Poets and Murder

Lo got up with a deep sigh.

'Since the scoundrel had all night to search for the blasted paper, he probably found it too! But I am afraid we'll have to go over the place anyway, Dee. Just to make sure.'

Judge Dee got up too. Together they searched the library thoroughly. When the judge had sorted out the papers strewn on the floor and replaced them in the drawers, he remarked:

'All these documents are bills, receipts and so on of the Meng family. The only item that belonged to Soong is this small volume entitled Tunes for the Straight Flute, written in his hand, and marked with his seal. It's a complicated musical score unknown to me, consisting of abbreviated characters, as far as I can see. There are a dozen or so tunes, but the titles and the words have been omitted.'

Lo had been looking under the floormat. He righted himself and said:

'Yes, Soong played the flute. A long bamboo flute is hang­ing in his bedroom. Noticed it because I used to play the flute too, formerly.'

'Have you ever seen this system of notation?'

'No. I always played by ear,' Lo replied loftily. 'Well, we'd better go to work on the bedroom now, Dee. There's nothing here.'

The judge put the music book in his sleeve, and they went to the other room. The coroner was laboriously writing out his report on the autopsy, standing at the dressing-table, his portable writing-set at his elbow. Magistrate Lo took the flute that was hanging by a silk tassel from the nail in the wall. He shook back his sleeves with a determined gesture, and put the flute to his lips. But he succeeded only in producing a few disconcertingly shrill notes. Quickly lowering the flute, he said with a pained look:

'Used to play rather well, but I am out of practice. A good place to hide a document in, though. Tightly rolled up.' He peered into the flute, then shook his head disconsolately.

They went through the clothes-box, but the only papers they found were Soong's identity card and a few documents relating to his literary examinations. There was not one per­sonal note or letter.

Shaking the dust from his robe, Judge Dee said:

'According to his landlord, Soong knew nobody here in your district. But Meng admits he hardly ever saw his lodger. We must question the maids who brought him his food, Lo.'

'That I must leave to you, elder brother! I really have to go home now. Have to pay my respects to my distinguished guests, you know. And my first, seventh and eighth wives told me this morning they want to consult me about purchases for the Moon Festival.'

'All right, I'll do the questioning.' While conducting his colleague to the door, the judge resumed, 'The feast'll be a big treat for your children, Lo. How many have you?'

Lo smiled broadly.

'Eleven boys and six girls,' he announced proudly. Then, however, his face fell. 'I've eight wives, you see. Quite a bur­den, Dee. Emotionally, I mean. Set out on my official career with only three wives, but you know how it goes. One con­tracts a friendship somewhere outside, then it seems so much simpler to put the lady in a pavilion within one's compound, and the next thing you know is that she's formally installed as a secondary wife! And it's sad to see how such a change in status will affect a woman's character, Dee. If I remember how nice and accommodating my eighth was when she was still dancing in the Sapphire Bower... .' Suddenly he smote his forehead. 'Holy heaven, I nearly forgot! I must drop in at the Sapphire Bower on my way back. To select the dancers for the dinner party tonight, you see. Always make it a point to choose them personally, feel it's my duty to see that my guests get only the best. Well, fortunately the Sapphire Bower is only a couple of streets from here.'

'Is it a house of assignation?'

Lo gave him a reproachful look.

'My dear fellow! Of course not! Call it a distribution centre of local talent. Or a training institute for the liberal arts.'

'Training institute or distribution centre,' Judge Dee said dryly, 'since the student Soong was all alone here, he may have paid a visit there late at night. Better inquire whether they remember a man answering the student's description, Lo.'

'Yes, I'll do that.' Suddenly the small magistrate chuckled. 'Must see also about a little surprise tonight. Specially for you, Dee!'

'You'll do nothing of the sort!’ the judge told him acidly. 'I must say I fail to understand how you can be thinking of frolicking with women while this murder case ...'

Lo raised his hand.

'You have me all wrong, elder brother! My surprise con­cerns an intriguing judicial problem.'

'Oh yes. I ... I see,' the judge said contritely. He resumed quickly, 'Anyway, I think we can do without another judicial problem, Lo. Soong's murder is intriguing enough! If that unfortunate student had been a local citizen, we'd at least know where to look for clues. But since Soong arrived here out of the blue, so to speak, I fear that ...'