The Chinese Maze Murders

by Robert Van Gulik

  They drank another cup of tea.

  Then a clerk announced that the coroner had arrived.

  Judge Dee gave the old drug dealer a sharp look.

  "The other day when you performed the autopsy on the General's body", he said to him, "you stated that most poisons used internally can be identified. Now I have here a box with sweet plums. A mouse ate one and died on the spot. You will examine these plums in my presence and try to determine what poison they contain. If necessary you can also examine the dead mouse."

  Judge Dee handed the cardboard box to the coroner.

  The old man opened the small bundle he had brought and took out a leather folder. It contained a set of thin knives with short blades and long handles. He selected one that had a fine, hair-sharp blade.

  Then he took a square pad of white paper from his sleeve and put it on the corner of the desk. He picked up with a pair of pincers the plum the mouse had eaten from and laid it on the pad. With remarkable dexterity he cut from its flesh a slice as thin as the thinnest tissue paper.

  The judge and his two lieutenants eagerly followed his every movement.

  The coroner smoothed out the slice on the pad using the blade of the knife. He peered intently at it. Then he looked up and asked for a cup of boiled water, an unused writing brush, and a candle.

  When a clerk had brought the required materials, the coroner moistened the brush and soaked the thin slice in water. Then he took a small square piece of very white, glazed paper, spread it out over the slice and pressed it with the palm of his hand.

  The coroner lighted the candle. He took up the glazed paper and showed it to the judge; it bore the wet imprint of the slice. The coroner held it over the flame till it had dried.

  He took the paper over to the window and scrutinized it for some time, softly running his forefinger over it. Tao Gan left his chair and looked over the coroner's shoulder.

  The coroner turned round and handed the paper to the judge. He said:

  "I beg to report that this plum contains a large dose of a poisonous dye called gamboge. It was introduced by means of a hollow needle."

  Judge Dee slowly caressed his whiskers. After a glance at the paper he asked: "How do you prove that?"

  "This method", the coroner said with a smile, "has been used in our trade for many centuries. The alien matter in the juice of the plum is recognized by its colour and granulation. If Your Honour observes this imprint, a yellow tinge will be clearly recognisable. The difference in granulation can be noticed only by the sensitive fingers of an experienced drug dealer. Since the slice shows a number of small round spots I conclude that the gamboge was introduced by means of a hollow needle."

  "Excellent work!", the judge said approvingly. "You will now examine the other plums."

  As the coroner set to work Judge Dee idly played with the empty cardboard box. He pried loose the folded white paper that covered its bottom. Suddenly he bent over it and peered intently at a faint red mark on the edge of the paper.

  "Well, well", he remarked, "what a careless thing to do!"

  Sergeant Hoong and Tao Gan rose and eagerly bent their heads over the paper. Judge Dee pointed with his forefinger at the red mark.

  "That is half of Woo's seal!", the sergeant exclaimed. "The same seal as the one he impressed on the picture the other day!"

  The judge leaned back in his armchair.

  "Thus two clues point straight to our painter", he said. "First, the poison used. Gamboge is used by all painters as a yellow pigment and they are familiar with the fact that it is dangerous poison. Second, this sheet of paper employed as filling of the box. I suppose that Woo once used it as support for impressing his seal on a picture; inadvertently half of the seal impression was transferred on this paper underneath."

  "This is the sort of thing we have been waiting for!", Tao Gan exclaimed excitedly.

  The judge did not comment. He waited silently till the coroner had completed his examination of the other plums.

  Finally the old man reported:

  "Everyone of these contains a lethal dose of gamboge, Your Honour!"

  The judge selected a sheet of the official writing paper on his desk and pushed it over to the coroner.

  "Please record your testimony on this paper!", he ordered, "and affix your thumbmark to it!"

  The old coroner moistened his brush and filled out the document. After he had affixed his thumbmark to it the judge dismissed him with a few kind words. Then he ordered, a clerk to call Headman Fang.

  When the headman came in Judge Dee ordered curtly:

  "Take four constables and arrest the painter Woo Feng!"

  Fifteenth Chapter

  PAINTER WOO REVEALS HIS SECRET IN THE TRIBUNAL; JUDGE DEE ORDERS A SEARCH OF THE EASTERN CITY

  Three beats of the large bronze gong resounded through the tribunal announcing the opening of the afternoon session.

  A fair crowd of spectators had assembled in the court hall. The old General Ding had been a well-known resident of Lan-fang.

  Judge Dee ascended the dais. He ordered Candidate Ding to come forward.

  As he was kneeling in front of the bench Judge Dee spoke:

  "The other day you appeared before this tribunal and accused Woo Feng of having murdered your father. I have made a painstaking investigation and assembled evidence that warranted Woo's arrest. Yet there are not a few points that need clarification.

  I shall now hear the accused and you will listen carefully. If there should come up any point concerning which you can supply additional information, you shall not fail to speak!"

  Judge Dee filled out a slip for the warden of the jail. Soon two constables led Woo into the court hall. As he approached the dais Judge Dee noticed that he looked quite unperturbed.

  Woo knelt and waited respectfully till the judge addressed him.

  "State your name and profession!", the judge said curtly.

  "This insignificant person", Woo replied, "is called Woo Feng. I am a Junior Candidate by profession and a painter by preference."

  "You", said the judge sternly, "are accused of having murdered General Ding Hoo-gwo. Speak the truth!"

  "Your Honour", Woo said calmly, "I emphatically deny the accusation. I am familiar with the victim's name and the crime for which he was dismissed from military service because I often heard my father speak about that disgraceful affair. But I beg to state that I have never met the General. I did not even know that he was living in Lan-fang until his son started to spread malignant rumours about me. Those rumours I totally ignored since they were so ridiculous as to make refutation quite unnecessary."

  „If that is so", Judge Dee said coldly, "why then did the General stand in constant fear of you? Why did he keep the gates of his mansion closed day and night and confine himself to his locked library? And if you did not plan some foul scheme against the General, why did you hire ruffians to spy on his mansion?"

  "As to Your Honour's first two questions", Woo replied, "they concern the internal affairs of the Ding mansion. Since I am completely ignorant of such things, I am in no position to express any opinion. As regards the last query, I deny ever having hired any people to spy on the Ding family. I challenge my accuser to produce one of those men I allegedly hired and confront him with me!"

  "Don't be too sure, young man!", the judge said sternly. "As a matter of fact I have already apprehended one of those ruffians. You will be confronted with him in due time!"

  Woo shouted angrily: "That scoundrel Ding bribed him to give false testimony!"

  When he saw that at last Woo had lost his temper, Judge Dee thought to himself that this was the right moment to spring another surprise on the accused.

  He leaned forward in his chair and said sharply:

  "I, the magistrate, shall tell you why you hated the Ding family! Not because of the feud between your father and General Ding. No, you had a quite personal and despicable motive. Look at this woman here!"

  While he was saying this the judg
e had taken from his sleeve a section cut out of Woo's painting showing only the face of the goddess Kwan Yin.

  As he handed it to Headman Fang to pass it on to Woo, Judge Dee kept his eye on both the accused and Candidate Ding. He noticed that as soon as he had referred to a woman in the case both young men had turned pale. Ding's eyes widened in sudden fear.

  Judge Dee heard a stifled cry by his side.

  Headman Fang stood there with the picture still in his hand. His face had turned ashen, he looked as if he had seen a ghost.

  "Your Honour!", he cried out, "this is my eldest daughter, White Orchid!"

  A murmur rose from the crowd at this unexpected revelation.

  "Silence!" the judge shouted in a thunderous voice.

  He did not betray his own utter amazement but said quietly:

  "Headman, give that picture to the accused!"

  Judge Dee had not failed to observe that while Woo was greatly perturbed by the headman's identification, Candidate Ding looked relieved. That young man heaved a deep sigh and the colour came back to his cheeks.

  Woo looked at the picture with a fixed stare.

  "Speak up!", the judge barked, "what are your relations with this girl?"

  Woo was deadly pale. But his voice was steady as he replied: "I refuse to answer!"

  The judge leaned back in his chair. He said coldly:

  "The accused seems to forget that he is in the tribunal. I order you to answer my question!"

  "You can torture me to death", Woo replied in a clear voice, "but you will never succeed in making me answer that question!"

  Judge Dee sighed. He said:

  "You are guilty of contempt of court!"

  At a sign from the judge, two constables tore down Woo's robe. Two others grabbed his arms and pressed him forward till his face touched the floor. Then they looked expectantly at Headman Fang who was standing there with the heavy whip in his hand.

  The headman looked up at the judge with a tortured expression on his face.

  Judge Dee understood. Fang was a just man, he feared that in his anger he would flog Woo to death. The judge pointed at a sturdy constable.

  He took over the whip from the headman. He raised his muscular arm and the thin thong descended on Woo's bare back.

  Woo groaned as welt after welt rose on his flesh. After the tenth blow the blood streamed from his torn back. But he gave no sign that he would speak.

  After the twentieth blow his body grew limp.

  The constable reported that he had fainted. Judge Dee gave a sign and two constables jerked Woo to his knees. They burned vinegar under his nose till he had regained consciousness.

  "Look at your magistrate!", Judge Dee ordered.

  A constable gripped Woo by his hair and pulled his head back.

  The Judge leaned forward and looked intently at his contorted face.

  Woo's lips moved convulsively. Then he said in a toneless voice: "I shall not speak!"

  The constable with the whip was going to strike Woo in his face with the heavy handle. But Judge Dee raised his hand. He addressed Woo in a conversational tone:

  " Woo, you are an intelligent youngster. You must realize how utterly foolish your attitude is. Let me tell you that I know more about your relations with that poor misguided girl than you think!"

  Woo only shook his head.

  "I know", the judge continued calmly, "all about your meeting White Orchid in the Hermitage of the Three Treasures, near the east gate, and…"

  Suddenly Woo jumped up. He tottered on his feet and a constable had to grip his arm to steady him. Woo did not notice it. He lifted his bare right arm, streaked with blood. Shaking his fist at the judge he cried in a strident voice:

  "Now she is lost! It is you, you dog-official, who have murdered her!"

  Loud exclamations rose from the crowd. Headman Fang stepped forward and stammered incoherent questions. The constables did not know what to do.

  Judge Dee hammered his gavel on the bench. He shouted in a stentorious voice:

  "Silence and order!"

  The murmur died out.

  "If I have to issue one more warning", Judge Dee said sternly, "I shall have the hall cleared! Everyone stand in his appointed place!"

  Woo had collapsed on the floor. His body shook with sobs. Headman Fang stood stiffly at attention. He bit his lips till the blood trickled from his chin.

  Judge Dee slowly stroked his beard.

  Then his deep voice broke the uneasy silence.

  "Junior Candidate Woo, you will realize that there is nothing left but to tell the entire story. If, as I gather from your last remark, I have endangered White Orchid's life by mentioning your meeting her in that deserted temple, it is you who are responsible for her plight. You had ample opportunity to warn me."

  The judge gave a sign to the constables. They offered Woo a cup of strong tea. He gulped it down. Then he said in a forlorn voice:

  "Her secret is now known to the entire town! She cannot be saved!"

  Judge Dee observed dryly:

  "Leave it to this tribunal to decide whether she can be saved or not! I repeat, tell the entire story!"

  Woo mastered himself. He began in a low voice:

  "Near the East Gate there stands a small Buddhist temple, called Hermitage of the Three Treasures. Many years ago, when the route to the west still led over this city, monks from Khotan built that hermitage. Later they left. The temple fell into decay, people of the neighbourhood took away the doors and other woodwork for firewood. But the magnificent wall paintings by the monks remained.

  I discovered those murals by accident when I was roaming over the city in search of Buddhist works of art. I often went there and made copies of the murals. I took a liking to the small secluded garden behind the temple. I used to stroll out there at night to enjoy the moon.

  One evening, about three weeks ago, I had been drinking heavily. I resolved to walk to the temple to let my head cool in the garden there.

  When I was sitting on the stone bench, I suddenly saw a girl enter the garden."

  Woo bent his head further down. Deep silence reigned in the court hall.

  Woo looked up with unseeing eyes. He went on:

  "She seemed to me our Lady Kwan Yin descended upon earth. She was clad in a single thin robe of white silk. A white silk shawl covered her head. Her lovely face bore an expression of deep, unutterable sadness, tears glistened on her pale cheeks. Those heavenly features are engraved on my mind. I shall remember them as long as I live!"

  He covered his face with his hands. Then he let his arms drop listlessly.

  "I rushed to her, stammering I know not what confused words. She shrank back in fright and whispered: 'Don't speak, go away! I am afraid!' I sank to my knees in front of her and implored her to trust me.

  She drew her robe closer round her and said in a low voice: T have orders never to leave the house, but tonight I slipped away. I must go back now, else I shall be killed! Tell no one. I shall come again!'

  Then a cloud obscured the moon. In the darkness I faintly heard her quick footsteps.

  That night I searched the temple and its neighbourhood for hours. But I could find no trace of her."

  Woo paused. Judge Dee gave a sign to offer him another cup of tea. Woo impatiently shook his head and continued:

  "Since that unforgettable evening I have gone to that temple nearly every night. But she never came. It is clear that she is kept a prisoner. Now that her secret visit to the temple is known, the fiend that keeps her will kill her!"

  Woo broke out in sobs.

  After a short pause Judge Dee spoke:

  "Now you see for yourself how dangerous it is not to tell the complete truth. The tribunal shall do all that is possible to locate that girl. You, meanwhile, had now better confess how you murdered General Ding!"

  Woo cried:

  woo feng's strange encounter in the templegarden

  "I shall confess anything you like! But not now. I beseech Your Honour
to send out your men now to save that girl! It may yet not be too late!"

  Judge Dee shrugged his shoulders. He nodded to the constables. They dragged Woo up and led him back to the jail.

  "Candidate Ding", the judge spoke, "this is quite an unexpected development. Evidently it has nothing to do with Woo's murdering your father. It is clear, however, that the accused is in no condition to be interrogated further.

  I here break off the hearing of your case. It will be continued in due time."

  The judge let his gavel descend on the bench. Then he rose and left the dais.

  The crowd of spectators slowly filed out of the court hall, busily discussing amongst each other the exciting new developments.

  While Judge Dee changed in his informal robe he ordered Sergeant Hoong to call Headman Fang.

  Ma Joong and Tao Gan sat down on footstools by the side of the judge's desk.

  When the headman had entered Judge Dee said:

  "Headman, this is a great shock for you. It is unfortunate that I did not show you that picture earlier, but I could not have surmised that it was in any way connected with your eldest daughter. However, this is the first definite indication of her whereabouts."

  While speaking the judge had taken up his vermilion brush and filled out three official forms.

  "You will now", he continued, "collect twenty armed constables and go immediately to that Hermitage of the Three Treasures. Ma Joong and Tao Gan shall direct you. They are the two best men I have, with great experience in such work. These warrants will authorize you to enter and search every house in that quarter!"

  The judge impressed the large seal of the tribunal on the documents and handed them to Ma Joong.

  Ma Joong hastily stuffed them in his sleeve. Then all three rushed away.

  Judge Dee ordered the clerk to bring a pot of hot tea. When he had drunk a cup he said to Sergeant Hoong:

  "I am glad that the headman has at least some information about his missing daughter. Now it has come out that it was she who is depicted on Woo's paintings, I realize that there is some resemblance to Fang's youngest daughter, Dark Orchid. I ought to have noticed that immediately!"