The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert van Gulik Read Free Book Online

whole story. Your Honour may have heard that my poor old father was slandered by one of his subordinates, the wicked Commander Woo. He was jealous of my father’s great victory in the north and although he could never prove his false accusation the Board of Military Affairs ordered my father to resign.”
    “Yes, I remember that affair,” Judge Dee said. “Is your father also living here?”
    “My father,” young Ding replied, “came to this distant place partly because my late mother was a native of Lan-fang, and partly because he wished to avoid the larger cities where he might be embarrassed by meeting former colleagues. We thought that here we would be able to live in peace.
    “One month ago, however, I began to notice that suspicious looking men often loitered in our neighbourhood. Last week I secretly followed one of them. He went to a small wine shop in the northwest corner of the city, called ‘Eternal Spring’. Who can describe my astonishment when I learned from another shop in that street that Woo Feng, the eldest son of Commander Woo, is living over that wine shop!”
    Judge Dee looked doubtful.
    “Why,” he asked, “should Commander Woo send his son here to annoy your father? The commander has ruined your father’s career. Any further mischief would only land him into trouble.”
    “I know what his plans are!” Candidate Ding exclaimed excitedly. “Woo knows that my father’s friends in the capital have discovered evidence that the commander’s accusation is pure slander. He sent his son here to kill my father and thus save his own wretched life! Your Honour does not know that man Woo Feng. He is a confirmeddrunkard, a most dissolute person who likes nothing better than indulging in acts of violence. He has hired ruffians to spy on us and ha will strike as soon as he sees his chance.”
    “Even so,” Judge Dee remarked, “I don’t see how I could intervene. I can only advise you to keep an eye on Woo’s movements and at the same time to take a few simple precautions in your own mansion. Is there any indication that Woo is in contact with Chien Mow?”
    “No,” the young man answered, “Woo apparently has made no attempt at enlisting the support of Chien. As regards precautions, my poor father has been receiving threatening letters ever since he resigned from the service. He rarely goes out and the gates of our mansion are locked and barred day and night. Moreover my father has had walled up all doors and windows of his library save one. That door has only one key which my father keeps always with him. When he is inside, he pushes a bar across the door. It is in that library that my father spends most of his time, compiling a history of the border wars.”
    Judge Dee told Ma Joong to note down the address of the Ding mansion. It was located not far from there, beyond the Drum Tower.
    As he rose to go the judge said:
    “Don’t fail to report to the tribunal if there are any new developments. I have to go now, you will realize that my own position in this town is not too comfortable. As soon as I have settled with Chien I shall make a further study of your problem.”
    Candidate Ding thanked the judge and conducted his guests to the door of the tea shop. There he took his leave with a deep bow.
    Judge Dee and Ma Joong walked back to the main street.
    “That young fellow,” Ma Joong observed, “reminds me of the man who insisted on wearing an iron helmet day andnight because he was in constant fear that the vault of Heaven would crash down on his head!”
    The judge shook his head.
    “It is a very queer affair,” he said pensively. “I don’t like it at all.”

Fourth Chapter
    TAO GAN REPORTS ON A MYSTERIOUS OLD MANSION; AN INGENIOUS TRAP IS SET IN THE DARK TRIBUNAL
    M A J OONG looked astonished but Judge Dee vouchsafed no further comment. Silently they strolled back to the tribunal. Chiao Tai opened the gate for them and informed the judge that Tao Gan was waiting for him in his