Then Judge Dee heard the two witnesses for the defense. First the tea merchant Koong, who confirmed Dr. Djang's description of the events, and added that the professor was a man of frugal habits and the most elevated character. When Dr. Hwa was kneeling on the stone flags Judge Dee ordered the headman to call the coroner of the tribunal. Then the judge sternly addressed Dr. Hwa, saying:
'You, as a professional physician, should have known that in all cases of sudden death the body may not be encoffined before the full circumstances have been reported to this tribunal and before the coroner has examined the corpse. You have offended against the law and you shall be punished accordingly. Now you shall, in the presence of the coroner, describe in what condition you found the body, and how you arrived at your conclusion as to the cause of death!'
Dr. Hwa quickly embarked on a detailed description of the symptoms found on the dead girl. When he had finished, Judge Dee looked questioningly at the coroner, who said:
'I respectfully report to Your Honor that although the death of a virgin under the circumstances described is of rare occurrence, our medical books do indeed cite a few instances from the past. There can be no doubt that death occasionally ensues though prolonged unconsciousness is more common. The symptoms described by Dr. Hwa accord in all details with those recorded in authoritative medical treatises.'
Judge Dee nodded. After he had condemned Dr. Hwa to a heavy fine, he addressed the audience, saying:
'I had planned this morning to review the case of the courtesan's murder, but this new case makes an immediate inspection of the scene of the alleged crime imperative.'
He rapped his gavel and closed the session.
Sixth Chapter
In the corridor Judge Dee told Ma Joong:
'Let the constables make my palanquin ready to proceed to Dr. Djang's house, and tell four of them to go to the Buddhist Temple, to prepare everything there for the autopsy. I'll go there as soon as I am finished with the professor.'
Then he entered his private office.
Sergeant Hoong went to the tea table to make a cup of tea for the judge. Chiao Tai remained standing, waiting till Judge Dee would sit down. But the judge started pacing the floor with his hands on his back, a deep frown creasing his forehead. He stood still only when Hoong offered him a cup of tea. He took a few sips, then spoke.
'I can't imagine what made Liu Fei-po proffer that fantastic accusation! I admit that the hurried encoffining of the body seemed suspicious, but any man in his senses would first have insisted on an autopsy, instead of filing such a serious accusation! And last night Liu impressed me as a very calm and self-possessed man.'
'Just now in the court hall he looked to me as if he was out of his mind, Your Honor,' the sergeant remarked. 'I saw that his hands were shaking, and there was foam on his lips!'
'Liu's accusation is utterly absurd!' Chiao Tai exclaimed. 'If Liu was really convinced that the professor was a man of low character, why then did he consent to the marriage? He hardly seems the kind of man to let himself be tyrannized by his wife and daughter! And he could easily have had the marriage contract canceled unilaterally!'
Judge Dee nodded pensively.
'There must be more behind that marriage than meets the eye!' he said. 'And I must say that Dr. Djang, despite his touching lament about the disaster that hit his house, seemed to take it rather calmly!'
Ma Joong entered and reported that the palanquin was ready. Judge Dee went out into the courtyard, followed by his three lieutenants.
Dr. Djang lived in an impressive mansion, built against the mountain slope, to the west of the tribunal.
The steward opened the heavy double door, and Judge Dee's palanquin was carried inside.
The professor assisted the judge respectfully in descending, then led him and Sergeant Hoong to the reception hall. Ma Joong and Chiao Tai stayed behind in the first courtyard with the headman and two constables.
While the judge was sitting opposite the professor at the tea table, he gave his host a good look. Dr. Djang was a tall, well-built man, with a sharp, intelligent face. He seemed about fifty years old, rather young to have been granted a pension already. He silently poured out a cup of tea for the judge, then sat down again and waited till his distinguished guest would begin the conversation. Hoong remained standing behind Judge Dee's chair.
The judge looked at the well-stocked bookshelves and inquired which literary subject had the professor's special interest. Dr. Djang gave, in well-chosen words, a concise explanation of his research into the critical study of some ancient texts. His answers to Judge Dee's questions on some details proved that he had completely mastered the subject. He made a few quite original remarks on the authenticity of a disputed passage, freely quoting by heart from lesser-known old commentaries. Although one might question the professor's moral integrity, there couldn't be the slightest doubt that he was a great scholar.
'Why,' the judge asked, 'did you when still comparatively young give up your chair in the School of the Temple of Confucius? Many persons retain that honorable position till they are seventy or even older.'
Dr. Djang gave the judge a suspicious look. He replied stiffly: 'I preferred to devote all my time to my own researches. The last three years I have confined my teaching to two private courses in
DR. DJANG SHOWS THE JUDGE AND HOONG HIS SON'S STUDY
classical literature here in my own house, for a few advanced students.'
Judge Dee rose and said he wanted to see the scene of the tragedy.
The professor nodded silently. He led his two guests through an open corridor to a second courtyard, and stood still before a graceful arched door opening. He said slowly:
'Beyond is the courtyard which I had assigned to my son. I have given strict orders that no one shall enter there since the coffin has been removed.'
Inside was a small landscaped garden. In the center stood a rustic stone table, flanked by two clusters of bamboos whose rustling green leaves made one forget the oppressive heat.
Upon entering the narrow portal, Dr. Djang first pushed open the door on the left and showed them a small library. There was just room for a writing desk in front of the window, and an old armchair. The book rack bore piles of books and manuscript rolls. The professor said softly:
'My son was extremely fond of his small library. He had chosen the pen name of Student of the Bamboo Grove, though the clusters of bamboos outside there could hardly be called a grove!'
Judge Dee went inside and examined the books on the rack. Dr. Djang and Sergeant Hoong remained standing outside. Turning round to them, the judge said casually to the professor:
'I see from his choice of books that your son had wide interests. It's a pity that those extended also to the damsels of the Willow Quarter!'
'Who in the world,' Dr. Djang exclaimed angrily, 'could have given Your Honor this ridiculous misinformation! My son was of a most serious disposition; he never went out at night. Who made that preposterous suggestion?'
'I thought I had heard a remark to that effect somewhere,' Judge Dee answered vaguely. 'I probably misunderstood the speaker. Since your son was such an industrious scholar I suppose that he wrote a very good hand?'
The professor pointed at a pile of papers on the desk and said curtly:
'That is the manuscript of my son's commentary on the Analects of Confucius, on which he was working of late.'
Judge Dee leafed the manuscript through. 'A very expressive handwriting,' he commented as he stepped out
