The Emperor's Pearl

When they were seated at the rickety corner-table with a bowl of reeking liquor in front of them, Sergeant Hoong said affably:

'I shan't take much of your valuable time, Sheng Pa. I only wanted to ask you for some information. About two vagrant students, fellows called Tong Mai and Sia Kwang. Scarface Sia, the latter is often called.'

Sheng Pa silently scratched his bare paunch. After a while he said ponderously:

'Vagrant young men of letters, eh? No sir, I wouldn't know nothing about those. Wouldn't like to know, either. Unlettered crooks being bad enough, it follows that lettered ones, learning many more dirty tricks from the books, are even worse. Don't wonder they get themselves into all sorts of trouble. I won't have any truck with them. Never.'

'One of them is dead. Had an accident, during the races.'

'May his soul rest in peace!' Sheng Pa said piously.

'Did you go to the races?'

'Me? No. I don't go in for betting. Can't afford it.'

'Come now, those few coppers?'

'Few coppers, you say? Let me tell you, Mister Sergeant, that lots of people lost a tidy bit on Number Nine! Includ­ing perhaps Pien the Leech, the owner. Very unfortunate for the doctor — if he lost, that is. My men told me that he has been a little short of cash, lately.' He looked studiously at his wine-cup, then added darkly: 'If there's big money involved, accidents will happen.'

'Who profited by the doctor's boat losing?'

Sheng Pa looked up and replied slowly:

'A tall question, Mister Sergeant, a very tall question! Those who corner bets are sly rascals, and no mistake! They work through dozens of touts and middlemen. Who knows where the money finally goes to? Not me, sir!'

'Our judge would like to know, you see. It may be con­nected with a case he is investigating.'

'Involving a young man of letters, maybe.' The giant sadly shook his head, then repeated firmly: 'Very sorry I can't oblige.'

'I wouldn't be astonished,' Sergeant Hoong continued unabashed, 'if our judge handed out a good silver piece to the man who told him.'

Sheng Pa rolled up his large eyes.

'His Excellency the Judge!' he exclaimed ecstatically. 'Now, why didn't you say at once that it's him who wants to know! Have you ever known me to refuse co-operation with the high authorities? Pass by here tomorrow, Mister Sergeant, and maybe you'll find I'll be able to tell you a thing or two.'

Sergeant Hoong nodded and wanted to get up. But his host laid his large hand on his arm and asked reproachfully:

'What's the hurry, Mister Sergeant?' As Hoong reluct­antly sat down again Sheng Pa went on earnestly: 'I like you, Mister Sergeant ! It is my considered opinion that you are an honest man. The people of this city, and I mean the people that matter, mind you, hold you in high esteem.'

Hoong reflected sadly that this was a preliminary to a request for an advance on Judge Dee's reward. Feeling in his sleeve for money, he mumbled some self-deprecatory remarks. Sheng Pa interrupted him quickly:

'Don't let modesty obscure truth, sir! You are a man of wide and varied experience, and your years have bestowed upon you mature wisdom. Therefore I wish to entrust you with a delicate mission.' Seeing Hoong's blank face he added: 'No, you can't refuse an inoffensive old man a small favour! A man who is, moreover, grievously ill.'

'You don't look ill!' Hoong remarked. He had hardly recovered from his astonishment.

'It doesn't show, Mister Sergeant. It's in here, right inside my stomach.' There was a rumbling sound in his paunch, then he belched so loudly that the beggars stopped talking to give their boss an admiring look. 'You see? In my stomach. The most vital spot!'

'What's wrong with you?'

Sheng Pa leaned over to him and whispered hoarsely:

'It's a woman!'

The fat giant looked so unhappy that Sergeant Hoong held back the jocular remark that was on his lips. Instead he asked:

'Who is the lucky lady?'

'Lady is right!' Sheng Pa said with satisfaction. 'She was attached to the Imperial Court at one time. In the capital. She's a delicate creature. Sensitive. Therefore, she must be approached with the, ah . . . greatest circumspec­tion.'

The sergeant gave his host a sharp look. A woman who had worked in the palace? Suddenly he sat up straight.

'Does the affair concern a pearl?' he asked eagerly.

'Wonderful! You always seem to know at once the right word, Mister Sergeant! A pearl, that's what she is! A pearl among women. Go to see her, sir, and put in a word for me. But with the greatest care, mind you! It wouldn't do to offend her maidenly modesty!'

Now the sergeant was completely at a loss. So it had nothing to do with the stolen pearl, after all. After some hesitation he asked:

'Do you want me to go to her as matchmaker, and pro­pose on behalf of you?'