The portly shape of Magistrate Lo appeared in the door of the palankeen. His rotund body was draped in an elegant blue silk robe, and he wore his black velvet cap at a rakish angle. He hurriedly descended, bowed in front of Judge Dee and exclaimed:
'What lucky chance brought you here to Paradise Island, Elder Brother? You are exactly the man I need! How delightful to meet you again!'
'The pleasure is all mine! I am on my way back to Poo-yang, from the capital. I had planned to travel to Chin-hwa city tomorrow, in order to offer you my respects and to thank you for your kind hospitality last year.'
'Nothing worth talking about!' Lo shouted. His round face with the pointed moustache and the wispy short beard was creased in a broad smile. 'It was an honour to my district that the two young ladies I provided for you helped to expose those rascally monks! Heavens, Dee, that case of the Buddhist Temple was talked about all over the province!'
'A bit too much!' Judge Dee remarked with a wry smile. 'The Buddhist clique got the Metropolitan Court to summon me to the capital for a review of the case. They asked me many questions, but in the end declared themselves satisfied. Let's go inside, I shall tell you all about it over a cup of tea.'
Lo quickly stepped up close to him. Laying his pudgy hand on Judge Dee's arm, he said in a low, confidential voice:
'Can't do that, Elder Brother! A most pressing affair demands my immediate return to the city. Listen, Dee, you must help me! I have been staying here for two days, to investigate a suicide. Very plain case, only it so happens the fellow had just come out first in the Palace examinations, and had been appointed a member of the Imperial Academy. He tarried here on his way back home, got involved with a woman — the old story. Fellow called Lee, son of Dr Lee, the famous Censor. I didn't get round to writing out all the official papers. Do me a favour, Dee, stay here one day and wind up that affair for me, will you? Mere matter of routine! I really must leave now.'
JUDGE DEE AND MAGISTRATE LO
Judge Dee didn't relish acting for his colleague in a locality he was completely unfamiliar with, but he could not very well refuse. He said:
'Of course I'll do what I can to help you, Lo.' ' Magnificent! "Well, then, I'll say goodbye!' ' One moment!' Judge Dee said hurriedly. ' I have no authority here, you must appoint me Assessor of the tribunal of Chin-hwa.'
'I appoint you here and now!' Magistrate Lo declared grandly and turned to his palankeen.
'You'll have to put that in writing, my friend!' the judge said with an indulgent smile. 'That's the law!'
'Good Heavens, more delay!' Magistrate Lo exclaimed testily. He quickly looked up and down the street, then pulled Judge Dee with him into the entrance hall of the hostel. Standing at the counter he grabbed a sheet of paper and a writing brush. Suddenly he paused and muttered, annoyed:
'Holy Heaven, how does the official formula run again?' Judge Dee took the brush over from him and jotted down the text of the authorization. Then he took another sheet, and copied it.' We'll affix our seals and thumbmarks,' he said, 'then we are all set. You take the original with you and forward it to our boss, the Prefect, at your earliest convenience. I keep the copy.'
'You are awfully good at all those things!' Magistrate Lo said gratefully. 'Sleep with the Official Letterwriter under your pillow, I imagine!'
While Lo was impressing his seal on the papers, Judge Dee asked:
'Who is in charge of this island?'
'Oh,' Lo replied airily,' a fellow called Peng Dai or Tai, he is the warden of the resort. Wonderful man, knows absolutely everything that's going on here. He owns all the gambling halls, you know, and the brothels too. He'll tell you all you need. Send the report to me when you are through, any time that suits you!' Drawing him outside again, he added: 'Many thanks, Dee, I do appreciate this!' He was about to ascend his palankeen when he saw a constable lighting a large lampion, marked in red letters: 'The Magistrate of Chin-hwa'. 'Put that out, you fool!' Lo barked at him. And, to Judge Dee: 'Don't like to throw my weight about, you know! 'Govern by benevolence'—as our Master Confucius says. Well, goodbye! '
He disappeared into the palankeen, and the bearers placed the thick shafts on their calloused shoulders. Suddenly the window-curtain was pulled aside and Lo poked his round head outside.
'Just remembered the warden's correct name, Dee! Feng Dai the man is called. Able fellow, you'll meet him at the dinner.'
'What dinner?' Judge Dee asked, bewildered.
'Oh, didn't I tell you? Tonight the notables of Paradise Island are giving a dinner for me in the Crane Bower, and you'll have to deputize for me, of course. Can't disappoint them. You'll enjoy it, Dee, delicious food they serve there, especially their roast duck. Tell them I am sorry, will you? Called away on urgent business, pressing affairs of state, and so on. You know best how to formulate those things. Don't forget to take some sweet sauce with the roast duck!'
The curtain was drawn closed, and the cortege disappeared in the darkness. The constables running in front did not beat their gongs or shout to make way for the magistrate, as was the custom.
'Why all the excitement?' Ma Joong asked perplexedly.
'Evidently some unpleasant affair cropped up in Chin-hwa during his absence,' said the judge. He slowly rolled up the authorization and put it in his sleeve. Ma Joong suddenly grinned and said, with satisfaction:
'Anyway, we'll now have a couple of days in this gay place!'
'One day only,' Judge Dee said firmly. 'I gained one day by meeting Magistrate Lo here, and that one day I shall devote to his affairs — not more. Let's go back to the hostel, I have to change into a formal robe for that accursed dinner!'
Back in the Hostel of Eternal Bliss, Judge Dee told the manager that he would be dining in the Crane Bower, and to have a rented palankeen stand ready in front of the gate to take him there. They went on to the Red Room, where Ma Joong helped the judge to don his ceremonial robe of green brocade, and the winged judge's cap of black velvet. Judge Dee saw that the maid had drawn the red curtains of the bedstead open, and placed a teapot in the padded basket on the table. He doused the candles and went out, followed by Ma Joong.
When the judge had locked the door and was about to put the large key in his sleeve, he halted, and said:
'I'd better leave this heavy key in the door. I have nothing to conceal!'
He inserted the key into the lock again, and they walked to the front courtyard. Eight bearers stood waiting there by the shafts of a large palankeen. Judge Dee ascended, motioning Ma Joong to join him inside.
While they were being carried through the noisy streets the judge said:
'After we have arrived at the restaurant and you have announced me, you go and make the rounds of the gambling halls and winehouses. Make discreet inquiries about the Academician's suicide—how long he had been staying here, what people he associated with, in short everything you can learn. According to my friend Lo, it's a straightforward case, but one never knows with suicides. I'll leave the dinner as early as I can. If you don't find me there, wait for me in my rooms in the Hostel of Eternal Bliss.'
The palankeen was being lowered to the ground. When they had stepped down into the street, Judge Dee looked up, amazed at the towering edifice in front of him. A flight of twelve white marble steps, flanked by life-size bronze lions, led up to a high double door, lacquered a brilliant red and lavishly decorated with brass ornaments. Over it hung a huge gilded board, inscribed with two large black letters reading 'Crane Bower'. Above rose second and third stories, each surrounded by a covered balcony of carved wood, and screened by intricate lattice work, all gilded. Enormous lanterns, covered with delicately painted silk, were suspended all along the upturned eaves. He had heard much about the astonishing display of wealth on Paradise Island, but he had not expected such dazzling luxury.