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“fiddled the law.”’ He put a solemn look on his ruined face. ‘How could he then have been like you?’
    I took it that Tadeusz was teasing me about my fondness for skirting round the borders of legality, and wasn’t seriously taking me to task. In fact, I was glad he seemed to be more relaxed, more like his normal self. He was usually such a quiet and uncritical man, but he had been more than a little edgy during our journey. I put it down to the strains of the long trip.
    â€˜I may flirt with what is unlawful, that is true. But no, it wasn’t that I was thinking of. Chang Ting cracked the case of the Mo-Ho-Lo Doll by filling in the missing facts. Facts that had been ignored before. No one checked on the unidentified man who brought Yu-Niang news of her husband’s illness. It was only when she remembered the doll that she could trace the doll-maker and he provided crucial information about the real murderer. Another witness was bribed to say Yu-Niang planned the murder with her lover. But when Chang Ting investigated, it turned out there was no lover. But, most importantly of all, no one had checked the source of the poison that killed Yu-Niang’s husband.’
    There was silence as everyone pondered my great exposition. I looked around expecting admiration, but all I saw were puzzled expressions.
    â€˜Damn it, don’t you see? It’s the same with this case. No one has followed up the mystery of the origins of the poison.’ I turned to the little silversmith.
    â€˜Tadeusz, I want you to make that your job when we get there. You have some of the Chinee tongue as you have just reminded us, and can talk to the locals. But if you get stuck, you can always talk to Lin.’
    He nodded, and looked down at the floor, embarrassed by everyone’s attention suddenly being on him.
    â€˜What about the Mongol overlord – Taitemir?’ This was Gurbesu’s question. ‘He looked a fierce fellow at the theatre, surrounded by all his cronies.’
    A shiver ran down my spine.
    â€˜I would rather not get entangled with him, if I can help it.’
    Gurbesu would not leave it, however.
    â€˜But if some wrong has been done, he could be at the centre of it. You will have to talk to him along with the Chin prefect.’
    I sighed, knowing that Gurbesu had a point, and that she would not give up, if she felt she was in the right. So I diverted her from her purpose by giving her a task I knew she would relish.
    â€˜You are right. Lin and I will have to deal with him, I suppose. And I want you to talk to the girl. Find out the truth from her.’
    I stroked her hair, which, as she leaned into the light, hung like a curtain over her round, olive-skinned face. The others must have noticed my tender gesture towards Gurbesu, because both Tadeusz and Alberoni rose, and wished us goodnight. I recalled that when they had arrived, Alberoni had said he wanted to ask me something.
    â€˜What was it you wanted to know, Friar?’
    There was a distant look in his eyes, and he shook his head.
    â€˜Oh, it will keep for another day, Niccolò.’
    The two men discreetly left the room. The lamp flickered, went dim, and died. In the darkness, I felt Gurbesu squeeze my arm.
    â€˜Are you so very tired, Nick?’
    I grinned, though I didn’t imagine she could see me doing so.
    â€˜Not yet, my darling one. But I think I will be soon.’

SEVEN
    One never needs their humour as much as when they argue with a fool .
    W e completed the journey to P’ing-Yang-Fu in six more arduous days of travelling. Gurbesu and I could have got there in five, but the other riders, and Lin in his carriage, held us back. Alberoni complained of a persistent back ache, though I think he meant some spot lower than that. He certainly was a pain in the arse himself. The closer we got to our destination the more whining he got about it. The daily conversation went something like