'Being unfamiliar with the outlay of this temple,' Hui-pen replied, 'they searched only the back hall, and there they found only a few coffins!'
'That is fortunate,' the judge remarked. To the abbot he continued, 'I shall give myself the honor of presenting myself here tomorrow night at the appointed time.'
He rose and took his leave with a bow. Hui-pen and the old monk conducted him and the sergeant to the palanquin.
When they were carried back over the Rainbow Bridge, Judge Dee said to Sergeant Hoong, 'I don't think we can expect Ma Joong and Chiao Tai back before nightfall. Let's make a detour along the shipyard and the wharf, outside the north gate.'
Hoong gave the order to the bearers, and they were carried north along the city's second shopping street.
Outside the north gate a scene of bustling activity met their eyes. On the shipyard stood a number of hulks, supported by wooden props. Countless workmen, stripped to their loincloths, swarmed over and under the ships, and there was a loud din of shouted orders and hammer blows.
The judge had never been in a shipyard before. Walking with Hoong through the crowd, he watched everything with interest. At the end of the yard a large junk was lying turned on one side. Six workmen were lighting a grass fire under it. Koo Meng-pin and his manager, Kim Sang, were standing nearby talking to the foreman.
When Koo saw the judge and Hoong he hurriedly dismissed the foreman and carne limping toward them. Judge Dee inquired curiously what the workmen were doing.
'This is one of my largest ocean junks,' Koo explained. 'They have careened it far burning the weeds and barnacles that have collected on its keel, and which impede its speed. Presently they'll scrape it clean, then recaulk it.' As the judge stepped nearer to watch them, Koo laid his hand on his arm. 'Don't go nearer, your honor!' he warned. 'A few years ago a beam burst loose through the heat, and fell on my right leg. The fracture never healed properly, that's why I have to support myself on this stick.'
'It's a beautiful piece,' the judge said with appreciation, 'that speckled bamboo from the south is quite rare.'
'Indeed,' Koo replied, looking pleased. 'It has acquired a good luster. But this kind of bamboo is really too thin for making canes, that's why I had to use two sticks, joined together.' Then he went on in an undertone, 'I was present at the session. Your honor's revelations have deeply disturbed me. It's terrible what my wife did, a disgrace for me and my, entire family.'
'You shouldn't draw hasty conclusions, Mr. Koo,' Judge Dee remarked. 'I was careful to stress that the identity of the woman has not yet been established.'
'I deeply appreciate your honor's discretion,' Koo said hurriedly. He cast a quick glance at Kim Sang and Sergeant Hoong.
'Do you recognize,' the judge asked, 'this handkerchief?'
Koo gave the embroidered piece of silk which judge Dee took from his sleeve a cursory look.
'Of course,' he answered. 'That's one of a set I gave my wife as a present. Where did your honor find it?'
'By the roadside, near the deserted temple,' Judge Dee said. 'I thought-' Suddenly he fell silent. He remembered that he had forgotten to ask the abbot when and why that temple had been vacated. 'Did you,' he asked Koo, 'hear the rumors about that temple? People say that it's haunted. That, of course, is nonsense. But if there are indeed nightly visitors, I must look into that; it is quite possible that impious monks of the White Cloud Temple are engaging in some secret mischief there. That would explain the presence of that monk near Fan's farm, perhaps he was on his way to the temple! Well, I had better go back to the White Cloud Temple and ask the abbot or Hui-pen about it. By the way, the abbot told me about your pious undertaking. The consecration has been set for tomorrow night, I shall gladly attend.'
Koo bowed deeply. Then he said, 'Your honor can't leave here without partaking at least of a little snack! There is quite a good restaurant at the other end of the wharf, famous for its boiled crabs.' To Kim Sang he said, 'You can go on, you know what to do.'
The judge was eager to get back to the temple, but he reflected that it might be useful to have a longer conversation with Koo. He told Hoong that he could return to the tribunal, and followed Koo.
Dusk was falling. When they entered the elegant pavilion on the waterside the waiters were already lighting the colored lampions that hung from the eaves. The two men sat down near the red-lacquered balustrade, where they could enjoy the cool breeze that came over the river and the gay sight of the colored lights in the sterns of the boats that went to and fro.
The waiter brought a large platter of steaming red crabs. Koo broke a few open for the judge. He picked out the white meat with his silver chopsticks, dipped it in a plate with ginger sauce and found it very appetizing. After he had drunk a small cup of yellow wine, he said to Koo, 'When we were talking in the yard just now you seemed quite convinced that the woman on Fan's farm was your wife. I didn't like to ask you this awkward question in front of Kim Sang, but do you have any reason to suppose that she was unfaithful to you?'
Koo frowned. After a while he replied, 'It's a mistake to marry a woman of quite different upbringing, your honor. I am a wealthy man, but I never had any literary education. It was my ambition to marry this time the daughter of a scholar. I was wrong. Although we were together only three days, I knew she didn't like her new life. I tried my best to understand her, but there was no response, so to speak.' He suddenly added in a bitter voice, 'She thought I wasn't good enough for her, and since she had been educated quite liberally, I thought that perhaps a previous attachment-'
His mouth twitched; he quickly emptied his wine cup.
'It's difficult for a third person,' Judge Dee said, 'to pronounce an opinion when the intimate relations between a married couple are concerned. I take it that you have good reason for your suspicions. But I for one am not convinced that the woman with Fan was your wife. I am not even sure that she was indeed killed. As to your wife, you know better than I do in what complications she may have become involved. If so, I advise you to tell me now. For her sake, and also for yours.'
Koo gave him a quick glance. The judge thought he detected a glint of real fear in it. But then Koo spoke evenly.
'I have told you all I know, your honor.' Judge Dee rose.
'I see that mist is spreading over the river,' he remarked. 'I'd better be on my way. Thanks for this excellent meal!'
Koo conducted him to his palanquin and the bearers took him back through the city to the east gate. They walked at a brisk pace, they were eager to eat their evening rice.
The guards at the temple gate looked astonished when they saw the judge pass through again.
The first court of the temple was empty. From the main hall higher up came the sound of a monotonous chanting. Evidentally the monks were performing the evening service.
A rather surly young monk came to meet the judge. He said that the abbot and Hui-pen were conducting the service, but that he would bring the judge to the abbot's quarters to have a cup of tea.
The two men silently crossed the empty courtyards. Arrived on the third court, judge Dee suddenly halted in his steps.
'The back hall is on fire!' he exclaimed.
Large billows of smoke and angry tongues of fire rose high up into the air from the yard below them.
The monk smiled.
'They are preparing to cremate the almoner Tzu-hai he said. 'I have never seen a cremation before,' Judge Dee exclaimed. 'Let's go there and have a look.' He made for the stairs, but the young monk quickly laid his hand on his arm.
