話說竇永衡一上堂，嚇得戰戰兢兢。抬頭一看，見上面坐的這位大人，頭戴二品烏紗帽，身穿大紅蟒袍，玉帶官靴，白生生臉面，三絡黑鬍鬚，這刑廷大人姓陸，叫陸炳文。宋朝年間，京營殿帥刑廷大人，就類似清朝的九門提督一般，統轄文武，管轄陸步兩營地面，查拿盜賊賭博流娼。刑廷大人見把竇永衡一帶上來，竇永衡在下面一跪，口稱：「大人在上，小人竇永衡給大人磕頭！」陸大人在上面把驚堂木一拍，說：「竇永衡你在白沙崗斷路劫錢，殺死解餉職官，搶去餉銀，還不從實招來？免得本院三推六問，你的皮肉受苦。」竇永衡向上磕頭說：「小人竇永衡，原本是常州府北門外竇家崗的人，先前以打獵為生，後來想要在鏢行找碗飯吃。我夫婦二人來到這臨安城謀事，寄居在青竹巷四條胡同，小人從來並未做過犯法之事。今天我出來要去看望朋友，不知所因何故，被官人把我拿來？求大人明鏡高懸，格外開恩，小人實在冤枉冤屈。白沙崗什麼劫餉殺人，我一概不得而知。」刑廷說：「你這廝大概跟你好好說，你不肯認，抄手問事，你萬不肯應，來，看夾棍伺候！」竇永衡說：「大人的明鑑，大人要用嚴刑苦拷小的，說小人是明火執仗，何為憑據？小人實在冤枉，求大人明鑑！但願大人公侯萬代，祿位高升。」刑廷大人說：「你說本部院斷你冤枉了是不是？本院自為官以來，上不虧君，下不虧民，豈肯虧負於你？要沒有憑據，我也不能勒令於你。我怎么不拿別人呢？我把憑據給你找出來看，你認不認？」
话说窦永衡一上堂，吓得战战兢兢。抬头一看，见上面坐的这位大人，头戴二品乌纱帽，身穿大红蟒袍，玉带官靴，白生生脸面，三络黑胡须，这刑廷大人姓陆，叫陆炳文。宋朝年间，京营殿帅刑廷大人，就类似清朝的九门提督一般，统辖文武，管辖陆步两营地面，查拿盗贼赌博流娼。刑廷大人见把窦永衡一带上来，窦永衡在下面一跪，口称：「大人在上，小人窦永衡给大人磕头！」陆大人在上面把惊堂木一拍，说：「窦永衡你在白沙岗断路劫钱，杀死解饷职官，抢去饷银，还不从实招来？免得本院三推六问，你的皮肉受苦。」窦永衡向上磕头说：「小人窦永衡，原本是常州府北门外窦家岗的人，先前以打猎为生，后来想要在镖行找碗饭吃。我夫妇二人来到这临安城谋事，寄居在青竹巷四条胡同，小人从来并未做过犯法之事。今天我出来要去看望朋友，不知所因何故，被官人把我拿来？求大人明镜高悬，格外开恩，小人实在冤枉冤屈。白沙岗什么劫饷杀人，我一概不得而知。」刑廷说：「你这厮大概跟你好好说，你不肯认，抄手问事，你万不肯应，来，看夹棍伺候！」窦永衡说：「大人的明鉴，大人要用严刑苦拷小的，说小人是明火执仗，何为凭据？小人实在冤枉，求大人明鉴！但愿大人公侯万代，禄位高升。」刑廷大人说：「你说本部院断你冤枉了是不是？本院自为官以来，上不亏君，下不亏民，岂肯亏负于你？要没有凭据，我也不能勒令于你。我怎么不拿别人呢？我把凭据给你找出来看，你认不认？」
Now, as soon as Dou Yongheng was brought into the hall, he began to shake with fear. He raised his head and looked. The lord seated above him wore the black gauze cap of the second rank and a crimson robe embroidered with pythons, with a jade belt and official boots. His face was fair and pale, and he had a three-strand black beard. This Lord of the Criminal Court was surnamed Lu, and his name was Lu Bingwen. In the Song dynasty, the commander of the capital garrison, the Lord of the Criminal Court, was much like the Commandant of the Nine Gates in the Qing dynasty: he had authority over civil and military men alike, had charge of the districts policed by the horse and foot battalions, and hunted down robbers and thieves, gamblers and unlicensed prostitutes. When the Lord of the Criminal Court saw Dou Yongheng brought up, Dou Yongheng knelt below and said, “Your Lordship above, your humble servant Dou Yongheng kowtows to Your Lordship!” Up on the bench Lord Lu slapped down the sounding block. “Dou Yongheng,” he said, “at Baisha Ridge you cut off the road and robbed, killed the officer escorting the army pay and seized the silver. Confess the truth at once. Spare this court the trouble of questioning you over and over, three times and six times, and spare your own skin and flesh.” Dou Yongheng kowtowed toward the bench. “Your humble servant Dou Yongheng,” he said, “comes from Doujia Ridge outside the north gate of Changzhou Prefecture. I used to make my living by hunting, and later I hoped to earn my bowl of rice in the escort trade. My wife and I came here to Lin’an to look for work, and we lodge in Fourth Lane, Qingzhu. Your humble servant has never once broken the law. Today I went out to visit a friend, and I don’t know why the officers seized me and brought me here. I beg Your Lordship to hang your bright mirror high and show me special mercy. Your humble servant is truly wronged, truly wronged. This robbing of army pay and murder at Baisha Ridge — I know nothing about any of it.” “You lout,” said the Lord of the Criminal Court. “I suppose if I talk to you nicely you won’t admit it. Question you with folded hands and you’ll never own up. Men! Have the leg press ready!” “Your Lordship, judge clearly,” said Dou Yongheng. “Your Lordship means to put your humble servant to harsh torture and says I’m a robber who works with torches lit and weapons drawn. What is the proof? Your humble servant is truly wronged. I beg Your Lordship to judge clearly! May Your Lordship be duke and marquis for ten thousand generations, and rise ever higher in rank and pay.” “You’re saying this court has judged you unjustly, is that it?” said the Lord of the Criminal Court. “Since this court took office, I have never wronged my sovereign above nor the people below. Would I wrong you? If I had no proof, I could not force it on you. Why didn’t I arrest anybody else? I’ll bring out the proof and let you see it. Then will you confess or not?”
大人立刻標監牌，吩咐提差事。竇永衡一聽有憑對證，自己大吃一驚，心裡說：「了不得了，真有憑據。俗言說的不錯，‘賊咬一口，入骨三分’。」自己一想：「我沒結交匪類呀，我又沒有仇人，什麼人攀我呢？」正在心中思想，工夫不大，就聽「嘩楞嘩楞」鐵鏈響，竇永衡一看，帶上兩個罪人來，都是穿著罪衣罪裙，大項鎖手銬腳鐐。頭裡走的那個，身高九尺，大腦袋，項短脖粗，面如藍靛，發如硃砂，凶眉惡眼，連鬢絡腮鬍須。後頭跟著那個，也是身軀高大，黑臉膛兩道劍眉，一雙環眼，長得一臉的橫肉。竇永衡一瞧這兩個犯人，並不認識。見這兩個人往堂下一跪，刑廷說：「你兩個人可認識他？」那個藍臉的說：「竇大哥，這個官司你打了罷。想當初你我弟兄一處做的案，一處吃，一處穿，各分銀錢，現在我兩個人犯了案，你連瞧瞧我們都不瞧。我二人實受刑不過了，但能挺得過去，也不能把你拉出來，這也無法。當初你我怎么好來，你我活著在一處做人，死了在一處做鬼，吃過樂過，總不算冤。」刑廷大人說：「你這還不招么？」竇永衡說：「回稟大人，小的並不認識他兩個人。」大人說：「王龍，王虎，你二人說實話，到底認識不認識竇永衡？」王龍說：「回大人，我二人跟竇永衡是結拜的弟兄，在白沙崗斷路劫銀，殺死解餉職官，是竇永衡率領，我二人聽從。」陸大人說：「竇永衡你可曾聽見嗎？」竇永衡說：「小人實不認識這兩個人，他所說的話，俱是捏詞，實沒有這么回事。求大人開恩！」陸大人說：「本院自為官以來，上不虧君，下不虧民，豈肯虧負於你？我自有道理。他二人既說跟你是結拜的兄弟，大概你有多大年歲，多怎生日，家鄉住處，家裡有什麼人，他必知道。竇永衡你拿筆先細細的把年歲、家鄉住處都寫出來，本院再問他二個人。他要說不對，必定是攀拉你，我要重重辦他二人，本部院把你當堂開放。他二人要說的跟你寫的一樣不二，那時本院可要照例辦你。」竇永衡一想：「這么辦甚好，大概他二人仇攀我，必不知道我的年歲生日。我寫出來，他一說不對，大人就把我當堂放了。」想罷說：「大人的恩典，小人我會寫，求大爺賞給我紙筆，我寫就是了。」刑廷說：「好，你會寫字，你先寫字罷。」大人說：「王龍王虎，你可曾知道竇永衡的年歲生日？」王龍說：「知道。」大人說：「先叫竇永衡寫完了，你二人再說。」
大人立刻标监牌，吩咐提差事。窦永衡一听有凭对证，自己大吃一惊，心里说：「了不得了，真有凭据。俗言说的不错，‘贼咬一口，入骨三分’。」自己一想：「我没结交匪类呀，我又没有仇人，什么人攀我呢？」正在心中思想，工夫不大，就听「哗楞哗楞」铁链响，窦永衡一看，带上两个罪人来，都是穿着罪衣罪裙，大项锁手铐脚镣。头里走的那个，身高九尺，大脑袋，项短脖粗，面如蓝靛，发如朱砂，凶眉恶眼，连鬓络腮胡须。后头跟着那个，也是身躯高大，黑脸膛两道剑眉，一双环眼，长得一脸的横肉。窦永衡一瞧这两个犯人，并不认识。见这两个人往堂下一跪，刑廷说：「你两个人可认识他？」那个蓝脸的说：「窦大哥，这个官司你打了罢。想当初你我弟兄一处做的案，一处吃，一处穿，各分银钱，现在我两个人犯了案，你连瞧瞧我们都不瞧。我二人实受刑不过了，但能挺得过去，也不能把你拉出来，这也无法。当初你我怎么好来，你我活着在一处做人，死了在一处做鬼，吃过乐过，总不算冤。」刑廷大人说：「你这还不招幺？」窦永衡说：「回禀大人，小的并不认识他两个人。」大人说：「王龙，王虎，你二人说实话，到底认识不认识窦永衡？」王龙说：「回大人，我二人跟窦永衡是结拜的弟兄，在白沙岗断路劫银，杀死解饷职官，是窦永衡率领，我二人听从。」陆大人说：「窦永衡你可曾听见吗？」窦永衡说：「小人实不认识这两个人，他所说的话，俱是捏词，实没有这么回事。求大人开恩！」陆大人说：「本院自为官以来，上不亏君，下不亏民，岂肯亏负于你？我自有道理。他二人既说跟你是结拜的兄弟，大概你有多大年岁，多怎生日，家乡住处，家里有什么人，他必知道。窦永衡你拿笔先细细的把年岁、家乡住处都写出来，本院再问他二个人。他要说不对，必定是攀拉你，我要重重办他二人，本部院把你当堂开放。他二人要说的跟你写的一样不二，那时本院可要照例办你。」窦永衡一想：「这么办甚好，大概他二人仇攀我，必不知道我的年岁生日。我写出来，他一说不对，大人就把我当堂放了。」想罢说：「大人的恩典，小人我会写，求大爷赏给我纸笔，我写就是了。」刑廷说：「好，你会写字，你先写字罢。」大人说：「王龙王虎，你可曾知道窦永衡的年岁生日？」王龙说：「知道。」大人说：「先叫窦永衡写完了，你二人再说。」
His Lordship at once wrote out a jail tally and ordered the prisoners brought up. When Dou Yongheng heard there was proof to confront him with, he was badly startled. “This is terrible,” he thought. “There really is proof. The old saying is right: ‘When a thief bites, the teeth sink deep into the bone.’” Then he thought, “I’ve never made friends with bad men, and I have no enemies. Who would drag me into this?” While he was still turning it over, before long he heard the clank and rattle of iron chains. Dou Yongheng looked: two prisoners were being led up, both in prisoners’ jackets and skirts, with heavy collar chains, handcuffs and leg irons. The one in front was nine feet tall, with a big head and a short, thick neck, a face blue as indigo and hair red as cinnabar, fierce brows and evil eyes, and a full beard running up into his sideburns. The one behind was big and tall too, with a black face, two sword-blade brows, a pair of eyes round as rings, and a face full of brutal flesh. Dou Yongheng looked the two prisoners over; he did not know either of them. The two of them knelt below the bench. “Do you two know him?” said the Lord of the Criminal Court. “Brother Dou,” said the blue-faced one, “you might as well own up to this case. Back then we brothers pulled our jobs together, ate together, dressed together and split the money. Now the two of us have been caught, and you haven’t even come to see us. We two really couldn’t stand the torture any more. If we could have held out, we’d never have dragged you in, but there was no help for it. Remember how close we were back then: alive, we’d be men together; dead, we’d be ghosts together. We’ve eaten well and had our fun, so we’ve no cause to complain.” “Still you won’t confess?” said the Lord of the Criminal Court. “I report to Your Lordship,” said Dou Yongheng, “that I don’t know these two men.” “Wang Long, Wang Hu,” said His Lordship, “tell the truth, you two. Do you know Dou Yongheng or not?” “I report to Your Lordship,” said Wang Long, “we two are Dou Yongheng’s sworn brothers. When we cut off the road at Baisha Ridge, robbed the silver and killed the officer escorting the pay, Dou Yongheng led and we two followed.” “Dou Yongheng, did you hear that?” said Lord Lu. “Your humble servant truly doesn’t know these two men,” said Dou Yongheng. “Everything they say is made up. Nothing of the kind ever happened. I beg Your Lordship’s mercy!” “Since this court took office,” said Lord Lu, “I have never wronged my sovereign above nor the people below. Would I wrong you? I know what to do. Since these two say they are your sworn brothers, they must know how old you are, when your birthday is, where your home is and who is in your family. Dou Yongheng, first take a brush and write down carefully your age, your home and where you live, and then this court will question the two of them. If what they say doesn’t match, they must be dragging you in falsely; I’ll deal with them severely and set you free here in this court. If what they say is the same as what you wrote, not a word different, then this court will deal with you according to the law.” Dou Yongheng thought, “That’s a fine way to do it. If these two are dragging me in out of spite, they won’t know my age or birthday. I’ll write it down, and when what they say doesn’t match, His Lordship will set me free right here in court.” With that he said, “Your Lordship is very gracious. Your humble servant can write. I beg Your Lordship to give me paper and a brush, and I’ll write it.” “Good,” said the Lord of the Criminal Court. “You can write, so write first.” “Wang Long, Wang Hu,” said His Lordship, “do you know Dou Yongheng’s age and birthday?” “We do,” said Wang Long. “Let Dou Yongheng finish writing first,” said His Lordship, “and then you two will speak.”
有當差人把筆墨紙硯拿過來，刑廷大人說：「竇永衡你背著他二人寫，別叫他們瞧見。」竇永衡道：「是。」立刻拿筆一寫：「竇永衡年二十八歲，三月十五日子時生，原籍系常州府北門外竇家崗的人，先以打獵為生，娶妻周氏，今年二十八歲，現在來京謀事，住在青竹巷四條胡同周老頭家，同院是北房三間，東房兩間。」寫完了，交與當差人遞給刑廷大人。大人看罷，這才問王龍、王虎，王龍、王虎說：「大人要問竇永衡，他原本是常州府北門外竇家崗的人氏，先以打獵為生，現在不打獵了，來在臨安城，住在青竹巷四條胡同的路北。他今年二十八歲，三月十五日子時生人，我們那位盟嫂，娘家周氏，今年二十四歲，二月初九日卯時生。他住的是周老頭周老婆的房子，同院北房三間，東房二間。北房三間是一明兩暗，東裡間是他的臥室，西裡間來人讓客做客室堂屋，一進門有條案八仙桌，兩邊有椅子，裡間屋裡炕上有兩隻箱子，地下有一張連二抽屜桌，有一個錢櫃，東房做廚房。」竇永衡一聽，一概說的全對，我妻子的生日時辰都對，屋裡擺設也不差，竇永衡一想：「這可怪，這兩個人並未到我家去過，怎么他們會全知道呢？」自己一想：「這場官司不得了。」
有当差人把笔墨纸砚拿过来，刑廷大人说：「窦永衡你背着他二人写，别叫他们瞧见。」窦永衡道：「是。」立刻拿笔一写：「窦永衡年二十八岁，三月十五日子时生，原籍系常州府北门外窦家岗的人，先以打猎为生，娶妻周氏，今年二十八岁，现在来京谋事，住在青竹巷四条胡同周老头家，同院是北房三间，东房两间。」写完了，交与当差人递给刑廷大人。大人看罢，这才问王龙、王虎，王龙、王虎说：「大人要问窦永衡，他原本是常州府北门外窦家岗的人氏，先以打猎为生，现在不打猎了，来在临安城，住在青竹巷四条胡同的路北。他今年二十八岁，三月十五日子时生人，我们那位盟嫂，娘家周氏，今年二十四岁，二月初九日卯时生。他住的是周老头周老婆的房子，同院北房三间，东房二间。北房三间是一明两暗，东里间是他的卧室，西里间来人让客做客室堂屋，一进门有条案八仙桌，两边有椅子，里间屋里炕上有两只箱子，地下有一张连二抽屉桌，有一个钱柜，东房做厨房。」窦永衡一听，一概说的全对，我妻子的生日时辰都对，屋里摆设也不差，窦永衡一想：「这可怪，这两个人并未到我家去过，怎么他们会全知道呢？」自己一想：「这场官司不得了。」
A runner brought over brush, ink, paper and inkstone. “Dou Yongheng,” said the Lord of the Criminal Court, “write it with your back to the two of them. Don’t let them see.” “Yes, my lord,” said Dou Yongheng. He took up the brush at once and wrote: “Dou Yongheng, aged twenty-eight, born on the fifteenth day of the third month in the hour of the Rat. Native of Doujia Ridge outside the north gate of Changzhou Prefecture. Formerly lived by hunting. Married to a wife née Zhou, aged twenty-eight this year. Now come to the capital to look for work. Lodging at Old Zhou’s house in Fourth Lane, Qingzhu; in the same courtyard, three rooms on the north side and two on the east.” When he had finished, he handed it to a runner, who passed it to the Lord of the Criminal Court. His Lordship read it, and only then questioned Wang Long and Wang Hu. “Your Lordship asks about Dou Yongheng,” said Wang Long and Wang Hu. “He comes from Doujia Ridge outside the north gate of Changzhou Prefecture. He used to live by hunting; he doesn’t hunt now. He’s come to Lin’an and lives in Fourth Lane, Qingzhu, on the north side of the lane. He’s twenty-eight this year, born on the fifteenth of the third month in the hour of the Rat. Our sworn sister-in-law’s maiden name is Zhou; she’s twenty-four this year, born on the ninth of the second month in the hour of the Rabbit. He lives in a house belonging to Old Zhou and Old Mrs. Zhou: in the same courtyard, three rooms on the north side and two on the east. The three north rooms are one open and two closed. The east inner room is his bedroom. The west inner room is where visitors are shown in, a sitting room for guests. Just inside the door there’s a long side table and an Eight Immortals table, with chairs on both sides. In the inner room there are two chests on the kang, and on the floor a two-drawer table and a money chest. The east rooms are the kitchen.” Dou Yongheng listened. Every word was right: even his wife’s birthday and birth hour were right, and the furnishings of the rooms were not a bit off. Dou Yongheng thought, “This is strange. These two have never been to my house. How can they know all this?” Then he thought, “This case is going to be the end of me.”