The hunchback drew aside the quilt that covered the reed mat on the floor, in front of the table. For the second time that day the judge looked down on the mutilated body. With a sigh he took up his brush and filled in the official form, reading aloud as he wrote, "The body of Mrs. Pan, nee Yeh. Age?"
"Thirty-two years," Yeh Pin said in a strangled voice. His face had a deadly pallor.
"The autopsy can begin," Judge Dee said.
Kuo dipped a piece of cloth in the copper basin with hot water standing by his side, and moistened the hands of the dead woman. He carefully loosened the rope. Then he tried to move the arms, but they were quite stiff. He took the silver ring from the right hand, and placed it on a piece of paper. Then he washed the body carefully, examining it inch by inch. After a considerable time he turned it over, and also washed the bloodstains off the back.
In the meantime Sergeant Hoong had told Ma Joong and Chiao Tai in quick whispers all he knew about the murder. Now Ma Joong sucked in his breath.
"See those welts on the back?" he muttered angrily to Chiao Tai. "Wait till I get my hands on the fiend who did that!"
Kuo spent a long time on the stump of the neck. At last he rose and began his report:
"The body of a married woman. Skin smooth, no birthmarks or old scars. No wounds on the body, but wrists lacerated by the ropes, and bruises on breasts and upper arms. Back and hips show welts, apparently inflicted by a whip."
Kuo waited till the clerk had filled in those details. Then he continued:
"On the stump of the neck are the marks of a large knife, I presume a cleaver as is used in the kitchen."
Judge Dee angrily pulled his beard. He told the clerk to read out Kuo's report, then made the coroner affix his thumb mark to it. He ordered him to give the ring to Yeh Pin. Yeh gave it a curious look, then said:
"The ruby is missing! I am certain it was still there when I met my sister day before yesterday."
"Did your sister wear no other rings?" Judge Dee asked.
As Yeh shook his head, the judge continued: "You may now take the body away, Yeh Pin, and have it placed in a temporary coffin. The severed head has not yet been recovered; it was neither in the house, nor in the well. I assure you that I shall do my utmost to apprehend the murderer and find the head, so that in due time it can be encoffined together with the body for final burial."
The Yeh brothers bowed silently, and Judge Dee rose and returned to his private office, followed by his four lieutenants.
When he entered the spacious room he shivered despite his heavy furs. He said curtly to Ma Joong:
"Put more coal in the brazier!"
While Ma Joong got busy they sat down. Slowly stroking his long side whiskers the judge remained silent for some time. When Ma Joong was seated also, Tao Gan observed:
"This murder certainly poses some curious problems!"
"I can see but one," Ma Joong growled, "and that is to get that fiend Pan Feng in our hands! Slaughtering his wife like that! And a shapely wench, too!"
Judge Dee, deep in thought, had not heard him. Suddenly he burst out angrily:
"It is an impossible situation!"
He rose abruptly. Pacing the floor he continued:
"Here we have a stripped woman, but not a single piece of her clothes, not even her shoes. She has been bound, maltreated and beheaded, and there is no sign of a struggle! The husband who allegedly did it, carefully packed up the severed head and all the woman's garments, tidied up the room, and fled—but leaving behind his wife's valuable trinkets and the silver in his drawer, mind you! Now, what do you say about that?"
Sergeant Hoong remarked:
"One would think, Your Honor, that a third person was involved."
Judge Dee halted. He resumed his seat behind the desk and looked steadily at his lieutenants. Chiao Tai nodded. He said:
"Even a strong man like an executioner, armed with his huge sword, sometimes has difficulty in cutting off a criminal's head. And we have heard that Pan Feng was a weak, elderly man. How could he have severed his wife's head?"
"Perhaps," Tao Gan said, "Pan found the murderer in the house, and got such a fright that he ran off like a hare, leaving all his possessions behind."
"There is much in what you say," Judge Dee said. "In any case we must get that man Pan as soon as possible!"
"And get him alive!" Tao Gan added significantly. "If my theory is correct, the murderer will be on his heels!"
Suddenly the door was pushed open and a spare old man shuffled inside. The judge gave him an astonished look.
"What brings you here, steward?" he asked.
"Your Honor," his old house steward said, "a messenger has arrived on horseback from Tai-yuan. The First Lady wonders whether Your Honor could spare her a few moments."
Judge Dee rose. He said to his lieutenants:
"Come and meet me here' again toward dusk. Then we shall go along together to Chu Ta-yuan's dinner party."
With a curt nod he left the room, followed by his steward.
Fourth Chapter
Shortly after dark, six constables stood waiting in the courtyard with lighted lamps of thick oil paper. Seeing them stamping their feet to keep warm, the headman said with a grin:
"Don't you men worry about the cold! You know how liberal the Honorable Chu Ta-yuan is, he'll see to it that all of us get a good meal in the kitchen out there!"
"And he doesn't usually forget the wine either!" a young constable said contentedly.
Then all stood at attention. The judge appeared at the door, followed by his four lieutenants. The headman shouted for the bearers, and the judge ascended the palanquin, together with Sergeant Hoong and Tao Gan. As the groom brought the horses of Ma Joong and Chiao Tai, the latter said:
"We'll pick up Master Lan Tao-kuei on the way, Your Honor!"
Judge Dee nodded, and the bearers set off at a brisk pace.
Leaning back against the cushions Judge Dee said:
"That messenger from Tai-yuan brought disturbing news. My first wife's mother is gravely ill, and she decided to leave tomorrow morning. My second "and third wives will accompany her, together with my children. It won't be an easy journey this time of the year, but it can't be helped. The Old Lady is over seventy now, and my wife is very worried."
Sergeant Hoong and Tao Gan expressed their sympathy. The judge thanked them, then continued:
"It is very inconvenient that tonight I have to go to Chu Ta-yuan's dinner. The guards are bringing three tilt carts to the tribunal for transporting my family; I would have liked to be there to supervise the packing and loading. But Chu is the leading citizen here, I can't make him lose face by canceling my visit at the last moment."
The Sergeant nodded. He said:
"Ma Joong told me that Chu has made preparations for a formidable repast in the main hall of his mansion. He is a gay fellow; Ma Joong and Chiao Tai thoroughly enjoy the hunting parties he organizes for them—not to speak of the drinking bouts!"
"I wonder how he manages to stay so gay," Tao Gan remarked, "seeing that he has eight wives to keep the peace with!"
"Well," Judge Dee said reprovingly, "you know that he has no children. It must worry him greatly that he can't beget a son to continue his family. He is quite an athletic man but I don't think he keeps that harem just for his amusement."
"Chu Ta-yuan is very wealthy," Sergeant Hoong said philosophically, "but there are things even his wealth can't buy!" After a while he added: "With Your Honor's ladies and children all gone, I fear it will be very lonely for Your Honor these coming days!"
"With that murder case pending in the tribunal," the judge replied, "I don't think I would have much time for my family anyway. During their absence I shall eat and sleep in my office. Don't forget to tell that to the chief clerk, Sergeant!"