The Phantom of the Temple

'I see.' Judge Dee took a fan from his sleeve and began to fan himself. After some time, he said, 'All of this happened last year, before my arrival here. Since my information is mainly based on hearsay, I would greatly appreciate it if you would tell me briefly the circumstances of your daughter's disappearance. I failed to discover any concrete data in the archives here, you know.'

The old prefect frowned. Stroking his goatee with his thin hand he said, 'Jade is my only child, by my first wife who died three years ago. She is a rather clever but very headstrong girl. When she was getting on for eighteen, I selected Mr Lee Mai here as her future husband. I may add that Mr Lee had been assisting me in some financial matters, and I have found him a straight and well-educated man. Also, we are natives of the same district up north. My daughter approved of my choice. Unfortu­nately, however, I had engaged as secretary a young student called Yang Mou-te. He is a local man, well-behaved, and he came with good introductions. Alas, my advancing years are evidently blurring my powers of judgement. Yang turned out to be a scoundrel. Behind my back he made advances to my daughter.'

The banker bent and started to say something to the prefect, but the old gentleman shook his head vigorously.

'Hold your peace, Lee. Let me tell this in my own way! My daughter is ignorant of the ways of the world, and Yang succeeded in winning her affection. On the night of the tenth day of the ninth month, I told her after the even­ing rice that the following day I would consult a diviner about an auspicious day for her wedding to Mr Lee. Imagine my shocked astonishment when she coolly told me she would not marry Lee because she was in love with my secretary Yang! I had the scoundrel summoned at once, but he had gone out, and I spoke harshly to my daughter, very harshly, I admit. Who wouldn't, when confronted with such an outrageous affair? She jumped up and ran away.'

The prefect took a sip from his tea, shaking his head.

'Then I made a big mistake, sir. I assumed that Jade had run to her aunt, an old lady who lives in the street behind ours. She is a sister of my first wife, and Jade liked her very much. I thought that my daughter had gone to seek consolation there, and would be back the next morn­ing, to apologize to me. When, at noon, she had not yet returned, I sent my housemaster to fetch her. He was told that Jade hadn't been there at all. I summoned Yang, but that rascal disclaimed all knowledge of her disappear­ance, and also brazenly stated that he had never exchanged more than a casual remark with her. I called him a liar, and had inquiries made. Yang had indeed passed the evening in a house of assignation. I dismissed the fellow anyway, of course. Then I called Mr Lee, and we made the most exhaustive inquiries, sparing no costs. But Jade had disappeared without leaving a trace. The logical conclusion was that she had been kidnapped when on her way to her aunt.'

'Why didn't you report this immediately to the tri­bunal, sir?' Judge Dee asked. 'In the case of a missing person, the authorities can take a number of effective routine measures and—'

'In the first place,' Woo interrupted, 'your predecessor was an ass, sir. And a coward to boot, for he didn't dare to lift a finger against Chien Mow, that abominable rene­gade who usurped power here.' He angrily tugged at his goatee. 'Second, I am an old-fashioned man, sir. The honour of my family means a great deal to me. I didn't want the fact that my daughter had been kidnapped to become public knowledge. Mr Lee entirely concurred with that view.'

'I plan to marry her, Your Honour,' the tall man said quietly. 'Regardless of what may have happened to her.'

'I appreciate your loyalty, Mr Lee,' the judge said dryly. 'But you gave Mr Woo wrong advice. The only correct course would have been to report the disappear­ance, and at once.'

The ex-prefect brushed the remark aside with an im­patient gesture.

'Now, what did you learn about my daughter, sir? Is she still alive?'

Judge Dee put the fan back into his sleeve, and took from it a sheaf of papers. He leafed through them till he found his notes concerning Ma Joong's visit to the sor­ceress. Looking up, he asked, 'Was your daughter born on the fourth day of the fifth month, of the year of the Mouse?'

'Certainly, sir. You can find that in the records here in your chancery.'

'Exactly. Well, to my regret I can only tell you that the information I received regarding your daughter is very vague. At the present stage I could tell you nothing without running the risk of either unduly distressing you, or causing you to entertain hopes that may prove false. That's all I can say at this moment.'

'You'll handle the case as you see fit, sir,' Woo said stiffly. 'I have, however, one humble request to make of you. If your investigation reaches the stage that you feel compelled to take legal action, I'd be most grate­ful if you'd kindly appraise me in advance of the evidence.'

Judge Dee sipped his tea. He was wondering what his guest meant. The request seemed perfectly superfluous. Putting his cup down he said, 'I would've done so as a matter of course, sir. I—'