The Emperor's Pearl

Judge Dee nodded his approval, and they rode on. Having passed the market, where the vendors were busy putting up their stalls, they took the road to the forest. Arrived at the old pine-tree that marked the entrance to the Tong property, Judge Dee dismounted and fastened the reins to its gnarled trunk. The sergeant followed his example. They went on ahead on foot.

The judge found that in broad daylight the walk to the deserted villa did not take very long. Soon they saw the weather-beaten gatehouse and the ivy-overgrown walls.

When Judge Dee was passing underneath the arched doorway leading to the walled-in garden, he suddenly halted and laid his hand on Hoong's arm. A tall, broad-shouldered man clad in a long black robe and wearing a black gauze cap was standing in front of the pavilion, with his back towards them. The door of the pavilion stood ajar, the torn strip of paper with which it had been sealed fluttered in the morn­ing breeze.

'Hey there!' Judge Dee called out. 'Who are you and what are you doing here?'

The man in black turned round and silently looked the newcomers up and down with his lidded eyes. He had a placid, round face with a short moustache and a carefully trimmed ringbeard. When he had completed his leisurely scrutiny he spoke in a cultured voice:

'That abrupt address would ordinarily provoke an equally abrupt retort. Since, however, your carriage and manner suggest authority, I shall limit myself to the obser­vation that it is I who should ask the same questions. For you are trespassing on my property.'

The judge did not waste words. He said sharply:

'I am the magistrate of this district, conducting an official investigation. Answer my questions!'

The other made a low bow, then replied courteously:

'I have the honour to report that my name is Kwang Min. I am a retail drug merchant, from the capital. I pur­chased this property four years ago, from the former owner, Mr Tong I-kwan.'

'Strange things have happened here. I want proof of your identity.'

The man in black made another low bow, then took from his sleeve two papers, which he presented to the judge. The first was an identity document issued by the metropolitan governor, the second a detailed map of the entire Tong property, issued four years previously by the tribunal of Poo-yang, to Mr Kwang Min, the new owner. Giving the papers back, Judge Dee said:

'All right. Now tell me why you broke the official seal attached to the door of the pavilion over there. That's a criminal offence, you know!'

'I did not!' Kwang said indignantly. 'I found the door standing ajar.'

'Why did you come here on this unusual hour?'

'If Your Honour doesn't object to a rather long story, I —'

'I do object. So be brief!'

'The essential facts,' Mr Kwang resumed unperturbed, 'may be summed up as follows. Four years ago my customer Dr Pien Kia informed me by letter that this property could be purchased cheap, and advised me to buy, since the adjoin­ing forest contained a large number of mandrake plants. My firm is always keen to acquire such plots, for, as Your Honour is doubtless aware, the roots of the mandrake figure largely in the drug business. I consequently bought the property. Since, however, my firm was well supplied with the roots at that time, it was only two years later that I decided to send one of my surveyors to have a look. Then Dr Pien wrote me that there was a drought in this region, and warned me that the local people might resent my sur­veyor exploring the wood over there, which seems to be dedicated to the River Goddess. She is supposed to —'

'I know, I know,' Judge Dee interrupted him impatiently. 'Get on with your story!'

'I obey Your Honour's command. During the next two years I was fully occupied by other matters, it was only yesterday morning, when my barge had arrived at Marble Bridge, that I remembered I possessed a plot of land near by, and —'

'What brought you to Marble Bridge? A pleasure trip?'

'On the contrary,' Kwang replied stiffly, 'it was urgent business, connected with the affairs of my branch-office, further up the Canal. Three days ago I chartered a canal-junk, together with my friend and colleague Mr Sun, intend­ing to proceed north with the least possible delay. However, when our boatmen heard on arrival that at night a dragon­boat race would be held here on grand scale, the lazy rascals insisted on staying over here the night. Thinking that I might as well put this enforced delay to some good use, I sent a message to Dr Pien asking him to come to Marble Bridge at noon, and show me over the former Tong property. He replied that he was fully occupied with the preparations for the races, but that he would call on me late in the after­noon. He came for tea to my junk, and we agreed to meet here in the deserted house today, shortly after daybreak. I chose the early hour because it was—and still is, by Your Honour's leave—my intention to set sail again as soon as possible. Now I am waiting here for Dr Pien. I am pleased that a lucky chance brought Your Honour here also, for last night modesty prevented me from presenting myself.'