Since, as he now knew, any guest in the dining room on the flower boat could have read the dancer's words from her lips, any one of them could have been a member of the White Lotus and decided to murder her. Han Yung-han could be innocent, or he could be their leader! And so could Liu Fei-po! Liu's great wealth, his frequent travels, his resentment against the government-all these factors seemed to point to him as a likely suspect. Heavens, the entire company present at the banquet could have conspired together to murder the courtesan! He angrily shook his head; the awful threat of the White Lotus was having an effect already: it prevented him from thinking logically. He must reconsider once more all the facts, beginning from the beginning…
The candle started to splutter. The judge got up with a sigh. He took off his upper robe and cap, and stretched himself out on the wooden couch.
Thirteenth Chapter
The following morning, at dawn, Judge Dee and his three companions left the boundary village. A brisk ride took them back to the city before noon.
The judge went straight to his own quarters, took a hot bath and put on a summer dress of thin blue cotton. Then he went to his private office, and introduced Tao Gan to Sergeant Hoong. Then Ma Joong and Chiao Tai also came in. All seated themselves on tabourets in front of Judge Dee's desk. He noticed that Tao Gan behaved himself with the modesty expected of a newcomer, yet without undue humility. This strange man could evidently adapt himself to any situation.
Judge Dee told Hoong they had found no country house, but that Tao Gan's theory opened new possibilities. Then he ordered the Sergeant to report.
Hoong took a sheet with notes from his sleeve and began:
"We have in the archives only a few routine documents concerning Guildmaster Wang: registrations of his children, tax declarations, etc. But our senior scribe knows him fairly well. He told me that Wang is very wealthy; he owns the two largest gold and jewelry shops in town. Although he is admittedly fond of wine and women, he is considered a sound businessman and is trusted by everyone. He seems to have had some financial setbacks of late; he had to postpone payments of some large amounts due to dealers who supply his gold stock, but since they know that before long he'll recoup his losses, they don't worry in the least.
"Soo also has a good reputation. People regretted, however, that he fell in love so deeply with the courtesan Almond Blossom, who would have none of him. Soo was very depressed about that. It is generally said that it's all for the best that she died; people hope that Soo, when he has got over his grief, will marry a decent, steady woman."
The sergeant consulted his notes and continued:
"Then I strolled to the street where Wan I-fan lives. He is not very popular; people think he is an underhanded fellow who loves to drive a hard bargain. He is a kind of handyman of Liu Fei-po, and occasionally collects small debts for him. Of course, I didn't want to ask in the shops about Wan's daughter, so as not to compromise her. But when I saw on the street corner an old crone selling combs, rouge and face powder I struck up a conversation with her. Those women frequent the women's quarters and always know all that goes on there. I asked her whether she knew Wan's daughter."
The sergeant gave the judge a self-conscious look, then went on diffidently:
"The old woman said at once: 'You are still very enterprising for your age, aren't you, sir? Well, she asks two strings of coppers for the evenings and four for the whole night, but the gentlemen are always very satisfied.' I explained to her that I was a matchmaker, acting on behalf of a grocer in the west quarter, and that the people there had mentioned Miss Wan. 'Those of the west quarter never know what they are talking about!' the procuress said contemptuously. 'Everybody here knows that after her mother's death, Miss Wan started to live freely. Wan tried to sell her to a professor, but that fellow knew better! Now she earns her own money, and her father turns a blind eye to it. He is as stingy as they make them, and he's mighty glad he needn't provide for her!' "
"That means that the impudent rascal has lied in court!" Judge Dee exclaimed angrily. "He'll hear about this! Well, how did it fare at Councilor Liang's?"
"Liang Fen seems an intelligent youngster," Floong replied. "I have been working with him more than two hours on the accounts. Everything points indeed to the conclusion that the Councilor is selling out his estates at considerable loss in order to obtain quickly a large amount of gold. But we couldn't trace what he is doing with all that money. I can well imagine that the secretary is worried."
Tao Gan, who had been listening intently, now observed:
"They say that figures don't lie, Your Honor, but nothing is farther from the truth. It all depends on the way they are handled! Perhaps the nephew manipulated the books in order to conceal his own malversations!"
"That possibility had already occurred to us," the judge remarked. "It's an annoying situation!"
"While riding back to the city this morning," Tao Gan resumed, "Ma Joong told me about the case Liu versus Djang. Is it quite certain that besides the old caretaker no other monk is living in the Buddhist Temple?"
Judge Dee looked questioningly at Ma Joong, who answered at once:
"Absolutely! I searched the entire temple, including the garden."
"That's queer!" Tao Gan said. "When I was in town the other day I happened to pass there. I saw a monk standing behind a pillar at the gate, craning his neck to peer inside. Since I am of an inquisitive disposition I walked up to him to assist him in peering. Then he gave me a startled look and quickly went away."
"Did that monk have a pale, haggard face?" Judge Dee asked eagerly.
"No, Your Honor," Tao Gan replied, "it was a hefty fellow with a bloated look. In fact he didn't look like a real monk to me."
"Then it can't have been the fellow whom I saw outside the bridal room," said the judge. "I have now a job for you, Tao Gan. We know that when the carpenter Mao Yuan left Dr. Djang's house he had just been paid, and we also know that he liked drinking and gambling. It is possible that he was murdered for his money, for we didn't find one copper on the corpse. You know that I suspect Dr. Djang of being concerned in his murder, but we must explore all possibilities. Go now and make the rounds of the gambling dens of this city, and inquire about Mao Yuan. I assume that you know how to find those places! Ma Joong, go back once more to the Inn of the Red Carp, and ask the head of the beggars to what place in Chiang-pei Mao Loo went. In the noodle restaurant he mentioned it, but I have forgotten what the place is called. What matters must be dealt with during the noon session, Hoong?"
While the sergeant and Chiao Tai started laying out several dossiers on the desk, Ma Joong and Tao Gan left the office together.
In the courtyard Tao Gan said to Ma Joong:
"I am glad I can do that job about the carpenter right now.
News travels fast in the underworld; it'll be known soon that I am now working for the tribunal. By the way, where is that Inn of the Red Carp? I thought I knew this town fairly well already, but I never saw the place."
"You didn't miss anything!" Ma Joong replied. "It's a dirty joint, somewhere behind the fish market. Good luck!"
Tao Gan went downtown, and entered the west quarter. He went through a rabbit warren of narrow alleys, and halted in front of a small vegetable shop. Picking his way carefully among the vats of pickled cabbage, he grunted a greeting at the shopkeeper and made for the staircase at the back.