["wearing\t bell-bottoms\t and\t a\t loose,\t cotton\t embroidered\t shirt.\t His\t face\t was\t covered\t by\t an\t unkempt beard\tand\this\thair\trippled\tdown\tto\this\tshoulders.\tHe\tlooked\tlike\ta\thippie.\tThe\tstout\tman\thad\tan\told leather\tsuitcase;\tthe\thippie\thad\ta\tnew\tcanvas\tbag.\tBoth\twalked\tinto\tthe\thotel.\tAnother\ttaxi\tarrived\tas soon\tas\tthese\tmen\thad\tgone\tin. Jayant\tMallik\tgot\tout\tof\tit. A\t sudden\t sur g e\t o f\t r elief\t swept\t o ver \t me.\t At\t least,\t this\t meant\t that\t we\t wer e\t o n\t the\t r ig ht\t tr ack.\t Our journey\tfrom\tCalcutta\thad\tnot\tsimply\tbeen\ta\twild-goose\tchase. But\twhere\ton\tearth\twas\tFeluda?","Six I\twaited\tfor\tanother\tten\tminutes\tto\tsee\tif\tFeluda\tturned\tup.\tWhen\the\tdidn\u2019t,\tI\twent\tin\tand\tknocked\ton Lalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tdoor.\tHe\topened\tit\tat\tonce\tand\tsaid\twith\tlarge,\tround\teyes,\t\u2018I\u2019ve\tseen\tit\tall\tfrom\tthe lobby!\tDon\u2019t\tboth\tthose\tcharacters\tlook\thighly\tsuspicious?\tI\twonder\tif\tthey\u2019ll\tgo\tto\tEllora?\tOne\tof them\u2014you\tknow,\tthe\tbearded\tone\u2014might\twell\tbe\tinto\tganja\tand\tother\tdrugs.\u2019 I\tnodded.\t\u2018Jayant\tMallik\thas\talso\tarrived\tand\tchecked\tin,\u2019\tI\ttold\thim. \u2018Really?\t I\t didn\u2019t\t see\t him.\t I\t came\t back\t to\t my\t room\t as\t soon\t as\t that\t hippie\t walked\t in.\t What\t does Mallik\tlook\tlike?\u2019 When\t I\t descr ibed\t him,\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t g r ew\t even\t mo r e\t excited.\t \u2018Oh,\t I\t think\t he\u2019s\t been\t g iven\t the room\tnext\tto\tmine.\tI\tsaw\thim\tarrive\tand\tsomething\tstruck\tme\tas\tvery\todd.\tA\tbearer\twas\tcarrying\this suitcase,\t but\t it\t was\t obviously\t extremely\t heavy.\t The\t poor\t man\t could\t hardly\t move.\t And\t no\t wonder. Isn\u2019t\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead\tsupposed\tto\tbe\tin\tit?\u2019 I\t co uld\t think\t o f\t no thing \t except\t Feluda\u2019s\t disappear ance,\t so \t I\t said,\t \u2018What\t is\t much\t mo r e\t impo r tant now\t is\t finding\t Feluda.\t Never\t mind\t about\t Mallik\u2019s\t suitcase.\t We\u2019ve\t made\t no\t arrangements\t to\t go\t to Ellora.\t Mallik,\t I\t am\t sure,\t hasn\u2019t\t come\t here\t simply\t to\t see\t the\t sights\t of\t Aurangabad.\t If\t he\t reaches Ellora\tbefore\tus,\the\tmight\tdamage\tmore\u2014\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\tthat?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tinterrupted\tme,\tstaring\tat\tthe\tdoor.\tI\thad\tshut\tit\tafter\tcoming\tinto\tthe r o o m.\t So meo ne\t had\t slipped\t a\t piece\t o f\t paper \t under \t it.\t I\t leapt\t and\t g r abbed\t it\t quickly.\t It\t was\t ano ther note,\twritten\tby\tFeluda: \u2018Collect\tall\tour\tluggage\tand\twait\toutside\tthe\thotel\tat\tone-thirty.\tLook\tout\tfor\ta\tblack\tAmbassador taxi,\tnumber\t530.\tHave\tyour\tlunch\tbefore\tyou\tleave.\tAll\thotel\tbills\thave\tbeen\tpaid\tin\tadvance.\u2019 I\tran\tmy\teyes\tover\tthese\tfew\tlines\tand\topened\tthe\tdoor.\tThere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tsight.\tA\tsecond\tlater, however,\tJayant\tMallik\tcame\tout\tof\this\troom\tand\twent\tbusily\ttowards\tthe\treception\tdesk.\tHe\tcaught my\teye\tbriefly,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tseem\tto\trecognize\tme. \u2018He\tdidn\u2019t\tlock\this\troom,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twhispered.\t\u2018There\u2019s\tno\tone\tabout.\tShall\tI\tgo\tin\tand\thave a\tlook?\tThink\tof\tthe\tstolen\tstatue\u2014!\u2019 \u2018No!\tWe\tmustn\u2019t\tdo\tanything\tlike\tthat\twithout\ttelling\tFeluda.\tIt\u2019s\tnearly\tone\to\u2019clock\tnow.\tI\tthink\twe should\tboth\tbe\tgetting\tready\tto\tleave.\u2019 So metimes,\t Lalmo han\t Babu\u2019s\t enthusiasm\t caused\t ser io us\t pr o blems.\t Luckily,\t he\t ag r eed\t to \t r estr ain himself. We\thad\ta\tquick\tlunch\tand\tcame\tout\twith\tour\tluggage\u2014including\tFeluda\u2019s\u2014at\tone\ttwenty-five.\tAn empty\ttaxi\tarrived\tin\ta\tfew\tminutes,\tbut\tit\twas\tgreen\tand\thad\ta\tdifferent\tnumber.\tIts\tdriver\tstopped\tit\ta few\tfeet\taway\tfrom\tus.\tI\tsaw\thim\traise\this\tarms\tand\tstretch\tlazily. Three\t minutes\t later,\t another\t taxi\t drove\t up\t to\t us.\t A\t black\t Ambassador,\t number\t 530.\t Its\t driver peered\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Mr\tMitter \u2019s\tparty?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\t yes,\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t r eplied\t with\t an\t impo r tant\t air.\t The\t dr iver \t g o t\t o ut\t and\t o pened\t the\t bo o t for\tus.\tI\tput\tthe\tthree\tsuitcases\tin\tit. Two\tmen\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\thotel:\tShubhankar\tBose\tand\tJayant\tMallik.\tI\thad\tseen\tthem\thaving\tlunch together.\tThey\tgot\tinto\tthe\tgreen\ttaxi.\tIt\troared\tto\tlife\tand\tshot\toff\tdown\tAdalat\tRoad,\twhich\theaded west.\tEllora\tlay\tin\tthe\tsame\tdirection. All\t this\t suspense\t is\t g o ing \t to \t kill\t me,\t I\t tho ug ht.\t Wher e\t wer e\t we\t g o ing \t to \t g o ?\t Why\t wasn\u2019t\t Feluda with\tus?\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\tfeeling\tannoyed\twith\thim\tfor\thaving\tvanished,\talthough\tI\tknew\tvery\twell\the never\tdid\tanything\twithout\ta\tgood\treason. Another\t man\t emerged\t from\t the\t hotel.\t It\t was\t the\t tall\t hippie,\t carrying\t his\t canvas\t bag.\t He\t came straight\tto\tus,\tstopped\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Get\tin,\tTopshe.\tQuick,\tLalmohan\tBabu!\u2019 Before\tI\tknew\tit,\tI\twas\tsitting\tin\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\ttaxi.\tThe\thippie\topened\tthe\tfront\tdoor,\tpushed\tthe bemused\tLalmohan\tBabu\tin,\tthen\tgot\tin\tbeside\tme.\t\u2018Chaliye,\tDeendayalji,\u2019\the\tsaid\tto\tthe\tdriver. I\tknew\tFeluda\twas\tgood\tat\tputting\ton\tmake-up\tand\tdisguises,\tbut\thad\tno\tidea\the\tcould\tchange\this vo ice,\t his\t walk,\t even\t the\t lo o k\t in\t his\t eyes\t so \t co mpletely.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t appear ed\t to \t be\t speechless, but\t he\t did\t tur n\t ar o und\t and\t shake\t Feluda\u2019s\t hand.\t My\t hear t\t was\t still\t speeding \t like\t a\t r ace\t ho r se,\t and\t I was\tdying\tto\tknow\twhy\tFeluda\twas\tin\tdisguise. Feluda\topened\this\tmouth\tonly\twhen\twe\thad\tleft\tthe\tmain\ttown\tand\treached\tthe\topen\tcountry.\t\u2018The disg uise\t was\t necessar y,\u2019\t he\t explained,\t \u2018because\t Mallik\t mig ht\t have\t r eco g nized\t me,\t altho ug h\t we\t had exchanged\t only\t a\t few\t words\t in\t that\t garage\t in\t Barasat.\t Naturally,\t his\t suspicions\t would\t have\t been aroused\tif\the\tsaw\tthat\tthe\tsame\tman\twho\thad\tasked\thim\tawkward\tquestions\twas\talso\tgoing\tto\tEllora. I\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tyou\tabout\tmy\tplan,\tfor\tI\twanted\tto\tsee\tif\tmy\tmake-up\twas\tgood\tenough.\tWhen\tneither\tof you\trecognized\tme,\tI\tknew\tI\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tto\tworry\tabout\tMallik\t.\t.\t.\tI\thad\tthese\tclothes\tand\teverything else\tin\tmy\tshoulder\tbag\tthis\tmorning.\tWhen\tI\tsaid\tI\twas\tgoing\toff\tto\ttake\tphotos,\tI\tactually\twalked ahead\t and\t disappeared\t into\t cave\t number\t six.\t Not\t many\t people\t go\t in\t there,\t since\t it\u2019s\t far\t from\t the others\tand\tone\thas\tto\tclimb\thigher\tto\tget\tthere.\tWhen\tI\tfinished,\tI\tclimbed\tdown\tand\twalked\tback\tto town.\tFirst\tI\tarranged\tthis\ttaxi,\tthen\twent\tto\tthe\tstation\tto\tsee\tif\tMallik\tgot\toff\tthe\ttrain.\tWhen\the\tdid,\tI followed\this\ttaxi,\thaving\tcollected\tanother\tpassenger\twho\talso\twanted\tto\tgo\tto\tour\thotel.\tThis\thelped me\tas\tI\tcould\tthen\tshare\tthe\ttaxi\tfare\twith\thim.\tNow,\tif\tShubhankar\tBose\tasks\tyou\tanything\tabout\tme, tell\t him\t I\u2019ve\t sent\t you\t a\t message\t saying\t I\t had\t to\t go\t to\t Bombay\t on\t some\t urgent\t business.\t I\t cannot r emo ve\t my\t disg uise\t until\t I\t g o \t to \t bed.\t In\t fact,\t we\t sho uldn\u2019t\t even\t let\t Mallik\t see\t that\t yo u\t and\t I\t kno w each\t other.\t You\t and\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t will\t share\t a\t room.\t I\t will\t be\t in\t a\t separate\t room\t wherever\t we stay.\u2019 \u2018But\twho\tare\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yo u\t do n\u2019t\t have\t to \t bo ther \t with\t a\t name.\t I\t am\t a\t pho to g r apher.\t I\u2019m\t her e\t to \t take\t pho to s\t fo r \t the\t Asia magazine\tof\tHong\tKong.\u2019 \u2018OK.\tWhat\tabout\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tmyself?\u2019 \u2018Yo u\t ar e\t his\t nephew.\t He\t teaches\t histo r y\t in\t the\t City\t Co lleg e.\t Yo u\t ar e\t a\t student\t in\t the\t City\t Scho o l. You\t are\t interested\t in\t painting,\t but\t you\t want\t to\t join\t your\t uncle\u2019s\t college\t next\t year\t to\t study\t history. Your\t name\t is\t Tapesh\t Mukherjee.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t need\t not\t change\t his\t name,\t but\t please\t read\t up\t on Ello r a.\t Basically,\t all\t yo u\t need\t to \t r emember \t is\t that\t the\t Kailash\t temple\t was\t built\t dur ing \t the\t r eig n\t o f Raja\tKrishna\tof\tthe\tRashtrakut\tdynasty,\tin\tthe\teighth\tcentury.\u2019","Lalmohan\t Babu\t repeated\t these\t words\t to\t himself,\t then\t took\t out\t his\t little\t red\t notebook\t and\t noted them\t do wn,\t altho ug h\t wr iting \t wasn\u2019t\t easy\t in\t the\t mo ving \t car.\t No w\t I\t co uld\t see\t why\t Feluda\t had\t asked him\tto\tcome\twith\tus.\tHe\tmust\thave\tknown\the\u2019d\thave\tto\tbe\tin\tdisguise\tand\tpretend\the\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tme. Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t presence\t ensured\t that\t there\t was\t an\t extra\t pair\t of\t eyes\t to\t check\t on\t Mallik\u2019s movements,\tand\tI\thad\tan\tadult\tto\taccompany\tme.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tmind\thaving\tto\tcall\tLalmohan\tBabu\t\u2018Uncle\u2019, but\tpretending\tFeluda\twas\ta\ttotal\tstranger\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tmost\tdifficult.\tWell\u2014I\thad\tno\tchoice. I\tlooked\tout\tof\tthe\twindow.\tThere\twere\thills\tin\tthe\tdistance,\tand\tthe\tland\ton\teither\tside\tof\tthe\troad was\tdry\tand\tbarren.\tCactus\tgrew\there\tand\tthere,\tbut\tit\twas\ta\tdifferent\tkind\tof\tcactus,\tnot\tthe\tfamiliar prickly\tpear\tI\thad\tseen\telsewhere.\tThese\tbushes\twere\tlarger\tand\ttaller\tby\tseveral\tfeet. Ano ther \t car \t behind\t us\t had\t been\t ho nking \t fo r \t so me\t time.\t Our \t dr iver \t slo wed\t do wn\t slig htly\t to \t let\t it pass.\t It\t had\t the\t bald\t Amer ican\t we\t had\t seen\t this\t mo r ning ,\t and\t the\t sto ut\t man\t who \t had\t tr avelled\t with Feluda\tin\tthe\tsame\ttaxi. Half\t an\t hour\t later,\t we\t found\t ourselves\t getting\t closer\t to\t the\t distant\t hills.\t To\t our\t left\t stretched\t a small\ttown,\tcalled\tKhuldabad.\tWe\twere\tgoing\tto\tstay\tin\tthe\tdak\tbungalow\there.\tAt\tany\tother\ttime,\tit would\thave\tbeen\timpossible\tto\tfind\trooms\tat\tsuch\tshort\tnotice.\tThank\tgoodness\tit\twas\tnot\tthe\tregular tourist\tseason.\tHowever,\tthe\tabsence\tof\ttourists\talso\tmeant\tthat\tthe\tthieves\tand\tvandals\tcould\thave\ta field\tday. A\tlittle\tlater,\tto\tour\tright,\tthe\tfirst\tof\tthe\tmany\tcaves\tof\tEllora\tcame\tinto\tview. \u2018To\tthe\tdak\tbungalow?\u2019\tour\tdriver\tasked.\t\u2018Or\twould\tyou\tlike\tto\tsee\tthe\tcaves\tfirst?\u2019 \u2018No,\tlet\u2019s\tgo\tstraight\tto\tthe\tdak\tbungalow,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. Our\tcar\tmade\ta\tleft\tturn\twhere\tthe\troad\tcurved\ttowards\tKhuldabad.\tI\twas\tstill\tstaring\tat\tthe\trows\tof caves\tin\tthe\thills.\tWhich\tone\tof\tthem\twas\tKailash? There\t were\t two\t major\t places\t to\t stay\t in\t Khuldabad.\t One\t was\t the\t dak\t bungalow\t where\t we\t were booked,\tand\tthe\tother\twas\tthe\tmore\texpensive\tand\tposh\tTourist\tGuest\tHouse.\tThe\ttwo\tstood\tside\tby side,\t separated\t by\t a\t strong\t fence.\t I\t spotted\t the\t green\t taxi\t standing\t outside\t the\t guest\t house,\t which meant\tthat\twas\twhere\tJayant\tMallik\thad\tchecked\tin.\tOur\tbungalow\twas\tsmaller,\tbut\tneat\tand\tcompact. Feluda\tpaid\tthe\tdriver,\tthen\tasked\thim\tto\twait\tfor\tfifteen\tminutes.\tWe\twould\tleave\tour\tthings\tin\tour rooms,\tand\tgo\tto\tKailash.\tThe\tdriver\tcould\tdrop\tus\tthere,\tand\treturn\tto\tAurangabad. There\twere\tfour\trooms\tin\tthe\tbungalow.\tEach\thad\tthree\tbeds.\tFeluda\tcould\thave\tremained\twith\tus, but\t decided\t to \t take\t a\t separ ate\t r o o m.\t \u2018Remember,\u2019\t he\t whisper ed\t befo r e\t he\t left\t us,\t \u2018yo ur \t sur name\t is Mukherjee.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tis\tyour\tuncle\t.\t.\t.\tRashtrakut\tdynasty\t.\t.\t.\teighth\tcentury\t.\t.\t.\tRaja\tKrishna\t.\t. .\tI\u2019ll\tjoin\tyou\tin\tten\tminutes.\u2019\tThen\the\twent\tinto\this\town\troom\tand\tshouted,\t\u2018Chowkidar!\u2019\tin\ta\tvoice that\twas\tentirely\tdifferent\tfrom\this\town. Lalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\thad\ta\tquick\twash\tand\twent\tinto\tthe\tdining\thall,\twhere\twe\twere\tsupposed\tto wait\tfor\tFeluda.\tWe\tfound\tanother\tgentleman\tin\tit,\tthe\tsame\tman\twe\thad\tjust\tseen\ttravelling\twith\tthe American.\tClearly,\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tstay\tin\tthe\tbungalow\twith\tus.\tAt\tfirst,\the\thad\tstruck\tme\tas\ta\tboxer or\t a\t wrestler.\t Now\t I\t noticed\t his\t eyes:\t they\t were\t bright\t and\t intelligent,\t which\t suggested\t he\t was educated\t and,\t in\t fact,\t might\t well\t be\t a\t writer\t or\t an\t artist,\t for\t all\t I\t knew.\t His\t eyes\t twinkled\t as\t they caught\tmine. \u2018Off\tto\tKailash,\tare\tyou?\u2019\the\tasked\twith\ta\tsmile.","\u2018Yes,\tyes,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\treplied\teagerly,\t\u2018we\tare\tfrom\tCalcutta.\tI\tam\ta\t.\t.\t.\twhat\td\u2019you\tcall\tit\t.\t.\t. professor\tof\thistory\tin\tthe\tCity\tCollege;\tand\tthis\tis\tmy\tnephew,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 There\twas\tno\tneed\tto\ttell\thim\tanything\telse.\tBut,\tpossibly\tbecause\the\twas\tnervous\tabout\tplaying\ta new\trole,\tLalmohan\tBabu\twent\ton\tspeaking,\t\u2018I\tthought\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tknow\t.\t.\t.\tthat\twe\tmust\tsee\tthis\tamazing cr eatio n\t o f\t the\t Rashtr aput\u2014I\t mean\t kut\u2014dynasty.\t My\t nephew\t is\t .\t .\t .\t yo u\t kno w\t .\t .\t .\t ver y\t inter ested\t in art.\t He\t wants\t to\t get\t into\t an\t art\t college.\t He\t paints\t quite\t well,\t you\t know.\t Bhuto,\t don\u2019t\t forget\t to\t take your\tdrawing\tbook.\u2019 I\tsaid\tnothing\tin\treply,\tfor\tI\thad\tnot\tbrought\tmy\tdrawing\tbook.\tThankfully,\tFeluda\tcame\tout\tat\tthis moment\tand\tglanced\tcasually\tat\tus. \u2018If\tany\tof\tyou\twant\tto\tgo\tto\tthe\tcaves,\tyou\tmay\tcome\twith\tme.\tI\u2019ve\tstill\tgot\tmy\ttaxi,\u2019\the\tsaid\tin\this new\tvoice. \u2018Oh,\t thank\t yo u,\t that\u2019s\t ver y\t kind,\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t tur ned\t to \t him,\t lo o king \t r elieved.\t Then\t co ur tesy made\thim\tturn\tback\tto\tthe\tother\tgentleman.\t\u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tto\tcome\twith\tus?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018No,\tthank\tyou.\tI\u2019ll\tgo\tlater.\tI\tmust\thave\ta\tbath\tfirst.\u2019\tWe\twent\tout\tof\tthe\tbungalow. \u2018Tell\t me\t a\t bit\t mo r e\t abo ut\t the\t histo r y\t o f\t this\t place,\t Felu\t Babu,\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t pleaded\t in\t a\t lo w voice.\t\u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tmanage\tunless\tI\thave\ta\tfew\tmore\tdetails.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\tthe\tnames\tof\tdifferent\tperiods\tin\tIndian\thistory?\u2019 \u2018Such\tas?\u2019 \u2018Such\tas\tMaurya,\tSunga,\tGupta,\tKushan,\tChola\t.\t.\t.\tthings\tlike\tthat?\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tturned\tpale.\tThen,\tgetting\tinto\tthe\ttaxi,\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Tell\tyou\twhat,\twhy\tdon\u2019t\tI\tpretend to\tbe\tdeaf?\tThen,\tif\tanyone\tasks\tme\tanything\tabout\tthe\thistory\tof\tthe\tcaves,\tor\tanything\telse\tI\tmight find\tdifficult\tto\tanswer,\t\u00cd\tcan\tsimply\tignore\tthem.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\ta\tgood\tidea?\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tI\thave\tno\tobjection\tto\tthat,\tbut\tremember\tyour\tacting\tmust\tbe\tconsistent\tat\tall\ttimes.\u2019 \u2018No \t pr o blem\t with\t that.\t Anything \t wo uld\t be\t better \t than\t tr ying \t to \t r emember \t histo r ical\t facts.\t Didn\u2019t you\tsee\thow\tI\tmessed\tthings\tup\tjust\tnow?\tI\tmean,\tsaying\t\u201cput\u201d\tinstead\tof\t\u201ckut\u201d\twas\thardly\tthe\tright thing\tto\tdo,\twas\tit?\u2019 We\t were\t passing\t the\t guest\t house.\t Jayant\t Mallik\t was\t standing\t outside,\t his\t hands\t in\t his\t pockets, star ing \t at\t o ur \t bung alo w.\t T he\t g r een\t Ambassado r \t was\t still\t par ked\t by\t the\t r o ad.\t On\t seeing \t Mr \t Mallik, Feluda\ttook\tout\ta\tsmall\tcomb\tfrom\this\tbag\tand\tpassed\tit\tto\tme.\t\u2018Change\tyour\tparting,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018make a\tright\tparting.\u2019\tI\tlooked\tat\tmyself\tin\tthe\trearview\tmirror\tand\tquickly\tchanged\tthe\tparting\tin\tmy\thair as\t Feluda\t sug g ested.\t Who \t knew\t a\t little\t thing \t like\t that\t wo uld\t make\t such\t a\t lo t\t o f\t differ ence?\t Even\t to my\town\teyes,\tmy\tface\tlooked\tdifferent. We\t reached\t the\t main\t road.\t Another\t road\t rose\t up\t the\t hill\t from\t here,\t curved\t around\t and\t finally brought\tus\tto\tthe\tfamous\tKailash\ttemple.\tWe\tgot\tout\there,\tand\tthe\ttaxi\treturned\tto\tAurangabad. At\tfirst,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\trealize\twhat\tthe\ttemple\twas\tlike.\tHowever,\tas\tsoon\tas\tI\thad\tpassed\tthrough\tits\thuge entrance,\tmy\thead\tbegan\treeling.\tFor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tI\tforgot\tall\tabout\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead,\tthe\tgang\tof crooks,\t Mr\t Mallik,\t Shubhankar\t Bose,\t everything.\t All\t I\t was\t aware\t of\t was\t a\t feeling\t of\t complete bewilderment.\tI\tclosed\tmy\teyes\tand\ttried\tto\timagine\ta\tgroup\tof\tmen,\tcarving\tthe\twhole\ttemple\tout\tof the\t hill\t twelve\t hundr ed\t year s\t ag o ,\t using \t no \t o ther \t to o ls\t but\t hammer s\t and\t chisels.\t But\t I\t co uld\t no t.\t It seemed\t as\t if\t the\t temple\t had\t always\t been\t ther e.\t It\t co uldn\u2019t\t be\t manmade\t at\t all.\t Or \t maybe\t it\t had\t been","created\t by\t magic;\t or\t perhaps\u2014as\t Feluda\u2019s\t book\t had\t suggested\u2014creatures\t from\t a\t different\t planet had\tcome\tand\tbuilt\tit. T he\t temple\t had\t hills\t r ising \t o n\t thr ee\t sides.\t A\t nar r o w\t passag e\t went\t ar o und\t it.\t On\t bo th\t sides\t o f\t the temple\twere\ta\tnumber\tof\tcaves\u2014that\tlooked\tlike\tcells\u2014which\thad\tmore\tstatues\tin\tthem.\tWe\tstarted walking\tdown\tthe\tpassage\tto\tgo\taround\tthe\ttemple.\tFeluda\tkept\tup\ta\trunning\tcommentary:\t\u2018This\tplace is\t thr ee\t hundr ed\t feet\t in\t leng th,\t o ne\t hundr ed\t and\t fifty\t feet\t in\t width\t and\t the\t heig ht\t o f\t the\t temple\t is\t a hundred\tfeet.\tTwo\thundred\tthousand\ttonnes\tof\trock\tmust\thave\tbeen\texcavated\tto\tbuild\tit\t.\t.\t.\tthey\tbuilt the\ttop\tfirst,\tthen\tworked\ttheir\tway\tdown\tto\tthe\tbase\t.\t.\t.\tthe\tstatues\tinclude\tgods\tand\tgoddesses,\tmen and\twomen,\tanimals,\tevents\tfrom\tthe\tRamayana\tand\tthe\tMahabharata,\tthe\tlot.\tJust\tthink\tof\ttheir\tskill, the\tprecision\tof\ttheir\tcalculations,\ttheir\tknowledge\tof\tengineering,\tquite\tapart\tfrom\tthe\taesthetics\t.\t.\t.\u2019 he\t stopped.\t There\t were\t footsteps\t coming\t towards\t us.\t Feluda\t fell\t behind\t deliberately\t and\t began inspecting\tthe\tstatue\tof\tRavana\tshaking\tKailash. Shubhankar\t Bose\t emerged\t from\t behind\t the\t temple.\t In\t his\t hand\t was\t a\t notebook,\t and\t a\t bag\t hung from\t his\t shoulder.\t He\t seemed\t engrossed\t in\t looking\t at\t the\t carvings.\t Then\t his\t eyes\t fell\t on\t us.\t He smiled,\tthen\tseemed\tto\tremember\tsomething\tand\tasked\tanxiously,\t\u2018Any\tnews\tof\tyour\tcousin?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tI\treplied,\ttrying\tto\tsound\tcasual,\t\u2018he\tsent\ta\tmessage.\tHe\thad\tto\tgo\tto\tBombay\ton\tsome\turgent work.\tHe\u2019ll\tbe\tback\tsoon.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tgood.\u2019\tMr\tBose\twent\tback\tto\tgazing\tat\tthe\tstatues.\tA\tfaint\tclick\tbehind\tus\ttold\tme\tFeluda\thad taken\t a\t picture.\t His\t camera\t was\t hanging\t from\t his\t neck.\t If\t he\t was\t to\t pass\t himself\t off\t as\t a photographer,\tthe\tcamera\tnaturally\thad\tto\tstay\twith\thim\twhenever\the\twent\tout. I\t turned\t my\t head\t slightly\t and\t saw\t that\t Feluda\t was\t following\t us.\t We\t finished\t walking\t around\t the temple,\tand\thad\talmost\treached\tthe\tmain\tentrance\tagain\twhen\twe\tsaw\tsomeone\telse.\tBlue\tshirt,\twhite trousers.\tMr\tJayant\tMallik.\tHe\thad\tprobably\tjust\tarrived.\tHe\twas\tstanding\tquietly,\tbut\tmoved\ttowards the\tstatue\tof\tan\telephant\tas\tsoon\tas\the\tsaw\tus.\tIn\this\thand\twas\tthe\tsame\tbag\tI\thad\tseen\thim\tcarrying before.\tHe\thad\ttravelled\tfrom\tBarasat\tto\tCalcutta\twith\tit.\tI\thad\tseen\thim\twalk\tinto\tQueen\u2019s\tMansion, clutching\tit.\tFeluda\thad\tnow\talmost\tcaught\tup\twith\tus.\tI\twas\tdying\tto\tknow\twhat\tthat\tbag\tcontained. Why\t didn\u2019t\t Feluda\t g o \t up\t to \t the\t man,\t g r ab\t him\t by\t his\t co llar \t and\t challeng e\t him\t str aig htaway?\t Why didn\u2019t\the\tsay,\t\u2018Where\u2019s\tthat\tbroken\thead?\tTake\tit\tout\tat\tonce!\u2019 But\tno,\tI\tknew\tFeluda\twould\tnot\tdo\tthat.\tHe\tcould\tnot,\twithout\tsufficient\tevidence.\tIt\twas\ttrue\tthat Mallik\thad\tgone\tto\tSidikpur\twhere\tthat\tplane\thad\tcrashed;\tit\twas\ttrue\tthat\the\thad\ttravelled\tall\tthe\tway to\t Ellora,\t and\t had\t been\t heard\t speaking\t to\t someone\t in\t Bombay,\t talking\t about\t a\t daughter\t having returned\tto\ther\tfather.\tBut\tthat\twas\tnot\treally\tenough.\tFeluda\twould\thave\tto\twait\ta\tbit\tlonger\tbefore speaking\tto\thim. There\twas,\thowever,\tone\tway\tof\tfinding\tout\tif\tMallik\u2019s\tbag\tcontained\tanything\theavy.\tI\tsaw\tFeluda walk\tpast\tus,\tgo\tup\tto\tMallik\tand\tgive\thim\ta\tpush.\t\u2018Oh,\tsorry!\u2019\the\tsaid\tquickly,\tand\tbegan\tfocusing his\tcamera\ton\ta\tstatue.\t\u00cd\tsaw\tthe\tbag\tswing\tfrom\tside\tto\tside\twith\tthe\tpush.\tIts\tcontents\tdid\tnot\tappear to\tbe\tvery\theavy. We\t left\t the\t temple.\t On\t o ur \t way\t o ut,\t we\t saw\t two \t o ther \t men.\t One\t o f\t them\t was\t the\t sto ut\t g entleman Lalmohan\tBabu\thad\trecently\ttried\tto\timpress,\tand\tthe\tother\twas\tthe\tbald\tAmerican. The\tformer\twas\texplaining\tsomething\twith\telaborate\tgestures;\tthe\tlatter\twas\tnodding\tin\tagreement.","For\tsome\tstrange\treason,\tI\tsuddenly\tbegan\tto\tthink\teveryone\taround\tus\twas\ta\tsuspicious\tcharacter. Each\tone\tof\tthem\tshould\tbe\twatched\tclosely. Was\tFeluda\tthinking\tthe\tsame\tthing?","Seven Feluda\twanted\tto\tstop\tat\tthe\tguest\thouse\ton\tour\tway\tback.\t\u2018I\twant\tto\tsee\twhat\tnewspapers\tthey\tget,\u2019\the said\tby\tway\tof\tan\texplanation. Lalmo han\t Babu\t and\t I\t r etur ned\t to \t the\t bung alo w.\t We\t wer e\t bo th\t feeling \t hung r y,\t so \t Lalmo han\t Babu called\t out\t to\t the\t chowkidar\t and\t asked\t him\t to\t bring\t us\t tea\t and\t biscuits.\t The\t dining\t room\t faced\t the small\tlobby.\tThe\troom\tto\tits\tright\u2014number\tone\u2014was\tours.\tNumber\ttwo\twas\tempty.\tOpposite\tthese two\twere\trooms\tthree\tand\tfour.\tThe\tstout\tgentleman\twas\tin\tone\tof\tthem,\tand\tFeluda\thad\tthe\tother. Lalmohan\tBabu\twas\tstill\tin\ta\tmood\tto\tsnoop.\t\u2018Listen,\tTapesh,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tsipping\this\ttea,\t\u2018I\tthink\twe can\t leave\t the\t Amer ican\t o ut\t o f\t this,\t at\t least\t fo r \t the\t mo ment.\t That\t leaves\t us\t with\t thr ee\t o ther \t peo ple: Bo se,\t Mallik\t and\t that\t man\t who \u2019s\t staying \t her e.\t We\t kno w\t so mething \t abo ut\t Bo se\t and\t Mallik\u2014tr ue\t o r false,\tGod\tonly\tknows\u2014but\twe\tknow\tabsolutely\tnothing\tabout\tthe\tthird\tman,\tnot\teven\this\tname.\tWe could\tpeep\tinto\this\troom\tnow,\tit\tdoesn\u2019t\tappear\tto\tbe\tlocked.\u2019 I\tdid\tnot\tlike\tthe\tidea,\tso\tI\tsaid,\t\u2018What\tif\tthe\tchowkidar\tsees\tus?\u2019 \u2018He\tcannot\tsee\tus\tif\tI\tgo\tin,\tand\tyou\tstay\there\tto\tlook\tout\tfor\thim.\tIf\tyou\tsee\tthe\tchowkidar\tcoming this\t way,\t start\t coughing.\t I\t will\t get\t out\t of\t that\t room\t at\t once.\t I\t think\t your\t cousin\t will\t appreciate\t a helping\thand.\tThis\tman\u2019s\tsuitcase\talso\tstruck\tme\tas\tquite\theavy.\u2019 The\t whole\t world\t was\t suddenly\t full\t of\t heavy\t suitcases.\t But\t I\t could\t not\t stop\t him.\t To\t be\t honest, although\t I\t had\t never\t done\t anything\t like\t this\t before\t for\t anyone\t except\t Feluda,\t there\t was\t a\t scent\t of adventure\tin\tthe\tsuggestion,\tso\tI\tfound\tmyself\tagreeing. I\twent\tto\tthe\tback\tveranda.\tThere\twas\ta\tsmall\tcourtyard\tfacing\tthe\tveranda,\tacross\twhich\twas\tthe kitchen\tand,\tnext\tto\tit,\tthe\tchowkidar \u2019s\troom.\tA\tcycle\tstood\toutside\tthis\troom.\tA\tboy\tof\tabout\ttwelve \u2014pr esumably\t his\t so n\u2014was\t cleaning \t it\t with\t g r eat\t co ncentr atio n.\t I\t tur ned\t my\t head\t as\t I\t hear d\t a\t faint creaking\tnoise\tand\tsaw\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsneak\tinto\troom\tnumber\tthree.\tA\tcouple\tof\tminutes\tlater,\tit was\the\twho\tcoughed\tloudly\tto\tindicate\tthat\the\thad\tfinished\this\tjob.\tI\treturned\tto\tour\troom. \u2018There\twas\tnothing\tmuch\tin\tthere,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid.\t\u2018His\tsuitcase\tseemed\tpretty\told,\tbut\tit\twas lo cked\t and\t it\t did\t no t\t o pen\t even\t when\t I\t pulled\t the\t handle.\t On\t the\t table\t was\t an\t empty\t spectacle-case with\t\u201cStephens\tCompany,\tCalcutta\u201d\tstamped\ton\tit,\ta\tbottle\tof\tindigestion\tpills\tand\ta\ttube\tof\tOdomos. Apart\tfrom\tthese\tthings,\tthere\twas\tnothing\tthat\tI\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Whose\tpossessions\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda.\tWe\tlooked\tup\twith\ta\tstart.\tHe\thad\twalked into\tour\troom\tsilently,\talmost\tlike\ta\tghost. T his\t called\t fo r \t an\t ho nest\t co nfessio n.\t Much\t to \t my\t sur pr ise,\t he\t did\t no t\t g et\t cr o ss\t with\t either \t o f\t us. All\the\tsaid\twas,\t\u2018Was\tthere\tany\tparticular\treason\tfor\tdoing\tthis?\u2019 \u2018No,\tit\u2019s\tjust\tthat\twe\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanything\tabout\tthe\tman,\tdo\twe?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttried\tto\texplain.\t\u2018I mean,\t he\t hasn\u2019t\t even\t to ld\t us\t his\t name.\t And\t he\t lo o ks\t kind\t o f\t hefty,\t do esn\u2019t\t he?\t Didn\u2019t\t yo u\t say\t ther e was\ta\twhole\tgang\tinvolved\tin\tthis?\tSo\tI\tthought\t.\t.\t.\u2019","\u2018So\t you\t thought\t he\t must\t be\t one\t of\t them?\t There\t was\t no\t need\t to\t search\t his\t room\t just\t to\t get\t his name.\tHe\u2019s\tcalled\tR.N.\tRaxit.\tHis\tname\u2019s\twritten\ton\tone\tside\tof\this\tsuitcase.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\twe\tneed\tto know\t any\t more\t about\t him\t at\t this\t moment.\t Please\t don\u2019t\t go\t into\t his\t room\t again.\t It\t simply\t means taking\tunnecessary\trisks.\tAfter\tall,\twe\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tany\tconcrete\treason\tto\tsuspect\thim.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tThat\tjust\tleaves\tthe\tAmerican.\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\tcalled\tLewison,\tSam\tLewison.\tAnother\tJew,\tand\talso\tvery\twealthy.\tHe\towns\tan\tart\tgallery\tin New\tYork.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow\tall\tthis?\u2019\tI\tasked,\tsurprised. \u2018The\tmanager\tof\tthe\tguest\thouse\ttold\tme.\tWe\tgot\ttalking.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tvery\tnice\tman,\tpassionately\tfond of\tdetective\tnovels.\tIn\tfact,\the\u2019s\tbeen\twaiting\tfor\tthieves\tand\tcrooks\tto\tarrive\there\tever\tsince\the\tread about\tthe\tthefts\tin\tother\ttemples.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\ttell\thim\twhy\tyou\twere\there?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t He\t can\t help\t us\t a\t great\t deal.\t Don\u2019t\t forget\t Mallik\t is\t staying\t in\t his\t guest\t house.\t Apparently, Mallik\thas\talready\ttried\tto\tring\tsomeone\tin\tBombay,\tbut\tthe\tcall\tdidn\u2019t\tcome\tthrough.\u2019 That\t night,\t all\t four\t guests\t in\t the\t bungalow\t sat\t down\t to\t dinner\t together.\t Feluda\t did\t not\t speak\t a word.\t Mr\t Raxit\t turned\t to\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t tried\t to\t make\t conversation\t by\t asking\t him\t if\t he specialized\tin\tany\tparticular\tperiod\tof\thistory.\tIn\tanswer\tto\tthat,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\the\tdidn\u2019t\tknow ver y\t much\t abo ut\t pyr amids,\t except\t that\t they\t wer e\t in\t Eg ypt.\t Then\t he\t went\t back\t to \t dunking \t pieces\t o f chapati\tinto\this\tbowl\tof\tdaal.\tMr\tRaxit\tcast\tme\ta\tpuzzled\tglance.\tI\tplaced\ta\thand\ton\tmy\tear\tand\tshook my\t head\t to \t indicate\t that\t my\t \u2018uncle\u2019\t was\t har d\t o f\t hear ing .\t Mr \t Raxit\t no dded\t vig o r o usly\t and\t r efr ained from\tasking\tfurther\tquestions. After\tdinner,\tFeluda\twent\tstraight\tto\this\troom\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\twent\tout\tfor\ta\twalk.\tIt\twas quite\twindy\toutside.\tA\tpale\tmoon\tshone\tbetween\tpatches\tof\tdark\tclouds.\tFrom\tsomewhere\tcame\tthe fragrance\tof\thasnahana.\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tinspired\tby\tall\tthis,\tdecided\tto\tstart\tsinging\ta\tclassical\traga. I\t suddenly\t felt\t quite\t lighthearted.\t Just\t at\t that\t moment,\t we\t saw\t a\t man\t walking\t towards\t us\t from\t the g uest\t ho use.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t sto pped\t sing ing \t (which\t was\t a\t r elief\t since\t he\t was\t sing ing \t per fectly\t o ut of\ttune)\tand\tstood\tstill.\tAs\tthe\tman\tgot\tcloser,\tI\trecognized\thim.\tIt\twas\tShubhankar\tBose.\t\u2018I\twish\tyour cousin\twas\there!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twhispered. \u2018Out\tfor\ta\twalk,\teh?\u2019\tMr\tBose\tasked.\tThen\the\tcleared\this\tthroat,\tlooked\taround\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes, lowered\this\tvoice\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\tdo\tyou\thappen\tto\tknow\tthat\tman\tin\tthe\tblue\tshirt?\u2019 This\ttime,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcouldn\u2019t\tpretend\tto\tbe\tdeaf.\tMr\tBose\thad\tspoken\twith\thim\tbefore. \u2018Why,\tdid\the\tsay\the\tknew\tus?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. Mr\t Bose\t looked\t over\t his\t shoulder\t again.\t \u2018That\t man\t is\t most\t peculiar,\u2019\t he\t told\t us.\t \u2018He\t says\t he\t is interested\tin\tIndian\tart\tand\tthis\tis\this\tfirst\tvisit\tto\tEllora.\tYet,\twhen\tI\tmet\thim\tat\tthe\ttemple,\the\tdidn\u2019t seem\tmoved\tby\tany\tof\tit.\tI\tmean,\tnot\tat\tall.\tI\tfelt\tjust\tas\tthrilled\tby\teverything,\teven\tthough\tthis\tis\tmy second\t visit.\t Now,\t if\t the\t man\t does\t not\t care\t for\t art\t and\t sculpture,\t why\t is\t he\t here?\t Why\t is\t he pretending\tto\tbe\tsomething\the\tclearly\tisn\u2019t?\u2019 We\tremained\tsilent.\tWhat\tcould\twe\tsay? \u2018Have\tyou\tread\tthe\tpapers\trecently?\u2019\tMr\tBose\twent\ton. \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\task?\u2019 \u2018Pieces\tof\tour\tancient\tart\tare\tbeing\tsold\toff.\tStatues\tfrom\ttemples\tare\tdisappearing\tovernight.\u2019","\u2018Really?\t No,\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t that.\t What\t a\t shame!\t It\u2019s\t a\t regular\t crime,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu declar ed.\t His\t acting \t was\t no t\t ver y\t co nvincing ,\t but\t luckily\t Mr \t Bo se\t did\t no t\t seem\t to \t no tice.\t He\t came closer\tand\tadded,\t\u2018The\tman\tleft\tthe\tguest\thouse\ta\twhile\tago.\u2019 \u2018Which\tman?\u2019 \u2018Mr\tMallik.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019\tWe\tboth\tspoke\ttogether.\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tright.\tFeluda\tought\tto\thave\tbeen\there. \u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\twe\tgo,\ttoo?\u2019\tMr\tBose\tasked,\this\tvoice\ttrembling\twith\texcitement. \u2018N-now?\tWh-where\tto?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstammered. \u2018To\tthe\tcaves.\u2019 \u2018But\tthey\tmust\tbe\tclosed\tnow.\tSurely\tthere\tare\tchowkidars?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t but\t there\t are\t only\t two\t guards\t for\t thirty-four\t caves.\t So\t that\t shouldn\u2019t\t be\t a\t problem.\t I\t saw Mallik\tleave\twith\ta\tbag.\tHe\tand\tthat\thippie\tin\tyour\tbungalow\tkeep\tgoing\tabout\twith\tbags.\tIn\tfact,\tthat hippie\talso\tstrikes\tme\tas\tsuspicious.\tDo\tyou\tknow\twho\the\tis?\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tnearly\tchoked.\t\u2018He\t.\t.\t.\the\tis\ta\tphotographer.\tA\tvery\tgood\tone.\tHe\tshowed\tus\tsome of\this\tphotos.\tHe\u2019s\there\ton\tan\tassignment.\u2019 So meo ne\t came\t o ut\t o f\t the\t bung alo w.\t It\t was\t Mr \t Raxit,\t car r ying \t a\t sto ut\t walking \t stick\t in\t o ne\t hand, and\ta\ttorch\tin\tthe\tother.\tHe\twas\twearing\ta\tdark,\theavy\traincoat.\tHe\tstopped\tfor\ta\tminute\tto\tshout\tinto Lalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tear:\t\u2018After\tdinner,\twalk\ta\tmile!\u2019\tThen\the\tsmiled\tand\tdisappeared\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof the\t guest\t house.\t Mr\t Bose\t said,\t \u2018Good\t night!\u2019\t and\t followed\t him.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t frowned\t and\t said, \u2018Why\tdid\tthat\tman\ttell\tme\tto\twalk\ta\tmile?\u2019 \u2018That\tshould\thelp\tyour\tdigestion.\tCome\ton\tnow,\tlet\u2019s\tgo\tand\tfind\tFeluda.\tHe\tmust\tbe\ttold\twhat\twe just\theard.\tEveryone\tseems\tto\thave\tgone\toff\tto\tthe\tcaves.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tit.\tLet\u2019s\tsee\twhat\tFeluda\tthinks.\u2019 It\twas\tdark\tinside\tthe\tbungalow,\texcept\tfor\ta\tlantern\tin\tthe\tchowkidar \u2019s\troom.\tThis\tsurprised\tus. Mr\tRaxit\thad\tnaturally\tswitched\toff\this\tlight\tbefore\tgoing\tout,\tand\tso\thad\twe.\tBut\twhy\twas\tFeluda\u2019s do o r \t clo sed?\t Why\t co uldn\u2019t\t I\t see\t any\t lig ht\t under \t it?\t Had\t he\t alr eady\t g o ne\t to \t sleep?\t It\t was\t o nly\t ten- thirty. His\t room\t had\t a\t window\t that\t opened\t out\t on\t the\t veranda.\t At\t this\t moment,\t however,\t it\t was\t firmly shut\tand\tthe\tcurtains\tdrawn.\tI\twalked\tup\tto\tit\tand\tsoftly\tcalled\tout\tFeluda\u2019s\tname.\tThere\twas\tno\treply. He\tmust\thave\tgone\tout.\tBut\tif\the\thad\tused\tthe\tmain\texit,\twe\twould\tcertainly\thave\tseen\thim.\tPerhaps he\thad\tgone\tout\tof\tthe\tlittle\tback\tdoor\tbehind\tthe\tchowkidar \u2019s\troom? Rather\tfoolishly,\twe\twent\tback\tto\tour\town\troom\tand\tswitched\tthe\tlight\ton.\tAt\tonce,\tour\teyes\tfell on\ta\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tthat\twas\tlying\ton\tthe\tfloor.\t\u2018Stay\tin\tyour\troom,\u2019\tit\tsaid\tin\tFeluda\u2019s\thandwriting. \u2018Tapesh,\tmy\tboy,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\twith\ta\tsigh,\t\u2018do\tyou\tknow\twhat\tis\tworrying\tme\tthe\tmost? It\u2019s\t your\t cousin\u2019s\t behaviour.\t That\t is\t what\t is\t most\t mystifying.\t Otherwise,\t frankly,\t I\t cannot\t see\t too many\tmysteries\tin\tthis\tcase.\u2019 Feluda\t had\t told\t us\t to\t stay\t in,\t but\t had\t said\t nothing\t about\t when\t he\t might\t return.\t There\t was\t no question\t of\t going\t to\t bed.\t So\t I\t spent\t the\t next\t thirty\t minutes\t playing\t noughts-and-crosses\t with Lalmohan\tBabu.\tThen\the\tsaid\the\u2019d\ttell\tme\tthe\tplot\tof\this\tnext\tnovel.\t\u2018This\ttime,\u2019\the\tannounced,\t\u2018I\u2019ve introduced\ta\tnew\ttype\tof\tfight.\tMy\thero\u2019s\thands\tand\tfeet\tare\tgoing\tto\tbe\ttied,\tbut\the\u2019ll\tstill\tmanage\tto defeat\tthe\tvillain,\tsimply\tby\tusing\this\thead.\u2019","I\twas\tabout\tto\task\twhether\tby\tthis\the\tmeant\tPrakhar\tRudra\u2019s\tbrain\tpower,\tor\twas\this\thero\tsimply going\tto\tbutt\this\tway\tto\tvictory,\twhen\tFeluda\treturned.\tWe\tlooked\tup\texpectantly,\tbut\the\tsaid\tnothing. By\tthis\ttime,\twe\thad\tboth\tlearnt\tthat\tif\tFeluda\tdid\tnot\twish\tto\tpart\twith\tinformation,\teven\ta\tthousand questions\t couldn\u2019t\t make\t him\t open\t his\t mouth.\t On\t the\t other\t hand,\t he\u2019d\t tell\t us\t everything,\t if\t he\t so wished. What\t he\t finally\t said\t took\t us\t by\t surprise.\t \u2018Lalmohan\t Babu,\u2019\t he\t asked\t solemnly,\t \u2018did\t you\t bring\t a weapon\tthis\ttime?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t a\t passion\t for\t collecting\t weapons.\t When\t we\t had\t gone\t to\t Rajasthan,\t he\t had taken\t a\t Nepali\t dagger\t with\t him.\t Then,\t when\t he\t went\t to\t Simla,\t he\t had\t a\t boomerang.\t At\t Feluda\u2019s question,\this\teyes\tstarted\tglinting.\t\u2018Yes,\tsir,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018This\ttime,\tI\u2019ve\tgot\ta\tbomb.\u2019 \u2018A\tbomb?\u2019 I\tcould\thardly\tbelieve\thim.\tLalmohan\tBabu\topened\this\tsuitcase\tand\ttook\tout\ta\theavy\tbrown\tobject, shaped\ta\tlittle\tlike\ta\ttorch.\tHe\tpassed\tit\tto\tFeluda,\tsaying,\t\u2018My\tneighbour\tMr\tSamaddar \u2019s\tson,\tUtpal, is\tin\tthe\tarmy.\tHe\tcame\tto\tmy\thouse\tlast\tMarch\tand\tgave\tit\tto\tme.\t\u201cLook,\tUncle,\tsee\twhat\tI\tbrought for\tyou!\u201d\the\tsaid,\t\u201cThis\tis\ta\tbomb.\tIt\tis\tused\tin\tserious\twarfare.\u201d\tUtpal\tloves\treading\tmy\tnovels.\u2019 Feluda\tinspected\tit\tbriefly\tbefore\tsaying,\t\u2018Let\tme\tkeep\tthis.\tIt\u2019s\ttoo\tdangerous\tto\tremain\tanywhere else.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tHow\tmany\tmetaguns\tdo\tyou\tthink\tit\tweighs?\u2019 What\t he\t meant\t obviously\t was\t \u2018megaton\u2019,\t but\t Feluda\t ignored\t this\t last\t remark\t completely.\t He\t put the\t\u2018bomb\u2019\tin\this\tshoulder\tbag\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tgo\tout.\tEveryone\telse\thas\tgone,\tso\twhy\tshould\twe\tstay in?\u2019 When\t we\t left\t the\t dak\t bungalow,\t it\t was\t half\t past\t eleven.\t The\t moon\t was\t now\t almost\t totally obliterated\tby\tclouds.\tIt\twas\tstill\twindy.\tOne\tof\tthe\trooms\tin\tthe\tguest\thouse\thad\ta\tlight\ton.\tIt\twas\tthe American\u2019s\troom,\tFeluda\tsaid.\tIt\twas\timpossible\tto\ttell\twhether\tBose\tand\tMallik\thad\treturned. By\tthe\ttime\twe\treached\tthe\tmain\troad,\tthe\teastern\tsky\twas\theavily\tovercast.\tA\tloud\trumble\tin\tthe sky\tmade\tLalmohan\tBabu\texclaim,\t\u2018Good\theavens,\twhat\tif\twe\tget\tcaught\tin\tthe\train?\u2019 \u2018If\t we\t can\t get\t to\t the\t caves\t before\t it\t starts\t raining,\t we\u2019ll\t have\t plenty\t of\t places\t to\t seek\t shelter,\u2019 Feluda\treassured\tus. Fortunately,\tit\tremained\tdry\tfor\tquite\tsome\ttime\tafter\tthis.\tWe\treached\tKailash,\tbut\tFeluda\tdid\tnot go\t in\t through\t the\t main\t entrance.\t He\t turned\t left\t instead.\t A\t little\t later,\t he\t left\t the\t path\t and\t began climbing\tup\tthe\thill.\tI\twas\tfamiliar\tenough\twith\this\ttechniques\tto\trealize\tthat\the\twas\ttrying\tto\tsee\tif there\twas\tanother\tway\tto\tget\tinto\tthe\ttemple,\twithout\tusing\tthe\tmain\tpassage.\tThere\twere\tbushes\tand loose\tstones\teverywhere,\tbut\tthe\tmoonlight\u2014fleeting\tthough\tit\twas\u2014helped\tus\tfind\tour\tway. Feluda\t turned\t right.\t We\t were\t now\t going\t back\t the\t way\t we\t came,\t but\t were\t walking\t several\t feet above\t the\t path\t that\t visitors\t normally\t used.\t A\t few\t minutes\t later,\t Feluda\t suddenly\t stopped.\t He\t was looking\tat\tsomething\ton\this\tright.\tI\tfollowed\this\tgaze. In\tthe\tdistance,\tit\tseemed\tas\tif\ta\tlong\tsilk\tribbon\twas\tspread\ton\tthe\tground.\tIt\twas\tthe\troad\tthat\tled to\t the\t main\t town.\t A\t man\t was\t quickly\t walking\t down\t this\t road,\t either\t to\t the\t guest\t house\t or\t to\t the bungalow. \u2018Not\tRaxit,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twhispered. \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow?\u2019","\u2018Raxit\twas\twearing\ta\traincoat.\u2019\tHe\twas\tright. The\tman\tturned\ta\tcorner\tand\tvanished\tfrom\tsight.\tWe\tresumed\twalking.\tOnly\ta\tfew\tmoments\tlater, however,\twe\thad\tto\tstop\tagain.\tThere\twas\ta\tstrange\tnoise\u2014something\tlike\ta\tcross\tbetween\ta\tscrape and\ta\trustle.\tWhere\twas\tit\tcoming\tfrom? Feluda\t sat\t down.\t So\t did\t we.\t A\t large\t cactus\t bush\t hid\t us\t from\t view.\t The\t noise\t continued\t for sometime,\tthen\tstopped\tabruptly. We\t emer g ed\t cautio usly.\t Hug e,\t dar k\t clo uds\t had\t no w\t spr ead\t all\t o ver \t the\t sky.\t We\t co uld\t har dly\t see our\tway.\tNevertheless,\tFeluda\tkept\tgoing.\tSoon,\twe\tcould\tvaguely\tsee\tthe\ttemple\tagain.\tIts\tspire\twas before\tus.\tSeveral\tfeet\tbelow\tthe\tspire,\ton\tthe\troof,\tstood\tfour\tlions,\tfacing\tthe\teast,\twest,\tnorth\tand the\tsouth.\tFar\tbelow\tthem\twere\tthe\ttwo\telephants\tthat\tstood\tat\tthe\tentrance. We\t kept\t walking .\t The\t no ise\t had\t co me\t fr o m\t this\t dir ectio n,\t but\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t see\t anything \t suspicio us. Feluda\thad\ta\ttorch,\tbut\tI\tknew\the\twouldn\u2019t\tswitch\tit\ton,\tin\tcase\tit\twas\tseen\tby\twhoever\thappened\tto\tbe in\tthe\tvicinity. We\t passed\t the\t temple\t and\t came\t to\t a\t cave.\t It\t was\t cave\t number\t fifteen.\t We\t moved\t on\t to\t the\t next. Feluda\tstopped\tagain.\tI\tcould\tsee\tthat\this\twhole\tbody\twas\ttense.\t\u2018Torch,\u2019\the\twhispered.\t\u2018Someone\tin number\tfifteen\thas\tswitched\ton\ta\ttorch.\tLook\tat\tthe\tcourtyard\tin\tfront\tof\tit.\tDoesn\u2019t\tit\tseem\tbrighter than\tthe\tothers?\u2019 It\twas\ttrue.\tNeither\tLalmohan\tBabu\tnor\tI\thad\tnoticed\tit.\tOnly\tFeluda\u2019s\tsharp\teyes\thad\tpicked\tit\tup. We\tstood\tholding\tour\tbreath\tfor\ta\tcouple\tof\tminutes.\tThen\tFeluda\tdid\tsomething\tentirely\tunexpected. He\t picked\t up\t a\t small\t pebble\t and\t thr ew\t it\t in\t the\t dir ectio n\t o f\t the\t co ur tyar d.\t I\t hear d\t it\t fall\t with\t a\t so ft thud.\tA\tsecond\tlater,\tthe\tfaint\tlight\tcoming\tfrom\tthe\tcave\twent\tout.\tThe\ttorch\twas\tswitched\toff.\tThen\ta man\tcame\tout\tand\tslipped\taway,\tmoving\tstealthily\tlike\ta\tthief.\t\u2018Could\tthat\tbe\tRaxit?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu said\tsoftly.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\trecognize\tthe\tman,\tbut\tcould\tsee\tthat\the\twas\tnot\twearing\ta\traincoat. What\t followed\t next\t took\t my\t breath\t away.\t Without\t a\t word\t of\t warning,\t Feluda\t began\t climbing down.\tHe\tleapt,\tcrawled,\tscraped\thimself\ton\tthe\tground,\tthen\tswinging\tfrom\ta\tbranch\tlike\ta\tmonkey, disappear ed\t fr o m\t sig ht.\t I\t star ed\t speechlessly.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t said,\t after \t a\t mo ment\u2019s\t silence,\t \u2018He\u2019ll do\tvery\twell\tin\ta\tcircus!\u2019 Cave\tnumber\tfifteen\twas\tat\ta\tlower\tlevel.\tThat\twas\twhere\tFeluda\thad\tgone.\tThree\tminutes\tlater\t(it felt\tlike\tthree\thours),\the\tclimbed\tup\tagain,\tmore\tor\tless\tin\ta\tsimilar\tfashion.\tHow\the\tcould\tdo\tit\twith a\t to r ch\t in\t o ne\t hand,\t a\t bag \t hang ing \t fr o m\t his\t sho ulder \t and\t a\t r evo lver \t tucked\t into \t his\t waist,\t I\t do \t no t know. \u2018That\t one\u2019s\t the\t Das\t Avatar\t cave,\u2019\t he\t told\t us,\t panting.\t \u2018It\t has\t two\t storeys,\t and\t some\t exquisite statues.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\t.\t.\t.\tdid\tyou\tsee\twho\tit\twas?\u2019\tI\tasked\tbreathlessly.\tFeluda\tdid\tnot\treply\timmediately.\tThen he\tsaid,\t\u2018It\u2019s\tnot\tas\tsimple\tas\tI\thad\tthought.\tIt\u2019ll\ttake\tme\ta\twhile\tto\tunravel\tthis\ttangled\tmess.\u2019 We\t fo und\t the\t main\t path\t ag ain\t and\t climbed\t do wn\t to \t the\t bo tto m\t o f\t the\t temple.\t But\t Feluda\t had\t no t finished.\tHe\tfound\tone\tof\tthe\tchowkidars\tand\tasked\thim\tif\the\thad\tseen\tanyone\tgoing\tup. \u2018No,\tsir,\u2019\tthe\tchowkidar\treplied. \u2018Did\tyou\thear\tany\tnoise?\tAnything\tsuspicious\tat\tall?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tThere\u2019s\tbeen\ta\tlot\tof\tthunder.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\thear\tanything\telse.\u2019 \u2018Can\twe\tgo\tinto\tthe\ttemple?\u2019","I\tknew\tthe\tman\twould\trefuse,\tand\the\tdid. \u2018No,\t sir.\t I\t have\t orders\t not\t to\t let\t anyone\t in\t at\t this\t time\t of\t night.\u2019\t We\t made\t our\t way\t back\t to\t the bungalow.\tAs\twe\tgot\tcloser,\twe\tsaw\tsomething\textremely\tstrange.\tTwo\twindows\ton\tthe\teastern\tside of\tthe\tbuilding\toverlooked\tthe\tstreet.\tWe\tcould\tsee\tthese\tfrom\toutside.\tOne\tof\tthem\twas\tFeluda\u2019s,\tthe o ther \t was\t Mr \t Raxit\u2019s.\t Feluda\u2019s\t r o o m\t was\t in\t dar kness,\t but\t a\t lig ht\t flashed\t in\t Mr \t Raxit\u2019s\t r o o m.\t It\t was the\t lig ht\t fr o m\t a\t to r ch,\t but\t it\t did\t no t\t stay\t still.\t In\t fact,\t who ever \t was\t ho lding \t it\t seemed\t to \t have\t g o ne mad.\tThe\tlight\tdanced\tall\tover\tthe\troom,\tthen\tcame\tto\tthe\twindow,\tshone\tonce\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tthe guest\thouse,\tfell\tand\tmoved\ton\tthe\tbushes\tby\tthe\troad\tbefore\tgoing\tback\tto\tthe\troom.\tWe\tcould\tnot see\twho\tit\twas.\t\u2018Highly\tinteresting!\u2019\tFeluda\tmuttered. We\treturned\tto\tthe\tbungalow.\tBy\tnow,\tit\thad\tstarted\tto\tdrizzle,\tand\twas\tpitch\tdark\toutside.","Eight I\thad\tnoticed\tin\tthe\tpast\tthat\tour\tadventures\toften\ttook\ttotally-unexpected\tturns.\tWhen\tthis\thappened, Feluda\t seldom\t lost\t his\t equanimity.\t In\t fact,\t I\t had\t always\t marvelled\t at\t his\t ability\t to\t keep\t calm\t while dealing\twith\tunforeseen\tcomplications.\tThis\ttime,\thowever,\twhat\thappened\tmade\thim\tvery\tcross. Before\tgoing\tto\tbed\tat\tnight,\twe\thad\tdecided\tto\tleave\tearly\tin\tthe\tmorning\tto\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\tspot where\twe\thad\theard\tthat\tfunny\tnoise.\tIt\trequired\tinvestigation,\tFeluda\tsaid.\tSo\twe\trose\tat\tfive\to\u2019clock and\tleft\tthe\tbungalow\thalf\tan\thour\tlater\tafter\thaving\ta\tcup\tof\ttea.\tFeluda\twas\tup\tbefore\tus\tto\treplace his\t make-up.\t I\t remembered\t to\t maintain\t a\t right\t parting\t in\t my\t hair.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t expressed\t the desire\tto\tmake\tsome\tchange\tin\this\tappearance\tas\twell,\tbut\tFeluda\tsaid\t\u2018No!\u2019\tso\tfirmly\tthat\the\thad\tto desist. The\tcaves\twere\tgoing\tto\topen\tfor\tvisitors\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\tsun\trose.\tWe\twanted\tto\tbe\tthe\tfirst,\tso\twe g o t\t ther e\t at\t 6\t a.m.\t To \t o ur \t co mplete\t asto nishment,\t we\t fo und\t the\t place\t cr awling \t with\t peo ple.\t A\t lar g e number\t of\t cars\t and\t vans\t were\t parked\t outside.\t It\t was\t the\t sight\t of\t a\t reflector\t that\t told\t me\t what\t was going\ton.\tThis\twas\ta\tfilm\tunit.\tThey\thad\tarrived\tfrom\tBombay\tto\tshoot\ta\tHindi\tfilm,\twe\tlearnt.\tThe actors\thadn\u2019t\tyet\tarrived,\tbut\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tcrew\twere\tgetting\tthings\tready.\t\u2018Oh\tno!\u2019\tFeluda\tcried\tin dismay.\t\u2018Why\tcouldn\u2019t\tthey\tfind\tsome\tother\tplace?\u2019 A\tyoung\tman\twas\tbustling\tabout,\tclutching\ta\tfilm\tmagazine.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcalled\thim\taside. \u2018What\tis\tthe\tname\tof\tthis\tfilm,\tdo\tyou\tknow?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Oh\tyes.\tKrorepati.\u2019 \u2018Who\u2019s\tacting\tin\tit?\u2019 \u2018Three\tof\tthe\ttop\tstars.\tToday\u2019s\tshots\twill\tinclude\tRupa,\tArjun\tMehrotra\tand\tBalwant\tChopra.\tThe heroine,\thero\tand\tthe\tvillain.\u2019 The\tmention\tof\tArjun\tMehrotra\tmade\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgrow\tround-eyed.\t\u2018Will\tthere\tbe\tsongs?\u2019\the asked. \u2018No,\tno.\tWe\u2019ve\tcome\tto\tshoot\tfights.\tStuntmen,\tdoubles\tand\tthe\tfight\tdirector\tare\tall\there.\tThe\thero will\tchase\tthe\tvillain\tfrom\ta\tcave\tinto\tthe\tmain\ttemple.\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\theroine?\u2019 \u2018She\u2019ll\tstay\tin\tthe\tcave.\tThe\tvillain\thas\timprisoned\ther\tin\tthere,\tyou\tsee.\tBut\tnow\tthe\thero\u2019s\there, so\tthe\tvillain\thas\tto\trun\tfor\this\tlife.\tThe\tclimax\ttakes\tplace\ton\tthe\tspire.\u2019 \u2018The\tspire?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Who\u2019s\tthe\tdirector?\u2019 \u2018Mohan\tSharma.\tBut\tthese\tshots\ttoday\twill\tbe\ttaken\tby\tthe\tfight\tdirector,\tAppa\tRao.\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthe\twhole\tthing\twill\ttake?\u2019 \u2018Well\t.\t.\t.\tthat\u2019s\tdifficult\tto\tsay.\tWe\thope\tto\tstart\tby\tten\to\u2019clock.\tThen\twe\tshould\tfinish\tby\tone.\u2019","That\tmeant\tthey\twould\toccupy\tthe\twhole\tcomplex\tvirtually\tthe\twhole\tday. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tthis!\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tthrough\tclenched\tteeth.\t\u2018How\tdid\tthey\tget\tpermission\tto\ttake\tthe whole\tplace\tover?\u2019 Since\twe\tcouldn\u2019t\tget\tinto\tthe\ttemple,\twe\tdecided\tto\tclimb\tover\tit,\tjust\tas\twe\thad\tdone\tthe\tprevious night.\tBut\teven\tthe\thills\taround\tthe\ttemple\thad\tmen\tfrom\tthe\tfilm\tunit\tsetting\tup\tequipment.\tWe\tlearnt here\tthat\talthough\tthe\tfilm\tcrew\twere\tnot\tletting\tordinary\tvisitors\tinto\tthe\ttemple,\tthey\tcould\tnot\tgo in\tthemselves,\tas\tthe\tofficial\tletter\tgiving\tthem\tthe\tnecessary\tpermission\tto\tshoot\thad\tnot\tyet\tarrived. It\twas\tbeing\tbrought\tin\ta\tdifferent\tcar.\tThe\tchowkidar\ton\tduty\thad\tflatly\trefused\tto\tunlock\tthe\tmain door\tunless\tthe\tletter\twas\tproduced. Feluda\tclicked\this\ttongue\tin\tannoyance\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tnot\twaste\tany\tmore\ttime.\tLet\u2019s\tsee\tif\twe\tcan get\tinto\tcave\tnumber\tfifteen.\tAt\tleast\twe\tcan\tlook\tat\tthose\tbeautiful\tstatues,\taway\tfrom\tall\tthis\tnoise.\u2019 We\t climbed\t down\t from\t the\t other\t side\t and\t were\t walking\t towards\t the\t cave\t when\t we\t saw\t a\t huge yello w\t Amer ican\t car \t making \t its\t way\t to \t the\t temple.\t The\t thr ee\t majo r \t star s\t and\t the\t fig ht\t dir ecto r \t had arrived. Feluda\t had\t already\t told\t us\t the\t fifteenth\t cave\t was\t the\t Das\t Avatar\t cave.\t We\t ran\t into\t two\t modern avatars\t on\t our\t way.\t They\t were\t Lewison\t and\t Raxit.\t We\t had\t spotted\t them\t from\t a\t distance,\t standing near\t the\t entrance\t and\t speaking\t rather\t animatedly.\t As\t we\t got\t closer,\t we\t heard\t the\t American\t say angrily,\t\u2018I\tsee\tno\tpoint\tin\tmy\tstaying\there\tany\tlonger.\u2019\tThen\the\tstrode\toff\tin\ta\thuff.\tMr\tRaxit\twalked up\tto\tus,\tshrugged\tand\tsmiled\tsomewhat\tbitterly.\t\u2018He\twas\tcomplaining\tabout\tthe\tarrangements\there.\tI mean,\tin\tthe\tguest\thouse.\tHe\tsaid\tto\tme,\t\u201cHow\tcan\tyou\texpect\tme\tto\tspend\tmy\tdollars\there,\twhen\tyou don\u2019t\teven\tknow\thow\tto\tfry\tan\tegg?\u201d\tJust\tbecause\the\u2019s\trich,\the\tthinks\the\towns\tthe\twhole\tworld.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tstrange!\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked.\t\u2018Isn\u2019t\the\tsupposed\tto\tbe\ta\tconnoisseur\tof\tart?\tHow\tcan\the\ttalk of\tfried\teggs,\tstanding\tin\ta\tplace\tlike\tthis,\tsurrounded\tby\tthe\tbest\tspecimens\tof\tIndian\tart?\u2019 \u2018How,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twanted\tto\tknow,\t\u2018do\tthey\tfry\teggs\tin\tAmerica,\tanyway?\u2019 Mr\tRaxit\topened\this\tmouth\tto\tspeak,\tbut\thad\tto\tshut\tit\timmediately.\tA\tloud\tscream\tfrom\tthe\ttemple made\t us\t all\t start\t violently.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t was\t the\t first\t to\t recover.\t \u2018That\t must\t be\t the\t villain!\u2019\t he exclaimed.\t\u2018They\u2019ve\tstarted\tshooting.\tThe\tvillain\u2019s\tshouting\tand\tmaking\this\tescape.\u2019 But\tno.\tA\tbabble\thad\tbroken\tout.\tThere\twere\tmany\tother\tvoices,\talso\tscreaming\tand\tyelling.\tThere was\t something\t wrong,\t obviously.\t Feluda\t had\t already\t begun\t walking\t in\t that\t direction.\t We\t followed him\t quickly.\t As\t we\t returned\t to\t the\t temple\u2019s\t entrance,\t we\t saw\t a\t man\t in\t a\t purple\t bush\t shirt\t being carried\tout.\tHe\tappeared\tto\tbe\tunconscious.\tHe\twas\ttaken\tto\tthe\tyellow\tcar.\tThen\tcame\tthe\tthree\tstars. Rupa\t was\t walking\t slowly,\t leaning\t heavily\t on\t Arjun\t Mehrotra.\t Balwant\t was\t holding\t her\t hand,\t and murmuring\tinto\ther\tear,\tas\tif\tshe\twere\ta\tfrightened\tchild,\tin\tneed\tof\tcomforting. A\tsecond\tlater,\twe\tsaw\tthe\tsame\tyoung\tman\twe\thad\tspoken\tto\tearlier. \u2018What\t happened?\t What\u2019s\t wrong?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t asked\t him.\t \u2018There\u2019s\t a\t .\t .\t .\t there\u2019s\t a\t dead\t body lying\tbehind\tthe\ttemple.\tIt\u2019s\thorrible!\u2019 \u2018Oh\tmy\tGod!\tWho\twas\tthat\tman\tthey\tcarried\tout\tto\tthe\tcar?\u2019 \u2018Appa\tRao.\tHe\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tdiscover\tthe\tbody.\tOne\tlook,\tand\the\tfainted.\u2019 Feluda\tand\tMr\tRaxit\thad\tgone\tinto\tthe\ttemple.\tThe\tfilm\tcrew\twere\tall\tcoming\tout.\tThere\twas\tnow no\tquestion\tof\tshooting\ta\tfilm\there\ttoday.","Lalmo han\t Babu\t and\t I\t walked\t alo ng \t the\t passag e\t to \t o ur \t left.\t To \t o ur \t r ig ht,\t belo w\t us,\t wer e\t sever al statues\t o f\t elephants\t and\t lio ns.\t They\t lo o ked\t as\t tho ug h\t they\t wer e\t car r ying \t the\t who le\t temple\t o n\t their sho ulder s.\t We\t sto pped\t as\t the\t passag e\t tur ned\t r ig ht.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t g r o up\t o f\t men,\t peer ing \t do wn\t into \t a gorge.\tPerhaps\tthat\twas\twhere\tthe\tbody\twas\tlying.\tMr\tRaxit\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tcrowd\tand\tstopped\tus. \u2018Don\u2019t\tgo\tany\tfurther,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tnot\ta\tpretty\tsight.\u2019\tQuite\tfrankly,\tI\thad\tno\twish\tto\tsee\tthe\tbody,\tbut I\tdid\tfeel\tcurious\tabout\tthe\tdead\tman.\tWho\twas\the?\tFeluda\tcame\tout\tand\tanswered\tthis\tquestion\teven before\tI\tcould\task\tit. \u2018Shubhankar\tBose,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tthink\the\tfell\toff\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tcliff\tstraight\tonto\tthe\trocks\tbelow.\u2019 \u2018Strange,\t how\t strange!\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t muttered\t under\t his\t breath.\t \u2018This\t is\t exactly\t how\t my\t own villain,\tGhanashyam\tKarkat,\tis\tsupposed\tto\tdie!\u2019 Feluda\tstarted\twalking\taway,\tso\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\thad\tto\tmove\ton.\tMr\tRaxit\twas\tahead\tof\tus, but\t he\t turned\t and\t stopped.\t \u2018I\t saw\t him\t last\t night,\u2019\t he\t said,\t shaking\t his\t head,\t \u2018I\t told\t him\t not\t to\t try climbing\t in\t the\t dark.\t But\t he\t paid\t no\t attention\t to\t me.\t How\t was\t I\t to\t know\t that\t he\t was\t planning\t to commit\tsuicide?\u2019 Mr\tRaxit\tleft,\thaving\tgiven\tus\tsomething\tto\tponder\ton.\tThe\tidea\tof\ta\tsuicide\thad\tnot\toccurred\tto me.\tI\tlooked\tat\tFeluda,\tbut\the\thad\tstarted\tto\tclimb\tthe\thill\ton\tthe\tleft\tof\tthe\ttemple.\tMr\tBose\tmust\thave climbed\tthe\tsame\thill. The\tpeople\tgathered\tnear\tthe\tcliff\thad\tgone.\tMr\tBase\u2019s\tdeath\thad,\tin\ta\tway,\tmade\tthings\teasier\tfor our\tinvestigation.\tFeluda\twent\tclose\tto\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tcliff\tand\texamined\tthe\tarea\tcarefully. There\twas\ta\tsmall\thole\tin\tthe\tground,\tonly\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway\tfrom\tthe\tedge.\tPeople\thad\twalked\tover it\tand\taround\tit,\tmaking\tit\talmost\tdisappear.\tBut\twhen\tFeluda\ttook\tout\ta\tsteel\ttape\tfrom\this\tbag\tand pushed\t it\t in,\t we\t realized\t it\t was\t a\t fairly\t deep\t hole.\t Now\t Feluda\t peered\t closely\t at\t the\t ground\t again. Lalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tboth\tsaw\twhat\thad\tclaimed\this\tattention. There\twas\ta\tdeep\tcrease\ton\tthe\tground,\trunning\tfrom\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tcliff\tto\tthe\thole. \u2018Do \t yo u\t kno w\t what\t this\t is?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked\t me.\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t answer.\t Feluda\t went\t o n,\t \u2018T his\t mar k\t was left\tby\ta\trope.\tSomeone\thad\ttied\ta\trope\tto\ta\tcrowbar,\tdug\tthe\tcrowbar\tdeep\tinto\tthe\tground,\tand\tgone down\u2014or\t tried\t to\t go\t down\u2014the\t cliff,\t using\t that\t rope.\t Remember\t the\t noise\t we\t heard\t yesterday?\t It was\tthe\tnoise\tof\tthe\trope\tbeing\tpulled\tback.\tSince\tthere\twas\tno\tway\tto\tget\tinto\tthe\tcave\tbelow\tfrom the\tfront,\tsomeone\tfound\tthis\tway\tto\treach\tit\tfrom\tthe\trear.\u2019 \u2018But.\t .\t .\t what\t so r t\t o f\t a\t r o pe\t co uld\t it\t have\t been?\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t asked.\t \u2018I\t mean\t .\t .\t .\t if\t yo u\t had\t to climb\tdown\ta\thundred\tfeet,\tyou\u2019d\tneed\ta\tremarkably\tstrong\trope,\twouldn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tA\tnylon\trope\twould\tto\tthe\ttrick.\tIt\twould\tbe\tlight,\tbut\tvery,\tvery\tstrong.\u2019 \u2018That\tmeans\tthere\twas\ta\tsecond\tperson\there,\u2019\tI\tsaid\tslowly.\t\u2018I\tmean,\tapart\tfrom\tMr\tBose.\u2019 \u2018Right.\tThis\tsecond\tperson\tremoved\tthe\trope,\tand\tthe\tcrowbar.\tWe\tdon\u2019t\tyet\tknow\twhether\the\twas Bose\u2019s\tfriend\tor\tfoe,\tbut\tthere\tis\tsomething\tthat\tindicates\the\tmight\thave\tbeen\tthe\tlatter.\u2019 I\tlooked\tquickly\tat\tFeluda.\tWhat\tdid\the\tmean?\tIn\treply,\the\ttook\tout\ta\tsmall\tobject\tfrom\this\tpocket and\tplaced\tit\ton\this\tpalm.\tIt\twas\ta\tpiece\tof\tblue\tcloth,\ttorn\tpresumably\tfrom\ta\tshirt.\tWho\twas\twearing a\tblue\tshirt\tyesterday? Mr\tJayant\tMallik! \u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tfind\tit?\u2019\tI\tasked.\tMy\tvoice\tshook.","\u2018Bose\twas\tlying\ton\this\tstomach.\tHis\tarms\twere\tspread\twide.\tHis\tright\thand\twas\tclosed\taround\tthis piece\tof\tcloth,\tbut\ta\tsmall\tbit\twas\tsticking\tout\tbetween\ttwo\tfingers.\tHe\tand\tthis\tother\tman\tmust\thave struggled\twith\teach\tother\tby\tthe\tcliff.\tBose\tclutched\tat\tthe\tshirt\tthe\tother\tman\twas\twearing.\tBut\tthen he\tfell,\ttaking\tthis\tlittle\tpiece\twith\thim.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\the\twas\tdeliberately\tpushed\toff\tthe\tcliff?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgasped,\t\u2018You\tm-mean\tit\twas m-m-murder?\u2019 Feluda\tdid\tnot\tgive\ta\tdirect\tanswer.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tseconds\tof\tsilence,\the\tsimply\tsaid,\t\u2018If\tthe\tstatues\tin the\ttemple\tare\tstill\tintact,\twe\tmust\tthank\tMr\tBose\tfor\tit.\tIt\twas\tbecause\tof\this\tpresence\there\tlast\tnight that\tthe\tthief\tcouldn\u2019t\tget\taway\twith\tit.\u2019","Nine When\twe\tclimbed\tdown\teventually\tand\twent\tback\tto\tthe\tmain\tentrance\tto\tthe\ttemple,\tthe\tmembers\tof the\t film\t unit\t had\t all\t disappeared.\t There\t were\t knots\t of\t local\t people,\t curious\t and\t excited.\t The\t big American\t car\t had\t been\t replaced\t by\t a\t jeep.\t An\t intelligent\t and\t smart\t looking\t man\u2014possibly\t in\t his mid-thirties\u2014saw\t Feluda\t and\t came\t forward\t to\t greet\t him.\t It\t turned\t out\t to\t be\t Mr\t Kulkarni,\t the manager\tof\tthe\tTourist\tGuest\tHouse. \u2018We\trealized\tonly\tthis\tmorning\tthat\tMr\tBose\thad\tnot\treturned\tlast\tnight,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tshaking\this\thead regretfully.\t\u2018I\tsent\ta\tbearer\tto\tlook\tfor\thim,\tbut\tof\tcourse\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tfind\thim\tanywhere.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tgoing\tto\thappen\tnow?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018The\tpolice\tin\tAurangabad\thave\tbeen\tinformed.\tThey\u2019re\tsending\ta\tvan\tto\tcollect\tthe\tbody.\tMr\tBose had\ta\tbrother\tin\tDelhi.\tHe\u2019ll\thave\tto\tbe\tinformed,\tnaturally.\t.\t.\tIt\tis\treally\tvery\tsad.\tThe\tman\twas\ta\ttrue scholar.\tHe\tcame\tonce\tbefore,\tin\t1968.\tI\tbelieve\the\twas\twriting\ta\tbook\ton\tEllora.\u2019 \u2018Isn\u2019t\tthere\ta\tpolice\tstation\there?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tonly\ta\tsmall\toutpost.\tAn\tassistant\tsub-inspector\tis\tin\tcharge,\ta\tman\tcalled\tGhote.\tHe\u2019s inspecting\tthe\tbody\tat\tthe\tmoment.\u2019 \u2018Could\tI\tmeet\thim?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\tOh,\tby\tthe\tway\u2014\u2019\tMr\tKulkarni\tstopped,\tlooking\tdoubtfully\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tme. \u2018They\tare\tfriends,\tyou\tmay\tspeak\tfreely\tbefore\tthem,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tquickly. \u2018Oh.\tOh,\tI\tsee,\u2019\tMr\tKulkarni\tsounded\trelieved.\t\u2018Well,\tsomeone\trang\tBombay\tthis\tmorning.\u2019 \u2018Mallik?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\tsay?\u2019 Mr\t Kulkarni\t took\t out\t a\t piece\t of\t paper\t from\t his\t pocket\t and\t read\t from\t it:\t \u2018The\t daughter \u2019s\t fine. Leaving\ttoday.\u2019 \u2018Today?\tDid\the\ttell\tyou\tanything\tabout\tleaving\ttoday?\u2019 \u2018He\tdid.\tHe\twanted\tto\tleave\tthis\tmorning.\tBut\tI\tthought\tof\tyou,\tMr\tMitter,\tand\thad\ta\tword\twith\this driver.\tMallik\thas\tbeen\ttold\tthere\u2019s\tsomething\twrong\twith\this\tcar,\tit\u2019ll\ttake\ta\twhile\tto\trepair\tit.\tSo\the cannot\tleave\timmediately.\u2019 \u2018Bravo!\tThank\tyou,\tMr\tKulkarni,\tyou\u2019ve\tbeen\ta\tgreat\thelp.\u2019 Mr\tKulkarni\tlooked\tpleased.\tFeluda\tlit\ta\tCharminar\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Tell\tme,\twhat\tkind\tof\ta\tman\tis\tthis Ghote?\u2019 \u2018A\tvery\tgood\tman,\tI\tshould\tsay.\tBut\the\tdoesn\u2019t\tlike\tit\there.\tHe\tlongs\tfor\ta\tpromotion\tand\ta\tposting in\tAurangabad.\tCome\twith\tme,\tI\twill\tintroduce\tyou\tto\thim.\u2019 Mr\tGhote\thad\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tcave.\tMr\tKulkarni\tbrought\thim\tover\tand\tintroduced\tFeluda\tas\t\u2018a very\tfamous\tprivate\tdetective\u2019.\tMr\tGhote\u2019s\theight\twas\tabout\tfive\tfeet\tfive\tinches.\tHis\twidth\tmatched","his\t height\t and,\t to\t top\t it\t all,\t he\t had\t a\t moustache\t like\t Charlie\t Chaplin.\t But\t his\t movements\t were surprisingly\tbrisk\tand\tagile. \u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\tbungalow?\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tto\tme.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\thave\ta\tword\twith\tMr\tGhote,\tand then\tjoin\tyou\tthere.\u2019 Neither\tof\tus\thad\tthe\tslightest\twish\tto\treturn\twithout\tFeluda,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tpoint\tin\targuing.\tSo we\twent\tback.\tOn\treaching\tthe\tbungalow,\twe\trealized\twe\twere\tboth\tquite\thungry;\tso\tI\tstopped\tto\ttell the\tchowkidar\tto\tsend\tus\ttoast\tand\teggs.\tThen\tI\twalked\tinto\tour\troom,\tto\tfind\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsitting on\this\tbed,\tlooking\ta\tlittle\tfoolish. \u2018Tell\tme,\tTapesh,\u2019\the\tsaid\ton\tseeing\tme,\t\u2018did\twe\tlock\tour\troom\tbefore\tgoing\tout\tthis\tmorning?\u2019 \u2018Why,\t no!\t There\t was\t no\t need\t to.\t We\t have\t nothing\t worth\t stealing.\t Besides,\t the\t cleaners\t usually come\tin\tthe\tmorning,\tso\tI\tthought\t.\t.\t.\twhy,\thas\tanything\tbeen\ttaken?\u2019 \u2018No.\t But\t someone\t has\t been\t through\t my\t things.\t Whoever\t did\t it\t sat\t on\t my\t bed\t and\t opened\t my suitcase.\tIn\tfact,\twhen\tI\tcame\tin,\tthe\tbed\twas\tstill\twarm.\tSee\tif\the\ttouched\tyour\tsuitcase\tas\twell?\u2019 He\thad;\tI\trealized\tthis\tthe\tminute\tI\topened\tthe\tcase.\tNothing\twas\tin\tplace.\tNot\tonly\tthat,\tone\tof\tmy pillows\t was\t lying\t on\t the\t floor.\t Judging\t by\t the\t way\t my\t chappals\t had\t been\t thrown\t in\t two\t different directions,\tthe\tintruder\thad\teven\tlooked\tunder\tthe\tbed. \u2018I\t was\t most\t worried\t about\t my\t notebook,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t confided,\t \u2018but\t he\t didn\u2019t\t take\t it,\t thank God.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\ttake\tanything\telse?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso.\tWhat\tabout\tyou?\u2019 \u2018The\tsame.\tWhoever\tcame\tin\twas\tlooking\tfor\tsomething\tspecific,\tI\tthink.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tfind\tit\there.\u2019 \u2018Let\u2019s\task\tthe\tchowkidar\tif\the\tsaw\tanything.\u2019 But\tthe\tchowkidar\tcould\tnot\thelp.\tHe\thad\tgone\tout\tshopping\tfor\ta\twhile,\tso\tif\tanyone\tstole\tin\twhile he\t was\t out,\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t have\t seen\t him.\t Normally,\t theft\t was\t a\t rare\t occurrence\t in\t these\t parts.\t The cho wkidar \t seemed\t mo st\t puzzled\t by\t the\t tho ug ht\t that\t anyo ne\u2019s\t r o o m\t sho uld\t be\t br o ken\t into \t and\t their belongings\tsearched. Had\t Feluda\u2019s\t room\t been\t similarly\t ransacked?\t I\t went\t to\t have\t a\t look,\t but\t saw\t that\t his\t room\t was lo cked.\t He\t had\t to \t be\t extr a\t car eful\t because\t o f\t his\t disg uise.\t \u2018Sho uld\t we\t tr y\t asking \t Raxit?\u2019\t Lalmo han Babu\tasked. Having\tseen\tthe\tflashing\tlight\tin\this\troom\tthe\tnight\tbefore,\tI\twas\tfeeling\trather\tcurious\tabout\tthe man.\tSo\tI\tagreed\tand\twe\tboth\twent\tup\tto\this\troom.\tI\tknocked\tsoftly.\tThe\tdoor\topened\talmost\tat\tonce. \u2018What\tis\tit?\tCome\tin.\u2019 Mr\tRaxit\tdid\tnot\tseem\tvery\tpleased\tto\tsee\tus;\tbut\twe\twent\tinto\this\troom,\tanyway. \u2018Did\tanyone\tbreak\tinto\tyour\troom\tas\twell?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked\tas\tsoon\tas\the\thad\tstepped\tin. From\tthe\tway\tMr\tRaxit\tlooked\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tit\twas\tobvious\tthat\the\twas\tnot\tin\ta\tgood\tmood. He\t spo ke\t in\t a\t lo w\t vo ice,\t but\t his\t to ne\t was\t shar p.\t \u2018What\u2019s\t the\t use\t o f\t speaking \t to \t yo u?\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Yo u can\u2019t\thear\ta\tword,\tcan\tyou?\tLet\tme\tspeak\tto\tyour\tnephew.\tNot\tonly\tdid\tsomeone\tget\tinto\tmy\troom, but\the\tactually\tremoved\tsomething\tvaluable.\u2019 \u2018What.\t.\t.\twhat\twas\tit?\u2019\tI\tasked\ttimidly. \u2018My\t raincoat.\t I\t had\t bought\t it\t in\t England,\t and\t had\t been\t using\t it\t for\t the\t last\t twenty-five\t years.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t looked\t at\t me\t silently.\t He\t wasn\u2019t\t supposed\t to\t have\t heard\t anything.\t I\t repeated\t the","words\tto\thim,\tspeaking\tloudly,\ttrying\tnot\tto\tlaugh. \u2018Could\t it\t have\t been\t stolen\t last\t night?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t suggested.\t \u2018We\t saw\t you\t looking\t for something.\tI\tmean,\twe\tsaw\tyour\ttorch\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018No.\tA\tsmall\tbat\thad\tsomehow\tgot\tinto\tmy\troom\tlast\tnight.\tI\tswitched\tthe\tmain\tlights\toff\tand\tused my\ttorch\tto\tget\trid\tof\tit.\tNothing\twas\tstolen\tyesterday.\tIt\thappened\tthis\tmorning.\tI\tbelieve\tthe\tculprit is\tthat\tyoung\tboy\tof\tthe\tchowkidar \u2019s.\u2019 I\thad\tto\tshout\tonce\tmore\tand\trepeat\tthe\twhole\tthing\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018I\tam\tvery\tsorry\tto\thear\tthis,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\tgravely.\t\u2018We\tmust\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\tthe\tboy.\u2019 There\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tbe\tanything\telse\tto\tsay.\tWe\tapologized\tfor\tdisturbing\thim\tand\tcame\taway. The\t chowkidar\t had\t served\t us\t breakfast\t in\t the\t dining\t hall.\t We\t began\t eating.\t I\t had\t no\t idea\t what American\tfried\teggs\ttasted\tlike,\tbut\twhat\tI\thad\tbeen\tgiven\there\twas\tquite\ttasty.\tI\tkept\twondering\twho might\thave\tbroken\tinto\tour\troom,\tbut\tdecided\tin\tthe\tend\tthat\tit\tmust\thave\tbeen\tthe\tchowkidar \u2019s\tson.\tI had\tseen\thim\twalking\tin\tthe\tbackyard\tand\tthrowing\tcurious\tglances\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tour\trooms. Feluda\t had\t told\t us\t to\t go\t back\t to\t the\t bungalow,\t but\t hadn\u2019t\t said\t that\t we\t had\t to\t stay\t in.\t So\t after breakfast,\twe\tlocked\tour\troom,\tand\twent\tout\tin\tthe\tstreet. The\t guest\t house\t was\t not\t clearly\t visible\t from\t the\t main\t gate\t of\t our\t bungalow,\t the\t view\t being par tially\t o bstr ucted\t by\t a\t lar g e\t tr ee.\t The\t sudden\t no ise\t o f\t a\t car \t star ting \t made\t us\t g o \t fo r war d\t quickly. Now\t the\t guest\t house\t was\t fully\t visible.\t The\t taxi\t that\t had\t brought\t Mr\t Raxit\t and\t Lewison\t from Aurangabad\twas\tnow\tready\tto\tleave.\tThe\tluggage-rack\ton\tits\troof\twas\tloaded.\tMr\tSam\tLewison,\tthe American\tmillionaire,\twas\tgiving\ta\ttip\tto\tone\tof\tthe\tbearers. But\twho\twas\tthat? Another\tman\thad\tcome\tout\tof\tthe\tguest\thouse\tand\twas\tspeaking\tto\tLewison.\tLewison\tnodded\ttwice, which\tclearly\tmeant\tthat\the\thad\tagreed\tto\tdo\tsomething\tfor\tthe\tother\tman.\tThe\tlatter\twent\tback\tto\tthe guest\t house\t and\t reappeared\t with\t a\t suitcase.\t The\t driver\t opened\t the\t boot\t of\t the\t car,\t and\t placed\t the suitcase\t in\t it.\t My\t hear t\t beg an\t beating \t faster.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t clutched\t my\t sleeve.\t Ther e\t co uld\t be\t no doubt\tabout\tthe\timplication\tof\twhat\twe\thad\tjust\tseen.\tMr\tJayant\tMallik\twas\tnot\tgoing\tto\twait\tfor\this own\tcar\tto\tbe\trepaired.\tHe\twas\ttrying\tto\tescape\twith\tSam\tLewison. The\tdriver\ttook\this\tseat. \u2018The\tcycle!\u2019\tI\tcried.\t\u2018The\tchowkidar \u2019s\tcycle!\u2019 The\tcar\tstarted.\tI\tran\tback\tto\tthe\tbungalow\tand\tmanaged\tto\tdrag\tthe\tcycle\tout.\tLuckily,\tno\tone\tsaw me. \u2018Come\ton!\u2019\tI\tsaid\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tHe\tstood\tthere\tlooking\tas\tthough\the\thad\tnever\tridden\ton\tthe crossbar\tof\ta\tcycle\tbefore.\tBut\tthere\twas\tno\ttime\tto\targue,\tour\tculprit\twas\trunning\taway.\tHe\tjumped up\ta\tsecond\tlater,\tand\tI\tbegan\tpedalling\tas\tfast\tas\tI\tcould.\tFeluda\thad\ttaught\tme\tto\tcycle\twhen\tI\twas seven.\tNow\tI\tcould\tput\tit\tto\tgood\tuse. If\t we\t had\t walked,\t it\t wo uld\t have\t taken\t us\t twenty\t minutes\t to \t g et\t back\t to \t the\t temple.\t I\t co ver ed\t that distance\tin\tfive.\tThere\twas\tFeluda,\tand\tGhote,\tand\tKulkarni! \u2018Feluda!\u2019\tI\tpanted.\t\u2018Mr\tMallik\twent\toff\t.\t.\t.\tin\tthat\tAmerican\u2019s\tcar\t.\t.\t.\tfive\tminutes\tago!\u2019 Just\tthat\tone\tremark\tfrom\tme\tset\tso\tmany\tthings\tin\tmotion\tthat\tthe\twhole\tthing\tnow\tseems\talmost like\ta\tblur.\tMr\tGhote\tjumped\tinto\this\tjeep,\twith\tFeluda\tbeside\thim,\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tmyself\tat the\t back.\t I\t had\t no\t idea\t even\t a\t jeep\t could\t travel\t at\t 60\t kmph.\t Very\t soon,\t we\t saw\t Lewison\u2019s\t taxi,","overtook\t it\t and\t made\t it\t stop.\t Lewison\t got\t out,\t looking\t furious\t and\t giving\t vent\t to\t his\t anger\t by uttering\t a\t range\t of\t specially\t chosen\t American\t swear\t words.\t These\t had\t no\t effect\t on\t Mr\t Ghote.\t He ignored\tLewison\tcompletely\tand\tapproached\tMallik,\twho\tturned\tvisibly\tpale.\tMr\tGhote\tthen\topened his\t suitcase,\t quelling\t an\t abortive\t attempt\t by\t Mallik\t to\t stop\t him,\t and\t took\t out\t an\t object\t wrapped heavily\t in\t a\t lar g e\t Tur kish\t to wel.\t With\t o ne\t swift\t mo vement,\t he\t r emo ved\t the\t to wel\t and\t r evealed\t the yakshi\u2019s\thead.\tSam\tLewison\tshut\tup\timmediately,\tgaped\tin\thorror\tand\tstammered,\t\u2018B-b-but\t.\t.\t.\tb-but\tI .\t.\t.\tI\t.\t.\t.\t!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\theaved\ta\tsigh\tof\trelief\tand\tproclaimed,\t\u2018End\u2019s\twell\tthat\tall\u2019s\twell!\u2019\tFinally Lewison\twas\tallowed\tto\ttravel\tback\tto\tAurangabad.\tWe\treturned\tto\tKhuldabad\twith\tthe\tculprit,\tcaught red-handed. Mr\t Ghote\t took\t Mallik\t away,\t to\t keep\t him\t somewhere\t in\t the\t police\t outpost.\t He\t went\t quietly,\t too dazed\tto\tsay\tanything. We\t were\t dropped\t at\t the\t guest\t house,\t for\t Mr\t Kulkarni\t was\t waiting\t anxiously\t for\t our\t return.\t He appear ed\t ver y\t pleased\t o n\t being \t to ld\t that\t o ur \t missio n\t had\t been\t entir ely\t successful.\t Ho wever,\t Feluda seemed\t to\t pour\t cold\t water\t over\t his\t enthusiasm\t by\t saying,\t \u2018We\t haven\u2019t\t yet\t finished\t our\t job,\t Mr Kulkarni.\t There\u2019s\t plenty\t more\t to\t be\t done.\t Don\u2019t\t forget\t to\t make\t enquiries\t about\t that\t number\t in Bombay,\tand\tlet\tme\tknow\tas\tsoon\tas\tyou\thear\tanything.\u2019 I\tdidn\u2019t\tunderstand\twhat\tthis\tlast\tinstruction\tmeant,\tbut\tthought\tno\tmore\tabout\tit. Mr\tKulkarni\thad\tordered\tcoffee\tfor\tall\tof\tus.\tWhen\tit\tarrived,\tI\tsuddenly\tremembered\twe\thad\tnot told\tFeluda\tabout\tour\troom\tbeing\tsearched.\tHe\tsipped\this\tcoffee\tquietly\tas\tI\tquickly\texplained\twhat had\thappened.\tThen\the\tfrowned\tand\tasked\tMr\tKulkarni,\t\u2018What\tsort\tof\ta\tman\tis\tthat\tchowkidar?\u2019 \u2018Who,\t Mohanlal?\t A\t very\t good\t man,\t most\t trustworthy.\t He\u2019s\t been\t doing\t this\t job\t for\t the\t last seventeen\tyears.\tI\thave\tnever\theard\tanyone\tcomplain\tagainst\thim.\u2019 Feluda\tthought\tfor\ta\tsecond,\tthen\tturned\tto\tme.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tsure\tnothing\twas\tstolen?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tWe\tare\tboth\tabsolutely\tsure.\tMr\tRaxit\tthinks\tit\twas\tthe\tchowkidar \u2019s\tboy\twho\tdid\tit.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tLet\u2019s\tgo\tand\thave\ta\tlook,\tespecially\tsince\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsays\tthe\tintruder\tactually\tsat on\t his\t bed\t and\t kept\t it\t warm\t for\t him.\t See\t you\t soon,\t Mr\t Kulkarni;\t perhaps\t you\t had\t better\t keep\t this with\t yo u.\u2019\t He\t passed\t the\t yakshi\u2019s\t head\u2014still\t wr apped\t in\t the\t to wel\u2014to \t Mr \t Kulkar ni,\t who \t put\t it\t in\t a safe\tin\this\toffice\tand\tlocked\tit. We\t r etur ned\t to \t the\t bung alo w.\t Feluda\t came\t into \t o ur \t r o o m\t with\t us,\t bo lted\t the\t do o r \t and\t then\t went through\t our\t belongings\t with\t meticulous\t care.\t Apart\t from\t his\t clothes,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t suitcase contained\ta\tsmall\tbox\tof\thomoeopathic\tpills,\ttwo\tbooks\ton\tcriminology,\tone\ton\tBaluchistan\tand\this o wn\t no tebo o k.\t Fo r \t so me\t r easo n,\t Feluda\t spent\t a\t lo ng \t time\t g o ing \t thr o ug h\t this\t no tebo o k,\t but\t did\t no t tell\t us\t what\t was\t so \t intr ig uing \t abo ut\t it.\t Finally,\t he\t put\t ever ything \t away\t and\t said,\t \u2018If\t my\t g uesses\t tur n out\t to\t be\t correct,\t this\t whole\t business\t is\t going\t to\t be\t settled\t tonight,\t one\t way\t or\t the\t other.\t If\t that happens,\t yo u\t will\t bo th\t have\t to \t play\t an\t impo r tant\t r o le.\t Please\t r emember,\t at\t all\t times,\t that\t I\t am\t with you,\tkeeping\tan\teye\ton\tyou,\teven\tif\tyou\tcannot\tsee\tme.\tDon\u2019t\ttell\tanyone\tabout\tMallik\u2019s\tarrest.\tAnd don\u2019t\tleave\tyour\troom.\tIn\tany\tcase,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\tcan,\tfor\tit\tlooks\tlike\tit\u2019s\tgoing\tto\train.\u2019 Feluda\t peered\t out\t of\t the\t window\t as\t he\t spoke,\t then\t got\t up\t silently\t and\t went\t and\t stood\t by\t it.\t I followed\t him.\t We\t were\t looking\t out\t of\t the\t western\t side.\t There\t was\t a\t lawn,\t across\t which\t stood\t a number\tof\ttall\ttrees.\tI\tcould\trecognize\teucalyptus\tamongst\tthem.\tA\tman\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\ttrees,\tcrossed","the\t lawn\t and\t went\t to \t the\t fr o nt\t o f\t the\t bung alo w.\t A\t minute\t later,\t he\t enter ed\t the\t dining \t hall.\t This\t was followed\tby\tthe\tsound\tof\ta\troom\tbeing\tunlocked,\tand\tthen\tlocked\tagain\tfrom\tinside. Feluda\tnodded\tand\tmuttered\t\u2018Yes,\tyes!\u2019\talmost\tto\thimself.\tThe\tman\twho\thad\tcome\tin\twas\tMr\tRaxit. \u2018Wait\tuntil\tyou\thear\tfrom\tme,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018and\tthen\tsimply\tdo\tas\tyou\u2019re\ttold.\tDon\u2019t\tbe\tafraid.\u2019 He\topened\tthe\tdoor\tand\twent\tout. We\tremained\tin\tour\troom.\tThunder\trumbled\toutside.\tThe\tsky\twas\tovercast. Staring\t at\t the\t walls,\t thinking\t things\t over,\t it\t suddenly\t occurred\t to\t me\t that\t the\t man\t who\t was probably\tthe\tmost\tmysterious\twas\tMr\tRaxit.\tWe\tdid\tnot\tknow\tanything\tabout\thim. And\t Mallik?\t How\t much\t had\t we\t learnt\t about\t Jayant\t Mallik?\t Not\t much.\t Not\t enough.\t Suddenly,\t it seemed\tto\tme\tthat\twe\thad\tmade\tno\tprogress\tat\tall.","Ten It\tbegan\tpouring\tsoon\tafter\ttwelve\to\u2019clock.\tThe\train\twas\taccompanied\tby\tfrequent\tthunder.\tLalmohan Babu\t and\t I\t sat\t in\t o ur \t r o o m\t tr ying \u2014in\t vain\u2014to \t wo r k\t o ut\t what\t po ssible\t r o le\t we\t mig ht\t have\t to \t play later\tin\tthe\tday.\tMallik\thad\tbeen\tarrested,\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead\twas\tsafely\tlocked\taway.\tAs\tfar\tas\twe\twere concerned,\tthat\twas\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tstory.\tWhat\telse\tcould\tFeluda\tbe\tthinking\tof? The\t chowkidar\t told\t us\t at\t one\t o\u2019clock\t that\t lunch\t was\t ready.\t We\t went\t into\t the\t dining\t hall\t without Feluda.\tHe\twas\tprobably\thaving\tlunch\twith\tMr\tKulkarni\tin\tthe\tguest\thouse. Mr\tRaxit\tjoined\tus.\tHe\thad\tseemed\textremely\tcross\tthis\tmorning\twhen\twe\thad\tspoken\tto\thim,\tbut now\the\tappeared\tcheerful\tonce\tmore.\t\u2018On\ta\tday\tlike\tthis,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018a\tBengali\tought\tto\thave\tkedgeree, pakoras\t and\t fried\t hilsa.\t I\t have\t lived\t out\t of\t Bengal\t for\t many\t years,\t but\t haven\u2019t\t forgotten\t Bengali habits.\u2019 The\tmeal\twe\twere\tserved\there\twas\tdifferent,\tbut\tno\tless\ttasty.\tI\tfinished\tmy\tbowl\tof\tdaal,\tand\thad just\t helped\t myself\t to \t the\t meat\t cur r y,\t when\t a\t car \t dr ew\t up\t o utside\t the\t fr o nt\t do o r \t and\t a\t thin,\t squeaky voice\tcried:\t\u2018Chowkidar!\u2019\tThe\tchowkidar\trushed\tout,\tclutching\tan\tumbrella.\tMr\tRaxit\tsoaked\ta\tpiece of\this\tchapati\tin\tthe\tcurry,\tput\tit\tin\this\tmouth\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018A\ttourist?\tIn\tthis\tweather?\u2019 A\ttall\tman\twalked\tin,\ttaking\toff\this\traincoat.\tMost\tof\this\thair\twas\tgrey.\tHe\thad\ta\tshort\tmoustache and\t goatee,\t and\t he\t wore\t glasses.\t \u2018I\u2019ve\t already\t had\t my\t lunch,\u2019\t he\t told\t the\t chowkidar,\t who\t was carrying\this\taged\tleather\tsuitcase.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tus\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Who\thas\tbeen\tarrested?\u2019 Feluda\t had\t told\t us\t not\t to\t say\t anything\t about\t Mallik\u2019s\t arrest,\t so\t we\t simply\t stared\t foolishly.\t Mr Raxit\tgave\ta\tstart\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Arrested?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tSome\tvandal.\tHe\twas\tapparently\ttrying\tto\tsteal\ta\tstatue\tfrom\tone\tof\tthe\tcaves,\tand\twas\tcaught. At\t least,\t that\u2019s\t what\t I\u2019ve\t just\t hear d.\t I\t o nly\t ho pe\t they\t wo n\u2019t\t decide\t to \t clo se\t the\t caves\t because\t o f\t this. I\u2019ve\ttravelled\tquite\tfar\tsimply\tto\tsee\tthe\tstatues\there.\tWhy,\thaven\u2019t\tyou\theard\tanything?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018Anyway,\tI\u2019m\tglad\tthe\tfellow\twas\tcaught.\tI\tmust\tsay\tthe\tpolice\there\tare\tquite\tefficient.\u2019 The\tman\twas\tgiven\tthe\tthird\tempty\troom.\tHe\tdisappeared\tinto\tit,\tbut\twe\tcould\thear\thim\ttalking\tto himself.\tPerhaps\the\twas\tslightly\tmad. The\train\tstopped\tat\taround\ttwo-thirty.\tHalf\tan\thour\tlater,\tI\tsaw\tthe\tnew\tarrival\twalking\ttowards\tthe eucalyptus\ttrees.\tHe\tcame\tback\tin\tfive\tminutes. The\tchowkidar\tbrought\tus\tour\ttea\tat\tfour-thirty.\tI\tnoticed\ta\tsmall\tpiece\tof\tpaper\ton\tthe\tfloor\tas\the left.\t It\t tur ned\t o ut\t to \t be\t ano ther \t messag e\t fr o m\t Feluda:\t \u2018Go \t to \t cave\t number \t fifteen\t at\t seven\t o \u2019clo ck. Wait\tin\tthe\tsouth-eastern\tcorner\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor.\u2019 He\twas\tstill\trunning\ta\tcampaign,\ttotally\tunseen.\tThis\thad\tnever\thappened\tbefore. Fortunately,\t it\t did\t not\t rain\t again.\t When\t we\t left\t the\t bungalow\t at\t six-thirty,\t both\t Mr\t Raxit\t and\t the man\twith\tthe\tgoatee\tappeared\tto\tbe\tin\ttheir\trooms,\tfor\ttheir\tlights\twere\ton.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tmuttered","a\t short\t prayer\t as\t we\t set\t out.\t My\t own\t feelings\t were\t so\t confused\t that\t I\t am\t not\t even\t going\t to\t try\t to describe\tthem.\tMy\thands\tfelt\tcold.\tI\tthrust\tthem\tinto\tmy\tpockets. We\t r eached\t Kailash\t ten\t minutes\t befo r e\t seven.\t T he\t wester n\t sky\t was\t still\t quite\t br ig ht\t since\t the\t sun did\tnot\tset\there\tat\tthis\ttime\tof\tyear\tuntil\tafter\tsix-thirty.\tThe\tcaves\tand\thills\tseemed\tdarker,\tbut\tthe\tsky had\tcleared. We\t tur ned\t r ig ht\t after \t r eaching \t Kailash.\t The\t next\t cave\t was\t number \t fifteen,\t the\t Das\t Avatar \t cave.\t It was\tat\tthis\tone\tthat\tFeluda\thad\tthrown\ta\tpebble\tlast\tnight. There\t was\t no\t one\t around.\t We\t walked\t on.\t The\t courtyard\t before\t the\t cave\t was\t large.\t There\t was\t a small\tshrine\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tit.\tWe\tcrossed\tit\tquickly\tand\tclimbed\ta\tfew\tsteps\tto\tgo\tthrough\tthe\tmain entrance\tthat\ttook\tus\tinto\tthe\tcave.\tWe\thad\tbeen\ttold\tto\tfind\tthe\tfirst\tfloor.\tI\tcould\tdimly\tsee\ta\tflight\tof steps\tgoing\tup.\tGod\tknew\tif\tthere\twas\tanyone\talready\thiding\tin\tthe\tdark.\tWe\twent\tup\tthe\tsteps,\ttrying not\tto\tmake\tany\tnoise\tat\tall. T he\t stair s\t led\t us\t to \t a\t hug e\t hall.\t Ro ws\t o f\t car ved\t pillar s\t sto o d\t suppo r ting \t the\t r o o f,\t as\t tho ug h\t they were\tcarrying\tit\ton\ttheir\theads.\tThere\twere\tscenes\tfrom\tIndian\tmythology,\tbeautifully\tcarved\ton\tthe northern\tand\tthe\tsouthern\twalls. We\tfound\tthe\tsouth-eastern\tcorner.\tIt\twas\ttoo\tdark\tinside\tto\tsee\tclearly.\tI\thad\ttaken\toff\tmy\tsandals before\t climbing\t the\t stairs,\t but\t now\t the\t rocky\t floor\t felt\t so\t cold\t that\t I\t had\t to\t put\t them\t on\t again.\t As neither\tof\tus\tknew\thow\tlong\twe\tmight\thave\tto\twait,\twe\tsat\tdown,\tleaning\tagainst\tthe\twall.\tWho\tknew what\twas\tgoing\tto\thappen\tnext\tin\tthis\tcave,\tbuilt\ttwelve\thundred\tyears\tago,\tand\tfilled\twith\tamazing specimens\tof\tancient\tart? Something\thappened\talmost\timmediately.\tAs\tsoon\tas\twe\thad\tsat\tdown,\tmy\teyes\tfell\ton\tsomething that\t made\t me\t give\t an\t involuntary\t gasp.\t Only\t a\t few\t feet\t away\t from\t where\t we\t were\t sitting,\t barely visible\tin\tthe\tdark,\twas\ta\tsolid\tround\tobject\tlying\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tSticking\tout\tfrom\tunder\tit\twas\ta\twhite square\t object.\t Neither\t was\t a\t part\t of\t the\t temple\t decorations.\t Someone\t had\t placed\t them\t there deliberately.\tWhat\tcould\tthey\tbe?\tWho\thad\tkept\tthem\tthere,\tand\tfor\twhom? \u2018P-paper?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twhispered,\tpointing\tat\tthe\twhite\tobject. We\t rose\t and\t went\t closer.\t What\t we\t saw\t made\t us\t stare\t in\t utter\t disbelief.\t It\t was\t indeed\t a\t piece\t of paper,\tbut\twhat\thad\tbeen\tused\tas\ta\tpaperweight\twas\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead!\tThere\tcould\tbe\tno\tmistake.\tWe had\tseen\tit\tonly\tthis\tmorning\u2014first\tin\tMr\tGhote\u2019s\thand,\tand\tthen\tin\tMr\tKulkarni\u2019s,\twho\thad\tlocked\tit away\tin\this\tsafe. I\tshone\tthe\ttorch\ton\tthe\tpiece\tof\tpaper.\tIt\twas\tanother\tmessage\tfrom\tFeluda,\tthis\ttime\taddressed\tto Lalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018Keep\tthe\thead\twith\tyou,\u2019\tit\tsaid.\t\u2018If\tanyone\tdemands\tit,\thand\tit\tover\tto\thim.\u2019 What\tcould\tthis\tmean?\tBut\tthere\twas\tno\ttime\tto\tthink.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018Jai\tGuru!\u2019\tand\tpicked up\tthe\thead.\tI\tput\tFeluda\u2019s\tmessage\tinto\tmy\tpocket,\tand\twe\treturned\tto\tour\tpositions. Our \t eyes\t wer e\t no w\t g etting \t used\t to \t the\t dar k.\t Ther e\t appear ed\t to \t be\t a\t faint\t mo o nlig ht\t o utside.\t We co uld\t see\t a\t po r tio n\t o f\t the\t wester n\t sky\t thr o ug h\t the\t pillar s.\t It\t had\t tur ned\t a\t deep\t pur ple.\t Gr adually,\t it changed\tits\thue.\tPerhaps\tthe\tmoon\thad\trisen\thigher.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tas\tdark\tinside\tthe\tcave\tas\tbefore. \u2018Eight\to\u2019clock!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tmuttered,\tletting\tgo\tof\ta\tlong\tsigh. Suddenly,\ta\tfaint\tnoise\treached\tmy\tears.\tSomeone\twas\tcoming\tup\tthe\tstairs,\tplacing\teach\tfoot\twith extr eme\t cautio n.\t Then\t the\t no ise\t sto pped.\t A\t seco nd\t later,\t the\t fo o tsteps\t co ntinued.\t The\t man\t was\t no w walking\ton\tflat\tground,\tamong\tthe\tpillars.\tThere,\tnow\the\twas\tvisible\tthrough\ta\tcouple\tof\tpillars.\tHe","sto pped,\t and\t lo o ked\t ar o und.\t Then,\t with\t a\t click,\t he\t lit\t a\t lig hter.\t The\t small\t flame\t went\t o ut\t almo st\t as soon\tas\tit\thad\tappeared,\tbut\tit\twas\tenough\tto\tilluminate\this\tface.\tWe\trecognized\thim\tinstantly. Jayant\tMallik! How\tcould\the\tbe\there?\tHe\twas\tsupposed\tto\tbe\tin\tpolice\tcustody.\tMy\thead\tbegan\treeling.\tAfter\tthis, I\tthought,\tif\tthe\tdead\tShubhankar\tBose\tturned\tup\tin\tperson,\tI\tshould\tnot\tbe\tsurprised. Mr\t Mallik\t resumed\t walking,\t but\t did\t not\t come\t toward\t us.\t He\t made\t his\t way\t to\t the\t north-eastern corner.\tThat\tpart\tof\tthe\thall\twas\tin\ttotal\tdarkness.\tHe\tdisappeared\tfrom\tsight. My\tthroat\tfelt\tdry.\tI\tcould\thardly\tthink\tclearly.\tOnly\tone\tthing\tkept\tgoing\tround\tand\tround\tin\tmy head.\t Wher e\t was\t Feluda\t Wher e\t was\t Feluda?\t Wher e\t was\t Feluda?\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t had\t o nce\t declar ed he\twould\tgive\tup\twriting\tcrime\tstories\tbecause\this\treal-life\texperiences\twere\tso\tmuch\tstranger.\tWhat would\the\tsay\tafter\ttoday? The\tmoonlight\tgrew\tstronger\tas\twe\twaited.\tA\tdog\tbarked\tsomewhere\tin\tthe\tdistance.\tThen\tit\twas quiet\tonce\tmore. But\t not\t for\t long.\t A\t second\t man\t was\t climbing\t up\t the\t steps.\t Like\t Mr\t Mallik,\t he\t stopped\t for\t a moment\t on\t reaching\t the\t flat\t surface\t where\t the\t stairs\t ended.\t Then\t we\t could\t see\t him\t walking,\t but could\tnot\ttell\twho\the\twas.\tHe\tdid\tnot\tstop\tto\tuse\ta\tlighter. He\t was\t coming\t towards\t us,\t getting\t closer\t and\t closer,\t walking\t with\t slow,\t measured\t steps.\t Then, without\tthe\tslightest\twarning,\tour\teyes\twere\tdazzled\tby\ta\tpowerful\tlight.\tThe\tman\twas\tshining\ta\ttorch directly\t into\t our\t eyes.\t The\t footsteps\t came\t even\t closer,\t and\t a\t voice\t spoke,\t softly,\t but\t with\t biting sarcasm. \u2018Dr eaming \t o f\t the\t mo o n,\t wer en\u2019t\t yo u,\t yo u\t puny\t little\t dwar f?\t Who \t taug ht\t yo u\t to \t wr ite\t thr eatening letters?\t\u201cCome\tto\tthe\tDas\tAvatar\tcave\tat\t8\tp.m.\t.\t.\t.\tthen\tyou\u2019ll\tget\tback\twhat\tyou\u2019ve\tlost,\tor\telse\t.\t.\t.\u201d where\t did\t you\t learn\t all\t this,\t Professor?\t A\t professor\t of\t history,\t didn\u2019t\t you\t say?\t Can\t you\t hear\t me now?\t Or\t are\t you\t still\t pretending\t to\t be\t deaf?\t How\t did\t you\t get\t involved\t in\t this,\t anyway?\t You\t had noted\t everything\t down\t in\t your\t notebook,\t hadn\u2019t\t you?\t I\t saw\t it\t myself\u2014\u201ca\t Fokker\t Friendship crashes\u201d,\t \u201ca\t yakshi\t from\t Bhubaneshwar\t gets\t stolen\u201d,\t \u201cthe\t Kailash\t temple\t in\t Ellora\u201d,\t even\t plane timings\t.\t.\t.\t!\tWhy\thave\tyou\tgot\ta\tchild\twith\tyou?\tIs\the\tyour\tbodyguard?\tCan\tyou\tsee\twhat\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tin my\tright\thand?\u2019 I\thad\trecognized\tthe\tvoice\tas\tsoon\tas\tit\thad\tstarted\tto\tspeak.\tIt\twas\tMr\tRaxit.\tIn\this\tleft\thand\twas\ta torch.\tIn\this\tright\twas\ta\tpistol. \u2018I\t.\t.\t.\tI\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstammered. \u2018Stop\twhimpering!\u2019\tMr\tRaxit\u2019s\tvoice\tboomed\tout.\t\u2018Where\u2019s\tthe\treal\tthing?\u2019 \u2018Here\tit\tis.\tI\tkept\tit\tfor\tyou,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\toffered\thim\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead. Mr \t Raxit\t to o k\t it\t with\t his\t left\t hand,\t making \t sur e\t his\t r ig ht\t hand\t did\t no t\t waver.\t \u2018No t\t ever yo ne\t can play\tthis\tgame,\tdo\tyou\tunderstand?\u2019\the\twent\ton,\tstill\tsounding\tfurious.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tnot\tfor\tthe\tlikes\tof\tyou, you\tstupid\tlittle\u2014\u2019\the\tbroke\toff. A\tstrange\tthing\thad\tstarted\tto\thappen.\tGreat\tclouds\tof\tsmoke\twere\tcoming\tinto\tthe\tcave,\tspiralling up\t and\t slowly\t enveloping\t everything\u2014the\t pillars,\t the\t carvings,\t the\t statues.\t As\t we\t stood\t gaping\t in absolute\t amazement\t at\t this\t thick\t sheet\t of\t haze,\t another\t voice\t rang\t out,\t almost\t like\t a\t bullet.\t It\t was Feluda.","\u2018Mr\tRaxit!\u2019\the\tcalled,\this\tvoice\tas\tcold\tand\thard\tas\tthe\tstony\tfloor\twe\twere\tstanding\ton.\t\u2018Not\tone, but\ttwo\trevolvers\tare\tpointing\tat\tyou\tat\tthis\tvery\tmoment.\tPut\tyour\tgun\tdown.\tGo\ton,\tthrow\tit\tdown.\u2019 \u2018What\t.\t.\t.\twhat\u2019s\tthe\tmeaning\tof\tthis?\u2019\tMr\tRaxit\tcried,\this\tvoice\tsuddenly\tuncertain. \u2018Let\t me\t explain,\u2019\t Feluda\t r eplied.\t \u2018We\t ar e\t her e\t to \t punish\t yo u\t fo r \t yo ur \t cr ime,\t and\t it\t isn\u2019t\t just\t o ne crime,\t either.\t First,\t you\t destroyed\t and\t damaged\t a\t part\t of\t India\u2019s\t history.\t Second,\t you\t sold\t bits\t of your\u2014and\tour\u2014own\theritage\tto\tforeigners.\tThird,\tyou\tkilled\tShubhankar\tBose.\u2019 \u2018No!\t Lies,\t these\t are\t all\t lies!\u2019\t Mr\t Raxit\t shrieked.\t \u2018Bose\t slipped\t and\t fell\t into\t the\t gorge.\t It\t was\t an accident.\u2019 \u2018If\tanyone\tis\tlying,\tit\tis\tyou.\tThe\tcrowbar\tyou\thad\tused\thas\tbeen\tfound\tbehind\ta\tcactus\tbush\tfifty yards\tfrom\twhere\tBose\u2019s\tbody\twas\tfound.\tIt\tis\theavily\tstained\twith\tblood.\tHad\tMr\tBose\tslipped\tand fallen\t by\t accident,\t he\t would\t certainly\t have\t screamed\t for\t help.\t None\t of\t the\t guards\t here\t heard\t a scream.\tBesides,\tyou\thad\thidden\ta\tblue\tshirt\tamong\tthe\tplants\tbehind\tthe\tbungalow\twhere\twe\twere\tall staying.\tA\tportion\tof\tthis\tshirt\tis\ttorn.\tI\tfound\tit.\tThe\tpiece\tof\tblue\tfabric\tBose\twas\tfound\tclutching\tis the\tsame\u2014\u2019 Mr\tRaxit\tdid\tnot\tstop\tto\thear\tany\tmore.\tHe\tleapt\tup\tand\ttried\tto\tdash\tout\tof\tthe\tsmoky\tcurtain,\tonly to\tfind\thimself\tbeing\tembraced\tby\tthree\tdifferent\tmen.\tTo\tour\tright,\tJayant\tMallik\tlit\this\ttorch.\tNow\tI could\tsee\tFeluda,\twho\thad\ttaken\toff\this\tmake-up.\tNext\tto\thim\twas\tMr\tGhote\tand\ta\tconstable.\tAt\ta\tnod from\thim,\tthe\tconstable\tput\thandcuffs\ton\tMr\tRaxit. Feluda\tturned\tto\tMr\tMallik.\t\u2018I\tmust\task\tyou\tto\tdo\tsomething\tfor\tme,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018See\tthat\tother\tcave over\tthere?\tYou\u2019ll\tfind\tMr\tRaxit\u2019s\traincoat\tin\tit,\ttucked\taway\tin\tthe\tleft-hand\tcorner.\tCould\tyou\tget\tit for\t me,\t please?\t Well,\t we\t mustn\u2019t\t stay\t in\t this\t smoke\t any\t longer.\t Come\t along,\t Topshe.\t Are\t you\t all right,\tLalmohan\tBabu?\tThis\tway,\tplease.\u2019 Feluda\t explained\t ever ything \t to \t us\t o ver \t dinner \t that\t nig ht.\t We\t had\t dinner \t at\t the\t g uest\t ho use.\t With\t us were\tMr\tKulkarni,\tMr\tGhote\tand\tMr\tMallik. \u2018The\tfirst\tthing\tI\tshould\ttell\tyou,\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan,\t\u2018is\tthat\tRaxit\tisn\u2019t\this\treal\tname.\tHis\treal\tname\tis Chattoraj.\tHe\tis\ta\tmember\tof\ta\tgang\tof\tcriminals,\twho\toperate\tfrom\tDelhi.\tTheir\tmain\taim\tis\tto\tsteal valuable\tstatues,\tor\teven\tparts\tof\tstatues,\tfrom\told\ttemples,\tand\tsell\tthem\tto\tforeign\tbuyers,\tthereby filling \t their \t o wn\t po ckets\t with\t tidy\t little\t sums.\t Ther e\t must\t be\t many\t o ther \t g ang s\t like\t this\t o ne,\t but\t at least\twe\thave\tmanaged\tto\tget\thold\tof\tone.\tChattoraj\twas\tmade\tto\tcome\tclean,\tand\the\tgave\tus\tall\tthe details\twe\tneeded.\tIt\twas\the\twho\thad\tstolen\tthat\thead,\tbrought\tit\tto\tCalcutta\tand\tsold\tit\tto\tSilverstein. Then,\t when\t he\t heard\t of\t the\t plane\t crash,\t he\t rushed\t to\t the\t spot,\t bought\t it\t back\t from\t that\t boy\t called Panu\t fo r \t just\t ten\t r upees,\t and\t then\t chased\t Lewiso n\t all\t the\t way\t to \t Ello r a.\t He\t wanted\t to \t kill\t two \t bir ds with\tone\tstone.\tThe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead\tcould\tbe\tsold\tto\tLewison,\tand\tChattoraj\tcould\tsteal\tanother\tstatue from\tKailash.\tSadly\tfor\thim,\the\tdidn\u2019t\tmanage\tto\tdo\teither\tof\tthese\tthings.\tLewison\tagreed\tto\tbuy\tthe stolen\tstatue,\tbut\tChattoraj\tlost\tit\tbefore\the\tcould\tpass\tit\ton\tto\tLewison.\tAs\ta\tresult,\tLewison\tgot\tvery cross\twith\thim\tand\tleft.\tHe\tmight\thave\tsucceeded\tin\tremoving\ta\tstatue\tfrom\tKailash,\tbut\ttwo\tthings stopped\t him.\t One\t was\t the\t sudden\t appearance\t of\t Shubhankar\t Bose.\t The\t other\t was\t a\t small\t pebble, thrown\ton\tthe\tcourtyard\tbefore\tcave\tnumber\tfifteen.\u2019 Feluda\tstopped\tfor\tbreath.\tI\tstarted\tfeeling\tmost\tconfused.\t\u2018What\tabout\tMr\tMallik?\u2019\tI\tblurted\tout. Feluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018The\tpresence\tof\tJayant\tMallik\tcan\tbe\tvery\teasily\texplained.\tIn\tfact,\tit\twas\tso\tsimple that\teven\tI\tcould\tnot\tfigure\tit\tout\tat\tfirst.\tMr\tMallik\twas\tsimply\tfollowing\tChattoraj.","\u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018For\tthe\tsame\treason\tthat\tI\twas\tchasing\thim!\tHe\twanted\tto\tretrieve\tthe\tstatue,\tlike\tme.\tBut\tthat\tisn\u2019t all.\tHe\tand\tI\tdo\tthe\tsame\tjob.\tYes,\the\u2019s\ta\tprivate\tdetective,\tjust\tlike\tme.\u2019 I\t cast\t a\t startled\t glance\t at\t Mr\t Mallik.\t He\t said\t nothing,\t but\t I\t saw\t that\t he\t was\t grinning,\t looking\t at Feluda\tand\twaiting\tfor\thim\tto\texplain\tfurther. \u2018When\tI\tmade\tenquiries\tabout\thim,\u2019\tFeluda\twent\ton,\t\u2018I\tdiscovered\tthat\the\tworked\tfor\tan\tagency\tin Bombay.\tThey\tsent\thim\tto\tCalcutta\trecently,\tin\tconnection\twith\ta\tcase.\tHe\tstayed\tin\ta\tfriend\u2019s\tflat\tin Queen\u2019s\tMansion,\tand\tused\this\tcar\twhile\tthe\tfriend\twas\taway\ton\tholiday.\tNormally,\tthe\tkind\tof\tcases these\tagencies\thandle\tare\tall\tordinary\tand\tpretty\tinsignificant.\tMr\tMallik\twas\tgetting\tbored\twith\this job.\tHe\twanted\tto\tdo\tsomething\texciting,\tmuch\tmore\tworthwhile\tand\tbecome\tfamous.\tIs\tthat\tright?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019\tMr\tMallik\tadmitted.\t\u2018I\tgot\tthe\tchance\tto\twork\ton\tsuch\ta\tcase,\tmost\tunexpectedly.\tMy\told\tjob took\t me\t to\t the\t Grand\t Hotel\t last\t Thursday,\t and\t I\t happened\t to\t be\t in\t Nagarmal\u2019s\t shop\t when\t an American\tvisitor\tshowed\tthat\tyakshi\u2019s\thead\tto\thim.\tAt\tthat\ttime,\tI\tpaid\tno\tattention.\tAll\tthat\tI\tgrasped was\t that\t the\t man\t was\t immensely\t wealthy,\t and\t his\t name\t was\t Silver stein.\t But,\t when\t I\t hear d\t abo ut\t the plane\t crash\t the\t next\t morning\t and\t they\t said\t he\t had\t been\t on\t that\t flight,\t it\t suddenly\t struck\t me\t that\t it might\tbe\tpossible\tto\tretrieve\tthat\tstatue.\tI\thave\ta\tlittle\tknowledge\tof\tancient\tart,\tand\tI\tknew\tthat\twhat\tI had\tseen\tSilverstein\tcarrying\twas\textremely\tvaluable.\tSo\tI\tthought\tif\tI\tcould\tget\tit\tback,\tit\tmight\tbe reported\t in\t the\t press,\t which\t would\t be\t a\t good\t thing\t for\t the\t agency\t as\t well.\t So\t I\t rang\t my\t boss\t in Bombay\t and\t told\t him\t what\t I\t wanted\t to\t do.\t He\t agreed,\t and\t asked\t me\t to\t keep\t him\t posted.\t I\t left\t for Sidikpur\timmediately,\tbut\tit\twas\ttoo\tlate.\tI\tmissed\tChattoraj\tby\tjust\tfive\tminutes.\tHe\tgot\tthere\tfirst\tand bought\tthe\thead\tback.\tThere\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tbe\tanything\tI\tcould\tdo,\tbut\u2014\u2019 \u2018Do\t you\t remember\t the\t colour\t of\t his\t car?\u2019\t Feluda\t interrupted\t him.\t \u2018Oh\t yes.\t It\t was\t a\t blue\t Fiat.\t I decided\t to \t fo llo w\t Chatto r aj.\t But\t I\t r an\t into \t so me\t mo r e\t pr o blems.\t A\t bur st\t tyr e\t meant\t an\t unnecessar y delay\t.\t.\t.\tso\tI\tlost\thim\tfor\tthe\tmoment.\tHowever,\tby\tthen\tI\twas\tabsolutely\tdetermined\tnot\tto\tgive\tup.\tI knew\t he\u2019d\t want\t to\t sell\t the\t statue\t again.\t So\t I\t went\t back\t to\t the\t Grand\t Hotel.\t It\t meant\t waiting\t for\t a while,\tbut\teventually\tI\tfound\thim\tand\tfollowed\thim\tto\tthe\tRailway\tBooking\tOffice.\tHe\tbought\ta\tticket to\tAurangabad.\tSo\tdid\tI.\tHe\twas\tstill\tcarrying\ta\theavy\tbag,\tso\tit\twas\tclear\tthat\the\thad\tnot\tbeen\table\tto get\t rid\t of\t the\t statue.\t I\t came\t back\t to\t my\t flat,\t rang\t my\t office\t in\t Bombay\t and\t told\t them\t what\t had happened.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\twe\tknow\tabout\tthat.\tYou\thad\tsaid,\t\u201cThe\tdaughter\thas\treturned\tto\ther\tfather\u201d.\tWhat\twe\tdid\tnot know\twas\tthat\tby\t\u201cfather\u201d\tyou\tmeant\tChattoraj,\tnot\tyourself.\u2019 Mr \t Mallik\t smiled,\t then\t co ntinued,\t \u2018I\t kept\t waiting \t fo r \t a\t suitable\t o ppo r tunity\t to \t r emo ve\t the\t sto len object.\tI\tknew\tif\tI\tcould\tcatch\tthe\tthief\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime,\tit\twould\tbe\teven\tbetter.\tBut\tthat\tproved\tmuch too\t difficult.\t Anyway,\t last\t night\t I\t went\t and\t hid\t near\t Kailash.\t When\t I\t saw\t that\t everyone\t from\t the bungalow\t had\t gone\t out\t in\t the\t direction\t of\t the\t caves,\t I\t returned\t quickly,\t slipped\t into\t the\t bungalow through\tthe\tside\tdoor\tthat\tonly\tthe\tcleaners\tuse,\tand\tremoved\tthe\tstatue\tfrom\tChattoraj\u2019s\troom.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tDid\tyou\thave\tany\tidea\tyou\twere\tbeing\twatched\tby\ta\tdetective?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t no.\t That\u2019s\t why\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t speak\t a\t word\t when\t you\t arrested\t me!\t I\t must\t have\t looked\t very foolish.\u2019 Mr\t Ghote\t burst\t out\t laughing.\t Feluda\t took\t up\t the\t tale,\t \u2018When\t I\t saw\t that\t you\t had\t travelled\t with Lewiso n\t in\t the\t same\t car \t fo r \t many\t miles,\t but\t had\t do ne\t no thing \t to \t sell\t him\t the\t statue,\t I\t r ealized\t yo u","were\tinnocent.\tUntil\tthen,\talthough\tI\u2019d\tcome\tto\tknow\tyou\twere\ta\tdetective,\tI\tcould\tnot\tdrop\tyou\tfrom my\tlist\tof\tsuspects.\u2019 \u2018But\tChattoraj\twas\talso\ton\tthis\tlist,\twasn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tMind\tyou,\tinitially\tit\twas\tno\tmore\tthen\ta\tslight\tdoubt.\tWhen\tI\tsaw\tthat\tthis\this\tname\thad\tbeen freshly\tpainted\ton\tan\told\tsuitcase,\tI\tbegan\tto\twonder\tif\tthe\tname\twasn\u2019t\tfake.\tThen,\tLalmohan\tBabu told\tus\tyesterday\tthat\the\thad\tgone\tout\twearing\ta\traincoat.\tWhen\twe\twere\tpassing\tcave\tnumber\tfifteen, I\tnoticed\tsomeone\twas\tin\tit,\tand\tthrew\ta\tpebble\tin\tthe\tcourtyard.\tThat\tmade\tthe\tman\trun\taway.\tI\tthen went\tinto\tthe\tcave\tand\tbegan\tsearching\tthe\tsurrounding\tarea.\tIn\ta\tsmaller\tcave\tbehind\tthe\tbig\tone,\tI found\tthe\traincoat.\tIt\thad\ta\tspecially\tlarge\tpocket,\tin\twhich\twas\ta\thammer,\ta\tchisel\tand\ta\tnylon\trope.\tI left\teverything\tthere.\tIt\tbecame\tobvious\tthat\tRaxit\u2014or\tChattoraj\u2014was\tthe\treal\tculprit.\tAs\twe\treturned to\tthe\tbungalow,\twe\tsaw\thim\tdesperately\tsearching\tfor\tsomething\tin\this\troom.\tIn\tfact,\the\tseemed\tto have\tgone\tmad,\twhich\tis\tunderstandable\tsince\the\thad\tcome\tback\tto\this\troom\tto\tfind\tthat\this\tprecious statue\thad\tgone.\tThis\tmorning,\tMr\tKulkarni\ttold\tme\tyou\thad\tcalled\tBombay\tand\tsaid,\t\u201cThe\tdaughter is\tfine\u201d.\tThat\tmeant\tyou\thad\tthe\tstolen\tstatue\twith\tyou.\tSo\tyou\thad\tto\tbe\tarrested.\u2019 Feluda\t sto pped.\t No \t o ne\t said\t anything .\t After \t a\t sho r t\t pause,\t he\t went\t o n,\t \u2018While\t we\t wer e\t wo r r ying about\tstatues\tand\tthieves,\tShubhankar\tBose\tgot\tkilled.\tOn\texamining\this\tdead\tbody,\twe\tfound\ta\tpiece of\tblue\tcloth\tin\tone\tof\this\thands.\tYou\twere\twearing\ta\tblue-shirt\tyesterday.\tBut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tof\tyou, since\tmy\tsuspicions\thad\talready\tfallen\ton\tChattoraj.\tWhat\treally\thappened\twas\tthat\the\treached\tBose\u2019s body\tbefore\tme\tand,\tpretending\tthat\the\twas\ttrying\tto\tfeel\this\tpulse,\tpushed\tin\tthat\ttorn\tpiece\tinto\tthe dead\tman\u2019s\thand.\tIt\thad\tbecome\tessential\tfor\tChattoraj\tto\tthrow\tsuspicion\ton\tsomeone\telse\tfor\tBose\u2019s death.\t The\t torn\t piece\t had,\t of\t course,\t come\t from\t Chattoraj\u2019s\t own\t shirt.\t He\t had\t cut\t out\t a\t piece\t and hidden\tthe\tshirt\tamongst\tthe\tplants\tand\tbushes\tbehind\tthe\tbungalow.\tI\tfound\tit\tmyself. \u2018However,\talthough\tI\thad\tgathered\tsome\tevidence\tagainst\tChattoraj,\tit\twas\tnot\tenough\tto\tactually accuse\thim\tof\tmurder\tand\ttheft.\tAs\tI\twas\twondering\twhat\tto\tdo,\tTapesh\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttold\tme that\tsomeone\thad\tbeen\tthrough\ttheir\tbelongings.\tThis\thad\tto\tbe\tChattoraj,\tfor\the\thad\tlost\tsomething valuable\tand\twas\tnaturally\tlooking\tfor\tit\teverywhere.\tIn\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tsuitcase\twas\this\tnotebook, which\tmentioned\tthe\ttheft\tof\tthe\tstatue\tfrom\tBhubaneshwar,\tSilverstein\tand\tthe\tplane\tcrash.\tI\tknew\tat once\tthat\tChattoraj\thad\tread\tevery\tdetail\tand\twas\tfeeling\tthreatened,\tthinking\tit\twas\tLalmohan\tBabu who\thad\tstumbled\ton\tthe\ttruth.\tSo\tI\tsent\thim\ta\tlittle\tnote,\tpretending\tit\thad\tbeen\twritten\tby\tLalmohan Babu,\t asking\t Chattoraj\t to\t meet\t him\t in\t the\t Das\t Avatar\t cave\t at\t 8\t p.m.\t Before\t that,\t however,\t I\t told Chatto r aj\t that\t who ever \t had\t tr ied\t to \t steal\t a\t statue\t fr o m\t Kailash\t the\t nig ht\t befo r e\t had\t been\t ar r ested.\t I knew\tthis\twould\tset\this\tmind\tat\trest,\tand\the\twould\tstop\tbeing\ton\this\tguard.\u2019 \u2018That\tman\twith\tthe\tgoatee!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tcried\ttogether,\t\u2018Was\tthat\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tFeluda\tlaughed.\t\u2018That\twas\tmy\tdisguise\tnumber\ttwo.\tI\tfelt\tI\thad\tto\tstay\tclose\tto\tyou,\tsince\twe were\tdealing\twith\ta\tdangerous\tman.\tAnyway,\the\tswallowed\tmy\tbait\tat\tonce.\tHe\tthought\ta\tfew\tsharp wo r ds\t fr o m\t him\t wo uld\t r eally\t make\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t r etur n\t the\t head\t to \t him,\t and\t he\t co uld\t g et\t away with\tit\tonce\tagain.\tWell,\twe\tall\tknow\twhat\thappened\tnext. \u2018There\tis\tonly\tone\tthing\tleft\tfor\tme\tto\tsay:\tMr\tMallik\tand\this\tagency\twill\tget\tfull\tcredit\tfor\ttheir share\t in\t catching\t this\t gang.\t And\t I\t will\t pray\t for\t a\t promotion\t for\t Mr\t Ghote.\t I\t must\t also\t thank\t Mr Kulkarni\tfor\tthe\timportant\trole\the\tplayed,\tbut\tif\ta\tmedal\tfor\tcourage\tand\tbravery\tcould\tbe\tgiven\tto anyone,\tit\tshould\tgo\tjointly\tto\tTapeshranjan\tMitter\tand\tLalmohan\tGanguli.\u2019","\u2018Hear,\thear!\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tMallik,\tand\tthe\tothers\tclapped\tenthusiastically. When\t the\t applause\t died\t do wn,\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t tur ned\t to \t Feluda\t and\t said\t a\t little\t hesitantly,\t \u2018Do es that\tmean\t.\t.\t.\tthis\ttime\tmy\tweapon\tdidn\u2019t\tcome\tinto\tany\tuse\tat\tall?\u2019 Feluda\t lo o ked\t per fectly\t amazed.\t \u2018No t\t co me\t into \t use?\t What\t ar e\t yo u\t talking \t abo ut?\t Wher e\t do \t yo u think\t all\t that\t smoke\t came\t from?\t It\t was\t no\t ordinary\t bomb,\t sir.\t Do\t you\t know\t what\t it\t was?\t A\t three hundred\tand\tfifty-six\tmegaton\tspecial\tmilitary\tsmoke\tbomb!\u2019","","THE\tKEY","One \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhy\tthe\tsight\tof\ttrees\tand\tplants\thave\tsuch\ta\trefreshing\teffect\ton\tour\teyes?\u2019\tasked Feluda.\t\u2018The\treason\tis\tthat\tpeople,\tsince\tprimitive\ttimes,\thave\tlived\twith\tgreenery\tall\taround\tthem,\tso that\t their \t eyes\t have\t develo ped\t a\t healthy\t r elatio nship\t with\t their \t envir o nment.\t Of\t co ur se,\t tr ees\t in\t big cities\tthese\tdays\thave\tbecome\trather\tdifficult\tto\tfind.\tAs\ta\tresult,\tevery\ttime\tyou\tget\taway\tfrom\ttown, yo ur \t eyes\t beg in\t to \t r elax,\t and\t so \t do es\t yo ur \t mind.\t It\t is\t mo stly\t in\t cities\t that\t yo u\u2019ll\t no tice\t peo ple\t with eye\tdisorders.\tGo\tto\ta\tvillage\tor\ta\thill-station,\tand\tyou\u2019ll\thardly\tfind\tanyone\twearing\tglasses.\u2019 Feluda\thimself\thad\ta\tpair\tof\tsharp\teyes,\tdidn\u2019t\twear\tglasses,\tand\tcould\tstare\tat\tany\tobject\tfor\tthree minutes\t and\t fifteen\t seconds\t without\t blinking\t even\t once.\t I\t should\t know,\t for\t I\t had\t tested\t him\t often enough.\tBut\the\thad\tnever\tlived\tin\ta\tvillage.\tI\twas\ttempted\tto\tpoint\tthis\tout\tto\thim,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tdare.\tThe chances\tof\thaving\tmy\thead\tbitten\toff\tif\tI\tdid\twere\tvery\thigh. We\twere\ttravelling\twith\ta\tman\tcalled\tMonimohan\tSamaddar.\tHe\twore\tglasses\t(but\tthen,\the\tlived\tin a\tcity),\twas\tabout\tfifty\tyears\told\tand\thad\tsharp\tfeatures.\tThe\thair\taround\this\tears\thad\tstarted\tto\tturn grey.\tIt\twas\tin\this\tFiat\tthat\twe\twere\ttravelling,\tto\ta\tplace\tcalled\tBamungachhi,\twhich\twas\ta\tsuburb\tof Calcutta.\tWe\thad\tmet\tMoni\tBabu\tonly\tyesterday. He\t had\t turned\t up\t quite\t out\t of\t the\t blue\t in\t the\t afternoon,\t as\t Feluda\t and\t I\t sat\t in\t our\t living\t room, reading.\t I\t had\t been\t watching\t Feluda\t reading\t a\t book\t on\t numerology,\t raising\t his\t eyebrows o ccasio nally\t in\t bo th\t amazement\t and\t appr eciatio n.\t It\t was\t a\t bo o k\t abo ut\t Dr \t Matr ix.\t Feluda\t caug ht\t me looking\t at\t him,\t and\t smiled.\t \u2018You\u2019d\t be\t astonished\t to\t learn\t the\t power\t of\t numbers,\t and\t the\t role\t they play\tin\tthe\tlives\tof\tmen\tlike\tDr\tMatrix.\tListen\tto\tthis.\tIt\twas\ta\tdiscovery\tDr\tMatrix\tmade.\tYou\tknow the\tnames\tof\tthe\ttwo\tAmerican\tPresidents\twho\twere\tassassinated,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tLincoln\tand\tKennedy,\tright?\u2019 \u2018Right.\tNow\ttell\tme\thow\tmany\tletters\teach\tname\thas.\u2019 \u2018L-i-n-c-o-l-n\u2014seven.\tK-e-n-n-e-d-y\u2014also\tseven.\u2019 \u2018OK.\tNow\tlisten,\tcarefully.\tLincoln\twas\tkilled\tin\t1865\tand\tKennedy\tdied\tin\t1963,\ta\tlittle\tless\tthan\ta hundred\tyears\tlater.\tBoth\twere\tkilled\ton\ta\tFriday,\tand\tboth\thad\ttheir\twives\tby\ttheir\tside.\tLincoln\twas killed\t in\t the\t Ford\t Theatre.\t Kennedy\t was\t killed\t in\t a\t car\t called\t Lincoln,\t manufactured\t by\t the\t Ford company.\t The\t next\t President\t after\t Lincoln\t was\t called\t Johnson,\t Andrew\t Johnson.\t Kennedy\t was succeeded\t by\t Lyndon\t Johnson.\t The\t first\t Johnson\t was\t born\t in\t 1808,\t the\t second\t in\t 1908,\t exactly\t a hundred\tyears\tlater.\tDo\tyou\tknow\twho\tkilled\tLincoln?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tI\tcan\u2019t\tremember\this\tname\tright\tnow.\u2019 \u2018It\twas\tJohn\tWilkes\tBooth.\tHe\twas\tborn\tin\t1839.\tAnd\tKennedy\twas\tkilled\tby\tLee\tHarvey\tOswald. He\twas\tborn\tin\t1939!\tNow\tcount\tthe\tnumber\tof\tletters\tin\tboth\tnames.\u2019 \u2018Good\theavens,\tboth\thave\tfifteen\tletters!\u2019","Feluda\tmight\thave\ttold\tme\tof\ta\tfew\tmore\tstartling\tdiscoveries\tby\tDr\tMatrix,\tbut\tit\twas\tat\tthis\tpoint that\tMr\tSamaddar\tarrived,\twithout\ta\tprior\tappointment.\tHe\tintroduced\thimself,\tadding,\t\u2018I\tlive\tin\tLake Place,\twhich\tisn\u2019t\tfar\tfrom\there.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 \u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tmay\thave\theard\tof\tmy\tuncle,\tRadharaman\tSamaddar.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tHe\tdied\trecently,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\tI\tbelieve\the\twas\tgreatly\tinterested\tin\tmusic?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\u2019 \u2018I\tread\tan\tobituary\tin\tthe\tlocal\tnewspaper.\tI\thadn\u2019t\theard\tabout\thim\tbefore\tthat,\tI\u2019m\tafraid.\tHe\twas quite\told,\twasn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t he\t was\t eighty-two\t when\t he\t died.\t I\u2019m\t not\t surprised\t that\t you\t hadn\u2019t\t heard\t of\t him.\t When\t he gave\tup\tsinging,\tyou\tmust\thave\tbeen\ta\tyoung\tboy.\tHe\tretired\tfifteen\tyears\tago,\tand\tbuilt\ta\thouse\tin Bamungachhi.\tThat\tis\twhere\the\tlived,\talmost\tlike\ta\trecluse,\tuntil\this\tdeath.\tHe\thad\ta\theart\tattack\ton\t18 September,\tand\tdied\tthe\tsame\tnight.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 Mr\tSamaddar\tcleared\this\tthroat.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tseconds\tof\tsilence,\the\tsaid\ta\tlittle\thesitantly,\t\u2018I\u2019m\tsure you\u2019re\t wondering\t why\t I\u2019ve\t come\t to\t disturb\t you\t like\t this.\t I\t just\t wanted\t to\t give\t you\t a\t little background,\tthat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tDon\u2019t\tworry,\tMr\tSamaddar,\tplease\ttake\tyour\ttime.\u2019\tMoni\tBabu\tresumed\tspeaking.\t\u2018My uncle\t was\t differ ent\t fr o m\t o ther \t men.\t He\t was\t actually\t a\t lawyer,\t and\t he\t made\t a\t lo t\t o f\t mo ney.\t But\t he stopped\tpractising\twhen\the\twas\tabout\tfifty,\tand\tturned\twholly\tto\tmusic.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tjust\tsing,\the\tcould play\t seven\t o r \t eig ht\t differ ent\t instr uments,\t bo th\t Indian\t and\t Wester n.\t I\t myself\t have\t seen\t him\t play\t the sitar,\tthe\tviolin,\tpiano,\tharmonium,\tflute\tand\tthe\ttabla,\tbesides\tothers.\tHe\thad\ta\tpassion\tfor\tcollecting instruments.\tIn\tfact,\this\thouse\thad\tbecome\ta\tmini-museum\tof\tmusical\tinstruments.\u2019 \u2018Which\thouse\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018He\thad\tstarted\tcollecting\tbefore\the\tleft\tCalcutta.\tThen\the\ttransferred\this\tcollection\tto\this\thouse\tin Bamungachhi.\t He\t used\t to\t travel\t widely,\t looking\t for\t instruments.\t Once\t he\t bought\t a\t violin\t from\t an Italian\tin\tBombay.\tOnly\ta\tfew\tmonths\tlater,\the\tsold\tit\tin\tCalcutta\tfor\tthirty\tthousand\trupees.\u2019 Feluda\thad\tonce\ttold\tme\tthat\tthree\thundred\tyears\tago,\tin\tItaly\tthere\thad\tbeen\ta\thandful\tof\tpeople who\t had\t produced\t violins\t of\t such\t high\t quality\t that,\t today,\t their\t value\t was\t in\t excess\t of\t a\t hundred thousand\trupees. Mr\t Samaddar\t continued\t to\t speak.\t \u2018As\t you\t can\t see,\t my\t uncle\t was\t gifted.\t There\t were\t a\t lot\t of positive\t qualities\t in\t his\t character\t that\t made\t him\t different\t from\t most\t people.\t But,\t at\t the\t same\t time, there\twas\tan\toverriding\tnegative\tfactor\twhich\teventually\tturned\thim\tinto\ta\trecluse.\tHe\twas\tamazingly tight-fisted.\tThe\tfew\trelatives\the\thad\tstopped\tseeing\thim\tbecause\tof\tthis.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tmind,\tfor he\twasn\u2019t\tparticularly\tinterested\tin\tstaying\tin\ttouch\twith\tthem,\tanyway.\u2019 \u2018How\tmany\trelatives\tdid\the\thave?\u2019 \u2018Not\ta\tlot.\tHe\thad\tthree\tbrothers\tand\ttwo\tsisters.\tThe\tsisters\tand\ttwo\tof\this\tbrothers\tare\tno\tmore. The\tthird\tbrother\tleft\thome\tthirty\tyears\tago.\tNo\tone\tknows\tif\the\u2019s\talive.\tRadharaman\u2019s\twife\tand\tonly child,\ta\tson\tcalled\tMuralidhar,\tare\tboth\tdead.\tMuralidhar \u2019s\tson,\tDharanidhar,\tis\this\tonly\tgrandchild. Radharaman\t was\t very\t fond\t of\t him\t once.\t But\t when\t he\t left\t his\t studies\t and\t joined\t a\t theatre\t under\t a different\tname,\tmy\tuncle\twashed\this\thands\toff\thim.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\tever\tsaw\thim\tagain.\u2019","\u2018How\tare\tyou\trelated\tto\thim?\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tmy\tfather\twas\tone\tof\this\telder\tbrothers.\tHe\tdied\tmany\tyears\tago.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee;\tand\tis\tDharanidhar\tstill\talive?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tI\tbelieve\the\u2019s\tmoved\ton\tto\tanother\tgroup,\tand\tis\tnow\tdoing\ta\tjatra.\tI\ttried\tcontacting\thim when\t my\t uncle\t passed\t away,\t but\t he\t wasn\u2019t\t in\t Calcutta.\t Someone\t told\t me\t he\t was\t off\t on\t a\t tour, travelling\tthrough\tsmall\tvillages.\tHe\u2019s\tquite\twell\tknown\tnow\tin\tthe\ttheatre\tworld.\tHe\twas\tinterested in\tmusic,\ttoo,\twhich\twas\twhy\this\tgrandfather\twas\tso\tfond\tof\thim.\u2019 Mr\t Samaddar\t stopped.\t Then\t he\t went\t on,\t speaking\t a\t little\t absently.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t not\t as\t if\t I\t saw\t my\t uncle regularly.\t I\t used\t to\t go\t and\t meet\t him,\t maybe\t once\t every\t two\t months\t or\t so.\t Of\t late,\t even\t that\t had become\t difficult\t as\t my\t work\t kept\t me\t very\t busy.\t I\t run\t a\t printing\t press\t in\t Bhawanipore,\t called\t the Eureka\tPress.\tWe\u2019ve\thad\tsuch\tfrequent\tpower\tcuts\trecently\tthat\tit\u2019s\tbeen\tquite\ta\tjob\tclearing\tall\tour backlog.\tAnyway,\tmy\tuncle\u2019s\tneighbour,\tAbani\tBabu,\ttelephoned\tme\twhen\the\thad\ta\theart\tattack.\tI\tleft immediately\twith\tChintamoni\tBose,\tthe\theart\tspecialist.\tMy\tuncle\twas\tunconscious\tat\tfirst,\tbut\topened his\teyes\tjust\tbefore\the\tdied,\tand\tseemed\tto\trecognize\tme.\tHe\teven\tspoke\ta\tfew\twords,\tbut\tthen\t.\t.\t.\tit was\tall\tover.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\tsay?\u2019\tFeluda\tleant\tforward. \u2018He\tsaid,\t\u201cIn\t.\t.\t.\tmy\t.\t.\t.\tname.\u201d\tThen\the\ttried\tto\tspeak,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t.\tAfter\tstruggling\tfor\tsometime, he\tcould\tget\tonly\tone\tword\tout.\t\u201cKey\t.\t.\t.\tkey,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tThat\twas\tall.\u2019 Feluda\tstared\tat\tMr\tSamaddar,\ta\tfrown\ton\this\tface.\t\u2018Have\tyou\tany\tidea\twhat\this\twords\tmight\thave meant?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t at\t fir st\t I\t tho ug ht\t per haps\t he\t was\t wo r r ied\t abo ut\t his\t name,\t and\t his\t r eputatio n.\t Per haps\t he\u2019d realized\tpeople\tcalled\thim\ta\tmiser.\tBut\tthe\tword\t\u201ckey\u201d\tseemed\tto\tmatter\tto\thim.\tI\tmean,\the\tsounded really\t concerned\t about\t this\t key.\t I\t haven\u2019t\t the\t slightest\t idea\t which\t key\t he\t was\t referring\t to.\t His bedroom\thas\tan\talmirah\tand\ta\tchest.\tThe\tkeys\tto\tthese\twere\tkept\tin\tthe\tdrawer\tof\ta\ttable\tthat\tstood\tby the\t side\t of\t his\t bed.\t The\t house\t only\t has\t three\t rooms,\t barring\t a\t bathroom\t attached\t to\t his\t bedroom. Ther e\t is\t har dly\t any\t fur nitur e,\t and\t almo st\t no thing \t that\t mig ht\t r equir e\t a\t key.\t The\t lo ck\t he\t used\t o n\t the main\tdoor\tto\this\tbedroom\twas\ta\tGerman\tcombination\tlock,\twhich\tdidn\u2019t\twork\twith\ta\tkey\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\thave\tin\tthe\talmirah\tand\tthe\tchest?\u2019 \u2018Nothing\t apart\t from\t a\t few\t clothes\t and\t papers.\t These\t were\t in\t the\t almirah.\t The\t chest\t was\t totally empty.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tfind\tany\tmoney?\u2019 \u2018No.\tIn\tthe\tdrawer\tof\tthe\ttable\twas\tsome\tloose\tchange\tand\ta\tfew\ttwo\tand\tfive\trupee\tnotes,\tthat\u2019s\tall. There\t was\t a\t wallet\t under\t his\t pillow,\t but\t even\t this\t had\t very\t little\t money\t in\t it.\t Apparently,\t he\t kept money\tfor\tdaily\tuse\tin\tthis\twallet.\tAt\tleast,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\this\told\tservant\tAnukul\ttold\tme.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\tdo\twhen\the\tfinished\tspending\twhat\the\thad\tin\this\twallet\tor\tin\this\ttable\tdrawer?\tSurely he\thad\ta\tbigger\tsource\tto\tdraw\ton?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tone\thas\tto\tassume.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\tDidn\u2019t\the\thave\ta\tbank\taccount?\u2019 Mr\tSamaddar\tsmiled.\t\u2018No,\the\tdidn\u2019t.\tIf\the\thad\thad\tone,\tthere\twould\u2019ve\tbeen\tnothing\tunusual\tabout him,\twould\tthere?\tTo\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth,\tthere\twas\ta\ttime\twhen\the\tdid\tkeep\this\tmoney\tin\ta\tbank.\tBut many\t years\t ago,\t that\t bank\t went\t out\t of\t business,\t and\t he\t lost\t all\t he\t had\t put\t in\t it.\t He\t refused\t to\t trust","another\tbank\tafter\tthat.\tBut\u2014\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tlowered\this\tvoice,\t\u2018I\tknow\the\thad\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney.\tHow else\t do\t you\t suppose\t he\t could\t afford\t to\t buy\t all\t those\t rare\t and\t expensive\t instruments?\t Besides,\t he didn\u2019t\tmind\tspending\ta\tgreat\tdeal\ton\thimself.\tHe\tate\twell,\twore\tspecially\ttailored\tclothes,\tmaintained a\thuge\tgarden,\tand\thad\teven\tbought\ta\tsecond\thand\tAustin.\tHe\tused\tto\tdrive\tto\tCalcutta\toccasionally. So\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tHis\tvoice\ttrailed\taway. Feluda\t lit\t a\t Charminar,\t and\t offered\t one\t to\t Mr\t Samaddar.\t Mr\t Samaddar\t took\t it,\t and\t waited\t until Feluda\t had\t lit\t it\t fo r \t him.\t \u2018No w,\u2019\t he\t said,\t inhaling \t deeply,\t \u2018do \t yo u\t under stand\t why\t I\t had\t to \t co me\t to you?\t What\t will\t the\t key\t unlock?\t Where\t has\t all\t my\t uncle\u2019s\t money\t gone?\t Which\t key\t was\t he\t talking about,\tanyway?\tShall\twe\tfind\tany\tmoney\tor\tsomething\telse?\tHad\the\tmade\ta\twill?\tWho\tknows?\tIf\the had,\t we\t must\t find\t it.\t In\t the\t absence\t o f\t a\t will,\t his\t g r andso n\t will\t g et\t ever ything ,\t but\t so meo ne\t has\t to find\tout\twhat\tthat\tconsists\tof.\tI\thave\theard\tsuch\ta\tlot\tabout\tyour\tintelligence\tand\tyour\tskill.\tWill\tyou please\thelp\tme,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019 Feluda\tagreed.\tIt\twas\tthen\tdecided\tthat\tMr\tSamaddar\twould\tpick\tus\tup\ttoday\tat\t7\ta.m.\tand\ttake\tus\tto his\t uncle\u2019s\t ho use\t in\t Bamung achhi.\t I\t co uld\t tell\t Feluda\t was\t inter ested\t because\t this\t was\t a\t new\t type\t o f mystery.\tOr\tperhaps\tit\twas\tmore\ta\tpuzzle\tthan\ta\tmystery. That\t is\t what\t I\t thought\t at\t first.\t Later,\t I\t realized\t it\t was\t something\t far\t more\t complex\t than\t a\t mere puzzle.","Two We\t drove\t down\t Jessore\t Road,\t and\t took\t a\t right\t turn\t after\t Barasat.\t This\t road\t led\t straight\t to Bamungachhi.\tMr\tSamaddar\tstopped\there\tat\ta\tsmall\ttea\tshop\tand\ttreated\tus\tto\ta\tcup\tof\ttea\tand\tjalebis. This\ttook\tabout\tfifteen\tminutes.\tBy\tthe\ttime\twe\treached\tRadharaman\tSamaddar \u2019s\thouse,\tit\twas\tpast eight\to\u2019clock. A\t bungalow\t stood\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t a\t huge\t plot\t of\t land\t (it\t measured\t seven\t acres,\t we\t were\t told later),\t surrounded\t by\t a\t pink\t boundary\t wall\t and\t rows\t of\t eucalyptus\t trees.\t The\t man\t who\t opened\t the gate\t for\t us\t was\t probably\t the\t mali,\t for\t he\t had\t a\t basket\t in\t his\t hand.\t We\t drove\t up\t to\t the\t front\t door, passing\ta\tgarage\ton\tthe\tway.\tA\tblack\tAustin\tstood\tin\tit. As\tI\twas\tgetting\tout\tof\tthe\tcar,\ta\tsudden\tnoise\tfrom\tthe\tgarden\tmade\tme\tlook\tup\tquickly.\tI\tfound\ta boy\tof\tabout\tten\tstanding\ta\tfew\tyards\taway,\twearing\tblue\tshorts\tand\tclutching\tan\tair\tgun.\tHe\treturned my\tstare\tgravely. \u2018Is\t your\t father\t at\t home?\u2019\t asked\t Mr\t Samaddar.\t \u2018Go\t tell\t him\t Moni\t Babu\t from\t Calcutta\t has\t come back,\tand\twould\tlike\tto\tsee\thim,\tif\the\tdoesn\u2019t\tmind.\u2019 The\tboy\tleft,\tloading\this\tgun. \u2018Is\tthat\tthe\tneighbour \u2019s\tson?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes.\tHis\tfather,\tAbani\tSen,\tis\ta\tflorist.\tHe\thas\ta\tshop\tin\tNew\tMarket\tin\tCalcutta.\tHe\tlives\tright\tnext door.\t He\t has\t his\t nursery\t here,\t you\t see.\t Occasionally,\t he\t comes\t and\t spends\t a\t few\t weeks\t with\t his family.\u2019 An\t old\t man\t emerged\t from\t the\t house,\t looking\t at\t us\t enquiringly.\t \u2018This\t is\t Anukul,\u2019\t Mr\t Samaddar said.\t\u2018He\thad\tworked\tfor\tmy\tuncle\tfor\tover\tthirty\tyears.\tHe\u2019ll\tstay\ton\tuntil\twe\tknow\twhat\tshould\tbe done\tabout\tthe\thouse.\u2019 Ther e\t was\t a\t small\t hall\t behind\t the\t fr o nt\t do o r.\t It\t co uldn\u2019t\t r eally\t be\t called\t a\t r o o m,\t all\t it\t had\t was\t a round\ttable\tin\tthe\tmiddle,\tand\ta\ttorn\tcalendar\ton\tthe\twall.\tThere\twere\tno\tlight\tswitches\ton\tthe\twall\tas the\twhole\tarea\tdid\tnot\treceive\tany\telectricity\tat\tall.\tBeyond\tthis\thall\twas\ta\tdoor.\tMr\tSamaddar\twalked over\tto\tit,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Look,\tthis\tis\tthe\tGerman\tlock\tI\ttold\tyou\tabout.\tOne\tcould\tbuy\ta\tlock\tlike\tthis\tin Calcutta\tbefore\tthe\tSecond\tWorld\tWar.\tThe\tcombination\tis\teight-two-nine-one.\u2019 It\twas\tround\tin\tshape,\twith\tno\tprovision\tfor\ta\tkey.\tThere\twere\tfour\tgrooves\tinstead.\tAgainst\teach groove\twere\twritten\tnumbers,\tfrom\tone\tto\tnine.\tA\ttiny\tobject\tlike\ta\thook\tstuck\tout\tof\teach\tgroove. This\t ho o k\t co uld\t be\t pushed\t fr o m\t o ne\t end\t o f\t the\t g r o o ve\t to \t the\t o ther.\t It\t co uld\t also \t be\t placed\t next\t to any\t o f\t the\t number s.\t It\t was\t impo ssible\t to \t o pen\t the\t lo ck\t unless\t o ne\t knew\t exactly\t which\t number s\t the hooks\tshould\tbe\tplaced\tagainst. Mr\tSamaddar\tpushed\tthe\tfour\thooks,\teach\tto\trest\tagainst\ta\tdifferent\tnumber\u2014eight,\ttwo,\tnine\tand one.\tWith\ta\tfaint\tclick,\tthe\tlock\topened.\tIt\tseemed\talmost\tas\tthough\tI\twas\tin\ta\tmagic\tshow.\t\u2018Locking","the\tdoor\tis\teven\teasier,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tSamaddar.\t\u2018All\tyou\tneed\tto\tdo\tis\tpush\tany\tof\tthose\thooks\taway\tfrom the\tright\tnumber.\tThen\tit\tlocks\tautomatically.\u2019 The\t door\t with\t the\t German\t lock\t opened\t into\t Radharaman\t Samaddar \u2019s\t bedroom.\t It\t was\t a\t large room,\tand\tit\tcontained\tall\tthe\tfurniture\tRadharaman\u2019s\tnephew\thad\tdescribed.\tWhat\twas\tamazing\twas the\tnumber\tof\tinstruments\tthe\troom\twas\tpacked\twith.\tSome\tof\tthese\twere\tkept\ton\tshelves,\tothers\ton\ta long\tbench\tand\tsmall\ttables.\tSome\tmore\thung\ton\tthe\twall. Feluda\tstopped\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\troom\tand\tlooked\taround\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds.\tThen\the\topened\tthe almir ah\t and\t the\t chest,\t and\t went\t thr o ug h\t bo th.\t T his\t was\t fo llo wed\t by\t a\t sear ch\t o f\t the\t table\t dr awer s,\t a small\ttrunk\the\tdiscovered\tunder\tthe\tbed\t(all\tit\trevealed\twas\ta\tpair\tof\told\tshoes\tand\ta\tfew\trags)\tand\tall the\t instr uments\t in\t the\t r o o m.\t Feluda\t picked\t them\t up,\t felt\t their \t weig ht\t and\t tur ned\t them\t o ver \t to \t see\t if any\tof\tthem\twas\tmeant\tto\tbe\toperated\tby\ta\tkey.\tThen\the\tstripped\tthe\tbed,\tturned\tthe\tmattress\tover,\tand began\ttapping\ton\tthe\tfloor\tto\tsee\tif\tany\tpart\tof\tit\tsounded\thollow.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t.\tIt\ttook\thim\tanother\tminute to \t inspect\t the\t attached\t bathr o o m.\t He\t still\t fo und\t no thing .\t Finally,\t he\t said,\t \u2018Co uld\t yo u\t please\t ask\t the mali\t to\t come\t here\t for\t a\t minute?\u2019\t When\t the\t mali\t came,\t he\t got\t him\t to\t remove\t the\t contents\t of\t two flower-pots\tkept\tunder\tthe\twindow.\tBoth\tpots\twere\tempty.\t\u2018All\tright,\tyou\tcan\tput\teverything\tback\tinto those\tpots,\tand\tthank\tyou,\u2019\the\ttold\tthe\tmali. In\tthe\tmeantime,\tAnukul\thad\tplaced\ta\ttable\tand\tfour\tchairs\tin\tthe\troom.\tHe\tthen\tput\tfour\tglasses\tof lemonade\t on\t the\t table,\t and\t withdrew.\t Mr\t Samaddar\t handed\t two\t glasses\t to\t us,\t and\t asked,\t \u2018What\t do you\t make\t of\t all\t this,\t Mr\t Mitter?\u2019\t Feluda\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u2018If\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t for\t those\t instruments,\t it would\u2019ve\tbeen\timpossible\tto\tbelieve\tthat\ta\tman\tof\tmeans\thad\tlived\tin\tthis\troom.\u2019 \u2018Exactly.\t Why\t do\t you\t suppose\t I\t ran\t to\t you\t for\t help?\t I\u2019ve\t never\t felt\t so\t puzzled\t in\t my\t life!\u2019\t Mr Samaddar\texclaimed,\ttaking\ta\tsip\tfrom\this\tglass. I\t lo o ked\t at\t the\t instr uments.\t I\t co uld\t r eco g nize\t o nly\t a\t few\t like\t the\t sitar,\t sar o d,\t tanpur a,\t tabla\t and\t a flute.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tany\tof\tthe\tothers,\tand\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tthat\tFeluda\thad,\teither.\t\u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhat each\t one\t of\t these\t is\t called?\u2019\t he\t asked\t Mr\t Samaddar.\t \u2018That\t string\t instrument\t that\u2019s\t hanging\t from\t a hook\ton\tthe\twall\tover\tthere.\tCan\tyou\ttell\tme\tits\tname?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir!\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tlaughed.\t\u2018I\tknow\tnothing\tof\tmusic.\tI\thaven\u2019t\tthe\tslightest\tidea\tof\twhat\tthese might\tbe\tcalled,\tor\twhere\tthey\tcame\tfrom.\u2019 There\twere\tfootsteps\toutside\tthe\troom.\tA\tmoment\tlater,\tthe\tboy\twith\tthe\tairgun\tarrived\twith\ta\tman of\tabout\tforty.\tMr\tSamaddar\tdid\tthe\tintroductions.\tThe\tman\twas\tAbani\tSen,\tthe\tflorist\twho\tlived\tnext door.\t The\t boy\t was\t his\t son,\t Sadhan.\t \u2018Mr\t Pradosh\t Mitter?\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Of\t course\t I\u2019ve\t heard\t of\t you!\u2019 Feluda\t g ave\t a\t slig ht\t smile,\t and\t clear ed\t his\t thr o at.\t Mr \t Sen\t to o k\t the\t empty\t chair \t and\t was\t o ffer ed\t the fourth\t glass\t of\t lemonade.\t \u2018Before\t I\t forget,\t Mr\t Samaddar,\u2019\t he\t said,\t picking\t it\t up,\t \u2018do\t you\t know\t if your\tuncle\thad\twanted\tto\tsell\tany\tof\this\tinstruments?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tno!\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tsounded\tquite\ttaken\taback. \u2018A\tgentleman\tcame\tyesterday.\tHe\twent\tto\tmy\thouse\tsince\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tfind\tanyone\there.\tHe\u2019s\tcalled Surajit\tDasgupta.\tHe\tcollects\tmusical\tinstruments,\tvery\tmuch\tlike\tyour\tuncle.\tHe\tshowed\tme\ta\tletter written\t by\t Radharaman\t Babu,\t and\t said\t he\u2019d\t already\t been\t to\t this\t house\t and\t spoken\t to\t Radharaman Babu\t o nce.\t Anukul\t to ld\t me\t later \t he\t had\t seen\t him\t befo r e.\t The\t letter \t had\t been\t wr itten\t sho r tly\t befo r e your\tuncle\tdied.\tAnyway,\tI\ttold\thim\tto\tcome\tback\ttoday.\tI\thad\ta\tfeeling\tyou\tmight\treturn.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tseen\thim,\ttoo.\u2019","This\t came\t from\t Sadhan.\t He\t was\t playing\t with\t a\t small\t instrument\t that\t looked\t a\t bit\t like\t a harmonium,\t making\t slight\t tinkling\t noises.\t His\t father\t laughed\t at\t his\t words.\t \u2018Sadhan\t used\t to\t spend most\tof\this\ttime\tin\tor\taround\tthis\thouse.\tIn\tfact,\the\tstill\tdoes.\tHe\tand\this\tDadu\twere\tgreat\tfriends.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\tyou\tlike\tyour\tDadu?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim. \u2018I\tliked\thim\ta\tlot,\u2019\tSadhan\tanswered,\twith\this\tback\tto\tus,\t\u2018but\tsometimes\the\tannoyed\tme.\u2019 \u2018How?\u2019 \u2018He\tkept\tasking\tme\tto\tsing\tthe\tsargam.\u2019 \u2018And\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto?\u2019 \u2018No.\tBut\tI\tcan\tsing.\u2019 \u2018Ah,\tonly\tsongs\tfrom\tHindi\tfilms.\u2019\tMr\tSen\tlaughed\tagain. \u2018Did\tyour\tDadu\tknow\tyou\tcould\tsing?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Had\the\tever\theard\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen,\thow\tdo\tyou\tthink\the\tknew?\u2019 \u2018Dadu\t often\t used\t to\t tell\t me\t that\t those\t whose\t names\t carry\t a\t note\t of\t melody\t are\t bound\t to\t have melodious\tvoices.\u2019 This\tmade\tvery\tlittle\tsense\tto\tus,\tso\twe\texchanged\tpuzzled\tglances.\t\u2018What\t did\t he\t mean\t by\t that?\u2019 Feluda\tasked. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tever\thear\thim\tsing?\u2019 \u2018No.\tBut\tI\u2019ve\theard\thim\tplay.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tsounded\tamazed.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tsure,\tSadhan?\tI\tthought\the\thad\tgiven\tup\tplaying altogether.\tDid\the\tplay\tin\tfront\tof\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tI\twas\toutside\tin\tthe\tgarden,\tkilling\tcoconuts\twith\tmy\tgun.\tThat\u2019s\twhen\tI\theard\thim\tplay.\u2019 \u2018Could\tit\thave\tbeen\tsomeone\telse?\u2019 \u2018No,\tthere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tthe\thouse\texcept\tDadu.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\tplay\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime?\u2019\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018No,\tonly\tfor\ta\tlittle\twhile.\u2019 Feluda\tturned\tto\tMr\tSamaddar.\t\u2018Could\tyou\tplease\task\tAnukul\tto\tcome\there?\u2019 Anukul\tarrived\tin\ta\tfew\tmoments.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tever\thear\tyour\tmaster\tplay\tany\tof\tthese\tinstruments?\u2019 Feluda\tasked\thim. \u2018Well\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tAnukul\treplied,\tspeaking\thesitantly.\t\u2018My\tmaster\tspent\tmost\tof\this\ttime\tin\tthis\troom.\tHe didn\u2019t\tlike\tbeing\tdisturbed.\tSo\treally,\tsir,\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tknow\twhether\the\tplayed\tor\tnot.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tHe\tnever\tplayed\tin\tyour\tpresence,\tdid\the?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tever\thear\tanything\tfrom\toutside,\tor\tany\tother\tpart\tof\tthe\thouse?\u2019 \u2018Well.\t.\t.\tonly\ta\tfew\ttimes\t.\t.\t.\tI\tthink\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tI\tcan\u2019t\thear\tvery\twell,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Did\ta\tstranger\tcome\tand\tsee\thim\tbefore\the\tdied?\tThe\tsame\tman\twho\tcame\tyesterday?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tHe\tspoke\tto\tmy\tmaster\tin\tthis\troom.\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\the\tfirst\tcome?\u2019","\u2018The\tday\the\tdied.\u2019 \u2018What!\tThat\tsame\tday?\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tcouldn\u2019t\thide\this\tsurprise.\t\u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019\tAnukul\thad\ttears\tin\this eyes.\t He\t wiped\t them\t with\t o ne\t end\t o f\t his\t chaddar \t and\t said\t in\t a\t cho ked\t vo ice,\t \u2018I\t came\t in\t her e\t so o n after\t that\t gentleman\t left,\t to\t tell\t my\t Babu\t that\t the\t hot\t water\t for\t his\t bath\t was\t ready,\t but\t found\t him asleep.\tAt\tleast,\tI\tthought\the\twas\tsleeping\tuntil\tI\tfound\tI\tjust\tcouldn\u2019t\twake\thim\tup.\tThen\tI\twent\tto\tSen Babu\u2019s\thouse\tand\ttold\thim.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright,\u2019\tMr\tSen\tput\tin.\t\u2018I\trang\tMr\tSamaddar\timmediately,\tand\ttold\thim\tto\tbring\ta\tdoctor. But\tI\tknew\tthere\twasn\u2019t\tmuch\tthat\ta\tdoctor\tcould\tdo.\u2019 A\t car \t sto pped\t o utside.\t Anukul\t left\t to \t see\t who \t it\t was.\t A\t minute\t later,\t a\t man\t enter ed\t the\t r o o m,\t and introduced\thimself\tas\tSurajit\tDasgupta.\tHe\thad\ta\tlong\tand\tdrooping\tmoustache,\tbroad\tside-burns\tand thick,\tunruly\thair.\tHe\twore\tglasses\twith\ta\tvery\theavy\tframe.\tMr\tSen\tpointed\tat\tMr\tSamaddar\tand\tsaid, \u2018You\tshould\tspeak\tto\thim,\tMr\tDasgupta.\tHe\u2019s\tRadharaman\tBabu\u2019s\tnephew.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tYour\tuncle\thad\twritten\tto\tme.\tSo\tI\tcame\tto\tmeet\u2014\u2019 \u2018Can\tI\tsee\tthat\tletter?\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tinterrupted\thim. Surajit\t Dasgupta\t took\t out\t a\t postcard\t from\t the\t inside\t pocket\t of\t his\t jacket\t and\t passed\t it\t on\t to\t Mr Samaddar.\tMr\tSamaddar\tran\this\teyes\tover\tit,\tand\tgave\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tI\tleant\tacross\tand\tread\twhat\twas written\t on\t it:\t \u2018Please\t come\t and\t meet\t me\t between\t 9\t and\t 10\t a.m.\t on\t 18\t September.\t All\t my\t musical instruments\tare\twith\tme\tin\tmy\thouse.\tYou\tcan\thave\ta\tlook\twhen\tyou\tcome.\u2019\tFeluda\tturned\tit\tover\tto take\ta\tquick\tlook\tat\tthe\taddress:\tMinerva\tHotel,\tCentral\tAvenue,\tCalcutta\t13.\tThen\the\tglanced\tat\tthe bottle\t of\t blue-black\t ink\t kept\t on\t the\t small\t table\t next\t to\t the\t bed.\t The\t letter\t did\t seem\t to\t have\t been written\twith\tthe\tsame\tink. Mr\tDasgupta\tsat\tdown\ton\tthe\tbed,\twith\tan\timpatient\tair.\tMr\tSamaddar\tasked\thim\tanother\tquestion. \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tand\tmy\tuncle\tdiscuss\tthat\tmorning?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\thad\tcome\tto\tknow\tabout\tRadharaman\tSamaddar\tonly\tafter\tI\tread\tan\tarticle\tby\thim\tthat\twas published\t in\t a\t magazine\t for\t music\t lovers.\t So\t I\t wrote\t to\t him,\t and\t came\t here\t on\t the\t eighteenth\t as requested.\tThere\twere\ttwo\tinstruments\tin\this\tcollection\tthat\tI\twanted\tto\tbuy.\tWe\tdiscussed\ttheir\tprices, and\tI\tmade\tan\toffer\tof\ttwo\tthousand\trupees\tfor\tthem.\tHe\tagreed,\tand\tI\tstarted\tto\twrite\tout\ta\tcheque\tat o nce.\t But\t he\t sto pped\t me\t and\t said\t he\u2019d\t much\t r ather \t have\t cash.\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t car r ying \t so \t much\t cash\t with me,\tso\the\ttold\tme\tto\tcome\tback\tthe\tfollowing\tWednesday.\tOn\tTuesday,\tI\tread\tin\tthe\tpapers\tthat\the\thad died.\tThen\tI\thad\tto\tleave\tfor\tDehra\tDun.\tI\tgot\tback\tthe\tday\tbefore\tyesterday.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\the\tseem\tthat\tmorning\twhen\tyou\ttalked\tto\thim?\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tasked. \u2018Why,\the\tseemed\tall\tright!\tBut\tperhaps\the\thad\tstarted\tto\tthink\tthat\the\twasn\u2019t\tgoing\tto\tlive\tfor\tlong. Some\tof\tthe\tthings\the\tsaid\tseemed\tto\tsuggest\tthat.\u2019 \u2018You\tdidn\u2019t,\tby\tany\tchance,\thave\tan\targument,\tdid\tyou?\u2019 Mr\t Dasgupta\t remained\t silent\t for\t a\t few\t seconds.\t Then\t he\t said\t coldly,\t \u2018Are\t you,\t holding\t me responsible\tfor\tyour\tuncle\u2019s\theart\tattack?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tam\tnot\tsuggesting\tthat\tyou\tdid\tanything\tdeliberately,\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\treturned,\tjust\tas\tcoolly. \u2018But\the\twas\ttaken\till\tjust\tafter\tyou\tleft,\tso\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tI\tcan\tassure\tyou,\tMr\tSamaddar,\tyour\tuncle\twas\tfine\twhen\tI\tleft\thim.\tAnyway,\tit\tshouldn\u2019t\tbe difficult\t fo r \t yo u\t to \t make\t a\t decisio n\t abo ut\t my\t o ffer.\t I\t have\t g o t\t the\t mo ney\t with\t me.\u2019\t He\t to o k\t o ut\t his","wallet.\t \u2018Her e\u2019s\t two \t tho usand\t in\t cash.\t It\t wo uld\t help\t if\t I\t co uld\t take\t the\t two \t instr uments\t away\t to day.\t I have\tto\treturn\tto\tDehra\tDun\ttomorrow.\tThat\u2019s\twhere\tI\tlive,\tyou\tsee.\tI\tdo\tresearch\tin\tmusic\u2019 \u2018Which\ttwo\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 Mr\tDasgupta\trose\tand\twalked\tover\tto\tone\tof\tthe\tinstruments\thanging\ton\tthe\twall.\t\u2018This\tis\tone.\tIt\u2019s called\tkhamanche,\tit\u2019s\tfrom\tIran.\tI\tknew\tabout\tthis\tone,\tbut\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tit.\tIt\u2019s\tquite\tan\told\tinstrument. And\tthe\tother\twas\u2014\u2019 Mr\t Dasgupta\t moved\t to\t the\t opposite\t end\t of\t the\t room\t and\t stopped\t before\t the\t same\t instrument Sadhan\thad\tbeen\tplaying\twith.\t\u2018This\tis\tthe\tother\tinstrument\tI\twanted,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tcalled\tmelochord. It\twas\tmade\tin\tEngland.\tIt\tis\tmy\tbelief\tthat\tthe\tmanufacturers\treleased\tonly\ta\tfew\tpieces,\tthen\tstopped production\tfor\tsome\treason.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tit\tbefore,\tand\tsince\tit\u2019s\tnot\tpossible\tto\tget\tit\tany\tmore,\tI offered\ta\tthousand\tfor\tit.\tYour\tuncle\tagreed\tto\tsell\tit\tto\tme\tfor\tthat\tamount.\u2019 \u2018Sorry,\tMr\tDasgupta,\tbut\tyou\tcannot\thave\tthem,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tfirmly.\tMr\tDasgupta\twheeled\taround, and\tcast\ta\tsharp\tlook\tat\tus\tall.\tThen\this\teyes\tcame\tto\trest\ton\tFeluda.\t\u2018Who\tare\tyou?\u2019\the\tasked\tdryly. \u2018He\tis\tmy\tfriend,\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\treplied,\t\u2018and\the\tis\tright.\tWe\tcannot\tlet\tyou\tbuy\teither\tof\tthese.\tYou must\tappreciate\tthe\treason.\tAfter\tall,\tthere\tis\tno\tevidence,\tis\tthere,\tthat\tmy\tuncle\thad\tindeed\tagreed\tto sell\tthem\tat\tthe\tprice\tyou\tmentioned?\u2019 Mr\t Dasgupta\t stood\t still\t like\t a\t statue,\t without\t saying\t a\t word.\t Then\t he\t strode\t out\t of\t the\t room\t as quickly\tas\the\tcould. Feluda,\ttoo,\trose\tto\this\tfeet,\tand\twalked\tslowly\tover\tto\tthe\tinstrument\tMr\tDasgupta\thad\tdescribed as\t a\t khamanche.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t seen\t per tur bed\t at\t all\t by\t Mr \t Dasg upta\u2019s\t sudden\t depar tur e.\t The\t instr ument looked\ta\tlittle\tlike\tthe\tsmall\tviolins\tthat\tare\toften\tsold\tto\tchildren\tby\troadside\thawkers,\talthough\tof course\tit\twas\tmuch\tlarger\tin\tsize,\tand\tthe\tround\tportion\twas\tbeautifully\tcarved.\tThen\the\twent\tacross to\t the\t melochord,\t and\t pressed\t its\t black\t and\t white\t keyboard.\t The\t sweet\t notes\t that\t rang\t out\t sounded like\tan\todd\tmixture\tof\tthe\tpiano\tand\tthe\tsitar. \u2018Is\tthis\tthe\tinstrument\tyou\thad\theard\tyour\tDadu\tplay?\u2019 \u2018Maybe.\u2019 Sadhan\tseemed\ta\tvery\tquiet\tand\tserious\tlittle\tboy,\twhich\twas\trather\tunusual\tfor\ta\tboy\tof\this\tage. Feluda\t said\t nothing\t more\t to\t him,\t and\t moved\t on\t to\t open\t the\t almirah\t once\t more.\t He\t took\t put\t a sheaf\tof\tpapers\tfrom\ta\tdrawer,\tand\tasked\tMr\tSamaddar,\t\u2018May\tI\ttake\tthese\thome?\tI\tthink\tI\tneed\tto\tgo through\tthem\tat\tsome\tlength.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes,\tsure.\tIs\tthere\tanything\telse\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018No,\tthere\u2019s\tnothing\telse,\tthank\tyou.\u2019 When\t we\t left\t the\t r o o m,\t I\t saw\t Sadhan\t star ing \t o ut\t o f\t the\t windo w,\t humming \t a\t str ang e\t tune.\t It\t was certainly\tnot\tfrom\ta\tHindi\tfilm.","Three \u2018What\t do \t yo u\t think,\t Mr \t Mitter ?\u2019\t asked\t Mr \t Samaddar \t o n\t o ur \t way\t back\t fr o m\t Bamung achhi.\t \u2018Is\t ther e any\thope\tof\tunravelling\tthis\tmystery?\u2019 \u2018I\t need\t to\t think,\t Mr\t Samaddar.\t And\t I\t need\t to\t read\t these\t papers\t I\t took\t from\t your\t uncle\u2019s\t room. Maybe\tthat\u2019ll\thelp\tme\tunderstand\tthe\tman\tbetter.\tBesides,\tI\tneed\tto\tdo\ta\tbit\tof\treading\tand\tresearch\ton music\tand\tmusical\tinstruments.\tPlease\tgive\tme\ttwo\tdays\tto\tsort\tmyself\tout.\u2019 This\tconversation\twas\ttaking\tplace\tin\tthe\tcar\twhen\twe\tfinally\tset\toff\ton\tour\treturn\tjourney.\tFeluda had\tspent\ta\tlot\tof\ttime\tin\tsearching\tthe\twhole\thouse\ta\tsecond\ttime,\tbut\teven\tthat\thad\tyielded\tnothing. \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse,\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\treplied\tpolitely. \u2018You\twill\thave\tto\thelp\tme\twith\tsome\tdates.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\tRadharaman\u2019s\tson\tMuralidhar\tdie?\u2019 \u2018In\t1945,\ttwenty-eight\tyears\tago.\u2019 \u2018How\told\twas\this\tson\tat\tthat\ttime?\u2019 \u2018Dharani?\tHe\tmust\thave\tbeen\tseven\tor\teight.\u2019 \u2018Did\tthey\talways\tlive\tin\tCalcutta?\u2019 \u2018No,\tMuralidhar\tused\tto\twork\tin\tBihar.\tHis\twife\tcame\tto\tlive\twith\tus\tin\tCalcutta\tafter\tMuralidhar died.\t When\t she\t passed\t away,\t Dharani\t was\t a\t college\t student.\t He\t was\t quite\t bright,\t but\t he\t began\t to chang e\t after \t his\t mo ther \t died.\t Ver y\t so o n,\t he\t left\t co lleg e\t and\t jo ined\t a\t theatr e\t g r o up.\t A\t year \t later,\t my uncle\tmoved\tto\tBamungachhi.\tHis\thouse\twas\tbuilt\tin\u2014\u2019 \u2018\u2014Nineteen\tfifty-nine.\tYes,\tI\tsaw\tthat\twritten\ton\tthe\tmain\tgate.\u2019 Radharaman\tSamaddar \u2019s\tpapers\tproved\tto\tbe\ta\tcollection\tof\told\tletters,\ta\tfew\tcash\tmemos,\ttwo\told prescriptions,\t a\t catalogue\t of\t musical\t instruments\t produced\t by\t a\t German\t company\t called\t Spiegler, musical\t no tatio n\t wr itten\t o n\t pag es\t to r n\t o ut\t o f\t a\t no tebo o k,\t and\t pr ess\t r eviews\t o f\t five\t plays,\t in\t which mention\tof\ta\tSanjay\tLahiri\thad\tbeen\tunderlined\twith\ta\tblue\tpencil. \u2018Hm,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\tlooking\tat\tthe\tnotation.\t\u2018The\thandwriting\ton\tthese\tis\tthe\tsame\tas\tthat\tin\tSurajit Dasgupta\u2019s\tletter.\u2019\tThen\the\twent\tthrough\tthe\tcatalogue\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018There\u2019s\tno\tmention\tof\ta\tmelochord.\u2019 After \t r eading \t the\t r eviews,\t he\t r emar ked,\t \u2018Dhar anidhar \t and\t this\t Sanjay\t Lahir i\t appear \t to \t be\t the\t same man.\tAs\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\tsee,\talthough\tRadharaman\trefused\tto\thave\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\this\tgrandson,\the did\tcollect\tinformation\ton\thim,\tespecially\tif\tit\twas\tpraise\tof\this\tacting.\u2019 Feluda\t put\t all\t the\t papers\t away\t carefully\t in\t a\t plastic\t bag,\t and\t rang\t a\t theatre\t journal\t called Manchalok,\tto\tfind\tout\twhich\ttheatre\tgroup\tSanjay\tLahiri\tworked\tfor.\tIt\tturned\tout\tthat\tthe\tgroup\twas called\t the\t Modern\t Opera.\t Apparently,\t Sanjay\t Lahiri\t did\t all\t the\t lead\t roles.\t Feluda\t then\t rang\t their","office,\tand\twas\ttold\tthat\tthe\tgroup\twas\tcurrently\taway\tin\tJalpaiguri.\tThey\twould\tbe\tback\tonly\tafter\ta week. We\t went\t out\t after\t lunch.\t I\t had\t never\t had\t to\t go\t to\t so\t many\t different\t places,\t all\t on\t the\t same\t day! Feluda\ttook\tme\tfirst\tto\tthe\tNational\tMuseum.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tme\twhy\twe\twere\tgoing\tthere,\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t ask\t because\t he\t had\t sunk\t into\t silence\t and\t was\t cracking\t his\t knuckles.\t This\t clearly\t meant\t he\t was thinking\thard,\tand\twas\tnot\tto\tbe\tdisturbed.\tWe\twent\tstraight\tto\tthe\tsection\tfor\tmusical\tinstruments.\tTo be\t honest,\t I\t didn\u2019t\t even\t know\t the\t museum\t had\t such\t a\t section.\t It\t was\t packed\t with\t all\t kinds\t of instruments,\t going\t back\t to\t the\t time\t of\t the\t Mahabharata.\t Modern\t instruments\t were\t also\t displayed, although\tthere\twas\tnothing\tthat\tmight\thave\tcome\tfrom\tthe\tWest. Then\twe\twent\tto\ttwo\tmusic\tshops,\tone\tin\tFree\tSchool\tStreet,\tand\tthe\tother\tin\tLal\tBazaar.\tNeither had\t heard\t of\t anything\t called\t melochord.\t \u2018Mr\t Samaddar\t was\t an\t old\t and\t valued\t customer,\u2019\t said\t Mr Mondol\t of\t Mondol\t &\t Co.\t which\t had\t its\t shop\t in\t Lal\t Bazaar\t (Feluda\t had\t found\t one\t of\t their\t cash memo s\t amo ng \t Radhar aman\u2019s\t paper s\t yester day).\t \u2018But\t no ,\t we\t never \t so ld\t him\t the\t instr ument\t yo u\t ar e talking\tabout.\tWhat\tdoes\tit\tlook\tlike?\tIs\tit\ta\twind\tinstrument\tlike\ta\tclarinet?\u2019 \u2018No.\t It\u2019s\t more\t like\t a\t harmonium,\t but\t much\t smaller\t in\t size.\t The\t sound\t it\t gives\t out\t is\t a\t cross between\ta\tpiano\tand\ta\tsitar.\u2019 \u2018How\tmany\toctaves\tdoes\tit\thave?\u2019 I\t knew\t the\t eight\t notes\u2014sa\t re\t ga\t ma\t pa\t dha\t ni\t sa\u2014made\t one\t octave.\t The\t large\t harmoniums\t in Mo ndo l\u2019s\t sho p\t had\t pr o visio n\t fo r \t as\t many\t as\t thr ee\t o ctaves.\t When\t Feluda\t to ld\t him\t a\t melo cho r d\t had o nly\t o ne\t o ctave,\t Mr \t Mo ndo l\t sho o k\t his\t head\t and\t said,\t \u2018No ,\t sir,\t I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t we\t can\t help\t yo u.\t This instrument\tmight\twell\tbe\tonly\ta\ttoy.\tYou\tmay\twish\tto\tcheck\tin\tthe\tbig\ttoy\tshops\tin\tNew\tMarket.\u2019 We\tthanked\tMr\tMondol\tand\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tCollege\tStreet.\tFeluda\tbought\tthree\tbooks\ton\tmusic, and\t then\t we\t went\t o ff\t to \t find\t the\t o ffice\t o f\t Manchalok.\t We\t fo und\t it\t r elatively\t easily,\t but\t it\t to o k\t us\t a long\t time\t to\t find\t a\t photograph\t of\t Sanjay\t Lahiri.\t Finally,\t Feluda\t dug\t out\t a\t crumpled\t photo\t from somewhere,\t and\t offered\t to\t pay\t for\t it.\t \u2018Oh,\t I\t can\u2019t\t ask\t you\t to\t pay\t for\t that\t picture,\t sir!\u2019\t laughed\t the editor\tof\tthe\tmagazine.\t\u2018You\tare\tFelu\tMitter,\taren\u2019t\tyou?\tIt\u2019s\ta\tprivilege\tto\tbe\table\tto\thelp\tyou.\u2019 By\t the\t time\t we\t returned\t home\t after\t stopping\t at\t a\t caf\u00e9\t for\t a\t glass\t of\t lassi,\t it\t was\t 7.30\t p.m.\t The whole\t area\t was\t plunged\t in\t darkness\t because\t of\t load\t shedding.\t Undaunted,\t Feluda\t lit\t a\t couple\t of candles\t and\t began\t leafing\t through\t his\t books.\t When\t the\t power\t came\t back\t at\t nine,\t he\t said\t to\t me, \u2018Topshe,\tcould\tyou\tplease\tpop\tacross\tto\tyour\tfriend\tPoltu\u2019s\thouse,\tand\task\thim\tif\tI\tmight\tborrow\this harmonium\tjust\tfor\tthis\tevening?\u2019 It\t took\t me\t only\t a\t few\t minutes\t to\t bring\t the\t harmonium.\t When\t I\t went\t to\t bed\t quite\t late\t at\t night, Feluda\twas\tstill\tplaying\tit. I\t had\t a\t str ang e\t dr eam\t that\t nig ht.\t I\t saw\t myself\t standing \t befo r e\t a\t hug e\t ir o n\t do o r,\t in\t the\t middle\t o f which\t was\t a\t very\t large\t hole.\t It\t was\t big\t enough\t for\t me\t to\t slip\t through;\t but\t instead\t of\t doing\t that, Feluda,\tMonimohan\tSamaddar\tand\tI\twere\tall\ttrying\tto\tfit\ta\tmassive\tkey\tinto\tit.\tAnd\tSurajit\tDasgupta was\t dancing\t around,\t wearing\t a\t long\t robe,\t and\t singing,\t \u2018Eight-two-o-nine-one!\t Eight-two-o-nine- one!\u2019","Four Mr\t Samaddar\t had\t told\t us\t he\u2019d\t give\t us\t a\t call\t the\t following\t Wednesday.\t However,\t he\t rang\t us\t a\t day earlier,\ton\tTuesday,\tat\t7 a.m.\t I\t answered\t the\t phone.\t When\t I\t told\t him\t to\t hold\t on\t while\t I\t went\t to\t get\t Feluda,\t he\t said,\t \u2018No, there\u2019s\tno\tneed\tto\tdo\tthat.\tJust\ttell\tyour\tcousin\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tover\tto\tyour\thouse\tstraightaway.\tSomething urgent\u2019s\tcropped\tup.\u2019 He\tarrived\tin\tfifteen\tminutes.\t\u2018Abani\tSen\trang\tfrom\tBamungachhi.\tSomeone\tbroke\tinto\tmy\tuncle\u2019s room\tlast\tnight,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Does\tanyone\telse\tknow\thow\tto\toperate\tthat\tGerman\tlock?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tat\tonce. \u2018Dhar ani\t used\t to \t kno w.\t I\u2019m\t no t\t sur e\t abo ut\t Abani\t Babu\u2014no ,\t I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t he\t kno ws.\t But\t who ever broke\t in\t didn\u2019t\t use\t that\t door\t at\t all.\t He\t went\t in\t through\t the\t small\t outer\t door\t to\t the\t bathroom.\t You know,\tthe\tone\tmeant\tfor\tcleaners.\u2019 \u2018But\tthat\tdoor\twas\tbolted\tfrom\tinside.\tI\tsaw\tthat\tmyself.\u2019 \u2018Maybe\tsomeone\topened\tit\tafter\twe\tleft.\tAnyway,\tthe\tgood\tnews\tis\tthat\the\tcouldn\u2019t\ttake\tanything. Anukul\t came\t to \t kno w\t almo st\t as\t so o n\t as\t he\t g o t\t into \t the\t ho use,\t and\t r aised\t an\t alar m.\t Lo o k,\t ar e\t yo u free\tnow?\tDo\tyou\tthink\tyou\tcould\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\thouse\twith\tme?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t certainly.\t But\t tell\t me\t something.\t If\t you\t now\t saw\t Radharaman\u2019s\t grandson,\t Dharani,\t do\t you think\tyou\tcould\trecognize\thim?\u2019 Mr\tSamaddar\tfrowned.\t\u2018Well,\tI\thaven\u2019t\tseen\thim\tfor\tyears,\tbut\t.\t.\t.\tyes,\tI\tthink\tI\tcould.\u2019 Feluda\twent\toff\tto\tfetch\tthe\tphoto\tof\tSanjay\tLahiri.\tWhen\the\thanded\tit\tover\tto\tMr\tSamaddar,\tI\tsaw that\the\thad\tdrawn\ta\tlong\tmoustache\ton\tSanjay\u2019s\tface,\tand\tadded\ta\tpair\tof\tglasses\twith\ta\theavy\tframe. Mr\tSamaddar\tgave\ta\tstart.\t\u2018Why,\u2019\the\texclaimed,\t\u2018this\tlooks\tlike\u2014!\u2019 \u2018Surajit\tDasgupta?\u2019 \u2018Yes!\tBut\tperhaps\tthe\tnose\tis\tnot\tquite\tthe\tsame.\tAnyway,\tthere\tis\ta\tresemblance,\u2019 \u2018The\tphoto\tis\tof\tyour\tcousin\tMuralidhar \u2019s\tson.\tI\tonly\tadded\ta\tcouple\tof\tthings\tjust\tto\tmake\tit\tmore interesting.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tamazing.\tActually,\tI\tdid\tfind\tit\tstrange,\twhen\tDasgupta\twalked\tin\tyesterday.\tIn\tfact,\tI\twanted\tto r ing \t yo u\t last\t nig ht\t and\t tell\t yo u,\t but\t I\t g o t\t delayed\t at\t the\t pr ess.\t We\t wer e\t wo r king \t o ver time,\t yo u\t see. But\t then,\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t abso lutely\t sur e.\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t seen\t Dhar ani\t fo r \t fifteen\t year s,\t no t\t even\t o n\t the\t stag e.\t I\u2019m not\tinterested\tin\tthe\ttheatre\tat\tall.\tIf\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tsuggesting\tis\ttrue\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Feluda\t interrupted\t him,\t \u2018If\t what\t I\u2019m\t suggesting\t is\t true,\t we\t have\t to\t prove\t two\t things.\t One\u2014that Surajit\t Dasgupta\t doesn\u2019t\t exist\t in\t real\t life\t at\t all;\t and\t two\u2014that\t Sanjay\t Lahiri\t left\t his\t group\t and returned\tto\tCalcutta\ta\tfew\tdays\tbefore\tyour\tuncle\u2019s\tdeath.\tTopshe,\tget\tthe\tnumber\tof\tMinerva\tHotel, please.\u2019\tThe\thotel\tinformed\tus\tthat\ta\tSurajit\tDasgupta\thad\tindeed\tbeen\tstaying\tthere,\tbut\thad\tchecked","out\t the\t day\t before.\t There\t was\t no\t point\t in\t calling\t the\t Modern\t Opera,\t for\t they\t had\t already\t told\t us Sanjay\tLahiri\twas\tout\tof\ttown. On\treaching\tBamungachhi,\tFeluda\tinspected\tthe\thouse\tfrom\toutside,\tfollowing\tthe\tcompound\twall. Whoever\tcame\tmust\thave\thad\tto\tcome\tin\ta\tcar,\tpark\tit\tat\tsome\tdistance\tand\twalk\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tway. Then\the\tmust\thave\tjumped\tover\tthe\twall.\tThis\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tvery\tdifficult,\tfor\tthere\twere\ttrees everywhere,\t their\t overgrown\t branches\t leaning\t over\t the\t compound\t wall.\t The\t ground\t being\t totally dry,\tthere\twere\tno\tfootprints\tanywhere. We\tthen\twent\tto\tfind\tAnukul.\tHe\twasn\u2019t\tfeeling\twell\tand\twas\tresting\tin\this\troom.\tWhat\the\ttold\tus, with\tsome\tdifficulty,\twas\tthis:\tmosquitoes\tand\tan\taching\thead\thad\tkept\thim\tawake\tlast\tnight.\tHe\tcould see\t the\t window\t of\t Radharaman\u2019s\t bedroom\t from\t where\t he\t lay.\t When\t he\t suddenly\t saw\t a\t light flickering\tin\tthe\troom,\the\trose\tquickly\tand\tshouted,\t\u2018Who\u2019s\tthere?\u2019\tBut\tbefore\the\tcould\tactually\tget to\tthe\troom,\the\tsaw\ta\tfigure\tslip\tout\tof\tthe\tsmall\tside\tdoor\tto\tthe\tbathroom\tand\tdisappear\tin\tthe\tdark. Anukul\tspent\twhat\twas\tleft\tof\tthe\tnight\tlying\ton\tthe\tfloor\tof\this\tmaster \u2019s\tbedroom. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tsuppose\tyou\tcould\trecognize\tthe\tfellow?\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tasked. \u2018No,\tsir.\tI\u2019m\tan\told\tman,\tsir,\tand\tI\tcan\u2019t\tsee\tall\tthat\twell.\tBesides,\tit\twas\ta\tmoonless\tnight.\u2019 Radharaman\u2019s\tbedroom\tappeared\tquite\tunharmed.\tNothing\tseemed\tto\thave\tbeen\ttouched.\tEven\tso, Feluda\u2019s\tface\tlooked\tgrim.\t\u2018Moni\tBabu,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018you\u2019ll\thave\tto\tinform\tthe\tpolice.\tThis\thouse\tmust be\t g uar ded\t fr o m\t to nig ht.\t The\t intr uder \t may\t well\t co me\t back.\t Even\t if\t Sur ajit\t Dasg upta\t is\t no t\t Sanjay Lahiri,\the\tis\tour\tprime\tsuspect.\tSome\tcollectors\tare\tstrangely\tdetermined.\tThey\u2019ll\tdo\tanything\tto\tget what\tthey\twant.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tring\tthe\tpolice\tfrom\tnext\tdoor.\tI\thappen\tto\tknow\tthe\tOC,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tSamaddar\tand\twent\tout\tof the\troom\tbusily. Feluda\t picked\t up\t the\t melochord\t and\t began\t inspecting\t it\t closely.\t It\t was\t a\t sturdy\t little\t instrument. T her e\t wer e\t two \t panels\t o n\t it,\t bo th\t beautifully\t eng r aved.\t Feluda\t tur ned\t it\t o ver \t and\t disco ver ed\t an\t o ld and\t faded\t label.\t \u2018Spiegler,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Made\t in\t Germany,\t not\t England.\u2019\t Then\t he\t began\t playing\t it. Although\t he\t was\t no\t expert,\t the\t sound\t that\t filled\t the\t room\t was\t sweet\t and\t soothing.\t \u2018I\t wish\t I\t could break\tit\topen\tand\tsee\twhat\u2019s\tinside,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tputting\tit\tback\ton\tthe\ttable,\t\u2018and\tobviously\tI\tcan\u2019t\tdo\tthat. The\t chances\t are\t that\t I\u2019d\t find\t nothing,\t and\t the\t instrument\t would\t be\t totally\t destroyed.\t Dasgupta\t was prepared\tto\tpay\ta\tthousand\trupees\tfor\tit,\timagine!\u2019 Despite\this\tsplitting\theadache,\tAnukul\tgot\tup\tand\tbrought\tus\tsome\tlemonade\tagain.\tFeluda\tthanked him\tand\ttook\ta\tfew\tsips\tfrom\this\tglass.\tMr\tSamaddar\treturned\tat\tthis\tmoment.\t\u2018The\tpolice\thave\tbeen informed,\u2019\the\ttold\tus.\t\u2018Two\tconstables\twill\tbe\tposted\there\tfrom\ttonight.\tAbani\tBabu\twasn\u2019t\thome.\tHe and\tSadhan\thave\tgone\tto\tCalcutta\tfor\tthe\tday.\u2019\t, \u2018I\t see.\t Well,\t tell\t me,\t Moni\t Babu,\t who\u2014apart\t from\t yourself\u2014knew\t about\t Radharaman\u2019s\t habit\t of hiding\tall\this\tmoney?\u2019 \u2018Frankly,\tMr\tMitter,\tI\trealized\tthe\tmoney\twas\thidden\tonly\tafter\this\tdeath.\tAbani\tBabu\tnext\tdoor\tis aware\t that\t we\u2019re\t looking\t for\t my\t uncle\u2019s\t money,\t but\t I\u2019m\t sure\t he\t hasn\u2019t\t any\t idea\t about\t the\t amount involved.\tIf\tit\twas\tDharani\twho\tcame\there\tdisguised\tas\tDasgupta,\the\tmay\thave\tlearnt\tsomething\tthat morning\tbefore\tmy\tuncle\tdied.\tIn\tfact,\tI\u2019m\tconvinced\tDharani\thad\tcome\tonly\tto\task\tfor\tmoney.\tThen they\tmust\thave\thad\ta\trow,\tand\u2014\u2019\tMr\tSamaddar\tbroke\toff.","Feluda\tlooked\tat\thim\tsteadily\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018\u2014And\tas\ta\tresult\tof\tthis\trow,\tyour\tuncle\thad\ta\theart\tattack. But\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\tstop\tDharani.\tHe\tsearched\tthe\troom\tbefore\the\tleft.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tthinking?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tBut\tI\tknow\the\tdidn\u2019t\tfind\tany\tmoney.\u2019 \u2018If\the\thad,\the\twouldn\u2019t\thave\treturned\tposing\tas\tSurajit\tDasgupta,\tright?\u2019 \u2018Right.\tPerhaps\tsomething\tmade\thim\tthink\tthe\tmoney\twas\thidden\tin\tone\tof\tthose\ttwo\tinstruments.\u2019 \u2018The\tmelochord.\u2019 Mr\tSamaddar\tgave\tFeluda\ta\tsharp\tglance.\t\u2018Do\tyou\treally\tthink\tso?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\t what\t my\t instincts\t ar e\t telling \t me.\t But\t I\t do n\u2019t\t like\t taking \t sho ts\t in\t the\t dar k.\t Besides,\t I\t can\u2019t forget\tyour\tuncle\u2019s\tlast\twords.\tHe\tdid\tuse\tthe\tword\t\u201ckey\u201d,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\tYou\tare\tcertain\tabout\tthat?\u2019 Mr\t Samaddar\t began\t to\t look\t unsure.\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know\t .\t .\t .\t that\u2019s\t what\t it\t sounded\t like,\u2019\t he\t faltered, rubbing\this\thands\tin\tembarrassment.\t\u2018Or\tit\tcould\tbe\tthat\tmy\tuncle\twas\ttalking\tpure\tnonsense.\tIt\tcould have\tbeen\tdelirium,\tcouldn\u2019t\tit?\tMaybe\tthe\tword\t\u201ckey\u201d\thas\tno\tsignificance\tat\tall.\u2019 I\tfelt\ta\tsudden\tstab\tof\tdisappointment\tat\tthese\twords.\tBut\tFeluda\tremained\tunruffled.\t\u2018Delirium\tor not,\tthere\tis\tmoney\tin\tthis\troom,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tcan\tsmell\tit.\tFinding\ta\tkey\tis\tnot\treally\timportant.\tWe\u2019ve got\tto\tfind\tthe\tmoney.\u2019 \u2018How?\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tpropose\tto\tdo?\u2019 \u2018Just\tat\tthis\tmoment,\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tgo\tback\thome.\tPlease\ttell\tAnukul\tnot\tto\tworry,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tanyone will\ttry\tto\tbreak\tin\tduring\tthe\tday.\tAll\the\tneeds\tto\tdo\tis\tnot\tlet\tany\tstranger\tinto\tthe\thouse.\tThere\twill be\tthose\tpolice\tconstables\tat\tnight.\tI\tmust\tgo\tback\tand\tthink\tvery\thard.\tI\tcan\tsee\ta\tglimmer\tof\tlight, but\tunless\tthat\tgrows\tbrighter,\tthere\u2019s\tnothing\tmuch\tI\tcan\tdo.\tMay\tI\tplease\tspend\tthe\tnight\there?\u2019 Mr\tSamaddar\tlooked\tfaintly\tsurprised\tat\tthis\tquestion.\tBut\the\tsaid\timmediately,\t\u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse,\tif that\u2019s\twhat\tyou\twant.\tShall\tI\tcome\tand\tcollect\tyou\tat\t8\tp.m.?\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tThank\tyou,\tMoni\tBabu.\u2019 \u2018First\tof\tall,\tmy\tboy,\twrite\tdown\tthe\tname\tof\tthe\tdead\tman.\u2019 Feluda\twas\tback\tin\this\troom,\tsitting\ton\this\tbed.\tI\twas\tsitting\tin\ta\tchair\tnext\tto\thim,\ta\tnotebook\ton my\tlap\tand\ta\tpen\tin\tmy\thand. \u2018Radharaman\tSamaddar,\u2019\tI\twrote. \u2018What\u2019s\this\tgrandson\tcalled?\u2019 \u2018Dharanidhar\tSamaddar.\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tname\the\tuses\ton\tthe\tstage?\u2019 \u2018Sanjay\tLahiri.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\tthe\tname\tof\tthe\tcollector\tof\tmusical\tinstruments\twho\tlives\tin\tDehra\tDun?\u2019 \u2018Surajit\tDasgupta.\u2019 \u2018Who\u2019s\tRadharaman\u2019s\tneighbour?\u2019 \u2018Abani\tSen.\u2019 \u2018And\this\tson?\u2019 \u2018Sadhan.\u2019 \u2018What\twere\tRadharaman\u2019s\tlast\twords?\u2019 \u2018In\tmy\tname\t.\t.\t.\tkey\t.\t.\t.\tkey.\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tthe\teight\tnotes\tin\tthe\tsargam?\u2019 \u2018Sa\tre\tga\tma\tpa\tdha\tni\tsa.\u2019","\u2018Very\twell.\tNow\tgo\taway\tand\tdon\u2019t\tdisturb\tme.\tShut\tthe\tdoor\tas\tyou\tgo.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\twork\tnow.\u2019 I\twent\tto\tthe\tliving\troom\tand\tpicked\tup\tone\tof\tmy\tfavourite\tbooks\tto\tread.\tAn\thour\tlater,\tI\theard Feluda\tdialling\ta\tnumber\ton\tthe\ttelephone\textension\tin\this\troom.\tUnable\tto\tcontain\tmyself,\tI\ttiptoed to\tthe\tdoor\tof\this\troom\tand\teavesdropped\tshamelessly.\t\u2018Hello?\tCan\tI\tspeak\tto\tDr\tChintamoni\tBose, please?\u2019 Feluda\t was\t calling\t the\t heart\t specialist\t who\t had\t accompanied\t Mr\t Samaddar\t the\t day\t Radharaman died.\t I\t r etur ned\t to \t the\t living \t r o o m,\t my\t cur io sity\t satisfied.\t Ten\t minutes\t later,\t ther e\t was\t the\t so und\t o f dialling\tagain.\tI\trose\tonce\tmore\tand\tlistened\tat\tthe\tdoor. \u2018Eureka\tPress?\tWho\u2019s\tspeaking?\u2019 This\ttime,\tFeluda\twas\tcalling\tMr\tSamaddar \u2019s\tpress.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tneed\tto\thear\tany\tmore,\tso\tI\twent\tback to\tmy\tbook. When\tour\tcook\tSrinath\tcame\tin\twith\tthe\ttea\tat\tfour,\tFeluda\twas\tstill\tin\this\troom.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tI\thad finished\tmy\ttea\tand\tread\ta\tfew\tmore\tpages\tof\tmy\tbook,\tit\twas\t4.35.\tI\twas\tnow\tfeeling\tmore\tmystified than\t ever.\t What\t o n\t ear th\t co uld\t Feluda\t be\t do ing ,\t puzzling \t o ver \t tho se\t few\t wo r ds\t I\t had\t scr ibbled\t in\t a no tebo o k?\t After \t all,\t ther e\t wasn\u2019t\t anything \t in\t them\t he\t didn\u2019t\t kno w\t alr eady.\t Befo r e\t I\t co uld\t think\t any further,\tFeluda\topened\this\tdoor\tand\tcame\tout\twith\ta\thalf-finished\tCharminar\tin\this\thand.\t\u2018My\thead\u2019s reeling,\t Topshe!\u2019\t he\t exclaimed,\t a\t note\t of\t suppressed\t excitement\t in\t his\t voice.\t \u2018Who\t knew\t it\t would take\tme\tso\tlong\tto\twork\tout\tthe\tmeaning\tof\ta\tfew\twords\tspoken\tby\ta\tvery\told\tman\tat\this\tdeathbed?\u2019 In\treply,\tI\tcould\tonly\tstare\tdumbly\tat\tFeluda.\tWhat\the\thad\tjust\tsaid\tmade\tno\tsense\tto\tme,\tbut\tI\tcould see\tthat\this\tface\tlooked\tdifferent,\twhich\tcould\tsimply\tmean\tthat\tthe\tlight\the\thad\tseen\tearlier\twas\tnow much\tstronger\tthan\ta\tglimmer. \u2018Sa\tdha\tni\tsa\tni\t.\t.\t.\tnotes\tfrom\tthe\tsargam.\tDoes\tthat\ttell\tyou\tanything?\u2019 \u2018No,\tFeluda.\tI\u2019ve\tno\tidea\twhat\tyou\u2019re\ttalking\tabout.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tIf\tyou\tcould\tcatch\tmy\tdrift,\tone\twould\thave\thad\tto\tassume\tyour\tlevel\tof\tintelligence\twas\tas high\tas\tFelu\tMitter \u2019s.\u2019 I\twas\tglad\tof\tthe\tdifference.\tI\twas\tperfectly\thappy\tbeing\tFeluda\u2019s\tsatellite,\tand\tno\tmore. Feluda\tthrew\this\tcigarette\taway,\tand\tpicked\tup\tthe\ttelephone\tonce\tagain. \u2018Hello?\t Mr\t Samaddar?\t Can\t you\t come\t over\t at\t once?\t Yes,\t yes,\t we\t have\t to\t go\t to\t Bamungachhi\t as soon\tas\twe\tcan\t.\t.\t.\tI\tthink\tI\u2019ve\tfinally\tgot\tthe\tanswer\t.\t.\t.\tyes,\tmelochord\t.\t.\t.\tthat\u2019s\tthe\timportant\tthing to\tremember.\u2019 Then\the\treplaced\tthe\treceiver\tand\tsaid\tseriously,\t\u2018There\tis\ta\trisk\tinvolved,\tTopshe.\tBut\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tto take\tit,\tthere\tis\tno\tother\tchoice.\u2019","Five Mr\t Samaddar \u2019s\t driver\t was\t old,\t but\t that\t didn\u2019t\t stop\t him\t from\t driving\t at\t eighty-five\t kilometres\t per hour\twhen\twe\treached\tVIP\tRoad.\tFeluda\tsat\tfidgeting,\tas\tthough\the\twould\thave\tliked\tto\thave\tdriven faster.\t Soon,\t we\t had\t to\t reduce\t our\t speed\t as\t the\t road\t got\t narrower\t and\t more\t congested.\t However, only\ta\tlittle\twhile\tlater,\tit\tshot\tup\tto\tsixty,\tdespite\tthe\tfact\tthat\tthe\troad\twasn\u2019t\tparticularly\tgood\tand\tit had\tstarted\tto\tget\tdark. There\t was\t no\t one\t at\t the\t main\t gate\t of\t Radharaman\u2019s\t house.\t \u2018Perhaps\t it\u2019s\t not\t yet\t time\t for\t those police\tconstables\tto\thave\tarrived,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked. We\tfound\tSadhan\tin\tthe\tgarden\twith\this\tairgun. \u2018Why,\tSadhan\tBabu,\twhat\tare\tyou\tkilling\tin\tthe\tdark?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim,\tgetting\tout\tof\tthe\tcar. \u2018Bats,\u2019\t Sadhan\t replied\t promptly.\t There\t were\t a\t number\t of\t bats\t hanging\t from\t the\t branches\t of\t a peepul\ttree\tjust\toutside\tthe\tcompound. The\t sound\t of\t our\t car\t had\t brought\t Anukul\t to\t the\t front\t door.\t Mr\t Samaddar\t told\t him\t to\t light\t a lanter n\t and\t beg an\t unlo cking \t the\t Ger man\t lo ck.\t \u2018I\u2019m\t dying \t to \t lear n\t ho w\t yo u\t so lved\t the\t myster y,\u2019\t he said.\t I\t could\t understand\t his\t feelings,\t for\t Feluda\t hadn\u2019t\t uttered\t a\t single\t word\t in\t the\t car.\t I,\t too,\t was bursting\twith\tcuriosity. Feluda\t refused\t to\t break\t his\t silence.\t Without\t a\t word,\t he\t stepped\t into\t the\t room\t and\t switched\t on\t a po wer ful\t to r ch,\t It\t sho ne\t fir st\t o n\t the\t wall,\t then\t fell\t o n\t the\t melo cho r d,\t still\t r esting \t peacefully\t o n\t the small\t table.\t My\t heart\t began\t to\t beat\t faster.\t The\t white\t keys\t of\t the\t instrument\t gleamed\t in\t the\t light, making\tit\tseem\tas\tthough\tit\twas\tgrinning\tfrom\tear\tto\tear.\tFeluda\tdid\tnot\tmove\this\tarm.\t,\u2018Keys\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the said\tsoftly.\t\u2018Look\tat\tthose\tkeys.\tRadharaman\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\ta\tlock\tand\ta\tkey\tat\tall.\tHe\tmeant\tthe\tkeys\tof an\tinstrument,\tlike\ta\tpiano,\tor\u2014\u2019 He\tcouldn\u2019t\tfinish\tspeaking.\tWhat\tfollowed\ta\tsplit\tsecond\tlater\ttook\tmy\tbreath\taway.\tEven\tnow,\tas I\twrite\tabout\tit,\tmy\thand\ttrembles. At\tFeluda\u2019s\twords,\tMr\tSamaddar\tsuddenly\tsprang\tin\tthe\tair\tand\tpounced\tupon\tthe\tmelochord\tlike\ta hung r y\t tig er \t o n\t its\t pr ey.\t T hen\t he\t picked\t it\t up,\t str uck\t at\t Feluda\u2019s\t head\t with\t it,\t kno cked\t me\t o ver \t and ran\tout\tof\tthe\tdoor. Feluda\thad\tmanaged\tto\traise\this\tarms\tin\tthe\tnick\tof\ttime\tto\tprotect\this\thead.\tAs\ta\tresult,\this\tarms took\t the\t blow,\t making\t him\t drop\t the\t torch\t and\t fall\t on\t the\t bed\t in\t pain.\t As\t I\t scrambled\t to\t my\t feet,\t I heard\tMr\tSamaddar\tlocking\tthe\tdoor\tbehind\thim.\tEven\tso,\tI\trushed\tforward,\tto\ttry\tand\tpush\tit\twith my\t shoulder.\t Then\t I\t heard\t Feluda\t whisper,\t \u2018Bathroom.\u2019\t I\t picked\t up\t the\t torch\t quickly,\t and\t we\t both sped\tout\tof\tthe\tsmall\tbathroom\tdoor. There\t was\t the\t sound\t of\t a\t car\t starting,\t followed\t by\t a\t bang.\t A\t confused\t babble\t greeted\t us\t as\t we emerged.\tI\tcould\thear\tAnukul\tshouting\tin\tdismay,\tand\tAbani\tSen\tspeaking\tto\this\tson\tvery\tcrossly.\tBy the\ttime\twe\treached\tthe\tfront\tdoor,\tthe\tcar\thad\tgone,\tbut\tthere\twas\tsomeone\tsitting\ton\tthe\tdriveway.","\u2018What\thave\tyou\tdone,\tSadhan?\u2019\tMr\tSen\twas\tstill\tscolding\this\tson\tfuriously.\t\u2018Why\tdid\tdo\tyou\tthat? It\twas\twrong,\tutterly\twrong\u2014!\u2019 Sadhan\t made\t a\t spirited\t reply\t in\t his\t thin\t childish\t voice,\t \u2018What\t could\t I\t do?\t He\t was\t trying\t to\t run away\twith\tDadu\u2019s\tinstrument!\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\tquite\tright,\tMr\tSen,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\tpanting\ta\tlittle.\t\u2018He\u2019s\tdone\tus\ta\tbig\tfavour\tby\tinjuring\tthe culprit,\tthough\tin\tthe\tfuture\the\tmust\tlearn\tto\tuse\this\tairgun\tmore\tcarefully.\tPlease\tgo\tback\thome\tand inform\t the\t police.\t The\t driver\t of\t that\t car\t must\t not\t be\t allowed\t to\t get\t away.\t Tell\t them\t its\t number\t is WMA\t6164.\u2019 Then\the\twalked\tover\tto\tthe\tfigure\tsitting\ton\tthe\tdriveway\tand,\ttogether\twith\tAnukul,\thelped\thim\tto his\t feet.\t Mr\t Samaddar\t allowed\t himself\t to\t be\t half\t pushed\t and\t half\t dragged\t back\t into\t the\t house, witho ut\t making \t any\t pr o test.\t A\t pellet\t fr o m\t Sadhan\u2019s\t air g un\t had\t hit\t o ne\t co r ner \t o f\t his\t fo r ehead.\t The wound\twas\tstill\tbleeding. The\tmelochord\twas\tstill\tlying\twhere\tit\thad\tfallen\ton\tthe\tcobbled\tpath.\tI\tpicked\tit\tup\tcarefully\tand took\tit\tback\tto\tthe\thouse. Feluda,\t Mr\t Sen,\t Inspector\t Dinesh\t Guin\t from\t the\t Barasat\t police\t station\t and\t I\t were\t sitting\t in Radhar aman\u2019s\t bedr o o m,\t dr inking \t tea.\t A\t man\u2014po ssibly\t a\t co nstable\u2014sto o d\t at\t the\t do o r.\t Ano ther \t sat huddled\tin\ta\tchair.\tThis\twas\tour\tculprit,\tMonimohan\tSamaddar.\tThe\twound\ton\this\tforehead\twas\tnow dressed.\tSadhan\twas\talso\tin\tthe\troom,\tstanding\tat\tthe\twindow\tand\tstaring\tout.\tOn\ta\ttable\tin\tfront\tof\tus was\tthe\tmelochord. Feluda\t clear ed\t his\t thr o at.\t He\t was\t no w\t g o ing \t to \t tell\t us\t ho w\t he\t had\t lear nt\t the\t tr uth.\t His\t watch\t was broken,\tand\tone\tof\this\tarms\twas\tbadly\tscraped.\tHe\thad\tfound\ta\tbottle\tof\tDettol\tin\tthe\tbathroom,\tand dabbed\this\tarm\twith\tit.\tThen\the\thad\ttied\ta\thandkerchief\taround\this\tarm.\tIf\the\twas\tstill\tin\tpain,\the\tdid not\tshow\tit. He\tput\this\tcup\tdown\tand\tbegan\tspeaking.\t\u2018I\tstarted\tto\tsuspect\tMonimohan\tSamaddar\tonly\tfrom\tthis afternoon.\tBut\tI\thad\tnothing\tto\tprove\tthat\tmy\tsuspicions\tweren\u2019t\tbaseless.\tSo,\tunless\the\tmade\ta\tfalse move,\tI\tcould\tnot\tcatch\thim.\tFortunately,\the\tlost\this\thead\tin\tthe\tend\tand\tplayed\tright\tinto\tmy\thands. He\tcould\tnever\thave\tgot\taway,\tbut\tSadhan\thelped\tme\tin\tcatching\thim\timmediately\t.\t.\t.\tSomething\the told\tme\tabout\tworking\tlate\ton\tMonday\tfirst\tmade\tme\tsuspicious,\tnot\tat\tthe\ttime,\tbut\tlater.\tHe\tsaid\the g o t\t ver y\t late\t o n\t Mo nday\t evening \t because\t he\t had\t to \t wo r k\t o ver time.\t This\t was\t o dd\t since\t a\t fr iend\t o f mine\t lives\t in\t the\t same\t ar ea\t wher e\t his\t pr ess\t is,\t and\t I\t have\t o ften\t hear d\t him\t co mplain\t that\t they\t have long\t power\t cuts,\t always\t starting\t in\t the\t evening\t and\t lasting\t until\t quite\t late\t at\t night.\t So\t I\t rang\t the Eureka\t Press,\t and\t was\t told\t that\t no\t work\t had\t been\t done\t on\t Monday\t evening\t because\t of\t prolonged load\tshedding.\tMoni\tBabu\thimself\thad\tleft\tthe\tpress\tin\tthe\tafternoon,\tand\tno\tone\thad\tseen\thim\treturn. This\t made\t me\t wonder\t if\t a\t man\t who\t had\t told\t me\t one\t lie\t hadn\u2019t\t also\t told\t me\t another.\t What\t if Radharaman\u2019s\tlast\twords\twere\tdifferent\tfrom\twhat\tI\thad\tbeen\tled\tto\tbelieve?\tI\tremembered\the\twasn\u2019t the\t only\t one\t present\t at\t the\t time\t of\t his\t death.\t I\t rang\t Dr\t Chintamoni\t Bose,\t and\t learnt\t that\t what Radharaman\thad\treally\tsaid\twas,\t\u201cDharani\t.\t.\t.\tin\tmy\tname\t.\t.\t.\tkey\t.\t.\t.\tkey.\u201d\tIt\twas\tDharani\u2019s\tname\tthat Moni\tBabu\thad\tfailed\tto\tmention.\tDharani\twas,\tafter\tall,\tRadharaman\u2019s\tonly\tgrandchild.\tHe\twas\tstill fo nd\t o f\t him.\t If\t ther e\t wer e\t g o o d\t r eviews\t o f\t his\t per fo r mance,\t Radhar aman\t kept\t tho se\t pr ess\t cutting s. So \t it\t was\t o nly\t natur al\t that\t he\t sho uld\t tr y\t to \t tell\t his\t g r andso n\u2014and\t no t\t his\t nephew\u2014the\t secr et\t abo ut his\t money.\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t he\t had\t even\t recognized\t his\t nephew.\t Nevertheless,\t it\t was\t his\t nephew\t who","heard\this\tlast\twords.\tHe\tcould\tmake\tout\tthat\tRadharaman\twas\ttalking\tabout\this\thidden\tmoney.\tBut\the couldn\u2019t\tfind\ta\tkey\tanywhere,\tso\the\tdecided\tto\tcome\tto\tme,\tthe\tidea\tbeing\tthat\tI\twould\tfind\tout\twhere the\t key\t was,\t and\t Moni\t Babu\t would\t grab\t all\t the\t money.\t Nobody\t knew\t if\t there\t was\t a\t will.\t If\t a\t will co uld\t no t\t be\t fo und,\t ever ything \t Radhar aman\t po ssessed\t wo uld\t have\t g o ne\t dir ectly\t to \t Dhar ani.\t In\t any case,\t I\t do ubt\t ver y\t much\t if\t Radhar aman\t wo uld\t have\t co nsider ed\t leaving \t anything \t to \t his\t nephew.\t It\t is my\tbelief\tthat\the\twasn\u2019t\tparticularly\tfond\tof\tMoni\tBabu.\u2019 Feluda\tstopped.\tNo\tone\tspoke.\tAfter\ta\tbrief\tpause,\the\tcontinued,\t\u2018Now,\tthe\tquestion\twas,\twhy\tdid Moni\t Babu\t lie\t to\t me\t about\t working\t late\t on\t Monday?\t Was\t it\t because\t he\t spent\t Monday\t evening indulging\t in\t some\t criminal\t activity,\t which\t meant\t that\t he\t needed\t an\t alibi?\t Radharaman\u2019s\t room\t was broken\tinto\tthat\tsame\tevening.\tCould\tthe\tintruder\thave\tbeen\tMoni\tBabu\thimself?\tThe\tmore\tI\tthought about\tit,\tthe\tmore\tlikely\tdid\tit\tseem.\tHe\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tcould\tuse\tthe\tcombination\tlock,\tgo\tinto the\t room,\t unbolt\t the\t bathroom\t door,\t then\t come\t out\t again\t and\t lock\t the\t main\t door\t to\t the\t bedroom. That\t small\t bathr o o m\t do o r \t was\t mo st\t definitely\t bo lted\t fr o m\t inside\t when\t I\t saw\t it\t dur ing \t the\t day.\t No cleaner\t could\t have\t come\t in\t after\t we\t left\t since\t it\u2019s\t not\t being\t used\t at\t all.\t I\t suspect\t Moni\t Babu\t had worked\tout\twhat\this\tuncle\thad\tmeant\tby\tthe\tword\t\u201ckey\u201d,\tso\the\u2019d\tcome\tback\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight to\tsteal\tthe\tmelochord.\tAm\tI\tright?\u2019 All\tof\tus\tturned\tto\tlook\tat\tMr\tSamaddar.\tHe\tnodded\twithout\tlifting\this\thead.\tFeluda\twent\ton,\t\u2018Even if\tMoni\tBabu\tcould\tget\taway\twith\tstealing\tthe\tmelochord,\tI\tam\tpositive\the\tcould\tnever\thave\tdecoded the\t rest\t of\t Radharaman\u2019s\t message.\t I\t stumbled\t on\t the\t answer\t only\t this\t evening,\t and\t for\t that,\t too,\t I have\tto\tthank\tlittle\tSadhan.\u2019 We\t looked\t at\t Sadhan\t in\t surprise.\t He\t turned\t his\t head\t and\t stared\t at\t Feluda\t solemnly.\t \u2018Sadhan,\u2019 Feluda\tsaid,\t\u2018tell\tus\tonce\tagain\twhat\tyour\tDadu\tsaid\tabout\tmusic\tand\tpeople\u2019s\tnames.\u2019 \u2018Tho se\t who \t have\t melo dy\t in\t their \t names,\u2019\t Sadhan\t whisper ed,\t \u2018ar e\t bo und\t to \t have\t melo dy\t in\t their voices.\u2019 \u2018Thank\t yo u.\t This\t is\t mer ely\t an\t example\t o f\t Radhar aman\u2019s\t extr ao r dinar y\t intellig ence.\t \u201cTho se\t who have\tmelody\tin\ttheir\tnames,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tAll\tright,\tlet\u2019s\ttake\ta\tname.\tTake\tSadhan,\tfor\tinstance.\tSadhan Sen.\t If\t yo u\t take\t away\t so me\t o f\t the\t vo wels,\t yo u\t g et\t no tes\t fr o m\t the\t sar g am\u2014sa\t dha\t ni\t sa\t ni.\t When\t I realized\tthis,\ta\tnew\tidea\tstruck\tme.\tHis\tlast\twords\twere\t\u201cin\tmy\tname\t.\t.\t.\tkey\u201d.\tCould\the\thave\tmeant the\t keys\t on\t the\t melochord\t that\t corresponded\t with\t his\t own\t name?\t Radharaman\u2014re\t dha\t re\t ma\t ni. Samaddar\u2014sa\tma\tdha\tdha\tre.\tDharanidhar\twas\ta\tsinger,\ttoo;\tand\the\thad\tmelody\tin\this\tname\tas\twell \u2014dha\tre\tni\tdha\tre.\tWhat\ta\tvery\tclever\tidea\tit\twas,\tsimple\tyet\tingenious.\tRadharaman\twas\tobviously interested\tin\tmechanical\tgadgets.\tThat\tGerman\tcombination\tlock\tis\tan\texample.\tThe\tmelochord\twas also\t made\t in\t Germany,\t by\t a\t company\t called\t Spiegler.\t It\t was\t made\t to\t order,\t possibly\t based\t on specifications\tsupplied\tby\tRadharaman\thimself.\tIt\tacted\tas\this\tbank.\tThank\tgoodness\tSurajit\tDasgupta hadn\u2019t\t walked\t away\t with\t it,\t although\t I\u2019m\t sure\t Radharaman\t would\t have\t emptied\t its\t contents\t before handing\tit\tover.\tMaybe\the\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tthe\tneed\tfor\ta\tbank\tany\tmore.\tMaybe\the\tknew\t he\t didn\u2019t\t have long\tto\tlive\t.\t.\t.\tI\tlearnt\ttwo\tother\tthings.\tSurajit\tDasgupta\tis\ta\tgenuine\tmusician,\tabsolutely\tpassionate about\tmusic\tand\tinstruments.\tThe\tfew\tbooks\ton\tmusic\tI\thave\tread\tin\tthe\tlast\ttwo\tdays\tmentioned\this name.\tI\twas\tquite\tmistaken\tin\tthinking\tit\twas\tDharani\tin\tdisguise.\tDharani\tis\ttruly\taway\tin\tJalpaiguri, he\thasn\u2019t\tthe\tslightest\tidea\tof\twhat\u2019s\tgoing\ton.\tWhat\twe\thave\tto\tdo\tnow\tis\tsee\tif\tthere\tis\tanything\tleft","for\t him\t to\t inherit.\t He\t wants\t to\t form\t his\t own\t group,\t according\t to\t an\t interview\t published\t in Manchalok.\tSo\tI\u2019m\tsure\ta\twindfall\twould\tbe\tmost\twelcome.\tTopshe,\tbring\tthat\tlantern\there.\u2019 I\tpicked\tup\tthe\tlantern\tand\tbrought\tit\tcloser\tto\tthe\tmelochord.\tFeluda\tplaced\tit\ton\this\tlap.\t\u2018It\u2019s\thad to \t put\t up\t with\t so me\t r o ug h\t handling \t to day,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018but\t it\t was\t desig ned\t so \t well\t that\t I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t it was\t damaged\t in\t any\t way.\t Now\t let\u2019s\t see\t what\t Radharaman\u2019s\t brain\t and\t German\t craftsmanship\t has produced.\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan\tpressing\tthe\tkeys\tthat\tmade\tup\tRadharaman\u2019s\tfull\tname\u2014re\tdha\tre\tma\tni\tsa ma\tdha\tdha\tre.\tA\tsweet\tnote\trang\tout\twith\tthe\tpressing\tof\tevery\tkey.\tAs\tFeluda\tpressed\tthe\tlast\tone, the\t r ig ht\t panel\t slid\t o pen\t silently.\t We\t leant\t o ver \t the\t instr ument\t eag er ly,\t to \t find\t that\t ther e\t was\t a\t deep compartment\tbehind\tthis\tpanel,\tlined\twith\tred\tvelvet,\tand\tpacked\twith\tbundles\tof\thundred\trupee\tnotes. Sheer\t amazement\t turned\t us\t into\t statues\t for\t a\t few\t moments.\t Then\t Feluda\t began\t pulling\t out\t the bundles\tgently.\t\u2018I\tthink\twe\thave\tat\tleast\tfifty\tthousand\there,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Come\ton,\tMr\tSen,\thelp\tme\tcount it.\u2019 A\t bemused\t Abani\t Sen\t rose\t to\t his\t feet\t and\t stepped\t forward.\t The\t light\t from\t the\t lantern\t fell\t on Feluda\u2019s\tface\tand\tcaught\tthe\tglint\tin\this\teye.\tI\tknew\tit\twasn\u2019t\tgreed,\tbut\tthe\tpure\tjoy\tof\tbeing\table\tto use\this\trazor-sharp\tbrain\tonce\tmore,\tand\tsolve\tanother\tmystery."]
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