Murder in Canton

XXIII

The door burst open and Tao Gan came rushing in. He halted abruptly when he saw Judge Dee bent over Liang's prone figure. The judge felt Liang's heart. He was dead. As the judge began to search the corpse, Tao Gan asked in a whisper:

'How did he die, sir?'

'He believed me when I told him he had drunk the poison he had intended for me, and the shock brought about a heart attack. That is as it should be, for he knew secrets of state that should never be divulged.' He briefly told Tao Gan about the shifting of the cups. The poison I poured into that chess-bowl; it is half full of chess-pieces. Liang saw that they were wet, but could not see that the bowl contained in fact the entire content of the cracked cup. Take this bowl with you.' Pulling a long, razor-sharp blade from the leather sheath he had found in Liang's sleeve, he added, 'Take this too. Be very careful, there is some brown substance on its tip.'

Tao Gan took a piece of oiled paper from his sleeve. While he was wrapping the bowl and the dagger, he said:

'You should have actually let him drink his own infernal poison, sir! Suppose he hadn't believed you? Then he'd have killed you with that poisoned knife. One scratch would have sufficed!’

Judge Dee shrugged.

'Until he thought that I had drunk the tea, I took care to stay out of his reach.' Then he added, 'Getting on in years, one isn't so sure of oneself any more, Tao Gan. One tends more and more to shift decisions on matters of life and death to a Higher Tribunal.' He turned round and left the hall, followed by his lieutenant.

On the landing stood a slender young woman, quietly dressed in a dark-brown robe. Her opaque eyes were staring straight ahead.

'She came just now, sir,' Tao Gan explained hurriedly. 'To warn us about Liang.'

'Your brother is dead, Miss Liang,' Judge Dee told her soberly. 'He had a heart attack.'

The blind girl nodded slowly.

'He had been suffering from heart trouble, these last years,' she said. After a pause she asked suddenly, 'Did he kill the Censor?'

'No. Zumurrud did.'

'She was a dangerous woman,' she said pensively. 'I always feared that my brother's devotion to her would be his undoing. When I heard that his men had brought here the dead body of a high official who had been Zumurrud's lover, I thought my brother must have murdered him. I found the room where the corpse was, and while the two men were busy disguising them­selves as constables, I quickly went through its sleeves and de­livered the Golden Bell from its crushed cage. I also took what felt like an envelope, because it was the only paper the dead man carried, and therefore had to be important.'

'I presume it was your sister, Mrs Pao, who slipped that en­velope into Colonel Chiao's sleeve yesterday morning, very early?'

'Yes, sir. She was an old friend of Captain Nee and had just delivered a note asking him to meet her that afternoon in Mr Yau's house. She had planned to leave my package addressed to Mr Tao in the tribunal, but when she saw Mr Tao's friend, she thought it safer to let him have it.' She paused and pushed her hair back from her smooth forehead. She went on, 'We saw each other regularly, in secret of course. For both my brother and I wanted it to be believed that I was dead. But I could not bear my own sister sorrowing over me, and after a year I went to see her and told her I was still alive. She was always worrying about me, although I kept assuring her I had all I needed. Yet she insisted on introducing me to all kinds of people who might buy crickets from me. Yesterday morning, after I had fled from here, I told her that I feared our brother was getting into trouble. It was at my request that she went through the desk in his bedroom when you were visiting him with her husband, sir. She took two maps, and later explained to me that on one Mr Chiao's inn had been marked. I had hoped to meet her again in Mr Yau's house that same after­noon, but I just missed her. Who murdered her, sir? She had no enemies, and although my brother despised her, he did not hate her, as he did me.'

'She was killed through a misunderstanding,' Judge Dee answered, then added quickly, 'I am most grateful for the help you gave us, Miss Liang!’

She raised her thin hands in a futile gesture.

'I hoped you would find the Censor's murderer, sir, before my brother became too deeply involved.'

'How did you manage to conceal yourself so effectively?' the judge asked, curious.

'By keeping to those, places I knew well,' she replied with a faint smile. 'This old house I know, of course, like the palm of my hand! All the hidden rooms, as well as many secret passages and emergency exits my brother did not know of. And I am also thoroughly familiar with the Examination Hall, which was my favourite hideout. When Mr Tao and his friend had seen me, I slipped out by the back entrance and hid in the godown where the palankeens are stored. Later I heard a woman scream. What hap­pened there, sir?'

'My two lieutenants ran into a vagabond who was molesting a woman,' Judge Dee replied. 'Well, your brother had Zumurrud's body brought here to the house, Miss Liang. I shall have it re­moved to the tribunal at once. Is there anything I can do for you? Now you'll have to take charge of this house and all your brother's affairs, you know.'

'I shall call on an old uncle of my mother. He shall see to my brother's burial, and.. .' She shook her head disconsolately. After a while she went on in a barely audible voice, 'It's all my fault. I shouldn't have left him, left him alone with all the terrible thoughts that were tormenting him. And he was only a boy then! Used to play every day in a corner of the garden with his toy soldiers, imagining the great battles he would fight, later ... But then he learned he was unfit for a military career. And after I had left him, he realized that he was incapable of possessing a woman. The second blow broke him; he wanted to kill himself. But he met Zumurrud, and she ... she proved to be the first and only woman he could embrace. He lived only for her; but she didn't care for him, told him so in cruel, humiliating words.... It's all my fault — I should have refused him more gently, I should have tried to interest him in another woman, a kind woman, who would ... But I was too young, I didn't understand. I didn't understand....'

She buried her face in her hands. Judge Dee gave a sign to Tao Gan. They went downstairs.

Chiao Tai was waiting in the large hall, with four agents and a dozen constables. Judge Dee told them that robbers had concealed themselves in the house, and that Mr Liang had died from a heart attack when he had suddenly come upon one of them. They were to make a thorough search under the direction of Chiao Tai and arrest any persons found there. Thereupon he took the eldest agent apart, and told him that Mansur had gone aboard one of the Arab ships anchored in the estuary of the Pearl River. The agent was to go at once to the harbour-master, and have him send four fast military junks to overtake and arrest Mansur. As the agent hurried away, Judge Dee ordered the old steward to take him and Tao Gan to Mr Liang's bedroom.

Tao Gan discovered a secret wall safe behind the bedstead. He picked the lock, but the safe proved to contain only contracts and other important papers relating to the routine of Liang's business. The judge had not expected to find any incriminating documents, for Liang was much too clever to keep any. He trusted he would find all the written proof he wanted in the capital, when the residence of the Chief Eunuch was raided by his men. He ordered Tao Gan to take the necessary measures for removing Zumurrud's body secretly to the tribunal, then he ascended his palankeen and was carried back to the palace.

He had an adjutant take him straight to the Governor's private study on the second floor of the main building.

It was a small but elegantly furnished room. The arched win­dows looked out over the palace garden and the lotus lake. A teaset of eggshell porcelain and a jade bowl filled with white roses stood on the tea-table to the left, the right wall being taken up entirely by a heavy ebony bookcase. The Governor was sitting behind a high desk that stood in the rear. He was giving instruc­tions to an old clerk standing by the side of his chair.

When the Governor saw Judge Dee, he hurriedly rose and came round from behind his desk to greet him. He invited the judge to be seated in the comfortable armchair next to the tea-table, and himself took the chair opposite. After the old clerk had served tea, the Governor dismissed him. Leaning forward with his hands on his knees, he asked tensely:

'What's afoot, Excellency? I saw the proclamation you issued. Who is that high official?'

Judge Dee eagerly emptied his teacup. He suddenly noticed how tired he was. He put his cup down, loosened the collar of his robe and then said placidly:

'It was a most unfortunate tragedy. The Censor Lew was mur­dered here, you know. The dead body I found in the Temple of the Flowery Pagoda was his, in fact. I shall now give you the official version of what happened. The Censor came to Canton because of a love affair with a local girl. She had a lover already, and that scoundrel poisoned him. My proclamation was a ruse. It made a friend of the murderer come forward and denounce him. He has been arrested, and even now is being conveyed to the capital, for a secret trial. You will understand that even this official version, concise as it is, must not be divulged. The central government does not like the indiscretions of high officials to be bruited about.' 'I see,' the Governor said slowly. 'I fully realize how awkward your position is,' Judge Dee said gently. 'I remember vividly the occasions when a ranking official from the capital visited my territory, when I was still a district magistrate. But such things can't be helped; they are inherent in our administrative system.' The Governor gave the judge a grateful glance. Then he asked: 'Would it be possible to tell me why the residence of Mr Liang has been surrounded by military guards?'

'I received information that Tanka robbers had entered his house. I went there to warn him, but found that he had met one, and had died from a heart attack. My lieutenants are now round­ing up the robbers. This affair too must be treated with the utmost discretion. For Mr Liang was a distinguished citizen, and if it became known among the people of Canton that it was Tanka who had caused his death, there might be communal trouble. You shall leave this matter entirely in the hands of my two lieu­tenants.' He took a sip from his tea. 'As to the Arab question, I have taken measures for the arrest of Mansur, the ringleader. After he has been put behind lock and key, the emergency measures for the maintenance of the public peace can be cancelled. I shall lay before the Grand Council the proposal I outlined to you yesterday relating to the segregation of barbarians. So there need be no fear of future trouble from them.'

'I see,' the Governor said again. After a while he resumed, rather diffidently, 'I hope that all the ah ... irregularities that occurred here will not be ascribed to an inefficient administration, sir. If the authorities in the capital received the impression that I had been er ... remiss in my duties, I...' He darted a worried glance at his guest.

But Judge Dee did not take the hint. Instead he said quietly: 'In the course of my investigation there have come to light a few facts not germane to the main issue, yet not without im­portance. In the first place the circumstances of the death of Mrs Pao. The Prefect is looking into those, and I prefer that you leave it to him to wind up that tragic case. Second, I learned about another tragedy that occurred here, many years ago. Regarding a Persian lady who committed suicide.' He cast a quick glance at his host. The Governor's face had suddenly paled. The judge went on, 'When we met in the garden pavilion yesterday morning, you were most eager to take the investigation of the Persian com­munity out of my hands. Since apparently you have made a special study of their affairs, you can supply me with more details about this tragedy, I suppose.'

The Governor averted his face. He stared out through the win­dow at the green palace roofs. Judge Dee took a large white rose from the bowl, and inhaled its delicate fragrance. The Governor began in a strained voice:

'It happened many years ago, when I had been sent out to serve as a junior assistant in the tribunal here. My first post, as a matter of fact. I was young and impressionable, and the exotic features of the foreign communities captured my fancy. I frequented the house of a Persian merchant, and met his daughter. We fell in love with each other. She was a refined, beautiful girl. I failed to notice that she was highly-strung, of an extremely nervous disposition.' He turned round and looking the judge full in the face, went on, 'I loved her so much I decided to give up my career and marry her. One day she let me know that she could not see me any more. Like the foolish youngster I was, I suspected nothing, I thought she wanted to end our relationship. In despair I began to frequent a Chinese courtesan. Then, after some months, she sent a message. It said that I was to meet her that day at dusk, in the Temple of the Flowery Pagoda. I found her sitting in the tea-pavilion, all alone.' He lowered his eyes and fixed them on his tightly clasped hands. 'She was wearing a long saffron robe; a thin silk shawl was draped round her small head. I wanted to speak, but she cut me short and told me to take her up the pagoda. In silence we climbed the steep stairs, higher and higher, till we were on the narrow platform of the highest storey, the ninth. She went to stand by the balustrade. The rays of the setting sun threw a reddish glow over the sea of roofs, far below. Without looking at me, she told me in a strange, impersonal voice that she had twin girls by me. Since I had deserted her, she had drowned them. While I stood there petrified, she suddenly stepped over the balustrade. I ... I...'

He had been controlling his voice with a great effort, but now he broke down completely and buried his face in his hands. Judge Dee caught a little of what he was muttering: 'I meant well, heaven is my witness! And she ... It was just that ... that we were too young. Too young....'

The judge waited for the Governor to regain his self-control. He slowly turned the rose round in his hand, watching the white petals as they dropped on to the shining black table top, one by one. When the Governor at last raised his head, the judge put the flower back into the bowl and said:

'She must have loved you very dearly, else she would not have become possessed by such a fierce desire to hurt you. And so she killed herself, and told you the lie about killing your two daugh­ters.' As the Governor was about to jump up, Judge Dee raised his hand. 'Yes, that was a lie. She gave the twins to a Chinese friend. When he went bankrupt, a Chinese with Persian blood, who had known her mother, took them and looked after them well. They have grown up into charming young girls, I am told.'

'Where are they? Who is the man?' the Governor burst out.

'His name is Nee, the sea captain I mentioned to you once. He is a mystic, a somewhat peculiar man, but a man of principles, I must admit. Although he had been told that you had basely de­ceived the young Persian lady, he preferred to remain silent, be­cause he thought that no one would be served by stirring up this old affair, least of all the two girls. You might go to see him some day; incognito, perhaps. The captain has technically become your son-in-law by now, if my information is correct.' The judge rose. Straightening his robe, he added, 'I shall forget everything you have told me here and now.'

While the Governor, too deeply moved to speak, was conduct­ing him to the door, Judge Dee remarked:

'Before I broached the subject of the Persian lady, you gave me to understand that you are worrying about your reputation in the capital. Now I want to tell you that I shall deem it my duty to report to the Grand Council that I found you an excellent ad­ministrator of exemplary zeal.' Cutting short the Governor's con­fused protestations of gratitude, he concluded, 'I have been ord­ered to return to the capital without delay, and I shall leave Can­ton this afternoon. Kindly see to it that a mounted convoy is put in readiness for me. Many thanks for your hospitality! Good­bye!'