Poets and Murder

There was a shocked silence. The Court Poet had grown red in the face. Giving the poetess an angry look, he said, mastering his voice with difficulty:

'You refer to conditions that obtain only temporarily, Yoo-lan. And in regions struck by floods or droughts.'

'They obtain always and everywhere. And you know it!' she told him curtly.

Magistrate Lo quickly clapped his hands. The musicians began a gay, fetching melody, and two dancing-girls came drifting in. Both were very young. One wore a long, flowing dress of transparent white gauze, the other an azure-blue robe. After they had dropped a low curtsey in front of the main table, they lifted their arms above their heads and began to turn slowly, the ends of their long sleeves whirling around them in wide circles. While the one danced on the tips of her tiny feet, the other bent one knee, and they alternated these postures in quick succession. It was the well-known number 'Two Swallows in Spring', and although the girls did their best, they seemed conscious of their nakedness under the thin robes, and lacked the abandon of experienced dancers. The guests did not pay much attention to them and there was a general conversation while the servants brought in steaming hot dishes.

Judge Dee covertly observed the drawn face of his neigh­bour who was listlessly picking at her food. He knew from her biography that she had actually experienced abject poverty, and he appreciated her sincerity. But her poem had been unkind to their genial host, rude, even. He bent over to her and asked:

'Don't you think your poem was a bit unkind? I know that despite his debonair manner Magistrate Lo is a most con­scientious official, who uses his private means not only for entertaining us, but also for contributing generously to all charitable organizations.'

'Who wants charity?' she asked with disdain.

'Wanted or not, it still helps a lot of people,' Judge Dee remarked dryly. He couldn't make out this strange woman.

The music stopped and the two young dancers made their bow. There was half-hearted applause. New dishes were being carried to the tables, and fresh wine was brought out. Then Lo rose from his chair, and said with a broad smile:

'The performance you witnessed just now was but a modest introduction to the main programme! After the stewed carp has been served, there'll be a brief interval, for watching the fireworks in the garden, from the balcony. Afterwards you'll see a rare old dance, peculiar to this region. It'll be performed by the dancer Small Phoenix, accompanied by two flutes and the small drum. The title of the melody is "Black Fox Lay".'

He resumed his seat amidst the astonished murmur of the guests.

'Excellent idea, Lo,' the Academician shouted. 'At long last a dance I've never seen before!’

'Very interesting,' the Court Poet commented. 'As a native of this district, I know that there exists an old fox-lore here. Never heard about that particular dance, though.'

The sexton asked Lo in his hoarse, croaking voice:

'Do you think it's right to have a magic dance at this ...'

The rest was lost in the animated music the orchestra had struck up. Judge Dee wanted to start another conversation with the poetess, but she said curtly:

'Later, please! I like this music. Used to dance to it, for­merly.'

The judge devoted his attention to the carp stewed in a sweet-sour sauce which was indeed delicious. Suddenly a swishing sound came from outside. A rocket flew up, leaving a string of coloured lights in its wake.

'On to the balcony, please!' Magistrate Lo shouted. And to the housemaster who was standing by the screen, 'Douse all the lights!'

They all rose and went out on the balcony. Judge Dee stood himself at the red-lacquered balustrade, beside the poetess. Lo was on her other side, and Counsellor Kao and the old housemaster stood a little further along. Looking over his shoulder, the judge vaguely saw the tall figure of the Academician. He supposed that Chang and the sexton were standing there too, but he couldn't see them for all the lamps and candles had been put out and the banquet hall was a mass of indistinct black shadow.