Necklace and Calabash

XVIII

The crowing of the cock in the cook's chicken-run woke the judge. He got up slowly, for every movement made his stiff muscles ache. Wincing, he went through a few of the exercises boxers use for regulating the blood circulation. Then he put on the long black robe of the preceding night, and placed the small skull-cap on his head. The folded yellow document he put in his sleeve.

As he came down the stairs he saw to his surprise about a dozen guardsmen loitering in the hall. Siew's tall lieutenant was leaning against the counter, leisurely drinking a cup of tea with the innkeeper. Liu came to meet the judge, saluted and said with a faint smile:

'I saw in this morning's report of the night watch that you were called away in the deep of night, Doctor. It was a boy, I hope?' When Judge Dee nodded he went on, 'I am glad to hear that, for the parents. I remember how glad I was when my first turned out to be a boy.' He scratched his nose, a habit copied from his captain. 'Well, the captain told me you planned to visit him first thing this morning, and ordered me to fetch you. Then we saw four gentlemen in the square — in black, this time, not in grey. All kinds of riff-raff are roaming the streets nowadays, so the captain thought we'd better provide an escort, sir. The captain wouldn't like you to have an accident, you see.'

'Thanks very much. Let's be on our way. I have urgent business with the captain.'

Stepping out on the portico, he saw four men dressed in black robes in front of the Nine Clouds, talking to the portly host, who was looking even more dyspeptic than before. When they saw the judge appear they started to cross the street. But then Liu and his men came marching out of the door and they quickly went back.

The judge and Liu found Captain Siew eating a large bowl of

noodles with gusto. He laid down his chopsticks and made to get up, but Judge Dee said quickly:

'Stay where you are! I am in a great hurry. First, many thanks for the timely escort. Second, I want you to have the yellow Imperial standard hoisted here in front of your office.' He took the yellow paper from his sleeve and smoothed it out on the desk.

The captain took in the contents at a glance. He nearly over­turned his chair in his hurry to get up. 'This, sir ... I mean, Excellency, I ...'

'Give the necessary orders at once, Captain. Let the incompar­able Liu here bring me a flat-iron and a piece of the best yellow silk!'

Captain Siew and his assistant rushed outside. The hoisting of the yellow standard meant that a high official with personal orders from the Emperor was present. It implied that that section of the town would be cordoned off by guardsmen, and that the inhabi­tants must put up the shutters and stay inside.

The lieutenant came back first. Judge Dee took the flat-bottomed brass pan heaped with glowing coals by its long handle, and ironed the Imperial edict. When he had rolled the paper up in the yellow silk, Captain Siew came inside and reported that the standard had been hoisted and all prescribed measures taken.

'Good. You will ride at once to the palace, Siew, show the Im­perial Words to your colonel, and go together with him to the Superintendent. Tell them that the Imperial Inquisitor orders both of them to repair to this office at once, and with the minimum retinue, to be received in audience in the court hall downstairs. I would like to summon the Chief Eunuch too, but the palace rules forbid him to leave his post under any circumstances. Tell them that I order the utmost secrecy, and you will see to it personally that neither the colonel nor the Superintendent destroy, or order to be destroyed, any papers or notes in their respective offices. You shall add that the Inquisitor is concerned about the illness of the Lady Hydrangea, and that he trusts that the palace doctors have effected a complete cure. Return my identity paper to me!’

After the captain had unlocked his drawer and handed the document to the judge with a bow, the latter resumed: 'We'd better do everything in the proper way. You'll order the Super­intendent to supply you with a Censor's cap, and the yellow stole. I'll dispense with the robes. Bring cap and stole in to me before you admit my visitors to the court hall. Hurry up, we have a busy morning before us!’

Captain Siew was so perplexed by all these unexpected hap­penings that he couldn't formulate even one of all the questions that came to his lips. Making a bubbling noise, he accepted the yellow roll respectfully in both hands and rushed out. Judge Dee told the lieutenant who was standing stiffly at attention:

'First of all I want you to get me a bowl of those nice noodles, Liu!'

After the judge had enjoyed a leisurely breakfast seated at the captain's desk, he told Liu to take him to the court hall down­stairs.

The court was not as large as an ordinary civilian tribunal, but on the platform at the back stood the usual high bench covered with a scarlet cloth, and beside it a small desk for the military scribe. Against the wall behind the bench was a high table, bear­ing a bronze incense-burner. The stone-flagged floor was bare.

'Take away the low desk, Liu, and place an armchair on the right and left of the bench. Bring me a large pot of hot tea!’

The judge sat down in the armchair behind the bench. When the lieutenant had brought a large tea-pot of blue and white porcelain and had poured a cup, the judge ordered him to wait outside. He was to see to it that no one entered the hall except the Superintendent, the colonel and Captain Siew. Then Judge Dee leaned back in his chair and, slowly caressing his sidewhiskers, surveyed the empty hall. It reminded him of his own court hall in the tribunal of Poo-yang. If everything went well, he could be back there in a day or two.

After Judge Dee had emptied several cups of tea, Captain Siew came and handed the yellow roll to him. The judge rose, lit the incense in the bronze burner, and laid the yellow roll in front of it, the place of honour reserved for Imperial edicts. The captain opened the bundle wrapped up in red silk. Judge Dee exchanged his skull-cap for the high winged cap of black velvet, braided with gold, the front decorated with the golden insignia of his present exalted rank. After he had draped the broad yellow stole round his shoulders, he resumed his seat and told the captain the audience could begin.

The double-doors were thrown open, and the Superintendent strode inside, magnificent in his wide ceremonial robe of violet brocade, embroidered in gold, and wearing a high, three-layered cap on his head. He was followed by the colonel, resplendent in his gilt coat of mail with the beautifully chiselled breast- and shoulder-plates. Both made a low bow, the long coloured plumes on the colonel's golden helmet sweeping the floor. Then they advanced to the front of the bench, and knelt on the stone floor.

'You may rise,' Judge Dee told them curtly. 'This is a quite informal audience. You are allowed, therefore, to take those arm­chairs at the bench. The captain shall stand by the door and see to it that we are not disturbed.'

His two guests seated themselves stiffly. Colonel Kang laid his broadsword across his knees. Judge Dee slowly emptied his teacup, then he sat up straight and spoke:

'His Imperial Majesty has deigned to charge me with the investigation of some irregularities that have recently occurred in the Water Palace — irregularities culminating in the disappear­ance of an Imperial Treasure, the pearl necklace belonging to Her Imperial Highness the Third Princess. You two and the Chief Eunuch, being the three highest officials in the Water Palace, are held responsible. I need not, I trust, remind you of the extreme gravity of the situation.' The two men bowed.

'I have now completed my investigation and we shall presently proceed to the palace where I shall order the Chief Eunuch to request an audience with Her Imperial Highness, so as to enable me to present my report. However, it so happens that the theft of the necklace is narrowly linked with another atrocious crime committed here in Rivertown. In order to clarify the complex situation, I want first to dispose of that murder case in your presence.' Rising he added, 'I invite you to accompany me to the inn of the Kingfisher.'