He was interrupted by the booming sound of the large gong at the gate of the tribunal. Coming at that moment, it reminded the judge of the gong in a Buddhist temple, sounded at the end of the service for the dead, to usher the soul of the deceased to the other world.
‘The session is about to begin,’ he said. ‘You had better go and have a rest, Ma Joong; for in the afternoon we shall search the temple. You’ll assist me in court, Sergeant. I am afraid it’ll again be a long session, for the case Kao vs Lo is coming up for re-examination; now the Lo side want to bring up their new evidence. At the end of the session I shall order the release of the vagabond Ah-liu. Get my official robe out, Hoong.’
After Ma Joong had issued the necessary orders for the burning of Tala’s corpse, he went straight to the guardhouse. He stripped naked, squatted on a corner of the stone floor, and had two guards pour buckets of cold water over him. Then he went up to his small attic, naked as he was, and threw himself down on his military plank bed. He was very tired, for, having gone to the Hermitage before dawn, he had had but a few hours’ sleep after the strenuous night in the temple. However, as soon as he had closed his eyes, the horribly mutilated face of Tala rose before his mind’s eye; then he saw her again as she had stood before him, naked over the heap of skulls… . Muttering curses he tossed about till at last he fell into a dreamless sleep.
He woke up with a splitting headache. A glance out of the window proved that it was already late in the afternoon. He quickly dressed and went downstairs. While he was gulping down a bowl of cold noodles in the guardroom a constable told him that the senior scribe had come back from Tong-kang. He had just passed the gate, on his way to Judge Dee’s office.
Ma Joong set the bowl down and hurried to the chancery.
Judge Dee was sitting behind his desk, the sergeant was standing by his side. The old scribe sat on the chair opposite, as always looking very neat and prim. Sitting down, Ma Joong cast an astonished look at the many small slips of notepaper arranged in neat rows on the desk, each covered with Judge Dee’s familiar bold handwriting. On top of the array lay seven large cards, generally used for marking a spot in a dossier. He tried to apologize for his lateness, but Judge Dee raised his hand. ‘You are just in time to hear the report on Tong-kang, Ma Joong.’ And, to the old scribe, he said, ‘Continue!’
‘The commander of the military convoy kindly let me join them, sir, and so I travelled the greater part of the way back in comfort, and fast too! The last stretch I did on horseback, with a group of tea merchants. We rode on all night. We were lucky, for when the rain storm broke we found shelter in the hut of a woodgatherer on the second mountain ridge. Then-‘
‘You had quite a journey,’ the judge interrupted. ‘Just give me the gist of what you learned in Tong-kang. You can draw up a detailed report later, after you have taken a rest.’
‘Thank you, sir. I want to begin by stating that the chancery personnel of the tribunal in Tong-kang treated me most courteously. They assigned to me most comfortable quarters in the hostel for official travellers.’
‘I shall write my colleague a letter of thanks. What did you learn about the Treasurer’s stay there?’
‘My colleagues introduced me to the clerk who had been ordered to look after the Treasurer’s needs, sir. He told me his had been an easy task, for the Treasurer had been tired by the long journey, and declined the magistrate’s invitation to dinner. When the clerk was serving the evening rice in the Treasurer’s room, the latter told him to have a leather worker called, for one of his travelling boxes was developing a crack. After the leather worker had gone, the Treasurer retired. He received no other visitors, and left the next morning at dawn.’
The old scribe made a bow to the sergeant, who had pushed a cup of tea towards him. After he had taken a few sips, he resumed, ‘The headman of the tribunal found that leather worker for me. His name is Liu, an elderly, rather garrulous person. He began his career as a goldsmith, but then his eyes went bad and he shifted to the tooling of leather. He remembered his visit to the Treasurer quite well, because a few days later he heard that the gold had been stolen and-‘
‘Yes, yes, naturally. What happened during that visit?’
‘Well, sir, the Treasurer took Liu to his bedroom and showed him the box that was cracking. Liu examined it, and told the Treasurer that the leather was of such good quality that he needn’t fear that it would burst. The Treasurer was visibly relieved and gave Liu a good tip. Encouraged by the kind words of this high official, Liu praised the workmanship of a gold ornament the Treasurer was wearing, adding that he was really a goldsmith. The Treasurer said that in that case he had more work for him. He took an intricate key from his sleeve, and opened the padlock of the cracked box. He had stood himself with his back to Liu, but Liu saw in the cap-mirror on the table that the box was filled to the rim with heavy gold bars. The Treasurer closed the box and turned round to Liu with one large bar in his hand. He told Liu that it was unusually long; he had forced it into the box on top of his clothes, he said, and that was probably the reason why the box had got cracked. He asked Liu whether he could saw it for him into two pieces, without losing any of the gold-dust. Liu had the right kind of saw in his tool box, and he left directly after having done the job. That’s all, sir!’
Judge Dee gave his two lieutenants a significant look. He asked the scribe, ‘Whom did Liu tell about his discovery? ‘
‘Oh, dozens of people, Your Honour! It so happened that the Guild of the Gold- and Silversmiths had its regular meeting that very night, and Liu told the gathering his story. It isn’t often the common people hear about such a large gold transport, and they had a good time developing all kinds of theories about the reason why an Imperial Treasurer would be taking such a large sum over the border.’
‘You did excellent work! After you have refreshed yourself, you had better have a look at the records of the court sessions of yesterday and today. The case Kao vs Lo came up again, you know.’
‘I certainly want to see those records, sir!’ the old gentleman said eagerly. ‘Yes, I had suspected that both sides kept a few tricks up their sleeve, especially the Kao side! There’s that obscure point about the second marriage of the third cousin, and-‘
‘Here are the two dossiers,’ Judge Dee told him hastily. ‘I shall hear the case again tomorrow.’
The old scribe left, fondly clasping the two dossiers in his arms.
‘The Treasurer made a fatal mistake,’ the sergeant remarked. ‘He should have told Liu to leave the room for a few moments, while he took the gold bar from the box.’
‘Of course,’ Ma Joong put in. ‘It doesn’t get us much further, though. How can we find out which one of those guildsmen took the news to Lan-fang? It may have been a friend, or-‘
‘That’s immaterial, Ma Joong,’ Judge Dee interrupted. ‘The main point is that now we know for certain how the secret leaked out, that the news was brought here before the Treasurer arrived, and that it became known in the milieu of goldsmiths and metal-workers. That’s all I need.’
‘Are we going to the deserted temple now, sir?’ Ma Joong asked. ‘There are six guards up there, but I don’t like the idea of all that gold lying around!’
‘No, we aren’t going there just yet. As I was explaining to the sergeant before our scribe came in, Ma Joong, I have now completed a theory about our case. It necessitated a careful re-examination of all the evidence which has come to light so far, and especially a painstaking check on dates. Dates play a vital part in all this, Ma Joong. Hence all those slips of paper you see here before me. The results I summed up on those seven cards which I put on top. On each card I wrote down a name, together with some significant facts. These slips don’t matter any more.’
The judge pulled the drawer out and swept the slips inside with the tip of his sleeve.
‘We shall now examine together these seven cards. I turned them face down when the arrival of our scribe was announced, for the old gentleman has good eyes! And each card b
ears the name of a suspected murderer.’
Chapter 19
Judge Dee straightened up in his chair. Folding his arms, he resumed, ‘Before explaining why I suspect these seven people, severally or in pairs, I must first tell you that we have only one single case. The day before yesterday-Heavens, that seems ages ago now! -we thought we had three entirely different cases. Two dating from nearly one year back: namely, the theft of the Treasurer’s gold, and the mysterious message of a woman called Jade; and a third dating from the night before, namely, Seng-san’s murder in the deserted temple. Subsequent developments showed that the theft of the gold was connected with the murders in the temple, and this morning the floor-plan, drawn by the maid of the Abbess, convinced me that Miss Jade’s disappearance must be linked up with the crimes committed there. We have only one single case, my friends, but a case with many ramifications! It all began with the theft of the Treasurer’s gold. Around those fifty stolen gold bars developed a curious, most intricate web of conflicting human passions. Pour me another cup, Hoong!’
The judge emptied the cup in a few quick gulps. Then he rummaged in his drawer and took out a sheet of paper.
‘A few moments ago I remarked that dates provide important clues in this case. I have jotted down a few here. Have a look!’
The sergeant and Ma Joong drew their chairs closer to the desk and read what Judge Dee had written.
Fifteen years ago (the year of the Hare):
The authorities close down the Temple of the Purple Clouds; the Hermitage is built, and placed in charge of a priest and priestess who had forsworn the new creed.
Last year (the year of the Snake):
15-V Marriage of Mr and Mrs Woo.
2-VIII The Treasurer’s gold is stolen.
20-VIII The widow Chang becomes Abbess of the Hermitage.
6-IX Ming Ao disappears.
10-IX Miss Jade disappears.
12-IX Date of Miss Jade’s message.
Ma Joong looked up. ‘Who’s Ming Ao, sir?’ ‘Don’t you remember what Sergeant Hoong told you about his examination of the file of missing persons, the day before yesterday? He had found there that the brother of a metal-worker called Ming Ao reported that Ming had gone out on the night of the sixth day of the ninth month and never came back. Now, Lee Mai told us that Mrs Woo had lived with a metal-worker who left her about one year ago. This afternoon I had the sergeant make discreet inquiries from Ming Ao’s brother, and Hoong elicited from him that the present Mrs Woo had indeed lived with Ming Ao for some time. Ming Ao was known as an expert locksmith and a skilful metal-worker. But he was a crook-exactly as Lee Mai said when he told us about Mrs Woo’s former acquaintances. Anyway, keep these dates and names in mind! They are of vital importance.’
He leaned forward and turned up the first card.
‘This card I marked Woo Tsung-jen, the retired prefect. Woo remained an honest man all through his long official career. But in his later years, after he had become poor and married a wicked woman, his character changed. Here, this second card bears Mrs Woo’s name. I lay it beside that of her husband. You’ll agree that this pan-were in an excellent position for hearing the news about the gold from Tong-kang. Woo frequented Lee Mai’s shop, and Mrs Woo’s lover was a metal-worker. When they hear the news from Tong-kang, they realize that here is the chance of a life-time. Mrs Woo contacts her former lover Ming Ao, and he steals the gold and replaces it by lead; this last touch was probably suggested by Woo. Ming Ao conceals the gold somewhere in the deserted temple. Then, however, a complication arises. Ming Ao refuses to reveal where exactly he has hidden the gold. Was he angry because his mistress had married? Or was it just because he wanted all the gold for himself? We can only guess at the answers to those questions. One thing is certain, however: Mr and Mrs Woo don’t take Ming Ao’s refusal lying down. They press him, torture him perhaps. Four days later he is killed, and his dead body is spirited away. Now the pair begin a systematic search of the temple. For many months they search, without result. Then a second complication occurs. Yang worms the secret of the gold out of Mrs Woo-there are strong indications that they were lovers-or he learns it while spying on Woo. Yang hires Seng-san to blackmail the Woos. They lure Yang and Seng-san to the temple, and there they murder them.’
‘If that theory is correct,’ Ma Joong exclaimed, ‘then Mrs Woo is that blasted phantom! But what about Miss Jade?’
‘I think that Jade discovered that her father and stepmother had murdered Ming Ao, and they decided that Jade had to go too, and at once. Her stepmother hated her, and her demise delivered her father from a guilty passion that had long tormented him. Well, the activities Mr and Mrs Woo engaged in yesterday fully support this theory. My proclamation badly frightened the guilty couple. Had I found a clue to their having murdered the girl? Am I about to summon them for questioning? They decide that attack is the best defence. Woo rushes to me, Mrs Woo to my Third Lady, in a desperate effort to learn what I have discovered, and to confuse the issue.
‘However, there is one flaw in my argument, and a very important one too. Woo could well have thrown the stones on you in the well, Ma Joong, and he could also have pushed the upper part of the crumbling back wall of the temple over. But I don’t see how he, an elderly gentleman, could ever have strangled Yang and knifed Seng-san; how he could have moved Seng-san’s body, and how he could have eluded you in the dark temple hall. Have you any comment, Sergeant?’
When Hoong shook his head, the judge continued, ‘I turn up my third card. Lee Mai, the banker. The most likely person to hear the news from Tong-kang, of course. We know that Mrs Woo didn’t live exactly like a nun before her marriage to Woo. She may well have carried on with Lee Mai, with or without Ming Ao’s knowledge. When Woo falls in love with her, Lee Mai encourages the match: nothing more convenient than marry off your mistress to your best friend! Woo wants to give his
JUDGE DEE DISCUSSES SEVEN CARDS
daughter Jade in marriage to Lee. So much the better! Lee will have a nice young wife, and at the same time have even better opportunities for continuing the liaison with her stepmother. Lee Mai and Mrs Woo organize the theft of the gold by Ming Ao. Then the two snags I mentioned before occur again: Ming refuses to reveal the hiding-place of the gold, and they murder him. Jade discovers that murder, or her stepmother’s adultery, and she is eliminated. Mrs Woo hates her, and Lee prefers a fortune in gold to a young wife. As to the double murder in the temple, Lee Mai is a tall strong man, fond of hunting. A worthy opponent for you in the dark hall, Ma Joong! Any objections, Sergeant?’
Sergeant Hoong had been looking rather dubious. Now he said, ‘How do we reconcile this theory with Lee Mai’s attempt at blackening Mrs Woo, sir? He went out of his way to point out to us her questionable background.’
‘That may have been a clever touch, meant to throw us off the scent. Lee knew very well that we hadn’t got a shred of evidence against her. And he had told her exactly what she was to tell my Third Lady. Well, we have had now two men and one woman. This fourth card is a woman again. I turn it over and lay it beside that of Lee Mai.’
Sergeant Hoong leaned forward. He gasped as he read the name. ‘The Abbess!’ he exclaimed.
‘Yes, the Abbess. Remember that she was the widow of a gold merchant, and would know Lee Mai, her husband’s colleague. What if she and Lee Mai had become secret lovers? The records say that her husband died in the first month of the year of the Snake, of a sudden heart attack. Did he discover her adultery with Lee, and did the couple help him to leave this mortal world? The circumstances of Mr Chang’s demise will
bear looking into, I think. Anyway, it is significant that, in the very same month that the gold was stolen, she became Abbess of the Hermitage-an ideal position for a person interested in the deserted temple who wants to search for concealed gold undisturbed! Finally, she knew beforehand that you, Ma Joong, were going to visit the temple. I told her so myself, during the birthday dinner. And she left very early, as soon as the last
course had been served. Because she had a headache, she said.’
‘So she could easily have been back in the temple in time to lure me to the well,’ Ma Joong remarked bitterly. And last night, after she had helped to set the trap for me under the crumbling wall, she had plenty of time to get back to the Hermitage while I was trying to catch Lee in the temple hall. But what about Jade, sir?’
‘Same story as before: Jade must have caught them red-handed when they were disposing of Ming Ao.’
‘The Abbess might even have enjoyed killing the poor girl.’ Ma Joong said nastily. ‘Her maid told me that the cruel bitch positively enjoys caning her! But what exactly could have happened to Jade, sir?’
‘According to Tala,’ the judge replied slowly, ‘Miss Jade broke her neck. And on the tenth, on the same day that she disappeared. According to the message in the ebony box, however, she died on or about the twelfth.’
‘The date of her message of distress fits,’ Sergeant Hoong remarked. ‘She was kept captive from the tenth till the twelfth, without food or drink!’
Judge Dee took up the fifth card.
‘This one I inscribed with the name of Lee Ko, the painter. Look, I put his card in between those of Mrs Woo and the Abbess. Now then. Lee Ko had as good an opportunity to learn the secret of the gold as his brother Lee Mai, because then he was still living in the banker’s house. For the same reason he could have met Ming Ao and the woman who became Mrs Woo.’
The judge moved Lee Ko’s card close to that of Mrs Woo, and regarded the two with a satisfied smile. 1 must confess that I like this combination! I like it very much indeed. The sensual woman married to an elderly husband, and the irresponsible painter who believes in romantic love. And both nearing middle-age, when passion burns with a more intense fire than in one’s youth.’
‘Lee Ko also knew that I was going to visit the temple,’ Ma Joong muttered. ‘I told him so when I met him on my way to the east city gate. And Lee had the ebony box in his possession! Besides, he is a mountaineer, a hardy chap! That’s why he gave such a good account of himself when I tried to catch him in the temple hall!’
The Phantom Of The Temple Page 14
