did not alter this. After his burial Yoo Kee sent all the old servants away because they reminded him too much of the awful presence of the old Governor. Yoo Kee has executed all his father's last instructions to the letter, including that everything on the country estate had to be left exactly as it was. Yoo Kee has never gone there since his father's death. The servants say that he changes colour if one as much as mentions that place!'
Judge Dee stroked his beard.
'One of these days', he said pensively, 'I shall visit that country mansion and have a look at the famous maze. In the meantime you will inquire where Mrs. Yoo and her son are living and invite them to come and see me. Perhaps Mrs. Yoo has kept some specimens of the old Governor's handwriting. Then I can also verify Yoo Kee's statement that his father had no friends here in Lan-fang.
As to the murder of Magistrate Pan, I have not yet given up hope entirely of obtaining a clue to that mysterious visitor of Chien Mow's. I instructed Chiao Tai to question all the former guards of Chien's mansion, and Headman Fang would interrogate Chien's second counsellor in jail. I am also considering whether to send Ma Joong to investigate the haunts where the low-class criminals of this city gather. If it was that mysterious man in the background who murdered Magistrate Pan, he must have had accomplices.'
'And at the same time, Your Honour', the sergeant remarked, 'Ma Joong might make inquiries there about the headman's eldest daughter, White Orchid. We talked it over with Fang this morning and he admits that very likely she was kidnapped and sold to a brothel.'
The judge said with a sigh:
'Yes, I fear that that is indeed what happened to that poor girl.'
After a while Judge Dee continued:
'As yet we have made very little progress with General Ding's murder. I shall order Tao Gan to go tonight to the Temple of the Three Treasures and see whether Woo or that unknown woman he is so fond of depicting shows up there.'
The judge took a document from the pile that Tao Gan had brought during his absence. Sergeant Hoong, however, seemed reluctant to go. After some hesitation he said:
'Your Honour, I cannot get it off my mind that we overlooked something in General Ding's library. The more I think about it the more I am convinced that the clue to that riddle is to be found there!'
Judge Dee put the document down and looked intently at the sergeant.
He opened a small lacquer box and took out the replica of the small dagger that Tao Gan had made for him. While he let it rest on his palm he said slowly:
'Sergeant, you know that I have no secrets from you. Although I am considering various vague theories about the background of General Ding's murder, I must state frankly that I have not the faintest idea how this dagger was used, or how the murderer entered and escaped!'
Both were silent for some time.
Suddenly the judge made a decision.
'Tomorrow morning, Sergeant, we shall again go to the Ding mansion and search that library. Perhaps you are right and it is there that we must look for the solution of this crime!'
Fourteenth Chapter
The next morning the weather was fine. It promised to be a clear and sunny day.
After he had had his breakfast Judge Dee informed Sergeant Hoong that he planned to go the Ding mansion on foot.
'I shall also take Tao Gan', the judge added. 'A little exercise will do him good!'
They left the tribunal by the western gate.
The judge had not informed Candidate Ding in advance of his intended visit. They found the mansion in the midst of preparations for the burial.
The steward led the judge and his two companions to a side room. The main hall had been converted into a mortuary, and there the body of the General was lying in state in an enormous coffin of lacquered wood before which twelve Buddhist priests were reading sutra's aloud. Their monotonous chanting and the beating of wooden gongs resounded through the mansion, and the smell of incense hung heavily in the air.
Judge Dee noticed in the corridor a side table loaded with piles of anniversary gifts, all wrapped in red paper with congratulary messages attached.
The steward saw the judge's astonished look and hastened to apologize. He said that these presents which now seemed so macabre would have been cleared away long since, were it not that all the servants were wholly occupied in making the preparations for the General's burial.
Young Ding came rushing into the room clad in a mourning robe of white hemp cloth. He started to apologize profusely for the disorder in his house.
Judge Dee cut short his explanations.
'Today or tomorrow', he said, 'I shall hear your case in the tribunal. Since there are two or three points I wished to verify, I resolved to pay you this quite informal visit.
I shall now proceed once more to your late father's library. You need not bother to accompany us.'
They found two constables on guard in the dark corridor that led to the library. They reported that no one had even approached that place.
Judge Dee broke the seal and opened the door.
He hastily stepped backward covering his face with his long sleeve.
A nauseating smell assailed their nostrils.
'There is something dead in there', the judge said. 'Go to the main hall, Tao Gan, and ask those priests for a few sticks of Indian incense!'
Tao Gan hurried away.
He came back with three lighted incense sticks in each hand. They made a dense smoke with a penetrating smell.
The judge took them and once more entered the library waving the sticks so that he was enveloped in a cloud of blue smoke.
The sergeant and Tao Gan waited outside.
After a while Judge Dee emerged. He was carrying a thin forked stick that is used for suspending scroll pictures on the wall. On its end rested the half decayed body of a mouse.
He handed the stick to Tao Gan and ordered: 'Have the constables put this dead animal in a sealed box!'
Judge Dee remained standing in front of the open door. He had placed the sticks of incense in the brush holder on the desk inside. Clouds of smoke wafted out of the door.
As they were waiting for the stench to disappear Sergeant Hoong remarked with a smile:
'That little animal gave me quite a fright, Your Honour!'
Judge Dee's face was impassive.
'You will not laugh, Sergeant, after you have entered that room. It is full of the spirit of violent death!'
When Tao Gan had come back all three of them entered the library.
Judge Dee pointed to a small cardboard box that was lying on the floor.
'The other day', he said, 'I left that box on the desk, next to the ink slab. It is the box with the sweet plums that we found in the General's sleeve. A mouse smelled them. See, its little feet are clearly visible in the dust that gathered on the desk.'
The judge stooped and picked up the box carefully with two fingers. He laid it on the desk.
They saw that a corner of the cover had been gnawed away.
The judge opened the box. One plum of the nine was missing.
'This was the murderer's second weapon', Judge Dee said gravely. 'These plums are poisoned!'
He ordered Tao Gan:
