stationed there to watch that he does not leave his quarters. But we don't know how that bastard will react. What if he goes out and tries to shake me off on the way?'
Tao Gan shook his head.
'He won't do that', he replied. 'The point is that Woo does not know what your instructions are. He won't dare to go out and risk your arresting him on the spot, for that would be construed by the tribunal as a suspicious move. No, my only worry is that Woo won't try to elude you at all and decides to stay at home as ordered. But if he slips out, you can be sure that I'll pick him up!'
Then they left the tribunal. Ma Joong walked ahead and Tao Gan followed him at some distance.
Sergeant Hoong had explained to Ma Joong the location. He found the Eternal Spring wine shop without difficulty.
Its interior looked most inviting. The light of two coloured paper lanterns shone on the red labels of the wine jars. The proprietor was measuring a pint of wine. Two loafers were leaning on the counter in front, leisurely picking pieces of salted fish from a platter.
Ma Joong saw that opposite the shop stood a middle-class dwelling house. He went to stand on the raised porch with his back against the black-lacquered door.
On the second floor of the wine shop several candles had been lighted. Ma Joong saw a shadow move across the paper of the lattice windows. Apparently Woo was hard at work.
Ma Joong bent forward and looked up and down the dark street. There was no sign of Tao Gan. He folded his arms and prepared himself for a long wait.
When the two happy drinkers had finished their pint of wine, the door behind Ma Joong suddenly swung open. An elderly gentleman was shown out by the gatekeeper. As he saw Ma Joong he asked:
'Did you wish to see me?'
'Not me!' said Ma Joong curtly. He turned round and' leaned against the doorpost.
'Now listen!', the gentleman said angrily, 'this happens to be my house. Since you admit that you have no business here, I would thank you for walking on!'
'This street', Ma Joong growled, 'is public property. No one can prohibit me from standing here!'
'You make yourself scarce quickly, my man!', the gentleman called out, 'or I shall call the nightwatch!'
'If you don't like me to stand here, you bastard', Ma Joong shouted, 'you just try and push me!'
The two loafers had turned round to follow the altercation. Leaning their backs against the counter they contentedly folded their arms to watch the fight.
A window on the second floor was pushed open. Woo looked out and shouted encouragingly to no one in particular: 'Hit him over his head!'
'Shall I call the other servants, Master?' the gatekeeper asked.
'Call all the bastards together!', Ma Joong barked, 'I am ready for them!'
The gentleman seeing his bellicose attitude thought better of it.
'I won't have fisticuffs in front of my door', he snapped. 'Let that yokel stand there till his bones rot!'
Then he walked away, muttering angrily.
The gate keeper slammed the door shut. Ma Joong heard a crossbar being pushed in its position.
Woo, disappointed, closed his window.
Ma Joong sauntered over to the wine shop. The two loafers hurriedly made room for him along the counter.
Ma Joong gave them a baleful look and said sourly:
'I hope that you two don't belong to that pleasant household over there.'
'No, we are from the next street', replied one. 'That fellow who lives opposite is a schoolmaster, and always grumpy.'
'We don't come here to recite our lessons', the other loafer added, 'but for a snack and a drink at this hospitable counter!'
Ma Joong guffawed. He put a handful of coppers on the counter and called out to the proprietor:
'One pint of the best!'
The proprietor came forward hurriedly. He filled the cups to the brim and placed a new platter with dried fish and salted vegetables in front of them. He asked cheerfully:
'Where might you be coming from, stranger?'
Ma Joong drained his cup in one gulp and waited till the proprietor had refilled it. Then he said:
'I am the coachman of Mr. Wang, the big tea dealer from the capital. We arrived here this afternoon with three carts of tea cakes to be sold over the border. The master gave me three good silver pieces and told me to go and amuse myself. I meant to find myself a handsome wench. But I must have come to the wrong quarter!'
'Yes, in that case you are surely a long way from your destination', the proprietor answered. 'The barbarian beauties from over the border are located in the Northern Row, nearly an hour's walk from here. The Chinese ladies live in the Southern Row, beyond the lotus lake in the southeastern corner of the city.' Then he added ingratiatingly: 'But the women here won't seem any good to a refined gentleman from the capital like you. Now yours must be a very lively profession. Why don't you come in and tell us a few of your adventures on the road?'
As he spoke he pushed the coppers back to Ma Joong and said:
'That first round was on the house!'
The two loafers, looking forward to a gratis drinking bout were immediately full enthusiasm.
'A hefty fellow like you', one said to Ma Joong, 'certainly has knocked out many a dangerous robber in his day!'
Ma Joong let himself be persuaded. They entered the shop and sat down at the square table. Ma Joong chose the seat facing the stairs.
The proprietor joined them and soon the cups were passing round with amazing swiftness.
When Ma Joong had told some hair-raising stories he saw Woo coming down the stairs.
He stopped halfway and shot Ma Joong a penetrating look.
'Won't you join us, Master Woo?', the proprietor called out. 'This gentleman tells the most remarkable stories!'
'I am busy just now', Woo replied, 'but I shall come down later in the evening. See that there is something left for me!'
So speaking he went up again.
'That is my lodger, a jovial fellow', the proprietor remarked. 'You will enjoy talking with him. Don't leave before he comes down!'
And he poured out another round.
In the mean time Tao Gan had been busy.
As soon as he had seen Ma Joong take up his position opposite the wine shop, Tao Gan had entered a dark alley. He quickly took off his robe, and put it on again inside out.
Now this robe was specially made. Its outside was good brown silk and looked very dignified. But the lining consisted of rough hemp-cloth with dirty spots and several clumsy patches. Tao Gan gave a pat on his cap; it flattened out and became a bonnet as is often worn by beggars.
In this disreputable attire he entered the narrow space that divided the row of houses in Woo's street from the backwalls of those in the next.
Between the walls it was very dark, the ground was covered with refuse. Tao Gan had to pick his way carefully. He halted when he thought that he would be at the back of the wine shop. Tao Gan stood on his toes and found that he could just reach the top of the wall. He pulled himself up and looked over the wall.
The back of the shop itself was dark. On the floor above, however, all windows were lighted. The backyard was full of empty winejars neatly stacked in double rows. There was no doubt that this was the rear of Woo's house.
Tao Gan let himself down again. He rummaged about till he had found a broken wine jar. He rolled it to the foot of the wall. Standing on top of it he could place his elbows on the wall. He laid his chin on his arms and leisurely surveyed the situation.
A narrow balcony ran all along the rear of Woo's atelier. The painter had placed there a row of potted plants.
