The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert van Gulik

Author:Robert van Gulik
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9789085241522
Publisher: For the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Published: 1949-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

Three beats of the large bronze gong resounded through the tribunal announcing the opening of the afternoon session.

A fair crowd of spectators had assembled in the court hall. The old General Ding had been a well-known resident of Lan-fang.

Judge Dee ascended the dais. He ordered Candidate Ding to come forward.

As he was kneeling in front of the bench Judge Dee spoke:

“The other day you appeared before this tribunal and accused Woo Feng of having murdered your father. I have made a painstaking investigation and assembled evidence that warranted Woo’s arrest. Yet there are not a few points that need clarification.

“I shall now hear the accused and you will listen carefully. If there should come up any point concerning which you can supply additional information, you shall not fail to speak!”

Judge Dee filled out a slip for the warden of the jail. Soon two constables led Woo into the court hall. As he approached the dais Judge Dee noticed that he looked quite unperturbed.

Woo knelt and waited respectfully till the judge addressed him.

“State your name and profession!” the judge said curtly.

“This insignificant person,” Woo replied, “is called Woo Feng. I am a Junior Candidate by profession and a painter by preference.”

“You,” said the judge sternly, “are accused of having murdered General Ding Hoo-gwo. Speak the truth!”

“Your Honour,” Woo said calmly, “I emphatically deny the accusation. I am familiar with the victim’s name and the crime for which he was dismissed from military service because I often heard my father speak about that disgraceful affair. But I beg to state that I have never met the General. I did not even know that he was living in Lan-fang until his son started to spread malignant rumours about me. Those rumours I totally ignored since they were so ridiculous as to make refutation quite unnecessary.”

“If that is so,” Judge Dee said coldly, “why then did the General stand in constant fear of you? Why did he keep the gates of his mansion closed day and night and confine himself to his locked library? And if you did not plan some foul scheme against the General, why did you hire ruffians to spy on his mansion?”

“As to Your Honour’s first two questions,” Woo replied, “they concern the internal affairs of the Ding mansion. Since I am completely ignorant of such things, I am in no position to express any opinion. As regards the last query, I deny ever having hired any people to spy on the Ding family. I challenge my accuser to produce one of those men I allegedly hired and confront him with me!”

“Don’t be too sure, young man!” the judge said sternly. “As a matter of fact I have already apprehended one of those ruffians. You will be confronted with him in due time!”

Woo shouted angrily: “That scoundrel Ding bribed him to give false testimony!”

When he saw that at last Woo had lost his temper, Judge Dee thought to himself that this was the right moment to spring another surprise on the accused.

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