The Red Pavilion

XII

When they were walking down the street Judge Dee said:

'I admit that I did the Crab and that other friend of yours an injustice. They supplied valuable information.'

'Yes, those two are all right. I must say, though, that half of the time I don't get what they are talking about—especially the Crab! As to Wen, sir, did you believe what that mean crook was telling us just now? '

'Partly. We took him by surprise, I assume that what he told about the Academician wanting to possess Miss Feng, and about the mean stratagem Wen suggested to him is quite true. It fits the Academician's proud and overbearing attitude, and also Wen's cowardly, nasty character. It also explains why Feng is so eager to marry his daughter to Kia Yu-po. The young poet depends completely upon Feng, he'll never dare to send his bride back to her father when he discovers she isn't a virgin any more.'

'So you are convinced that Lee did actually rape her, sir?'

'Of course. That was why Feng killed him. He made it appear as if the Academician had committed suicide, just as, thirty years ago, he concealed his murder of Tao Kwang.' See­ing Ma Joong's doubtful expression, he resumed quickly: 'It has to be Feng, Ma Joong! He had the motive and the oppor­tunity. And I now fully agree with your two friends the Crab and the Shrimp that the Academician was not the type of man to kill himself because of unrequited love. Feng must have murdered him. Next to the opportunity and a compelling motive, he also had a method that had turned out to be foolproof thirty years ago. I regret that there is no alternative, for Feng made a very favourable impression on me. But if he is a murderer, I shall have to proceed against him.'

'Perhaps Feng'll then give us some clues to the death of Autumn Moon, sir!'

'I certainly need them! Our discoveries about the murder of Tao Kwang and the Academician don't bring us one step nearer to solving the Queen Flower's death. I am convinced that there's a connecting link somewhere, but I haven't the faintest idea where to look for it.'

'Just now you said, sir, that you believed what the old goat said about Lee and Jade Ring. What about the rest?'

'After Wen had told us about his advice to the Academician, I noticed that he succeeded in collecting his wits. I fear that he then realized that I had been bluffing. He couldn't change what he had told us already, but he then and there decided to leave it at that. I have a feeling that he spoke with the Academician also about other matters which he thought it better not to disclose. Well, we'll find out in due time, I am not yet through with him!'

Ma Joong nodded. They walked on in silence.

Tao Pan-te stood waiting for them in front of the wine shop. The three men went on together to Silver Fairy's dormitory.

It was she herself who opened the door. She said in a low voice:

'Miss Ling was ashamed to receive you in her miserable hovel, sir. She insisted that I brought her here, ill as she was. I smuggled her into the training hall, it's not being used at the moment.'

She quickly took them there. Next to the pillar by the back window a slight figure was sitting hunched up in an armchair. She was clad in a plain dress of faded brown cotton. Her grey, untidy hair hung down over her shoulders; her thickly veined hands were lying in her lap. When she heard them come in, she raised her head and turned her blind face in their direction.

The light of the paper window fell on the disfigured face. Deep pockmarks covered the hollow cheeks, which showed unhealthy red patches. The opaque eyes were strangely still.

Silver Fairy went quickly to her, followed by the judge and his two companions. Bending over the grey head she said softly:

'The magistrate has arrived, Miss Ling!'

She wanted to get up but Judge Dee quickly put his hand on her thin shoulder and said gently:

'Remain seated, please. You shouldn't have gone to all the trouble to come here, Miss Ling!'

'This person is completely at Your Honour's disposal,' the blind woman said.

Involuntarily the judge shrank back in incredulous horror. Never had he heard such a rich and warm, utterly lovely voice. Coming from that disfigured old woman, the voice seemed a cruel, outrageous mockery. He had to swallow a few times before he resumed:

'What was your professional name, Miss Ling?'

'I was called Gold Jasper, sir. People admired my singing and my . . . beauty. I was nineteen years old when I fell ill and . . .' Her voice trailed off.

'At that time,' Judge Dee continued, 'a courtesan called Green Jade was chosen Queen Flower. Did you know her well?'

'I did. But she died. Thirty years ago, during the epidemic. I was one of the first who caught the disease. I heard about Green Jade's death only several weeks afterwards, when I was . . . cured. She got the disease a few days after me. She died.'

'I suppose Green Jade had many admirers?'

'Yes, there were many. Most of them I didn't know. I knew only two well, both of this island, Feng Dai and Tao Kwang. When I had got better, Tao had died, and Green Jade had died.'

'Didn't Wen Yuan, the curio-dealer, also try to win her favour?'

'Wen Yuan? Yes, I knew him too. We avoided him; he liked to hurt women. I remember he gave Green Jade many costly presents, but she wouldn't even look at them. Is Wen still alive? If he is, he must be over sixty now. It's all so long ago.'

A group of courtesans passed by the window, talking excited­ly. A peal of gay laughter rang out.

'Do you think,' Judge Dee asked again, 'that there was some truth in the rumour that Feng Dai was Green Jade's lover?'

'Feng was a handsome man, as I remember him. Straight­forward and dependable. There wasn't much to choose between him and Tao Kwang, I think. Tao Kwang was also handsome, also a good, honest man. And also very much in love with her.'

'There were also rumours that Tao Kwang killed himself because she had preferred Feng. You knew him, Miss Ling. Do you think it likely that Tao Kwang would have done that?'

She didn't reply at once. She raised her blind face and listened to the guitar music that had started in a room up­stairs. It was the same theme, repeated again and again. She said:

'She ought to tune her instrument better. Yes, Tao Kwang loved Green Jade deeply. Perhaps he did kill himself because of her.' Hearing Tao Pan-te's quick intake of breath, she asked:

'Who is that with you, sir?'

'One of my assistants.'

'It isn't true,' she said quietly. 'I heard him, he too must have known Tao Kwang well. He can tell you more about him than I, sir.'

Suddenly a violent attack of coughing racked her frame. She took a crumpled handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her lips. When she put it back it showed red stains.

Judge Dee realized that the woman was mortally ill. He waited till she had recovered, then resumed quickly:

'It was also said that Tao Kwang didn't commit suicide, but was killed by Feng Dai.'

She slowly shook her head.

'That's certainly slander, sir. Tao Kwang was Feng's best friend. I have heard them talk together — about Green Jade. I know that if Green Jade chose one of them, the other would have abided by her decision. But she didn't choose, I think.'

Judge Dee gave Tao Pan-te a questioning look. He shook his head. There seemed no point in asking more questions. Then the beautiful voice resumed:

'I think Green Jade wanted a man who was not only good-looking, and of a staunch character, and wealthy. She wanted more. A man who had all that, but also a wild, reckless strain. A man who would carelessly spend all he had, property, posi­tion, reputation—everything. Throw it away, casually, without even thinking about it. Because of the woman he loved.'

The voice ceased. Judge Dee stared fixedly at the window. The guitar theme, repeated with irritating insistence, was jarring on his nerves. With an effort he took hold of him­self.

'I am most grateful, Miss Ling. You must be tired, I'll have a sedan chair called for you.'

'I appreciate your consideration. Thank you, sir.'

The words were obsequious, but the tone was that of a great courtesan, graciously dismissing an admirer. They gave the judge a sharp pang. He gave a sign to the others. They left the hall together.

Outside Tao Pan-te muttered:

'Only her voice is left. Strange . . . these shadows from the past. I'll have to think this over, sir. I beg to be excused.'

Judge Dee nodded, then said to Ma Joong:

'You get a sedan chair for Miss Ling, Ma Joong. Let it come to the back door here, and help Silver Fairy to get Miss Ling inside without attracting attention. I'll go and make one more call, then I shall return to the Red Pavilion. You'll find me there in an hour or so.'