"This court finds that both of you are at fault. The dealer, as an expert, ought to have noticed that the block was faulty when he purchased it, and the jadeworker, as an experienced professional, ought to have discovered the defect without cutting up the block. The dealer bought the block for ten silver pieces, and sold it to the jadeworker for fifteen. This court rules that the dealer shall pay the jadeworker ten silver pieces. The cut pieces shall be divided equally among them. Thus each pays a fine of five silver pieces for his lack in professional skill."

He rapped his gavel and closed the session.

Back in his private office Judge Dee said contentedly to the sergeant and Tao Gan:

"Wan I-fan wants to tell me something he didn't dare to reveal in the public session. It is against the rules to question a prisoner in private, but in this case I feel justified to make an exception. I shall have him brought here now. You'll have noticed that he said that Liu Fei-po fled. Now we shall hear more about-"

Suddenly the door flew open and the headman came running inside, followed by the warden of the jail. The former panted:

"Wan I-fan has killed himself, Your Honor!"

Judge Dee crashed his fist on the table. He barked at the jail warden:

"Didn't you search the prisoner, you dog's-head?"

The warden fell on his knees.

"I swear that he didn't have the pastry on him when I locked him in, Your Honor! Somebody must have smuggled that poisoned cake into his cell!"

"So you have admitted a visitor to the jail!" the judge shouted.

"Nobody from outside has come into the jail, Your Honor!" the warden wailed. "It's a complete riddle to me!"

Judge Dee jumped up and went to the door. Followed by Hoong and Tao Gan, he crossed the courtyard, passed through the corridor behind the chancery, and entered the jail. The warden led the way with a lighted lantern.

Wan I-fan was lying on the floor in front of the wooden bench that served as bed. The light of the lantern shone on his distorted face; his lips were covered with foam and blood. The warden pointed silently at a small round piece of pastry on the floor, next to Wan's right hand. One piece was missing; Wan had evidently taken only one bite from it. Judge Dee stooped. It was a round cake filled with sugared beans, as sold by every baker in town. But there was impressed on its top, instead of the usual baker's shop sign, a small picture of a lotus flower.

The judge wrapped the cake up in his handkerchief and put it in his sleeve. He turned round and walked back silently to his office.

Sergeant Hoong and Tao Gan looked worriedly at Judge Dee's tight face as he sat down behind his desk. The judge knew that the sign of the lotus had not been meant for Wan, for it was dark in his cell when a messenger brought him the deadly gift. The sign of the lotus was intended for him, the magistrate! It was a warning from the White Lotus. He said in a tired voice:

"Wan was murdered in order to seal his lips. The poisoned cake was given to him by a member of the personnel. There's treason here in my own tribunal!"

Ma Joong and Chiao Tai had studied in the chancery a map of the province, and had made a provisional plan for their expedition.

They selected two good horses, and left town in an easterly direction. After they had descended into the plain they followed the highway for half an hour or so. Then Ma Joong halted his horse and said:

"Don't you think that if we cut across the paddy fields on the right here, we should come soon to the boundary river? Say fifteen miles downstream from our military post at the bridge?"

"That should be about correct," Chiao Tai agreed.

The two men drove their horses along the narrow path that led through the fields. It was very hot and sultry here, and they were glad when they saw a small farm. They drank deeply from the pail of well water the peasant gave them. It was arranged that for a handful of coppers he would look after their horses. As soon as the man was walking the horses to the stable the two friends rumpled their hair and bound it up with rags. Then they exchanged their riding boots for the straw sandals they had brought along in their saddlebags. As he rolled up his sleeves Chiao Tai called out:

"Ho, brother! This is like the old days when we were still in the green woods together!"

Ma Joong clapped him on his shoulder, then each pulled a thick bamboo pole out of the fence, and they walked down the path to the river.

An old fisherman was drying his nets there. He ferried them across for two coppers. While he was paying him Ma Joong asked:

TWO BRAVES TAUNT THE CONSTABLES OF CHIANG-PEI

"There aren't any soldiers around here, are there?"

The graybeard gave them a scared look. He shook his head and scurried back to his boat.

The two men walked through the tall reed till they came on a winding country road. Chiao Tai said:

"That checks. According to the map this road leads to the village."

They shouldered their bamboo poles and walked on, lustily singing together a ribald song. After half an hour they saw the village.

Ma Joong went ahead and entered the inn on the small market place. He sat down heavily on a wooden bench and shouted for wine. Then Chiao Tai came in. As he sat down opposite his friend he said:

"I had a look around, brother. All is safe!"

Four old peasants seated at the other table gave the newcomers a frightened look. One put up his hand with index and little finger crooked-the sign for highwaymen. His companions nodded sagely.

The innkeeper came running in with two jugs of wine. Grabbing him by his sleeve, Chiao Tai rasped:

"What do you mean by that, you dog's-head? Take those miserable jugs away and bring the whole jar!"

The innkeeper shuffled out. He came back with his son, carrying between them a wine jar three feet high, and two bamboo ladles with long handles.

"That's better!" Ma Joong called out. "No fussing with cups and jugs!" They dipped the ladles into the jar and drank the wine in greedy draughts, for the walk had made them thirsty. The innkeeper brought a platter with salted vegetables. Chiao Tai scooped up a handful. He found it was mixed with a generous amount of garlic and red pepper. Smacking his lips, he said happily:

"Brother, that's better than those kickshaws you get in the city!"

Ma Joong nodded with his mouth full. When the jar was half-empty they ate a large bowl of noodles and rinsed their mouths with the country tea, which had a pleasant bitter taste. They stood up and reached in their belts for money. The innkeeper hurriedly refused, assuring them that it had been a great honor that they visited his house. But Ma Joong insisted, and added a generous tip.

The two friends walked outside. They lay down under the large fir tree and soon were snoring loudly.

Ma Joong was roused by a kick against his leg. He sat up and looked, then poked Chiao Tai in his ribs. Five men armed with clubs were standing over them, surrounded by a group of gaping villagers. They scrambled up.

"We are constables of the tribunal of Chiang-pei!" a squat man barked. "Who are you and where do you come from?"

"Are you blind!" Ma Joong asked haughtily. "Can't you see that I am the Governor of this Province, traveling in disguise?"

The crowd guffawed. The headman raised his club threateningly. Ma Joong quickly grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket, lifted him two feet from the ground and shook him until his teeth rattled. The constables wanted to help their chief, but Chiao Tai pushed his bamboo pole between the legs of the tallest man and made him topple over. Whirling the bamboo round, he let it swish just over the heads of the others, narrowly missing them. The constables ran away, jeered at by the crowd. Chiao Tai ran after them in pursuit, cursing loudly.