Murder in Canton: A Judge Dee Mystery

by Robert Van Gulik

  Chiao Tai went over to her. Confused by her breathtaking beauty, he was at a loss for words. At last he blurted out:

  ‘Where's that emerald?’

  ‘I only wear it when dancing, you silly fool! I just had my bath. You better have one too, you are covered with sweat. Behind the blue curtain there!’

  He picked his way through the chairs and tables that stood about on the thick pile carpet. Behind the blue curtain was a small but elegant bathroom, decorated in plain, beautifully grained wood. He quickly stripped, squatted down by the tub of hot water and sluiced himself using the small wooden pail. While rubbing himself dry with the lining of his robe, he noticed a box containing sticks of liquorice lying ready on the dressing-table. He took one, chewed the end into the required shape and carefully brushed his teeth. Then he hung his robe and vest on the bamboo clothes rack and stepped back into the room, clad only in his baggy trousers, his muscular, scarred torso bare. Pulling up a chair to the bedstead, he said gruffly:

  ‘I accepted last night's invitation, as you see.’

  ‘You certainly lost no time getting here!’ she remarked dryly. ‘Anyway, you were wise in choosing the early morning, for that's the only time I can receive visitors.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I am not an ordinary courtesan, my friend. Whatever insulting remarks that rat Mansur may make. I am not for sale, for I have a permanent patron. A wealthy fellow, as you can see from all this.’ She indicated the surroundings with a sweeping gesture of her rounded arm, then added, ‘He doesn't take kindly to rivals.’

  ‘I am here on official business,’ Chiao Tai said stiffly. ‘Who says I am a rival?’

  ‘I do.’ She put her hands behind her head and stretched herself. She yawned, then darted a quick glance at him from her large eyes and asked crossly, ‘Well, what are you waiting for? Are you one of those tiresome men who have to first consult the calendar to see whether the day and hour are auspicious?’

  He got up and clasped her lithe body in his arms. In the course of his long and varied amorous career he had experienced many different types of love. Now for the first time, he experienced a love that was not only different, but final. Zumurrud fulfilled some indefinable need deep inside him, stirred something he had never even been aware of, but now suddenly recognized as the root of his entire being. He knew that he could not live without this woman—and wasn't even astonished at the discovery.

  Afterwards they took a quick bath together. When she had put on a thin robe of blue gauze, she helped Chiao Tai dress. She cocked her head at the iron-plated vest but refrained from comment. Back in the cabin she motioned him to be seated at the small tea-table of carved rosewood and said casually:

  ‘Having disposed of that now, you'd better tell me something more about yourself. There isn't much time, for presently my maid will come in, and she's one of my patron's paid spies.’

  ‘I'd rather hear more about you ! I know next to nothing about your Arab people. Are you…’

  ‘The Arabs are not my people,’ she interrupted curtly. ‘My father was an Arab, but my mother a cheap Tanka harlot. Does that shock you?’

  ‘Not me! Working in a brothel is just another profession, and what do I care about race or colour? All people are bound to become Chinese anyway, sooner or later. Whether they are brown, blue or black! If a man is good at fighting, and a woman good at making love, they are all right, as far as I am concerned!’

  ‘Well, that's something, at least! My father was an Arab sailor. When he went back to his country, he left my mother with child. Me.’ She poured a cup of tea for him and went on, ‘I entered the trade at fifteen. I showed promise, so my mother was able to sell me to a larger flowerboat. I had to receive customers, and in my spare time serve the Chinese courtesans. Maltreating me was a favourite amusement of those nasty bitches!’

  ‘They didn't treat you too badly though,’ Chiao Tai remarked coarsely. ‘There isn't a scar on your lovely body!’

  ‘Nothing so crude as whipping or caning,’ she said bitterly. ‘The boss had forbidden them to mark me, because he saw big money in my future. So the bitches hung me by my hair from the rafters and stuck hot needles in me, just to while away a slack evening. And when they got really bored, they would tie me up with a large centipede in my trousers. Its bite doesn't show either, only you're kept guessing where exactly it'll bite! I've had it, all of it.’ She shrugged. ‘Never mind, that's all past and done with now. I got myself a patron who bought me out and rented these fine quarters for me. The only work I do is dancing at parties, and the money I earn he lets me keep. Mansur offered to take me back with him to his country and make me his first wife. But I don't like him, and I don't like my dear father's country, from what I have heard of it. See me sitting in a tent in the burning desert, with camels and asses for company? Thank you kindly!’

  ‘Do you care a lot for your patron?’

  ‘For him? Heavens no! But he's wealthy, and generous too. As nasty as they make ‘em though.’ She paused, pensively scratching the lobe of her ear. ‘I cared for one man only, and he was head over ears in love with me too. But I acted like a damn fool, and spoiled everything.’ Her wide eyes stared past him with a sombre glow.

  Chiao Tai put his arm round her waist. ‘You were very kind to me just now!’ he said, hopefully.

  She pushed him away and snapped impatiently, ‘Leave me alone! You just got all you wanted, didn't you? I groaned and panted at the right moments, and wriggled like an eel. You got it, complete with all the trimmings, so don't expect me to go on billing and cooing now! Besides, you aren't my type at all. I like refined gentlemen, not common bruisers like you.’

  ‘Well,’ Chiao Tai said uncertainly, ‘I may seem just a bruiser, but I…’

  ‘Save your trouble! I have learned to take men for what they seem to be. What do I care for what they think they are? If you want a real long and cosy talk about yourself, you'd better hire a nursemaid. So, let's get down to business. I went for you because you happen to be a colonel of the Imperial Guard, and according to Mansur the right-hand man of the President of the Metropolitan Court. That means that you could arrange that I get Chinese citizenship. You realize that I am legally a pariah, don't you? A Tanka woman, not allowed to marry a Chinese, not allowed even to dwell on Chinese soil?’

  ‘So that's why your patron established you on this boat!’

  ‘You certainly have an alert mind!’ she scoffed. ‘Of course he could not give me a house ashore. He is rolling in money, but he has no official position. But you are from the capital, and your boss is the highest judge in the land. Take me with you to the capital, see to it that I get Chinese citizenship, then introduce me to some really important men. The rest you can leave to me.’ She half-closed her eyes and went on with a slow smile, ‘To be a real Chinese lady, wear brocade dresses, have my own Chinese chambermaids, my own garden…’ Suddenly she added in an impersonal voice, ‘In the meantime, as a reward, I shall serve you as well as I can. And after our bout behind the curtains just now you'll agree that I know my job, I trust. Well, is it a deal?’

  Her cold, frank words cut Chiao Tai to the quick. But he managed to answer in a steady voice:

  ‘It's a deal!’

  He told himself that he would succeed in making this woman fall in love with him. He must.

  ‘Good. We'll have another meeting soon, to fix the details. My patron has a small house where he passes the afternoon with me when he's too busy to come here to the boat. It's to the south of the Kwang-siao Temple, in the west city. I'll send you a message as soon as the coast is clear. For you can't approach my patron, you see. Not yet. He wouldn't let me go, and he has an awful hold over me, could ruin me, if he chose to. Once you have spirited me away to the capital, however, I'll tell you who he is, so that you can let him have back the money he paid for me—in case your conscience should bother you!’

  ‘You didn't commit a crime, did you?’ Chiao Tai asked anxiously.

  ‘I made an
awful mistake, once.’ She rose, pulled the thin robe close to her voluptuous body and said, ‘Now you must really go, else there might be trouble. Where can I reach you?’

  He told her the name of his inn, kissed her and left the cabin.

  On deck he saw that the stern of the largest ship in the next row was within jumping reach. He sprang on board, then made the long journey back to the quay.

  He re-entered the city by the Kuei-te Gate, and strolled to the Inn of the Five Immortals. In front of the gate stood a small litter. He asked the bearers whether it had been sent by Captain Nee. They came to their feet, shouting in unison that it had. He stepped inside and was swiftly carried away.

  X

  Judge Dee had slept badly. He had dozed off, after having tossed about for a long time, and now that he had awakened after a fitful slumber, he found he had a dull headache. It was one hour before daybreak, but he knew he could not sleep any more, and stepped down from the broad bedstead. Clad only in his nightrobe, he stood for a while in front of the arched window, looking out over the palace roofs silhouetted against the grey morning sky. Inhaling the fresh air, he decided that a walk before breakfast would do him good.

  He put on a gown of grey cotton, placed his skull-cap on his head and went downstairs. In the anteroom the majordomo was issuing the day's instructions to half a dozen heavy-eyed servants. Judge Dee told him to lead him to the park.

  They walked through the dim corridors where the nightlamps had just been doused, on to the rear of the extensive palace compound. All along the back of the main building ran a broad marble terrace; below it was a beautifully laid out landscape garden, with paved pathways winding among the flowery shrubs.

  ‘You need not wait,’ he told the majordomo. ‘I'll find my way back all right.’

  He descended the dew-covered steps, and took a path leading to a large lotus pond. Through the thin morning haze that hung over the still water, he saw on the opposite bank a small pavilion and decided to stroll over there. He walked slowly round the pond, admiring the graceful lotus flowers that were just now opening their pink and red petals.

  Approaching the pavilion, he saw through the window the back of a tall man, hunched over a table. He thought he recognized those round shoulders. As he climbed the steps, he noticed that the man was peering intently into a small pot of green porcelain which stood in front of him. Apparently he had heard Judge Dee's footsteps, for he said, still staring into the pot:

  ‘So there you are, at last! Have a look at this tall fellow here!’

  ‘Good morning,’ Judge Dee said.

  The Governor looked up with a startled frown. Seeing who his visitor was, he quickly rose and stammered:

  ‘Excuse me, sir! I…I really didn't…’

  ‘It's too early in the day for formalities!’ the judge interrupted wearily. ‘I didn't sleep too well, and came out for a morning stroll.’ Taking the other chair, he added, ‘Sit down, please! What have you got in that pot there?’

  ‘My best fighter, sir! See those strong, sturdy legs! Isn't he a beauty?’

  Judge Dee leaned forward. He thought the large cricket resembled a particularly nasty black spider.

  ‘Fine specimen!’ he commented, sitting back again. ‘I must confess, however, that I am an outsider. The Imperial Censor who came to Canton a few weeks ago—there is a real enthusiast!’

  ‘I had the honour to show him my collection,’ the other said proudly. Then his face fell. He gave the judge a diffident look and resumed, ‘He came back here, incognito, you know. I reported to the capital that he had been seen here, and I was ordered to establish contact with him. But shortly after I had sent out my men to make a search for him, the order was suddenly cancelled.’ He hesitated for a while, nervously tugging at his moustache. ‘Of course, I would never be so bold as to meddle with the affairs of the central government, but since Canton is my territory after all, I thought that a few words of explanation…’ He did not finish his sentence and gave the judge an expectant look.

  ‘Yes!’ Judge Dee said eagerly, ‘that's true! The Censor wasn't present at the meeting of the Grand Council I attended just before I left. Well, since you have been ordered to cease your efforts, the Censor has presumably gone back to the capital and resumed his duties.’

  He leaned back in his chair, slowly stroking his beard. The Governor took a round cover of woven bamboo and carefully put it over the green pot. Then he said with a wan smile:

  ‘My physician has informed me that you discovered a second murder yesterday. And the victim was one of your own men! I do hope that the Prefect isn't getting too old for his job. It's a large city, and…’

  ‘It doesn't matter,’ the judge said affably. ‘Both affairs had their roots in the capital, and my men made awkward mistakes. It's I who should apologize!’

  ‘Most considerate of you, sir. I hope you are satisfied with the progress of your investigation concerning the foreign trade here?’

  ‘Oh yes. But it's a complicated subject. I think we must devise a better system for keeping all those various kinds of foreigners under control, you know. In due time I shall show you a draft-proposal to confine them severally to special quarters. I have just begun to look into Arab affairs. Then I shall go on to the others too, such as the Persians, and…’

  ‘That's quite unnecessary!’ the Governor interrupted suddenly. Then he bit his lips and added quickly, ‘I mean to say, sir, those Persians are…well, there can't be more than a few dozen. Nice, educated people, all of them.’

  Judge Dee thought the Governor had grown very pale. But it might be the effect of the uncertain light. He said slowly:

  ‘Well, I want to get the complete picture, you see.’

  ‘Allow me to assist you, sir!’ the Governor said eagerly. ‘Ha, there's Pao!’

  Prefect Pao Kwan made a low bow on the steps of the pavilion, followed by a second, even lower one when he got inside. With a worried face he said to the Governor:

  ‘A thousand pardons, sir! Imagine the cheek of that woman! She hasn't turned up! I can't imagine why she…’

  ‘And I can't imagine,’ the Governor interrupted him coldly, ‘why you don't make sure persons are dependable before you even think of introducing them to me. Well, since I am busy now with His Excellency, you…’

  ‘I can't find words to say how sorry I am, sir,’ the unhappy Prefect said, eager to excuse himself. ‘But since I know of your interest in crickets, and since my wife said the woman had an uncanny knowledge of the subject…’

  Before the Governor could dismiss the Prefect, Judge Dee said quickly:

  ‘I didn't know there were also women-amateurs. She deals in those insects, I presume?’

  ‘Yes, indeed, Excellency,’ the Prefect said, grateful for the intervention. ‘My wife told me that the girl has a remarkably fine eye for a good cricket. Well, the word “eye” is badly chosen, in this particular case, for she's blind, apparently.’ He continued to the Governor, ‘As I reported to you yesterday, sir, my wife ordered her to appear here at dawn, before your morning audience, so as to take as little as possible of your valuable time and…’

  ‘I'd like to have her address, Mr Pao,’ Judge Dee cut him short. ‘It might be a good idea to take a few crickets back with me, as a souvenir of Canton.’

  This request seemed to upset the Prefect even more. He stammered :

  ‘I…I asked my wife for her address, but the stupid woman said she didn't know…. She had met her only once, in the market. She had been so impressed by her sincere devotion to crickets that she…’

  Seeing that the Governor was getting red in the face and was about to give the Prefect a severe dressing down, Judge Dee came to the rescue.

  ‘It doesn't matter, really. Well, I'll go back to my own quarters now.’ He rose and said quickly to the Governor, who had got up too, ‘No, don't bother I Mr Pao will show me the way.’

  He went down into the garden, followed by the flustered Prefect.

  When they had
come to the terrace, the judge said with a smile:

  ‘Don't mind your chief's bad temper, Mr Pao! I myself am never at my best either, so early in the morning!’ As the Prefect gave him a grateful smile, he continued, The Governor seems very diligent about his duties. He often makes the rounds of the city incognito, I suppose, in order to get a personal impression of the situation here.’

  ‘Never, sir! He is a haughty man; he would consider that debasing himself! He is very hard to please indeed, Excellency. And since I am much older than him, and very experienced, I don't find my work here very ah…agreeable. I have been serving here five years already, sir. My last post was magistrate of a district in Shantung, my native province. I did rather well there, hence my promotion to Canton. Here I took the trouble of learning Cantonese, and I have a thorough knowledge of local affairs, if I may be allowed to say so. The Governor ought to consult me before taking decisions, really. But he is a proper martinet, he…’