lady liked it too?'
Soo-niang's face fell. She said with a shrug, 'She was a proud one, was she. She sat on a stool in the bedroom and didn't even look round when I greeted her. Not she!'
'But she talked with you a bit when you were clearing the dishes away, didn't she?' Judge Dee asked.
'Then she was in bed already,' the girl replied promptly. Judge Dee pensively stroked his beard. Then he asked, 'By the way, do you know Mrs. Koo well? I mean the daughter of Dr. Tsao, who recently was married in the city?'
'I saw her once or twice from afar in the fields, with her brother,' the girl replied. 'People say she is a nice girl, not like all those city women.'
'Well,' Judge Dee said, 'you'll now show us the way to Dr. Tsao's house. The constables down at the hut shall give you a horse. Thereafter you may accompany us back to the city; your father is going there too.'
TENTH CHAPTER
Judge Dee saw to his amzement that Dr. Tsao lived in a three-storied tower, built on a pine-clad hillock. He left Hoong and Soo-niang down in the small gatehouse, and followed Dr. Tsao upstairs.
While ascending the narrow staircase Dr. Tsao explained that in olden times the building had been a watchtower which had played an important role in local warfare. His family had owned it for generations, but they had always lived in the city. After the death of his father, who had been a tea merchant, Dr. Tsao had sold the house in the city and moved to the tower. 'When we are up in my librarv, sir,' he concluded, 'you'll understand why.'
Arrived in the octagonal room on the top floor, Dr. Tsao indicated the view from the broad window with a sweeping gesture and said, 'I need space for thinking, sir! From my library here I contemplate heaven and earth, and therefrom derive my inspiration.'
Judge Dee made an appropriate remark. He noticed that from the window on the north side one had a good view of the deserted temple, but that the stretch of road in front of it was concealed by the trees at the crossing.
When they were seated at the large desk piled with documents, Dr. Tsao asked eagerly, 'What do they say in the capital about my system, your honor?'
The Judge didn't think he had ever heard Dr. Tsao's name mentioned, but he replied politely, 'I heard that your philosophy is considered quite original.'
The doctor looked pleased.
'Those who call me a pioneer in the field of independent thought are probably right!' he said with satisfaction. He poured the judge a cup of tea from the large teapot on the desk.
'Do you have any idea,' Judge Dee asked, 'what could have happened to your daughter?'
Dr. Tsao looked annoyed. He carefully arranged his beard over his breast, then answered with some asperity, 'That girl, your honor, has been doing nothing, but causing me bother! And I shouldn't be bothered; it affects seriously the serenity of mind I need for my work. I taught her myself to read and write, and what happened? She is always reading the wrang books. History she reads, I ask you, sir, history! Nothing but the sad records of former people who hadn't yet learned to think clearly. A waste of time!'
'Well,' Judge Dee said cautiously, 'often one can learn a lot from other people's errors.'
'Pah!' Dr. Tsao said.
'May I ask,' the judge said politely, 'why you married her to Mr. Koo Meng-pin? I heard that you consider Buddhism as senseless idolatry-and to a certain degree I share that view. But 11r. Koo is a fervent Buddhist.'
'Ha!' Dr. Tsao exclaimed, 'that was all arranged behind my back, by the women of the two families. All women, sir, are fools!' Judge Dee thought that a rather sweeping statement, but decided to let it pass. He asked, 'Did your daughter know Fan Choong?'
The doctor threw up his arms.
'How could I possibly know that, your honor! Perhaps she has seen him once or twice, for instance last month when that insolent yokel came here to speak to me about a boundary stone. Imagine sir, me, a philosopher, and… a boundary stone!'
'I suppose both have their uses,' Judge Dee remarked dryly. When Dr. Tsao shot him a suspicious look, he went on quickly, 'I see that the wall over there is covered with shelves, but that they are practically empty. What happened to all your books? You must have had an extensive collection.'
'I had indeed,' Dr. Tsao replied indifferently, 'but the more I read the less I find. I read, yes, but only to let myself be diverted by men's folly. Every time I was through with an author, I sent his works to my cousin Tsao Fen, in the capital. My cousin, I regret to say, sir, sadly lacks originality. He is incapable of independent thought!'
The judge vaguely remembered now having met that Tsao Fen, at a dinner given by his friend Hou, the secretary of the Metropolitan Court. Tsao Fen was a charming old bibliophile, completely absorbed in his own studies. Judge Dee was going to stroke his beard but stayed his hand, annoyed, when he noticed that Dr. Tsao was already majestically caressing his own. Knitting his eyebrows, the doctor began.
'I shall now try to give you an outline, couched in simple language, and very brief, of course, of my philosophy. To begin with, I consider that the universe-'
Judge Dee quickly rose.
'I deeply regret,' he said firmly, 'that pressing affairs require my presence in the city. I hope soon to have an opportunity for continuing this conversation.'
Dr. Tsao accompanied him downstairs. As the judge took leave of him he said, 'During the noon session I'll hear some persons connected with your daughter's disappearance. You might be interested to attend.'
'What about my work, sir?' Dr. Tsao asked reproachfully. 'I really can't be bothered with attending sessions and so forth; it mars the serenity of my mind. Besides, Koo married her, didn't he? Her affairs are now his responsibilities. That is one of the cornerstones of my system, sir: let every man confine himself to what according to the heavenly command-'
'Good-by,' Judge Dee said and jumped into the saddle.
He was riding down the hillock, followed by Hoong and Sooniang, when suddenly a good-looking youngster stepped out among the pine trees, and bowed deeply. The judge halted his horse. The boy asked eagerly, 'Is there any news about my sister, sir?'
As Judge Dee gravely shook his head, the boy bit his lips. Then he blurted out, 'It was all my fault! Please find her, sir! She was so good at riding and hunting; we were always together in the field. She was far too sensible to be a girl, she ought to have been a boy.' He swallowed, then went on. 'We two liked it here upcountry, but father is always talking about the city. But when he had lost his money-' He cast an anxious glance back at the house and added quickly, 'But I shouldn't be bothering you, sir. Father'll be angry!'
'You aren't bothering me at all!' Judge Dee said quickly. He liked the bay's pleasant, open face. 'It must be lonely for you now your sister is married.'
The boy's face fell.
'Not more lonely than for her, sir. She told me she had no particular liking for
