then he said:

  ‘I am sure that a lovely lady like you has a charming name!’

  ‘My name?’ she asked, smiling at him in the round mirror. ‘Oh, you may call me Autumn Rose.’

  ‘It sounds well,’ he said, ‘but of course no name could ever do justice to your exquisite beauty!’

  She turned round with a pleased smile and sat down on the edge of the couch. Taking a fan from the side table she leisurely fanned herself, looking at him appraisingly. After a while she said:

  ‘You are strong and not too bad-looking, though a bit austere. And your robe is plain though of good material, but you don't know how to wear it to advantage. Shall I guess what you are? I think you are an army officer on leave!’

  ‘Very near!’ Chiao Tai said. ‘And it is indeed true, as I told you just now, that I am a stranger in town.’

  She looked at him intently with her large, luminous eyes. Then she asked:

  ‘Do you plan to stay long in Wei-ping?’

  ‘I have only a few days. Now I have met you, I wish I could live here for ever!’

  She playfully tapped his knee with the fan and asked:

  ‘Does the army teach its officers such nice things nowadays?‘She gave him a sidelong look and carelessly let her robe come apart in front, revealing her perfect breasts. ‘Oh, isn't it hot, even at night!’

  Chiao Tai shifted on his tabouret. Why didn't the old duenna appear with the customary tea? Since the courtesan had clearly indicated that he was acceptable, according to the etiquette of the ‘world of wind and willows’, he could now discuss the price with her duenna. She looked at him expectantly. Chiao Tai cleared his throat, then asked awkwardly:

  ‘Where could I find your eh…duenna?’

  ‘Why would you want my duenna?’she asked with lited eyebrows.

  ‘Well, I wanted to talk with her a bit, you know…’

  ‘Talk with her? What about? Don't you like my conversation?’

  ‘Stop your teasing!’ Chiao Tai said with a smile. ‘About…the practical aspects, of course!’

  ‘Now, what on earth would you mean by that?’ she asked, pouting.

  ‘Holy Heaven!’ Chiao Tai exclaimed impatiently. ‘We are neither of us children any more, are we? There's the matter of how much I am expected to pay, how long I can stay, and so on.’

  She burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her fan. Chiao Tai joined her, rather embarrassed. When she had recovered, she said primly:

  ‘I regret to inform you that my duenna is ill. So you'll have to discuss the “practical aspects”, as you so delicately put it, directly with me. Well, speak up, sir, at how much do you value my favour?’

  ‘Ten thousand gold pieces!’ Chiao Tai replied gallantly.

  ‘You are a dear!’ she said gratified. ‘And a strong animal to boot. You lead your wives at home quite a strenuous life, I am sure. Well, today is a special day. You can stay with me for a while and we shall forget about those hateful practical aspects of yours. It so happens that I'll be leaving town shortly, and a second visit from you would not be convenient. So you must promise that after tonight you'll not come back here again.’

  ‘You break my heart, but I promise!’ Chiao Tai said. He envied the wealthy patron who would be taking this delightful woman along on a trip. He rose, and sitting down by her side he put his arm round her shoulders. While giving her a long kiss he began to loosen the sash of her robe.

  VIII

  Chiao Tai walked to the Phoenix Inn, humming a tune. He found the taproom deserted but for Carnation, looking sullen. She was sweeping the floor with a bamboo broom. She asked:

  ‘Where is the Student?’

  ‘Around!’ he replied, letting himself down carefully in the old rattan armchair, the easiest he saw about. ‘Make a large pot of tea, will you? Not for me, but for my mate, he's a great tea-bibber! Didn't Kun-shan come?’

  Carnation made a face.

  ‘He did, that mean bastard! I told him both of you were out, and he said he would be coming back later. I can tell you that I have put up with all kinds of men, but with that Kun-shan I wouldn't sleep for ten gold pieces!’

  ‘You can always keep your eyes shut, can't you?’ Chiao Tai asked.

  ‘No, it isn't his ugly mug. He's the vicious kind that likes to hurt. I might find myself with my throat slit, and what do I do then with ten gold pieces?’

  ‘Use them for bribing the Black Judge of the
Nether World! But let's not talk about Kun-shan. What about me, dear, eh?’

  The girl stepped up to him and gave him a good look. She sniffed contemptuously.

  ‘You? Next week perhaps, when you've recovered! That smug smirk of yours tells me that you just got as thorough a treatment as you'll ever be likely to get. And expensive too, judging by that smell! No, I wager that you haven't even the strength left to lift my skirt!’ She went to the kitchen.

  Chiao Tai guffawed. He leaned back in the chair, put his feet on the table and soon was snoring loudly. The girl came back and put a large teapot on the table. Then she yawned, walked over to the counter, and started to pick her teeth.