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district has got a real magistrate!”
    The judge inclined his head slightly to acknowledge the compliment.
    He vaguely remembered that many years ago something untoward had happened to General Ding. He had fought a victorious battle against the barbarians across the northern border. But when he had returned to the capital the general had been unexpectedly compelled to resign. Judge Dee wondered how the general’s son came to be in this distant place. He said to the young man:
    “There is something very wrong in this town. I would like you to tell me more about the situation here.”
    Candidate Ding did not answer immediately. He remained in thought for a few moments. Then he spoke:

    “These things had better not be discussed in public. Might I have the honour of offering the gentlemen a cup of tea?”
    Judge Dee assented. They went to the tea house on the corner of the alley and sat down at a table somewhat apart from the other guests.
    When the waiter had brought the tea young Ding said in a whisper:
    “A ruthless man called Chien Mow has all the power in his hands. There is nobody here who dares to oppose him. Chien keeps about one hundred ruffians in his mansion. They have nothing to do but loaf about this town and intimidate the people.”
    “How are they armed?” Ma Joong asked.
    “Out in the street these rascals have only clubs and swords with them, but I would not be astonished if in Chien’s mansion they kept quite an arsenal.”
    Judge Dee asked:
    “Do you often see barbarians from over the border in this town?”
    Candidate Ding shook his head emphatically.
    “I have never seen a single Uigur here,” he replied.
    “Those attacks Chien reported about to the government,” Judge Dee observed to Ma Joong, “arc evidently but an invention of his, to convince the authorities that he and his men are indispensable here.”
    Ma Joong asked:
    “Have you ever been inside Chien’s mansion?”
    “Heaven forbid!” the young man exclaimed, “I always avoid that entire neighbourhood. Chien has surrounded his mansion with a double wall, with watchtowers on the four corners.”
    “How did he seize power here?” Judge Dec inquired.
    “He inherited great wealth from his father,” young Dingreplied, “but none of his eminent qualities. His father was a native of this town, an honest and diligent man who became rich as a tea merchant. Until a few years ago the main route to Khotan and the other tributary kingdoms of the west ran through Lan-fang and this town was quite an important emporium. Then three oases along the desert route dried up and it shifted a hundred miles to the north. Chien then collected a band of ruffians around him and one day proclaimed himself master of this city.
    “He is a clever and determined man who could easily have been successful in an official military career. But he will obey no one, he prefers to govern this district as the undisputed ruler, responsible to no one in the Empire.”
    “A most unfortunate situation,” Judge Dee commented. He emptied his tea cup and rose to go.
    Candidate Ding hurriedly leaned forward and begged the judge to stay a little longer.
    The judge hesitated but the young man looked so unhappy that at last he sat down again. Candidate Ding busied himself with refilling the tea cups. He seemed at a loss how to begin.
    “If there is anything on your mind, young man,” Judge Dee said, “don’t hesitate to speak!”
    “To tell Your Honour the truth,” young Ding finally said, “there is a matter that weighs heavily on my mind. It has nothing to do with the tyrant Chien. It concerns my own family.”
    Here he paused. Ma Joong shifted impatiently on his chair.
    Candidate Ding made an effort and continued:
    “Your Honour, my old father is going to be murdered!”
    Judge Dee raised his eyebrows.
    “If you know that in advance,” he observed, “it should not be difficult to prevent this crime!”

    The young man shook his head.
    “Allow me to tell the