Judge Dee at Work

'Didn't he receive or send any letters?'

'Not that I know of, sir.' The steward hesitated a moment. 'From some chance remarks of his about his former life in the capital I gathered that his wife had left him. It seemed that she was of a very jealous disposition.' He gave his employer an anxious glance. As he saw that Ling was staring ahead and didn't seem to be listening, he went on with more self-assurance: 'Mr Wang had no private means at all, sir, and he was very parsimonious. He hardly spent one cent of his salary, never even took a sedan chair when he went out on his day off. But he must have been a wealthy man once, I could tell that from some small mannerisms of his. I think that he was even an official once, for sometimes when caught off guard he would address me in rather an authori­tative tone. I understand he lost everything, his money and his official position. Didn't seem to mind, though. Once he said to me: "Money is of no use if you don't enjoy life spending it; and when your money is spent, official life has lost its glamour." Rather a frivolous remark coming from such a learned gentleman, I thought, sir — if I may make so bold, sir.'

Ling glared at him and said with a sneer, 'You seem to find time hanging heavily on your hands in this household! Gossiping instead of supervising the servants!’

'Let the man speak!’ the judge snapped at Ling. And to the steward: 'Was there absolutely no clue as to where Mr Wang used to go on his days off? You must know; you saw him go in and out, didn't you?'

The steward frowned. Then he replied, 'Well, it did strike me that Mr Wang always seemed happy when he went, but when he came back he was usually rather depressed. He had melancholy moods at times. Never interfered with his teaching, though, sir. He was always ready to answer difficult questions, the young miss said the other day.'

'You stated that Wang only taught your grandchildren,' the judge said sharply to Ling. 'Now it appears that he also taught your daughter!’

The guildmaster gave his steward a furious look. He moistened his lips, then replied curtly, 'He did. Until she was married, two months ago.'

'I see.' Judge Dee rose from his chair and told the steward: 'Show me Mr Wang's room!' He motioned to Sergeant Hoong to follow him. As Ling made a move to join them, the judge said: -'Your presence is not required.'

The steward led the judge and Hoong through a maze of cor­ridors to the back yard of the extensive compound. He unlocked a narrow door, lifted the candle and showed them a small, poorly furnished room. There was only a bamboo couch, a simple writing-desk with a straight-backed chair, a bamboo rack with a few books and a black-leather clothes-box. The walls were covered with long strips of paper, bearing ink-sketches of orchids, done with con­siderable skill. Following Judge Dee's glance, the steward said:

'That was Mr Wang's only hobby, sir. He loved orchids, knew everything about tending them.'

'Didn't he have a few potted orchids about?' the judge asked.

'No, sir. I don't think he could afford to buy them — they are quite expensive, sir!’

Judge Dee nodded. He picked up a few of the dog-eared volumes from the book rack and glanced through them. It was romantic poetry, in cheap editions. Then he opened the clothes-box. It was stuffed with men's garments, worn threadbare, but of good quality. The cash box at the bottom of the box contained only some small change. The judge turned to the desk. The drawer had no lock. Inside were the usual writing materials, but no money and not a scrap of inscribed paper, not even a receipted bill. He slammed the drawer shut and angrily asked the steward, 'Who has rifled this room during Mr Wang's absence?'

'Nobody has been here, Your Honour!’ the frightened steward stammered. 'Mr Wang always locked the door when he went out, and I have the only spare key.'

'You yourself told me that Wang didn't spend a cent, didn't you? What has happened to his savings over the past year? There's only some small change here!’

The steward shook his head in bewilderment. 'I really couldn't say, Your Honour! I am sure nobody came in here. And all the servants have been with us for years. There has never been any pilfering, I can assure you, sir!'

Judge Dee remained standing for a while by the desk. He stared at the paintings, slowly tugging at his moustache. Then he turned round and said: 'Take us back to the hall!’ While the steward was conducting them again through the winding corridors, Judge Dee remarked casually, 'This residence is situated in a nice, quiet neighbourhood.'

'Oh yes, indeed, sir, very quiet and respectable!'

'It's exactly in such a nice, respectable neighbourhood that one finds the better houses of assignation,' the judge remarked dryly. 'Are there any near here?'

The steward seemed taken aback by this unexpected question. He cleared his throat and replied difiidently, 'Only one, sir, two streets away. It's kept by a Mrs Kwang — very high class, visited by the best people only, sir. Never any brawls or other trouble there, sir.'