話說濟公帶著五個人，到了如意巷路東，有一座大門。和尚說：「要辦案，就在此地。柴頭、杜頭你們二位在門縫北邊站著，雷頭、馬頭你們二位在門縫南邊站著。」四位班頭說：「師父做甚麼？」和尚說：「你們四位隔著門，由門縫往裏吹氣，就把賊吹出來。」這四個人也不敢不信，祇好就得聽和尚吩咐，上前用手拍門說：「開門來！開門來！」連拍了數下。裏面門房裏有兩個二爺，正在屋裏要睡覺。聽外面叫門，這個說：「你瞧瞧去。」這位二爺素來是膽子最小，點上白蠟，捻出來剛要扒門縫往裏瞧，覺著一陣冷風，蠟燭也滅了，嚇的撥頭就走。屋中這個家人說：「怎麼了？」這個說：「黑古隆洞，毛毛哄哄鬼吹風。」兩個人正說，又聽外面嚷：「開門！開門！」嚇得這二位二爺也不敢出來開門。正在這番光景，裏面老爺出來了。
话说济公带着五个人，到了如意巷路东，有一座大门。和尚说：「要办案，就在此地。柴头、杜头你们二位在门缝北边站着，雷头、马头你们二位在门缝南边站着。」四位班头说：「师父做甚么？」和尚说：「你们四位隔着门，由门缝往里吹气，就把贼吹出来。」这四个人也不敢不信，祇好就得听和尚吩咐，上前用手拍门说：「开门来！开门来！」连拍了数下。里面门房里有两个二爷，正在屋里要睡觉。听外面叫门，这个说：「你瞧瞧去。」这位二爷素来是胆子最小，点上白蜡，捻出来刚要扒门缝往里瞧，觉着一阵冷风，蜡烛也灭了，吓的拨头就走。屋中这个家人说：「怎么了？」这个说：「黑古隆洞，毛毛哄哄鬼吹风。」两个人正说，又听外面嚷：「开门！开门！」吓得这二位二爷也不敢出来开门。正在这番光景，里面老爷出来了。
Now, Ji Gong led the five men to a large gate on the east side of Ruyi Lane. “If you want to make the arrest,” the monk said, “this is the place. Head Constable Chai, Head Constable Du, you two stand on the north side of the crack in the gate. Head Constable Lei, Head Constable Ma, you two stand on the south side.” “Master, what are we to do?” the four head constables asked. “The four of you blow in through the crack from outside,” the monk said, “and you’ll blow the thief right out.” The four men did not dare disbelieve him and had no choice but to do as the monk said. They stepped up and pounded on the gate with their hands. “Open up! Open up!” They pounded several times. Inside, in the gatehouse, two menservants were just about to go to sleep. Hearing someone calling at the gate, one of them said, “Go and take a look.” This one had always been the most timid of men. He lit a white candle, carried it out and was just about to put his eye to the crack and peer through when he felt a gust of cold wind. The candle went out, and he was so frightened he turned and fled. “What’s the matter?” asked the other man in the room. “Pitch-black out there,” he said, “and something all fuzzy and creepy — a ghost blowing wind!” While the two were talking, they heard more shouting outside: “Open up! Open up!” The two servants were too frightened to come out and open the gate. Just at this point the master of the house came out.
書中交代，這家主人，原本姓楊名再田，原任做過四川成都府正堂，因丁母憂，回家守制。今天正在書房，聽門外喧嘩，叫童子掌下燈光出來，叫手下開門，把門開開，一看門口站著幾個官人，這個時節，濟公早隱在一旁蹲著。趙太守一見大門開了，由裏出來一人，頭戴青四楞方巾，身穿藍袍，腰繫絲絛，篆底官靴，面如三秋古月，三綹黑鬍鬚飄灑在胸前，趙太守一見認識，趕奔上前說：「原來是大哥，此時尚未睡覺？」楊再田「哼」了一聲，說：「甚麼人敢跟我呼兄喚弟？」趙太守說：「小弟趙鳳山，莫非兄長就不認識了？」這二人本來自幼同窗，又係同年，又是知己相交，今日見趙太守這樣的打扮，黑夜的光景，沒瞧出來，故此這樣一問。聽趙太守一說名字，楊再田說：「賢弟，拿著你堂堂的太守，怎麼扮做這個樣子？豈不失了官體，自討下流。再說要被御史言官知道，定必奏參。」趙鳳山說：「兄台有所不知，祇因秦相府失去玉鐲、鳳冠，有靈隱寺濟公長老拿住賊人劉昌，審問出盜玉鐲的賊人叫華雲龍、王通，故此叫我改扮出來拿賊。」楊再田一聽，嘆了一聲，說：「賢弟，你我乃唸書之人，怎麼也信服這攻乎異端、怪力亂神之事？和尚妖言惑眾。」趙鳳山說：「兄長不要如是，濟公跟著我來辦案。」濟公站起說：「趙太守，咱們在他這裏歇歇坐坐再走可否？」趙太守說：「小弟我欲在兄這裏歇息，叫我這幾個人就在門房等候。」楊再田說：「請！」二人說著話往裏走，和尚後面就跟著。
书中交代，这家主人，原本姓杨名再田，原任做过四川成都府正堂，因丁母忧，回家守制。今天正在书房，听门外喧哗，叫童子掌下灯光出来，叫手下开门，把门开开，一看门口站着几个官人，这个时节，济公早隐在一旁蹲着。赵太守一见大门开了，由里出来一人，头戴青四楞方巾，身穿蓝袍，腰系丝绦，篆底官靴，面如三秋古月，三绺黑胡须飘洒在胸前，赵太守一见认识，赶奔上前说：「原来是大哥，此时尚未睡觉？」杨再田「哼」了一声，说：「甚么人敢跟我呼兄唤弟？」赵太守说：「小弟赵凤山，莫非兄长就不认识了？」这二人本来自幼同窗，又系同年，又是知己相交，今日见赵太守这样的打扮，黑夜的光景，没瞧出来，故此这样一问。听赵太守一说名字，杨再田说：「贤弟，拿着你堂堂的太守，怎么扮做这个样子？岂不失了官体，自讨下流。再说要被御史言官知道，定必奏参。」赵凤山说：「兄台有所不知，祇因秦相府失去玉镯、凤冠，有灵隐寺济公长老拿住贼人刘昌，审问出盗玉镯的贼人叫华云龙、王通，故此叫我改扮出来拿贼。」杨再田一听，叹了一声，说：「贤弟，你我乃念书之人，怎么也信服这攻乎异端、怪力乱神之事？和尚妖言惑众。」赵凤山说：「兄长不要如是，济公跟着我来办案。」济公站起说：「赵太守，咱们在他这里歇歇坐坐再走可否？」赵太守说：「小弟我欲在兄这里歇息，叫我这几个人就在门房等候。」杨再田说：「请！」二人说着话往里走，和尚后面就跟着。
A word of explanation: the master of this house was surnamed Yang, his given name Zaitian. He had once served as chief magistrate of Chengdu Prefecture in Sichuan, but on his mother’s death he had come home to observe the mourning period. Tonight he was in his study when he heard the commotion outside the gate. He had a page boy carry out a lamp and told his men to open the gate. When it swung open he saw several officers standing outside. By this time Ji Gong had already slipped off to one side and was squatting out of sight. As soon as Prefect Zhao saw the gate open and a man come out — a square black scholar’s cap on his head, a blue robe, a silk sash at his waist, official boots with patterned soles, his face pale as the old moon of late autumn, a three-strand black beard flowing over his chest — he recognized him and hurried forward. “So it’s you, Elder Brother! Not in bed yet?” Yang Zaitian gave a “Hmph!” “Who dares call me brother?” “It’s your younger brother, Zhao Fengshan,” said Prefect Zhao. “Don’t you recognize me, Elder Brother?” The two had been schoolmates from childhood, had passed the examinations in the same year and were close friends. But tonight, seeing Prefect Zhao dressed like this in the dark, Yang had not recognized him, and that was why he had asked. When Prefect Zhao gave his name, Yang Zaitian said, “My good brother, how can a dignified prefect like you go about dressed like this? You lose your official dignity and make yourself low. Besides, if the censors hear of it, they’re sure to impeach you.” “There’s something you don’t know, Elder Brother,” said Zhao Fengshan. “Chancellor Qin’s mansion has lost some jade bracelets and a phoenix crown. Ji Gong, the elder of Lingyin Temple, caught a thief named Liu Chang, and under questioning he named the men who stole the bracelets: Hua Yunlong and Wang Tong. That’s why I’ve been told to come out in disguise and catch them.” Yang Zaitian sighed when he heard this. “My good brother, you and I are men of learning. How can you, too, believe in heterodox business like this — prodigies, feats of strength, disorders and spirits? The monk is deluding people with wild talk.” “Don’t be like that, Elder Brother,” said Zhao Fengshan. “Ji Gong has come with me to handle the case.” Ji Gong stood up. “Prefect Zhao, how about we rest and sit a while here before we go on?” “I’d like to rest here a while, Brother,” said Prefect Zhao, “and have these men of mine wait in the gatehouse.” “Please come in!” said Yang Zaitian. The two went in talking, and the monk followed behind.
院中北上房暗五明三，東西各有配房，和尚繞著頭裏進去，在上首椅子上一坐，楊再田一看，大大不悅，心裏說：「自天子以至於庶人，一是皆以修身為本，他連身體都不顧。」心中雖不悅，是不好說。進來落座，趙太守說：「我也忘了給你們二位引見。」楊再田說：「不用引見，我已知道了。」吩咐家人倒茶。和尚說：「不用倒茶罷，擺酒！」楊再田故作未聞，問趙太守拿住的劉昌，審出來的賊人，是哪裏的人？和尚說：「擺酒呀！」趙太守把秦相府的事，述說一遍。和尚說：「擺酒呀！」二人這裏談話，和尚一連說了十幾聲，趙太守實忍不住了，說：「兄長，小弟也餓了，有甚麼吃的？預備點。」楊再田說：「方纔和尚說，我已聽見了，祇因捨間酒菜不齊，不敢奉敬。既是賢弟餓了，來預備。」一句話把酒菜擺上。和尚也不讓，拿酒壺就斟，和尚說：「咱們一見如故，不要拘束。」
院中北上房暗五明三，东西各有配房，和尚绕着头里进去，在上首椅子上一坐，杨再田一看，大大不悦，心里说：「自天子以至于庶人，一是皆以修身为本，他连身体都不顾。」心中虽不悦，是不好说。进来落座，赵太守说：「我也忘了给你们二位引见。」杨再田说：「不用引见，我已知道了。」吩咐家人倒茶。和尚说：「不用倒茶罢，摆酒！」杨再田故作未闻，问赵太守拿住的刘昌，审出来的贼人，是哪里的人？和尚说：「摆酒呀！」赵太守把秦相府的事，述说一遍。和尚说：「摆酒呀！」二人这里谈话，和尚一连说了十几声，赵太守实忍不住了，说：「兄长，小弟也饿了，有甚么吃的？预备点。」杨再田说：「方才和尚说，我已听见了，祇因舍间酒菜不齐，不敢奉敬。既是贤弟饿了，来预备。」一句话把酒菜摆上。和尚也不让，拿酒壶就斟，和尚说：「咱们一见如故，不要拘束。」
In the courtyard, the main house on the north side was five bays across inside behind a front of three, with side buildings to east and west. The monk slipped round them and went in first, and sat down in the seat of honour. Yang Zaitian was most displeased. “From the Son of Heaven down to the common people,” he thought, “all must take cultivating the person as the root. This fellow doesn’t even take care of his own person.” But displeased as he was, he could hardly say so. They came in and took their seats. “I forgot to introduce you two,” said Prefect Zhao. “No need for introductions,” said Yang Zaitian. “I already know.” He told a servant to pour tea. “Never mind the tea,” said the monk. “Bring the wine!” Yang Zaitian pretended not to hear. He asked Prefect Zhao where Liu Chang, the man he had caught, and the thieves named under questioning came from. “Bring the wine!” said the monk. Prefect Zhao told him all about the affair at Chancellor Qin’s mansion. “Bring the wine!” said the monk. While the two talked, the monk said it a dozen times or more, until Prefect Zhao really could not stand it any longer. “Elder Brother, I’m hungry too. Is there anything to eat? Have something got ready.” “I heard what the monk said just now,” said Yang Zaitian. “It’s only that my humble house has no proper wine and dishes, so I didn’t dare offer any. But since you’re hungry, my good brother — have some brought.” At his word the wine and food were set out. The monk did not wait to be asked; he picked up the wine pot and poured. “We’re like old friends at first meeting,” he said. “Let’s not stand on ceremony.”