The Lacquer Screen

He suddenly halted. Sweat was streaming down his hag­gard face, and running quickly along his oiled breast. His one eye fixing the judge with a crazed expression, he went on softly:

'I heard a door close somewhere in the house. I quickly went to the dressing-room. The maid was still drugged, but I heard footsteps approaching in the corridor. I emptied all the powder from my blowpipe there, then fled through the garden door, pulling it closed behind me. I crawled over the roofs, stumbled on through the street until I saw the tea­house. It was early, only the waiter was on the terrace. I told him I was ill, and fell into a chair. When I had drunk several cups of tea, I recovered somewhat. Then I knew I had to leave this accursed place, where I had been soiled, humiliated. ... I had to get Leng Chien's money as quickly as possible. Then I would flee ... go to a far-away place, to get clean again. I saw you two coming, you left, and I studied your companion. When you came back and had tea there, I again observed you, both of you. I knew you two could get the money from Leng. I followed you to the hostel, I . . .'

'Yes, I know,' Judge Dee interrupted him. 'I also know how you got the notebook. You found it in the girl's room, and first tore out only a few pages. Tonight you stole it. All that doesn't matter now. Now we must only think how we can make it easy for you. Shall I tell you how we'll do it? We'll arrange your killing Mrs Teng as a simple murder. If you confess that you raped her too, Kun-shan, they'll torture you. They'll condemn you to the lingering death. You know how the executioner begins, don't you? He starts with cutting slices from your breast, and . . .'

'No!' Kun-shan screamed. 'Help me!'

'Yes, I'll help you. But you must listen very carefully, and do exactly as I say, Kun-shan. You must say that you knew that Mrs Teng often went to visit her elder sister, in her villa outside the north gate. You entered by the small garden, and when you saw that the maid was away, you knocked. You told Mrs Teng that her sister needed her immediately, for an urgent and secret family affair. You said her sister was in great trouble, and that she had to bring ten gold pieces, and not to tell anybody, not even her husband. She believed you, took the money and went with you, leaving by the secret door. The street was deserted during the siesta, so you could take her unnoticed through the ruins to the marsh. There you told her to hand the gold and the jewels to you. She wanted to call for help. You became afraid; pulling your dagger, you told her to shut up. She tried to wrest the dagger from you, and before you knew it you had stabbed her to death. You tore her earrings off and took her bracelets and the package with the gold. The gold you spent, but you didn't dare to dispose of the jewels. Here they are. They'll be brought forward as evidence.'

He took them from his sleeve, and showed them to Kun-shan. Then he resumed:

'Keep to that story, Kun-shan. I guarantee that then they won't beat you, they won't question you under torture. You'll die, but it'll be a quick death. Then all your troubles will be over, Kun-shan, and you needn't fear anything any more. They'll give you a good bed, now, and a doctor will look at your ankle. Then you'll have a few hours of nice sleep. They'll hear you during the morning session. You tell your story, and then no one will bother you any more for many days. For many days and nights you can rest, Kun-shan, rest . . .'

The thin man made no response. His head was sinking slowly to his breast. He was completely exhausted.

Judge Dee rose. He whispered to Chiao Tai:

'Call the guards and let the warden of the jail lock him up. See to it that a physician treats his ankle, and gives him a drug.' He motioned Teng to follow him outside.

The magistrate's face was of a deadly pallor. He started to mutter something about his gratitude, but the judge quickly interrupted him, saying:

'I hope you'll allow me to stay here at the tribunal to­night.'

'Certainly, Dee! Anything you wish!' Teng took him to the courtyard outside. 'It was . . . unspeakable, Dee!'

'Quite,' Judge Dee said dryly. 'Would you summon your counsellor now, and tell him to assign twelve constables to my lieutenant? They'll have to go now and arrest the boss of the underworld here, called The Corporal, and a young hoodlum called The Student.'

'Of course!'

The magistrate clapped his hands, and, when the frightened-looking Pan appeared, told him to have the guest quarters prepared for the judge, and to follow his orders regarding two arrests. He added with a bleak smile: