Wang seemed greatly upset by these questions. His lips moved, but he could not bring out a word. Judge Dee did not pursue the matter further and went on:
'Third, you are a slightly-built elderly man. How did you manage to carry the corpse all the way to the hut? It's true that it is downhill, but even so I don't think you could have done it.'
Wang had taken hold of himself. Shaking his head disconsolately he answered:
'I can't understand myself how I did it, sir! But I was frantic, obsessed by the idea that I had to hide the body, at once. That gave me the force to drag the corpse to the garden, and from there to the forest. When I came back to the house, I was more dead than alive. ...' Again he mopped his face. Then he added in a firmer voice: 'I fully realize that I have murdered a good man because of his money, sir, and that I shall have to pay for that crime with my life.'
Judge Dee sat up straight. Placing his elbows on the desk he leaned forward and told Wang in a gentle voice:
'You didn't realize, however, that if you formally confess to this murder, all your possessions will be confiscated, Mr Wang. Besides, your son wouldn't inherit in any case, for I shall have to have him certified as of unsound mind.'
'What do you mean?' Wang shouted. He bent forward and crashed his fist on the desk. 'It isn't true, it's a lie! My son is very sound of mind, I tell you! The boy's mental development is only a bit retarded, and he's only twenty, after all! When he grows older, his mind will doubtless improve. .. . With a little patience, and if one avoids getting him excited, he is perfectly normal!'
He gave the judge an imploring look and went on with a shaking voice:
'He is my only son, sir, and such a nice, obedient boy! I assure you, sir ...'
Judge Dee spoke quietly:
'I shall personally see to it that he is given every possible care, Mr Wang, during your term in prison. I give you my word for that. But if we don't take adequate measures, your son will cause more accidents. He must be placed in ward, that's the only solution. Two days ago, when he came out of your shop, he happened to see that vagabond girl who was just leaving Leng's pawnshop. She is very beautiful, and in his confused mind your son thought she was his sweetheart. He wanted to take hold of her, but Mr Twan told him she was his sweetheart, and then Miss Seng's brother chased your son away. This occurrence made a deep impression on his poor, deranged mind. Yesterday, when Twan came to visit you, your son must have seen him. Convinced that this was the man who had stolen his sweetheart from him, he killed him. Then you let your son carry the corpse to the hut, you leading the way. For your son that was an easy job, for like many young men of unsound mind, he is exceptionally strong and tall.'
Wang nodded dazedly. Deep lines marked his pale, drawn face, his shoulders were sagging. He had suddenly changed from a dapper, efficient merchant into a tired old man.
'So that is why he kept talking about the girl and Twan. ... I was taken completely unawares last night, for the boy had been in such a good mood, the whole day. ... In the afternoon I had taken him for a walk in the woods, and he was so happy, watching the gibbons in the trees. ... He dined with the housemaster, then he went to bed, for he tires easily. ... I had told the housemaster that I would dine alone, in my library, had him put a cold snack there ready for me. When I was eating there with Twan, I told him about the gold. He said at once that I needn't worry about that, he could easily order more from the capital should he need it, and I could pay him back in instalments. "The kind help you shall extend to me presently," he added with a smile, "I shall consider as the interest on the loan!" Twan was like that, sir. A truly remarkable man. He quickly emptied a large beaker of wine, then we went to the small workshop I have in my garden shed, to experiment with new drugs. Twan put his left hand on the cutting board, and closed his eyes. Just when I was adjusting the chopper, someone gave a push against my elbow. "The bad old man has stolen my girl!" my son cried out behind me. The chopper had clapped down and cut off four fingers of Twan's hand. He fell forward over the table, with a frightened cry. I quickly looked round for a jar of powder, to staunch the bleeding. Suddenly my son grabbed an iron pestle from the table and hit him a terrible blow on the back of his head. ...'
He gave the judge a forlorn look. Then, grabbing the edge of the desk with both hands, he said:
'The bright moon shining into his bedroom had wakened the boy, and looking out of his window he had seen Twan and me going to the garden shed. The moonlight always brings him into a kind of trance. ... My boy didn't know what he did, Your Honour! He is so gentle as a rule, he ...' His voice trailed off.
'Your son shan't be prosecuted, of course, Mr Wang. Mentally deficient persons are outside the pale of the law. Mr Tao here will now take you to his own office next door, and there you will draw up a document describing to the best of your knowledge the organization and activities of the smuggling ring, adding the names and addresses of all other agents known to you. Is Mr Leng, the pawnbroker, among them, by the way?'
'Oh no, sir! Why should you suspect him? He is my neighbour, and I never ...'
'I was told that he regularly visits Chiang-pei, one of the important bases of your smuggling organization.'
'Mr Leng's wife is extremely jealous,' Wang remarked dryly. 'She doesn't allow him to have other women in the house. Therefore he established a separate household in Chiang-pei.'
'Quite. Well, after you have signed and sealed the document I mentioned, Mr Wang, you will then write a complete account of Mr Twan's fatal accident. This very night I shall send both documents by special messenger to the capital. I shall add a recommendation for clemency, pointing out that you voluntarily furnished the information that will enable the authorities to break up the smuggling ring. I hope this will result in your prison term being substantially reduced. However that may be, I shall try to arrange that your son is allowed to visit you from time to time in prison. Take Mr Wang to your room, Tao Gan. Supply him with writing material, and give strict orders that he is not to be disturbed.'
When Tao Gan came back, he found Judge Dee standing in front of the open window, his hands behind his back. He was enjoying the cool air that came inside from the small walled-in garden, planted with banana trees. Pointing at the mass of luxuriant green leaves he said:
'Look at those magnificent bunches of bananas, Tao Gan! They have just ripened. Tell the headman to bring a few to my private residence, so that I can give the gibbons some, tomorrow morning.'
Tao Gan nodded, his long face creased in a broad smile.
'Allow me to congratulate you, sir, on ...'
Judge Dee raised his hand.
'It was thanks to your prompt and efficient action that we could solve this complicated case so quickly, Tao Gan. I apologize for being rather curt with you, just before Mr Wang came in. The fact is that I was dreading that interview, for I hate nothing more than to see a man go all to pieces in front of me — even if he is a criminal. But Mr Wang bore himself well. His great love for his son lent him dignity, Tao Gan.'
The judge resumed his seat behind the desk.
'I shall write a letter to Sergeant Hoong in Chiang-pei at once, informing him that the smuggling case has been solved, and that he and my other two lieutenants must come back here tomorrow. And you can issue the necessary orders for the release from prison of our friend the pawnbroker. Those hours in jail will have given him an opportunity for reflection, I hope.'