The Lacquer Screen

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DEE Jen-djieh Magistrate of the district Peng-lai. In the present novel he is staying for a few days in Wei-ping, another district in Shantung Province

CHIAO Tai one of his lieutenants, who accompanies him on the trip

Persons connected with 'The Case of the Lacquer Screen'

TENG Kan magistrate of the district Wei-ping

Mrs TENG nee WOO, his wife, called Silver Lotus

PAN Yoo-te his counsellor

Persons connected with 'The Case of the Credulous Merchant'

KO Chih-yuan a wealthy silk merchant

Mrs KO nee HSIEH, his wife

PIEN Hoong a soothsayer

Persons connected with 'The Case of the Poked Accounts'

LENG Chien a banker

LENG Te his younger brother, a painter

KUN-SHAN a thief

Others

'The Corporal' (LIU Woo) boss of the underworld of Wei-ping

'The Student' (HSIA Liang) a young hoodlum

Carnation a prostitute

He remained standing just inside the door of his library, feeling utterly confused. His vision was blurred, he did not dare walk to his desk. Leaning his back against the door-jamb for support he closed his eyes and, slowly raising his hands to his head, pressed his temples. The splitting head­ache was now changing into a dull, throbbing pain. His ears ceased ringing. He now could hear in the distant backyard of his residence the familiar sounds of the ser­vants, starting again upon their household tasks after the siesta. Soon his steward would come with the afternoon tea.

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