The Emperor's Pearl

While the coroner began to go over Pien's chest with his sensitive fingers, Judge Dee stooped and asked:

'How did it happen, doctor?'

'I was walking along here, on my way to see a woman in labour. In Halfmoon Street, over on the other side of the bridge. There was no one about. I . . .' He broke off, his lips twitched in pain as the coroner felt the ribs.

'The villain attacked him from behind!' the curio-dealer blurted out angrily.

'I suddenly heard furtive footsteps behind me,' Dr Pien went on in a weak voice. 'Just when I wanted to look round, I received a blow against the left side of my head that smashed me against the wall. I fell down, half-dazed. I vaguely saw a tall ruffian looming over me. I began to shout for help, but he silenced me by kicking me viciously. Then he bent over me and tore my robe loose. Suddenly he stopped. I saw him run away towards the bridge, with Mr Yang behind him.'

'He was a tall fellow, clad in a dark-brown jacket and trousers, sir!' Yang said excitedly. 'He had bound his hair up with a rag.'

'Could you see his face, Mr Yang?' Judge Dee asked.

'Got only a glimpse, sir. Rather round face, with short beard and whiskers. That's about it, isn't it, doctor?'

Dr Pien nodded.

'Do you as a rule carry much money on your person?' the judge asked him. As Pien shook his head, Judge Dee asked again: 'No important papers?'

'A few prescriptions, and one or two receipted bills,' Dr Pien muttered.

The coroner rose. He said cheerfully:

'No need to worry, doctor! Your chest is badly bruised, but no ribs broken, as far as I can see. Right elbow is wrenched, and your knee too. I would like to examine you more carefully in my office.'

'Put the doctor on the stretcher,' Judge Dee told the coroner. And, to the headman: 'Send four of your men to Halfmoon Street. Let them make a thorough search for a ruffian as just described by Mr Yang. Fellow is left-handed.' Thereupon the judge turned to the gatekeeper and snapped at him: 'Didn't you see or hear anything? What were you doing? Did nobody ever tell you that you are supposed to guard the temple?'

'I ... I had just dozed off, Excellency!' the frightened man stammered. 'In my lodge next to the gate, I was. I was roused by Mr Yang hammering on the door.'

'I would have been having my afternoon nap too,' Yang said. 'It so happened, however, that my assistant had been sorting out a rather valuable collection of jade pieces in the shop downstairs, so I went down to make sure he had locked everything away properly before he left for his noon rice. When I was down in the shop I heard a cry for help outside, and rushed out into the street at once. Saw the ruffian tearing at Dr Pien's robe. He heard me and ran. I went after him, but I wasn't fast enough. Old age is catch­ing up with me, I am afraid,' he added with a rueful smile.

'You probably saved the doctor's life, Mr Yang,' the judge said. 'You may come with us to the tribunal now, and write out an official statement. Lower the stretcher, constable! And don't touch the doctor!'

He watched the efforts of the coroner and Mr Yang to get Dr Pien on to the stretcher. With Sergeant Hoong's help they got him comfortably established there. As the two constables were carefully lifting the stretcher up, the judge said in an undertone to Hoong:

'The time was well chosen. During the siesta few persons are about. And the quarter across the bridge is a veritable rabbit-warren, an excellent place to hide.' He motioned the sergeant and the headman to follow him.

While the three men were walking back to the tribunal, with the stretcher bearers and the coroner and Yang behind them, Judge Dee said to the headman:

'Take a horse and ride to the landing-stage as fast as you can. Board Mr Kwang's junk, and summon him to come to the tribunal. If he isn't there, you wait for him. Hurry up!' As the headman ran ahead, the judge whispered to Sergeant Hoong: 'You go to Mr Kou's house at once, and check whether he is taking his siesta!'

When Judge Dee was back in his private office, he sat down at his desk and poured himself a cup of tea. He emptied it in one draught, then leaned his elbows on the desk. Knitting his eyebrows he tried to bring some order in the ideas his mind was teeming with. Something was wrong about this latest development, something connected with a vague intuition he had felt all along about this case. His soaking wet, grey robe was clinging to his back and shoulders, but he did not even notice it.

After a long while he suddenly straightened himself. He muttered: 'Yes, that could be the solution! Everything fits — except the motive!' He sat back in his chair, and tried to make up his mind what would be the wisest course to follow. The explanation that had occurred to him was not beyond the bounds of probability; but was he justified to take action on the basis of an intuitive feeling only? Surely a theory arrived at by careful logical deduction should take precedence over mere intuition? Or could he work out perhaps a scheme that would enable him to test his intuition and his logical reasoning — both at the same time? Stroking his long beard he again sank into deep thought.

Thus the coroner found him when he came to report, half an hour later.

'Dr Pien is doing all right, Your Honour,' he said with satisfaction. 'I have put an ointment on his chest, bandaged it, and placed his right arm in a sling. He can walk — with a stick, that is. The doctor asked whether he could go home now, sir. He wants to take a good rest.'