Poets and Murder

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

It should be noted that in China the surname — here printed in capitals — precedes the personal name

DEE Jen-djieh Magistrate of the district of Poo-yang. In this novel he is staying for a few days with his colleague in the neighbouring district of Chin-hwa

LO Kwan-choong Magistrate of the district of Chin-hwa, and amateur poet

KAO Fang Counsellor of the tribunal of Chin-hwa

SHAO Fan-wen Doctor of Literature, ex-President of the Imperial Academy

CHANG Lan-po the Court Poet

Yoo-lan a famous poetess

Sexton Loo a Zen monk

MENG Su-chai a tea-merchant

SOONG I-wen a salaried student

Small Phoenix a dancing-girl

Saffron guardian of the Shrine of the Black Fox