candles.
Then the judge spoke:
'Well, my friends, the hour is late and we are tired and hungry. Yet I would like to have a consultation with you about this queer state of affairs we have found here.'
Tao Gan and Chiao. Tai nodded eagerly.
'This town', Judge Dee continued, 'baffles me completely. Although my predecessor was in residence here for three years and kept his living quarters in excellent condition, he apparently never used the court hall, and sent home the entire personnel of the tribunal. Although a courier must have duly informed him of my arrival scheduled for this afternoon, he went away without even leaving a message for me, entrusting the seals of office to that scoundrel of a warden. The other officials of the district administration simply ignored our arrival. How do you explain all this?'
'Could it be, Your Honour', Chiao Tai asked, 'that the people here are planning to rebel against the central government?'
Judge Dee shook his head.
'It is true', he replied, 'that the streets are deserted and the shops closed at an unusually early hour. But I did not notice any sign of unrest and there were no barricades or other military preparations. The attitude of the people in the street was not antagonistic, they were just indifferent.'
Tao Gan pensively pulled at the three long hairs that sprouted from a mole on his left cheek.
'For a moment', he remarked, 'I thought that maybe the pest or some other dangerous epidemic disease had ravaged this district. That, however, does not tally with
the fact that there were no signs of panic, and the people were partaking freely from the food of the street stalls.'
Judge Dee combed with his fingers some dry leaves from his long side whiskers. After a while he said:
'I would rather not ask that warden for elucidation. The fellow has all the marks of a consummate rascal!'
The steward entered followed by two of Judge Dee's servants. One carried a platter with bowls of rice and soup and the other a large tea pot.
The judge ordered the steward to have bowls of rice brought to the jail for the prisoners.
They ate in silence.
When they had finished the scratch meal and drunk a cup of hot tea, Chiao Tai sat for a while in deep thought, twisting his small moustache. Then the spoke:
'I fully agree with Ma Joong, Your Honour, when out there in the mountains he said that the robbers who attacked us were no professional highwaymen. How about questioning our prisoners about what is going on here?'
'An excellent idea!', the judge exclaimed. 'Find out who their leader is and bring him here!'
After a while Chiao Tai came back, leading by a chain none other than the robber who had tried to stab Judge Dee with his spear. The judge gave him a sharp look. He saw a strongly built man with a regular, open face; he seemed more like a small shopkeeper or a tradesman than a highway robber.
As he knelt in front of the desk Judge Dee ordered curtly:
'State your name and profession!'
'This person', the man said respectfully,' is called Fang. Until recently I was a blacksmith in this city of Lan- fang, where my family has been living for several generations.'
'Why', Judge Dee inquired, 'did you, engaged in an old and honourable trade, prefer the despicable life of a street robber?'
Fang lowered his head and said in a dull voice:
'I am guilty of assault with murderous intent. I fully realize that the death penalty awaits me. I confess my guilt which needs no further proof. Why should Your Honour bother to make further inquiries?'
Deep despair rang from his words. Judge Dee said quietly:
'I never sentence a criminal until I have heard his full story. Speak up and answer my question!'
This person', Fang began, 'has been a blacksmith for over thirty years, having learned the trade from his father. I and my wife, one son and two daughters were strong and healthy, we had our daily bowl of rice, and now and then even a slice of pork. I considered myself a happy man.
Then, one unfortunate day, Chien's men saw that my son was a sturdy young fellow, and they pressed him into their service.'
'Who is this Chien?', the Judge interrupted him.
'What', Fang replied bitterly, 'is Chien not? Since more than eight years he has usurped all power in this district. He owns half the land and nearly one-fourth of the shops and houses in this town. He is magistrate, judge, and military commander, all in one. He regularly sends bribes to the officials of the prefecture, five days on horseback from here. He has convinced them that if it were not for him, the barbarian hordes from over the border would long have overrun this district.'
'Did my predecessors acquiesce in this irregular state of affairs?', Judge Dee inquired.
Fang shrugged his shoulders. He answered:
'The magistrates appointed here soon found out that it was easier and much safer to be satisfied with a shadow existence, leaving all real power in the hands of Chien. As long as they acted as his puppets Chien gave them rich presents every month. They lived in peace and comfort while we of the people suffered.'
'Your story', Judge Dee said coldly, 'sounds absurd to me. Unfortunately it is true that occasionally a local tyrant usurps power in an outlying district. And sadder still, sometimes a weak magistrate will accept such an unlawful situation. But you cannot make me believe, my man, that for eight years every magistrate who was appointed here submitted to the man Chien.'
Fang said with a sneer:
'Then we of Lan-fang were just unlucky! There was but one magistrate who, four years ago, turned against Chien. After two weeks his body was found on the river bank, his throat cut from ear to ear.'
Judge Dee suddenly leaned forward. He asked:
'Was that magistrate's name by any chance Pan?'
Fang nodded.
'Magistrate Pan', Judge Dee continued, 'was reported to the central authorities as having fallen in a skirmish with invading Uigur hordes. I was in the capital at that time. I remember that his body was forwarded there with military honours and that he was posthumously promoted to the rank of prefect.'
'That was how Chien covered up his murder', Fang said indifferently. 'I know the truth, I myself saw the body.'
'Proceed with your story!', Judge Dee said.
'Thus', Fang went on, 'my only son was forced to join the band of ruffians that Chien keeps as his private guards, and I never saw him again.
Then a wretched old crone who acts as procuress for Chien came to see me. She said that Chien offered ten silver pieces for White Orchid, my eldest daughter. I refused. Three days later my daughter went to the market, and never came back. Time and again I went to Chien's mansion and begged to be allowed to see her, but everytime I was cruelly beaten and chased away.
Having lost her only son and her eldest daughter my wife began ailing. She died two weeks ago. I took my father's sword and went to Chien's mansion. I was intercepted by the guards. They fell over me with their clubs, and left me for dead in the street. One week ago a band of ruffians set fire to my shop. I left the city with Dark Orchid, my youngest daughter who was also caught tonight, and joined a band of other desperate men out in the mountains. Tonight we made our first attempt at holding up travellers.'
Deep silence reigned. The judge was going to lean back in his armchair but remembered in time that the back was broken. He hastily placed his elbows on the desk again. Then he spoke:
'Your story has a very familiar ring. It usually is some such tale of woe that robbers dish out in the tribunal when they have been caught in the act. If you lied, your head will fall on the execution ground. If it turns out that you have spoken the truth I shall reserve my verdict.'
'For me', the blacksmith said dejectedly, 'there is no hope left. If Your Honour does not have my head chopped off, Chien will certainly kill me. The same goes for my comrades, who are all victims of Chien's cruel
