In the meantime Judge Dee had eaten his noon rice in his private dining-room, together with Tao Gan. They had lingered over their tea, waiting for Chiao Tai. When it was getting on for two o'clock, and Chiao Tai had not yet made his appearance, the judge rose and told the majordomo to take them to the Council Hall.
The Governor and Prefect Pao stood waiting just inside the entrance, and by their side a bearded man in shining armour. The Governor introduced him as the garrison commander, and the other, slightly younger officer standing behind him as the harbour master. After Mr Liang Foo and Yau Tai-kai had also greeted the judge, the Governor led him to the head of the large conference table that had been prepared in the centre of the hall.
It took some time before all these distinguished persons had been seated in the proper order. At last, after the scribes had taken their places at two lower tables somewhat apart, and moistened their writing-brushes to take down the proceedings, Judge Dee opened the conference. After he had outlined briefly the problem confronting them, he called upon the garrison commander to give them an outline of the strategic situation.
The commander did so in a commendably succinct manner. Within half an hour he had completed his description of the layout of the city, and the distribution of the garrison forces. He was interrupted only once, when a clerk came in and handed a letter to Prefect Pao. The Prefect glanced through it, then asked the judge to excuse him for a while.
Judge Dee was just going to ask the commander what safety measures he would recommend, when the Governor rose and began a speech, intended, as he was careful to point out, to present the city's main features from a broader, administrative angle. While he was talking, Prefect Pao came back and resumed his seat. The Governor spoke for more than half an hour, going into much irrelevant detail. Judge Dee was just beginning to shift impatiently in his chair, when an adjutant came in. He asked Judge Dee in a whisper whether he might show in Colonel Chiao, who wanted to speak to him urgently. Judge Dee, welcoming this opportunity to stretch his legs, decided to disregard official protocol by going outside to see him. He rose and asked the company to excuse him for a few moments.
In the anteroom Chiao Tai quickly told him what had happened in Captain Nee's house.
'Go to the Arab quarter and arrest Mansur at once!’ Judge Dee said angrily. 'This is the first direct proof we have against the scoundrel! And Ahmed and Aziz were the two the Censor mentioned in his note. Take my four agents with you.' As Chiao Tai turned to leave with a happy grin, the judge added, 'Try also to get Captain Nee. If he is not yet back, tell the tribunal to issue a warrant for his arrest to all the city wardens. I want to have a talk with that sea captain! A mystic forsooth!’
After Judge Dee had resumed his seat at the head of the conference table, he said gravely:
'One of the items on our agenda is what measures to take concerning Mansur, the leader of the Arab community here. I have just received certain information that has obliged me to issue orders for his immediate arrest.' As he said this, he quickly surveyed the faces of the persons round the table.
All nodded in approval except Mr Yau, who looked very doubtful.
'I too have heard rumours about an impending Arab revolt,' he said. 'But I dismissed them at once as based on irresponsible gossip. As to Mansur, I think I may say that I know him well. He is a quick-tempered, haughty man, but I am certain he would never even dream of engaging upon such a treacherous undertaking.'
The judge threw him a cold glance.
'I admit,' he said evenly, 'that I have no concrete evidence against Mansur — as yet. But since he is the head of the Arab community, he is personally responsible to us for everything happening among his compatriots. He will now have every opportunity to prove himself innocent. Of course, since we must reckon with the possibility that Mansur is not the ringleader after all, his impending arrest does not make precautionary measures superfluous. I request the garrison commander now to formulate those measures.'
When the commander had done so, in his customary crisp manner, the harbour master added a few suggestions regarding a restriction of the movement of Arab vessels in port. After agreement had been reached on these proposals, Judge Dee ordered Prefect Pao to draw up the texts of the necessary orders and proclamations. It took considerable time for all the texts to be completed and approved, but at long last Judge Dee could sign and seal the papers. Just as he was about to close the conference, the Governor took a bulky package of notes from his bosom and put it on the table. He cleared his throat importantly, then spoke:
'I deeply regret that the sudden cropping up of this Arab affair has taken so much of Your Excellency's valuable time. Since I am not oblivious of the fact that the purpose of Your Excellency's visit here is to review the foreign trade situation, I have had the port authorities draw up a report, which quotes in detail the import and export figures of all more important commodities. If Your Excellency will allow me, I shall now, on the basis of these documents, briefly describe the general position.'
Judge Dee was about to remark sharply that he had better things to do, but checked himself in time. After all, he had to keep up appearances. And the Governor had shown commendable zeal. Thus he nodded and resignedly leaned back in his chair.
While the Governor's voice droned on, he thought over what Chiao Tai had told him about Captain Nee. The fact that Mansur had intended Nee to be accused of Chiao Tai's murder seemed to prove that the captain was not involved in the nefarious scheme.
Was he perhaps working together with the blind girl? When Chiao Tai was visiting him, the captain had received a written message, and when Chiao Tai had left the blind girl's package had been put into his sleeve. The judge wanted to whisper something to Tao Gan, but saw that his lieutenant was listening in rapt attention to the Governor's speech. He sighed. He knew that Tao Gan was always keenly interested in financial matters.
The Governor's speech lasted more than an hour. When he was through at last, the servants came in to light the silver candlesticks. Now Liang Foo rose and began to discuss the figures quoted by the Governor. Judge Dee was glad when he saw the adjutant come in again. With a worried face he said quickly to the judge:
'The warden of the north-west quarter is here, Excellency, with an important message for the Prefect.'
Pao looked questioningly at the judge. When he nodded his assent, the Prefect hastily got up and followed the adjutant outside.
Judge Dee had just began to compliment the Governor and Mr Liang on their masterly speeches, when suddenly Prefect Pao came rushing inside, his face a deadly pale.
'My wife has been murdered!' he brought out in a choking voice. 'I must...'
He broke off as he saw Chiao Tai come in. Chiao Tai quickly stepped up to the judge and said contritely:
'Mansur has completely disappeared, sir. And so has Captain Nee. I can't understand what...'
Judge Dee cut him short with his raised hand. He quickly ordered the Governor, 'Send out your men to arrest Mansur. And also the sea captain Nee. At once!’ Then he told Chiao Tai that Mrs Pao had been found murdered. He turned to the Prefect. 'Accept my sincere sympathy, Mr Pao. I shall accompany you to your house now together with my two lieutenants. This new outrage ...'
'It didn't happen in my house, sir!’ the Prefect cried out. 'She was murdered in a house south of the Kwang-siao Temple, an address I have never even heard of! On the south corner of the second street!’
Mr Yau uttered a suppressed cry. He stared at the Prefect with his mouth open, his bovine eyes enlarged by fright.
'Do you know that place, Mr Yau?' Judge Dee asked sharply.