The Emperor's Pearl

'But why should the criminal want a domino, sir?'

'Because he has an alert mind,' the judge answered with a wan smile, 'much more alert than mine, as a matter of fact! When he saw a double-blank domino lying on the table, he was struck by its close resemblance to the markers used by the guards of the city gates. He saw that at once, but it took me quite some time before I realized it! It flashed through his mind that it would be awkward if his hench­man Sia Kwang, returning to the city after closing time, should have to prove his identity to the guards at the south gate. If any inquiries were made later regarding persons returning to the city at a late hour, either in connection with Tong's murder or the maltreatment of the Amber Lady in the deserted house, the guards might remember Sia, especially because of that scar on his face. The criminal there­fore purloined the domino, on the spur of the moment. Later, he scrawled an arbitrary number on it, and gave it to Sia. Sia actually used it when he came back to the city to report to his principal what had happened in the pavilion. For the corporal at the south gate returned the false marker to me.'

'The criminal made a bad mistake there,' the sergeant observed.

'Not too bad. He couldn't have known that I take dominoes so seriously that one missing piece would be enough to set me thinking about the implications. Well, enough of theorizing ! We must set to work now, for there is much to do, and little time. We really ought to initiate an extensive investigation into the background and move­ments of all the suspects, of course, but unfortunately there's no time for that. We can't afford to have a fifth murder! We have to take action, but I can't do anything before we have located Kwang. Go and have a look whether our head­man has turned up yet!'

The sergeant left hurriedly to make inquiries with the guards in the gatehouse. Judge Dee got up from his chair and walked over to the window. He pushed it open and leaned outside. He noticed with satisfaction that there seemed to be a faint current of air about. Then he bestowed a pensive glance upon the rock-garden. The small tortoise was happily plodding along among the plants that bordered the miniature goldfish pond. He moved his sturdy small legs with a purpose, his head eagerly stretched out. The judge turned round when he heard Sergeant Hoong come in.

'Our headman hasn't come back yet from the landing-stage, Your Honour.'

'I hope Kwang hasn't run away!' Judge Dee said wor­riedly. Then he shook his head and added: 'No, he won't have fled. He is much too clever for that.' He took his fan of crane-feathers, sat down again and resumed: 'While waiting for Kwang I may as well explain my theoretical case against him. Then you'll know exactly where we stand as regards the three gentlemen who head our list.'

The judge draped a new wet towel round his neck.

'I assume,' he began, 'that in the capital Mr Kwang Min leads an exemplary life. It is on his frequent business trips that he gratifies his depraved lusts. He is an uncommonly clever man, he keeps his perverted pleasures secret, very secret. He even takes the trouble to build up in the hostels he stays in the reputation of a perfectly normal person, a man who now and then has his fling with a professional woman, ordered from the innkeeper in the regular manner — healthy and cheap. But through his interest in the antique trade Kwang has come to know during his visits to Poo-yang the students Tong and Sia. He employs first Tong, then Sia for his real pleasures — not so healthy and not so cheap. The same interest in antiques brings Kwang into contact with Kou Yuan-liang; Yang, the curio-dealer, told me that Kou occasionally bought from Kwang. We know that the Amber Lady acted as her husband's secretary, sort­ing out and cataloguing his antiques, so Kwang must have met her a few times while visiting Kou. Kwang wants Amber, and for the same reason as I mentioned in my theory regarding Dr Pien: the urge to maltreat and humiliate a refined lady. Kwang orders Sia to warn him as soon as the youngster sees a possibility for delivering the Amber Lady into Kwang's hands.'

'Some days ago Kwang must have informed Sia by letter that he would be arriving at Marble Bridge yesterday morn­ing. Anticipating Kwang's wishes, Sia had hired the three ruffians to abduct the prostitute Lee whom Kwang had singled out as a future victim; Kwang had seen her at a party here, during one of his previous visits to Poo-yang. Yesterday morning Sia hurried to Marble Bridge. He told Kwang about his arrangements for the kidnapping of Miss Lee, but also the big news: Kwang can get the Amber Lady, the selfsame night. Sia then tells Kwang about the planned rendezvous of Amber and Tong in the deserted house for selling the pearl, and adds that he is willing to go there instead of Tong. Kwang agrees with enthusiasm, for as well as amusing himself with the Amber Lady, he will get ten bars of gold. Kwang probably does not believe the story about the pearl, but those doubts he keeps to himself. His first concern is how to get rid of Tong Mai. Sia informs him that before the races the crews will be entertained at Marble Bridge, and that Tong will be there as Dr Pien's drummer. That solves Kwang's problem. He sends a note to Dr Pien asking him to come and see him on his junk. Pien answers that he is busy, but that he'll come later in the afternoon. All the better. Kwang lets Pien take him to the entertain­ment, and there he puts the poison in Tong's wine-cup. Sia will keep the appointment in the deserted house, Kwang will proceed there as soon as Sia has reported to him that the Amber Lady has been locked up in the pavilion. Kwang will "discover" the distressed woman there the next morn­ing, when he meets Dr Pien in the deserted house to have a look at his property. Since Kwang is a greedy man, he gives Sia the necessary instructions regarding the cornering of the bets. Finally, he orders Sia to cancel the agreement with the three ruffians. For Kwang's mind is now on higher things than maltreating a common prostitute.'