The Phantom of the Temple: A Judge Dee Mystery by Robert van Gulik

Author:Robert van Gulik
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General
ISBN: 9780226848976
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Published: 2007-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

XII

Judge Dee found his First and Third Ladies in the former's boudoir. He told them briefly about the interview with the old prefect. 'Mrs Woo's visit must have a bearing on Miss Jade's disappearance. I would like to receive her personally, but she won't talk to me, of course. I ought to see her, though, to get an impression of her personality. . . .' He tugged vexedly at his sidewhiskers.

The First Lady turned quickly to the Third and asked, 'Can't you receive Mrs Woo somewhere in your apartment where our husband can see and hear her without his presence becoming known?' In accordance with the time-honoured custom, Judge Dee had assigned to each of his three wives a separate apartment, complete with their own kitchen and their own personal maids. Although the Second and Third freely went in and out of the First Lady's apartment in the main building of the residence, the latter never set foot in theirs. Judge Dee strictly adhered to this old-established custom because he knew that it offered the best guarantee for a peaceful and harmonious household.

'Well,' the Third told him slowly, 'as you know, the moon-door that separates my bedroom from the sitting-room has a curtain of thin gauze. If I make my guest sit down near the window, and you stood in the bedroom, behind the curtain, then—'

'That'll do fine!’ the judge exclaimed. 'Let's go!'

'If you don't mind,' the Third Lady said, 'I shall take you there by the back door, so that the maids don't see you. They might tell Mrs Woo inadvertently that you are with me.'

'Excellent idea,' the First Lady approved. 'Good luck!’

The Third took the judge outside and along the winding garden path leading to her apartment, situated in a secluded corner at the back of the residence. As she was opening the door of her sitting-room to let him inside he said quickly, 'Try to make her talk a bit about Miss Jade. She's Woo's second wife, you know.'

'All this is very exciting!' she whispered, squeezing his hand. 'Look, I'll make her take that chair, facing the moon-door!’

The judge went on into the bedroom, carefully adjusting the gauze curtain behind him. It was half-dark there, for the shutters had been closed to keep the heat out. Sitting down on the edge of the broad bedstead, he heard his wife clap her hands. She told the maid that she could leave as soon as she had ushered the lady guest in, for she would look after the tea herself.

Judge Dee nodded approvingly. She was a clever woman. And of exquisite taste. He looked with appreciation at the graceful flower-arrangement on the tea table. Every time he came, he discovered something new. On the wall a poem she had written, or on the table a new painting done by her, or a piece of delicate embroidery. She was happy pursuing her own artistic interests and she loved teaching the children. Her father, an egotistic wicked man, had repudiated her

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