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and her son twelve years old.
    The document stated that as soon as his father had beenburied, Yoo Kee expelled his stepmother and Yoo Shan from his house. He had said that the last words of his father evidently implied that Yoo Shan was an illegitimate child and that he was not bound to do anything either for him or for his adulterous mother.
    Thereupon the widow had filed a complaint with the tribunal contesting the oral will, and claiming half of the property for her son, on the basis of common law.
    At that time Chien had just established himself as the ruler of Lan-fang. It seemed that the tribunal had done nothing to settle this suit.
    Judge Dee rolled up the document. He reflected that at first sight the widow did not have a strong case. The last words of the old governor together with the disparity in age of him and his second wife seemed to suggest that Mrs. Mei had indeed been unfaithful to her husband.
    On the other hand it was curious that a man of such high ethical standards as the great Yoo Shou-chien had chosen this peculiar way of proclaiming that Yoo Shan was not his son. If he had really discovered that his young wife deceived him one would expect that he would have quietly divorced her, and sent her and her son away to live in some distant place, thus protecting the honour of himself and of his distinguished family. And why this queer bequest of the picture?
    It seemed strange also that Yoo Shou-chien had not left a written testament. A man of his long official experience ought to have known that oral testaments nearly always engender bitter family quarrels.
    This case had several angles that deserved a careful investigation. Perhaps it might also bring to light the key to the mystery of Yoo Shou-chien’s sudden resignation.
    Judge Dee rummaged through the documents but he could find nothing else that had a bearing on the caseYoo versus Yoo. Neither did he find any material that might be used against Chien.
    The judge replaced the documents in the box. He remained sitting in deep thought for a long time. He pondered ways and means to oust the tyrant Chien, but time and again his thoughts reverted to the old governor and his curious bequest.
    One candle spluttered and went out. With a sigh Judge Dee took up the other one and walked to his own quarters.

Third Chapter
    THE JUDGE WITNESSES A QUARREL ON THE MARKET; A YOUNG MAN FORECASTS HIS FATHER’S MURDER
    T HE next morning Judge Dee found to his dismay that he was late. He had a hurried breakfast and then went immediately to his private office.
    He saw that the room had been thoroughly cleaned. His armchair had been repaired and the desk polished. On its top all Judge Dee’s favourite writing implements had been laid out with a care in which the judge recognized the hand of Sergeant Hoong.
    The judge found the sergeant in the archives room. Together with Tao Gan he had swept and aired the dank place; now it smelled pleasantly of the wax they had used for polishing the red leather document boxes.
    Judge Dee nodded contentedly. As he sat down behind his desk he ordered Tao Gan to fetch Ma Joong and Chiao Tai.
    When all his four lieutenants were assembled before him the judge first inquired how Sergeant Hoong and Ma Joong were doing. Both said that they were none the worse for the fight of the night before. The sergeant had replaced the bandage on his head by a plaster of oil paper and Ma Joong could move his left arm again although it was still somewhat stiff.
    Ma Joong reported that early that morning he and Chiao Tai had inspected the armoury of the tribunal. They had found a good collection of pikes, halberds, swords, helmetsand leather jackets, but everything was old and dirty and needed a thorough polishing.
    Judge Dee said slowly:
    “Fang’s story offers a plausible explanation for the strange situation here. If all he said is true we must act quickly before Chien has found out that I am going to turn against him and steals the first move. We must