["\u2018No,\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tpresent\tthe\ttiger\tskin\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018To\tme?\tWhy?\u2019 \u2018For\tyour\tremarkable\tachievement.\tI\thave\tnever\tknown\tanyone\twho\tcould\tlose\tconsciousness\ton the\ttop\tof\ta\ttree,\tand\tyet\tmanage\tto\tstay\tput,\twithout\tcrashing\tto\tthe\tground.\tI\twould\tnot\thave\tthought it\tpossible\tat\tall.\tBut\tyou\thave\tproved\tit\tcan\tbe\tdone!\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\twaved\ta\tdismissive\thand. \u2018Did\tI\ttell\tyou\twhy\tI\tfainted\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace?\tIt\twas\tonly\tbecause\tof\tmy\tvery\tlively\timagination, Felu\tBabu.\tWhen\tyou\tmentioned\ta\ttiger,\tdo\tyou\tknow\twhat\tI\tsaw?\tI\tsaw\ta\tburning\ttorch,\tits\torange flame\tshooting\tup\tto\tthe\tsky.\tAn\tawful\tmonster\tsat\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tit,\tpulling\tevil\tfaces,\tand\tI\tcould hear\tthe\troar\tof\tengines.\tAn\taircraft\twas\tabout\tto\ttake\toff\t.\t.\t.\tand\tI\tknew\tit\twas\tgoing\tto\tland\ton\tme! Hey,\twhat\telse\tcould\tI\tdo\tafter\tthis,\texcept\tclose\tmy\teyes\tand\tpass\tinto\toblivion?\u2019","","T HE\t LO C K ED\t C HES T","V il l age:\tGhurghutia P.O.\tPlassey Dist.\tN adia 3\tN ovember\t1974 To: Mr\tPradosh\tC.\tMitter Dear\tMr\tMitter, I\tam\twriting\tto\tinvite\tyou\tto\tmy\thouse.\tI\thave\theard\ta\tlot\tabout\tyour\twork\tand\twish\tto\tmeet\tyou\tin\tperson.\tThere\tis,\tof\tcourse, a\tspecial\treason\tfor\tasking\tyou\tto\tcome\tat\tthis\tparticular\ttime.\tYou\twill\tget\tto\tknow\tthe\tdetails\ton\tarrival.\tIf\tyou\tfeel\tyou\tare able\t to\t accept\t this\t invitation\t from\t a\t seventy-three-year-old\t man,\t please\t confirm\t your\t acceptance\t in\t writing\t immediately.\t In order\t to\t reach\t Ghurghutia,\t you\t need\t to\t disembark\t at\t Plassey,\t and\t travel\t further\t south\t for\t another\t five-and-a-half-miles. There\t are\t several\t trains\t from\t Sealdah,\t out\t of\t which\t the\t Up\t Lalgola\t Passenger\t leaves\t at\t 1.58\t p.m.\t and\t reaches\t Plassey\t at 6.11.\tI\twill\tarrange\tfor\tyou\tto\tbe\tmet\tat\tthe\tstation\tand\tbrought\there.\tYou\tcan\tspend\tthe\tnight\tat\tmy\thouse,\tand\tcatch\tthe\tsame train\tat\t10.30\ta.m.\tthe\tfollowing\tmorning\tto\tCalcutta.\tI\tlook\tforward\tto\thearing\tfrom\tyou. With\tgood\twishes, Yours\tsincerely, Kalikinkar\tMajumdar I\t handed\t the\t letter \t back\t to \t Feluda,\t and\t asked,\t \u2018Is\t it\t the\t same\t Plassey\t wher e\t that\t famo us\t battle\t was fought?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThere\tis\tno\tother\tPlassey\tin\tBengal,\tdear\tboy.\tBut\tif\tyou\tthink\tthe\tplace\thas\tgot\tany\tevidence left\tof\tthat\thistoric\tbattle,\tyou\tare\tsadly\tmistaken.\tThere\tis\tabsolutely\tno\tsign\tleft,\tnot\teven\tthe\tpalash trees\tin\tthe\twoods\tthat\tstood\tin\tSiraj-ud-daula\u2019s\ttime.\tThe\tname\t\u201cPlassey\u201d\tcame\tfrom\tthese\ttrees.\tDid you\tknow\tthat?\u2019 I\tnodded.\t\u2018Will\tyou\tgo,\tFeluda?\u2019 Feluda\tstared\tat\tthe\tletter\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds. \u2018I\twonder\twhy\tan\told\tman\twants\tto\tsee\tme,\u2019\the\tsaid\tthoughtfully.\t\u2018It\tdoesn\u2019t\tseem\tright\tto\trefuse. To \t be\t ho nest,\t I\t am\t quite\t cur io us.\t Besides,\t have\t yo u\t ever \t been\t to \t a\t villag e\t in\t the\t winter ?\t Have\t yo u seen\thow\tthe\tmist\tgathers\tin\topen\tfields\tat\tdawn\tand\tdusk?\tAll\tthat\tremains\tvisible\tare\ttree\ttrunks\tand a\tlittle\tarea\tover\tone\u2019s\thead.\tDarkness\tfalls\tsuddenly,\tand\tit\tcan\tget\treally\tcold\t.\t.\t.\tI\thaven\u2019t\tseen\tall this\tfor\tyears.\tGo\ton,\tget\tme\ta\tpostcard,\tTopshe.\u2019 Mr\tMajumdar\twas\ttold\tto\texpect\tus\ton\t12\tNovember.\tFeluda\tchose\tthis\tdate,\tkeeping\tin\tmind\tthat\ta letter\tfrom\tCalcutta\twould\ttake\tat\tleast\tthree\tdays\tto\treach\thim. We\ttook\tthe\t365\tUp\tLalgola\tPassenger\tand\treached\tPlassey\tat\t6.30\tp.m.\tI\tsaw\tfrom\tthe\ttrain\twhat Feluda\t had\t meant\t by\t dar kness\t falling \t quickly.\t T he\t last\t ling er ing \t r ays\t o f\t the\t setting \t sun\t disappear ed from\t the\t rice\t fields\t almost\t before\t I\t knew\t it.\t By\t the\t time\t we\t left\t the\t station\t after\t handing\t over\t our tickets\t to \t the\t co llecto r \t at\t the\t g ate,\t all\t lig hts\t had\t been\t switched\t o n,\t altho ug h\t the\t sky\t still\t held\t a\t faint reddish\tglow.\tThe\tcar\tthat\twas\tparked\toutside\thad\tto\tbe\tMr\tMajumdar \u2019s.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\ta\tcar\tlike that.\tFeluda\tsaid\the\tmight\thave\tseen\tone\tor\ttwo\twhen\the\twas\ta\tchild.\tAll\the\tknew\twas\tthat\tit\twas\tan American\t car.\t Its\t colour\t must\t have\t been\t dark\t red\t once,\t but\t now\t the\t paint\t had\t peeled\t off\t in\t many places.\tThe\thood,\ttoo,\tbore\tpatches\there\tand\tthere\tand\tshowed\tsigns\tof\tage.\tIn\tspite\tof\tall\tthis,\tthere was\tsomething\trather\timpressive\tabout\tthe\tcar.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\tfeeling\ta\tcertain\tamount\tof\tawe. A\t car\t like\t that\t ought\t to\t have\t had\t a\t chauffeur\t in\t uniform.\t The\t man\t who\t was\t leaning\t against\t it, smo king \t a\t cig ar ette,\t was\t dr essed\t in\t a\t dho ti\t and\t a\t shir t.\t He\t thr ew\t away\t his\t cig ar ette\t when\t he\t saw\t us","and\tstraightened\thimself.\t\u2018To\tsee\tMr\tMajumdar?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tto\tGhurghutia.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell,\tsir.\tThis\tway,\tplease.\u2019 The\tdriver\topened\ta\tdoor\tfor\tus,\tand\twe\tclimbed\tinto\tthe\tforty-year-old\tcar.\tHe\tthen\twalked\tover to\t the\t front\t of\t the\t car\t to\t crank\t the\t handle,\t which\t made\t the\t engine\t come\t to\t life.\t He\t got\t behind\t the wheel,\t and\t beg an\t dr iving .\t We\t settled\t o ur selves\t co mfo r tably,\t but\t the\t r o ad\t being \t full\t o f\t po tho les\t and the\tsprings\tin\tthe\tseat\tbeing\told,\tour\tcomfort\tdid\tnot\tlast\tfor\tvery\tlong.\tHowever,\tonce\twe\thad\tpassed through\t the\t main\t town\t of\t Plassey\t and\t were\t actually\t out\t in\t the\t country,\t the\t scenery\t became\t so beautiful\t that\t I\t ceased\t to \t feel\t any\t disco mfo r t.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t yet\t to tally\t dar k,\t and\t I\t co uld\t see\t tiny\t villag es across\tlarge\trice\tfields,\tsurrounded\tby\ttrees.\tIn\ttheir\tmidst,\tthe\tmist\trose\tfrom\tthe\tground\tand\tspread like\t a\t smoky\t blanket\t a\t few\t feet\t above\t the\t ground.\t \u2018Pretty\t as\t a\t picture\u2019\t was\t the\t phrase\t that\t came\t to mind. An\t old,\t sprawling\t mansion\t in\t a\t place\t like\t this\t came\t as\t a\t total\t surprise.\t Ten\t minutes\t after\t we started,\t I\t realized\t that\t we\t were\t passing\t through\t private\t land,\t for\t the\t trees\t were\t now\t mango,\t jamun and\t jackfruit.\t The\t road\t then\t turned\t right.\t We\t passed\t a\t broken\t and\t abandoned\t temple,\t and\t suddenly fo und\t o ur selves\t facing \t a\t hug e\t white,\t mo ss-co ver ed\t g ate,\t o n\t the\t to p\t o f\t which\t was\t a\t naubatkhana\t (a music\troom).\tThe\tdriver\tsounded\this\thorn\tthree\ttimes\tbefore\tpassing\tthrough\tthe\tgate.\tThe\tmansion came\tinto\tview\timmediately. The\t last\t traces\t of\t red\t had\t disappeared\t from\t the\t sky,\t leaving\t a\t deep\t purple\t hue.\t The\t dark\t house sto o d\t ag ainst\t the\t sky,\t like\t a\t to wer ing \t cliff.\t We\t g o t\t o ut\t and\t fo llo wed\t the\t dr iver.\t As\t we\t g o t\t clo ser,\t I realized\tthe\twhole\thouse\tcould\tbe\tkept\tin\ta\tmuseum.\tIts\twalls\twere\tall\tdamp,\tplaster\thad\tpeeled\toff\tin several\tplaces,\tand\tsmall\tplants\thad\tgrown\tout\tof\tcracks\tin\tthe\texposed\tbricks.\tWe\tstopped\tbefore\tthe front\tdoor. \u2018No\tone\tin\tthis\tarea\thas\telectricity,\tI\ttake\tit?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No,\t sir.\t For\t nearly\t three\t years,\t all\t we\u2019ve\t heard\t are\t promises.\t But\t nothing\u2019s\t happened\t yet,\u2019\t the driver\treplied. I\tglanced\tup.\tFrom\twhere\tI\twas\tstanding,\ta\tlot\tof\twindows\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor\twere\tvisible.\tBut\teach room\t was\t in\t darkness.\t On\t our\t right,\t through\t a\t couple\t of\t bushes,\t a\t light\t flickered\t in\t a\t tiny\t hut. Perhaps\tthat\twas\twhere\ta\tmali\tor\tchowkidar\tlived.\tI\tshivered\tsilently.\tWhat\tsort\tof\ta\tplace\twas\tthis? Perhaps\tFeluda\tshould\thave\tmade\tmore\tenquiries\tbefore\tagreeing\tto\tcome. Light\tfrom\ta\tlantern\tfell\tin\tthe\tdoorway.\tThen\tan\told\tservant\tappeared\tat\tthe\tdoor.\tThe\tdriver\thad g o ne,\t po ssibly\t to \t put\t the\t car \t away.\t The\t ser vant\t g lanced\t at\t us\t with\t a\t slig ht\t fr o wn,\t then\t said,\t \u2018Please come\tin.\u2019\tWe\tstepped\tin\tbehind\thim. There\t was\t no\t doubt\t that\t the\t house\t sprawled\t over\t a\t large\t area.\t But\t everything\t inside\t it\t seemed surprisingly\tsmall.\tThe\tdoors\twere\tnot\thigh,\tthe\twindows\twere\thalf\tthe\tsize\tof\twindows\tin\tany\thouse in\t Calcutta,\t and\t it\t was\t almost\t possible\t to\t touch\t the\t ceiling\t if\t I\t raised\t my\t arm.\t \u2018This\t house\t clearly belonged\t to\t a\t zamindar.\u2019\t Feluda\t remarked.\t \u2018All\t the\t houses\t built\t by\t zamindars\t in\t the\t villages\t in Bengal\tabout\ttwo\thundred\tyears\tago\twere\tbuilt\tlike\tthis.\u2019 We\tcrossed\ta\tlong\tpassage,\tthen\tturned\tright\tto\tgo\tup\ta\tflight\tof\tstairs.\tA\tstrange\tcontraption\tmet my\t eyes\t as\t we\t got\t to\t the\t first\t floor.\t \u2018This\t is\t called\t a\t \u201ccovered\t door\u201d.\t It\u2019s\t like\t a\t trapdoor,\t really,\u2019 Feluda\ttold\tme.\t\u2018These\twere\tbuilt\tto\tstop\tburglars\tand\tdacoits\tfrom\tgetting\tin.\tIf\tyou\tshut\tit,\tit\twould","cease\tstanding\tupright.\tThen\tit\twould\tfold\tautomatically\tand\tlie\tflat,\tstretching\tdiagonally\tacross,\tto from\t a\t kind\t of\t ceiling\t over\t out\t heads.\t So\t anyone\t trying\t to\t climb\t up\t would\t be\t shut\t out.\t See\t those holes\tin\tthe\tdoor?\tSpears\tused\tto\tbe\tslipped\tout\tof\tthose\tholes\tto\tfight\tintruders.\u2019 Luckily,\t the\t do o r \t was\t no w\t standing \t wide\t o pen.\t We\t beg an\t cr o ssing \t ano ther \t lo ng \t co r r ido r.\t An\t o il lamp\t bur nt\t in\t a\t niche\t in\t the\t wall\t wher e\t it\t ended.\t The\t ser vant\t o pened\t a\t do o r \t next\t to \t this\t niche,\t and ushered\tus\tin. The\troom\twe\tstepped\tinto\twas\tquite\tlarge.\tIt\tmight\thave\tseemed\teven\tlarger\thad\tit\tnot\tbeen\tstuffed with\t so \t much\t fur nitur e.\t Near ly\t half\t o f\t it\t had\t been\t taken\t up\t by\t a\t massive\t bed.\t To \t the\t left\t o f\t this\t bed was\ta\ttable\tand\ta\tchest.\tBesides\tthese,\tthere\twere\tthree\tchairs,\ta\twardrobe,\tand\tbookshelves\tthat\twent right\t up\t to\t the\t ceiling.\t Each\t shelf\t was\t crammed\t with\t books.\t An\t old\t man\t was\t lying\t on\t the\t bed,\t a blanket\t drawn\t upto\t his\t chin.\t In\t the\t flickering\t light\t of\t a\t candle\t I\t saw\t that\t through\t a\t salt-and-pepper beard\tand\tmoustache,\the\twas\tsmiling\tat\tus. \u2018Please\tsit\tdown,\u2019\the\tinvited. \u2018Thank\t you.\t This\t is\t my\t cousin,\t Tapesh.\t I\t wrote\t to\t you\t about\t him,\u2019\t Feluda\t said.\t Mr\t Majumdar smiled\tagain\tand\tnodded.\tI\tnoticed\tthat\the\tdid\tnot\tfold\this\thands\tin\treply\tto\tmy\t\u2018namaskar \u2019. We\ttook\tthe\tchairs\tnearest\tto\tthe\tbed. \u2018My\tletter\tmust\thave\tmade\tyou\tcurious,\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\tobserved\tlightly. \u2018Yes,\tit\tcertainly\tdid.\tOr\tI\u2019d\tnever\thave\ttravelled\tthis\tdistance.\u2019 \u2018Good.\u2019\t Mr\t Majumdar\t looked\t genuinely\t pleased.\t \u2018If\t you\t hadn\u2019t\t come,\t I\t would\t have\t felt\t very disappointed,\t and\t thought\t you\t to\t be\t arrogant;\t and\t you\t would\t have\t missed\t out\t on\t something.\t But perhaps\t you\t have\t read\t these\t books\t already?\u2019\t Mr\t Majumdar \u2019s\t eyes\t turned\t towards\t the\t table.\t Four bound\t volumes\t were\t arranged\t in\t a\t pile\t next\t to\t a\t candle.\t Feluda\t got\t up\t and\t picked\t them\t up.\t \u2018Good heavens!\u2019\the\texclaimed.\t\u2018These\tare\tall\textremely\trare,\tand\tthey\tare\tall\tto\tdo\twith\tmy\tprofession.\tDid you\tever\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\tlaughed,\t\u2018I\tnever\ttried\tto\tbecome\ta\tdetective\tmyself.\tIt\thas\talways\tbeen\ta ho bby.\t Yo u\t see,\t fifty-two \t year s\t ag o ,\t so meo ne\t in\t o ur \t family\t was\t mur der ed.\t An\t Eng lish\t investig ato r called\tMalcolm\tcaught\tthe\tkiller.\tAfter\tspeaking\tto\tMalcolm\tand\tlearning\tsomething\tabout\this\twork, I\t became\t interested\t in\t criminology.\t That\t was\t when\t I\t bought\t those\t books.\t I\t was\t also\t very\t fond\t of reading\tdetective\tnovels.\tHave\tyou\theard\tof\tEmile\tGaboriau?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied\twith\tenthusiasm,\t\u2018wasn\u2019t\the\ta\tFrench\twriter?\tHe\twrote\tthe\tfirst\tdetective novel,\tI\tthink.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tright,\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\tnodded.\t\u2018I\u2019ve\tgot\tall\this\tbooks.\tAnd,\tof\tcourse,\tbooks\tby\twriters\tlike Edgar\tAllan\tPoe\tand\tConan\tDoyle.\tI\tbought\tall\tthese\tforty\tyears\tago.\tOf\tlate,\tI\tbelieve,\tthere\thas\tbeen a\tlot\tof\tprogress,\tand\tnow\tthere\tare\tmany\tscientific\tand\ttechnical\tways\tto\tcatch\ta\tcriminal.\tBut\tfrom what\tlittle\tI\tknow\tof\tyour\twork,\tyou\tstrike\tme\tas\tone\twho\tdepends\tmore\ton\told-fashioned\tmethods, and\tuses\this\tbrain\tmore\tthan\tanything\telse,\tvery\tsuccessfully.\tAm\tI\tright?\u2019 \u2018I\tdo\tnot\tknow\thow\tsuccessful\tI\u2019ve\tbeen,\tbut\tyou\u2019re\tcertainly\tright\tabout\tmy\tmethods.\u2019 \u2018That\tis\twhy\tI\tasked\tyou\tto\tvisit\tme.\u2019 Mr\tMajumdar\tpaused.\tFeluda\treturned\tto\this\tchair.\tAfter\ta\twhile,\tMr\tMajumdar\tresumed\tspeaking, staring\tstraight\tat\tthe\tflame\tof\tthe\tcandle.\t\u2018I\tam\tnot\tonly\told\u2014I\tcrossed\tseventy\tsome\tyears\tago\u2014but","also\tailing.\tGod\tknows\twhat\u2019s\tgoing\tto\thappen\tto\tmy\tbooks\twhen\tI\tdie.\tSo\tI\tthought\tif\tI\tcould\tgive you\ta\tfew,\tthey\u2019d\tbe\tappreciated\tand\tlooked\tafter.\u2019 Feluda\tlooked\tat\tthe\tbooks\tin\tthe\tshelves\tin\tsurprise.\t\u2018Are\tall\tof\tthose\tyour\town?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes.\t I\t was\t the\t only\t one\t in\t my\t family\t with\t an\t interest\t in\t books.\t Criminology\t wasn\u2019t\t the\t only subject\tthat\theld\tmy\tinterest,\tas\tyou\tcan\tsee.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t of\t course.\t I\t can\t see\t books\t on\t archaeology,\t painting,\t gardening,\t history,\t biographies, travelogues\t.\t.\t.\teven\tdrama\tand\tthe\ttheatre!\tSome\tof\tthem\tappear\tto\tbe\tnew.\tDo\tyou\tstill\tbuy\tbooks?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tI\thave\ta\tmanager\tcalled\tRajen.\tHe\tgoes\tto\tCalcutta\ttwo\tor\tthree\ttimes\tevery\tmonth.\tI\tmake him\ta\tlist\tof\tbooks,\tand\the\tgoes\tand\tgets\tthem\tfrom\tCollege\tStreet.\u2019 Feluda\tlooked\tonce\tmore\tat\tthe\tbooks\tkept\ton\tthe\ttable.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tto\tthank\tyou.\u2019 \u2018You\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto.\tIt\twould\thave\tgiven\tme\ta\tlot\tof\tpleasure\tif\tI\tcould\tactually\thand\tthem\tover\tto you\tmyself,\tbut\tboth\tmy\thands\tare\tuseless.\u2019 Startled,\twe\tstared\tat\thim.\tHis\thands\twere\thidden\tunder\tthe\tblanket,\tbut\tI\twould\tnever\thave\tthought that\tthat\thad\ta\tspecial\tsignificance. \u2018Arthritis,\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\texplained,\t\u2018has\taffected\tall\tmy\tfingers.\tMy\tson\thappens\tto\tbe\tvisiting\tme at\t the\t moment,\t so\t he\u2019s\t looking\t after\t me\t now.\t Usually,\t it\t is\t my\t servant\t Gokul\t who\t feeds\t me\t every day.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tget\tyour\tson\tto\twrite\tthe\tletter\tto\tme?\u2019 \u2018No,\t Rajen\t wrote\t it.\t He\t takes\t care\t of\t everything.\t If\t I\t need\t to\t see\t a\t doctor,\t he\t fetches\t one\t from Behrampore.\tPlassey\tdoesn\u2019t\thave\tgood\tdoctors.\u2019 I\thad\tnoticed\tFeluda\tcasting\tfrequent\tglances\tat\tthe\tchest\tkept\tnear\tthe\tbed\twhile\the\twas\ttalking\tto Mr\tMajumdar.\t\u2018That\tchest\tappears\tto\tbe\tdifferent\tfrom\tmost,\u2019\the\tnow\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tsee\tany\tprovision for\ta\tkey.\tDoes\tit\thave\ta\tcombination\tlock?\u2019 \u2018Correct,\u2019\t Mr\t Majumdar\t smiled.\t \u2018All\t it\t has\t is\t a\t knob,\t with\t numbers\t written\t around\t it.\t The\t chest opens\t only\t if\t you\t move\t the\t knob\t to\t rest\t against\t some\t specific\t numbers.\t These\t areas\t were\t once notorious\t for\t armed\t burglars.\t You\t knew\t that,\t didn\u2019t\t you?\t In\t fact,\t my\t ancestors\t became\t wealthy eno ug h\t to \t buy\t masses\t o f\t land\t chiefly\t by\t lo o ting \t o ther s.\t Year s\t later,\t we\t o ur selves\t wer e\t attacked\t by dacoits,\tmore\tthan\tonce.\tSo\tI\tthought\ta\tchest\twith\ta\tcombination\tlock\tmight\tbe\tsafer\tthan\tany\tother.\u2019 Mr\tMajumdar\tstopped\tspeaking,\tand\tfrowned\tfor\ta\tsecond.\tThen\the\tcalled,\t\u2018Gokul!\u2019 The\told\tservant\tappeared\talmost\tinstantly.\t\u2018Bring\tthat\tbird\tover\there,\u2019\this\tmaster\tcommanded.\t\u2018I\u2019d like\tthese\tpeople\tto\tsee\tit.\u2019 Gokul\tdisappeared\tand\tcame\tback\ta\tminute\tlater\twith\ta\tparrot\tin\ta\tcage.\tMr\tMajumdar\tturned\tto\tit and\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\u2018Go\ton,\tsweetie.\tSay\tit.\tShut\tthe\tdoor\t.\t.\t.\tsay\tit!\u2019 For\ta\tfew\tseconds,\tnothing\thappened.\tThen,\tsuddenly,\tthe\tparrot\tspoke\tin\tan\tamazingly\tclear\tvoice. \u2018Shut\tthe\tdoor!\u2019\tit\tsaid.\tI\tgave\ta\tstart.\tI\thad\tnever\theard\ta\tbird\tspeak\tso\tdistinctly.\tBut\tthat\twasn\u2019t\tall. \u2018O\tbig\tfat\then!\u2019\tthe\tbird\tadded.\tThis\ttime,\tI\tsaw\tFeluda\tturn\this\thead\tsharply.\tBefore\tanyone\tcould\tsay anything,\tthe\tparrot\tsaid\tboth\tthings\ttogether,\tvery\trapidly:\t\u2018Shut\tthe\tdoor,\tO\tbig\tfat\then!\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tit\tmean?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tafter\ta\tmoment\u2019s\tpause.\tMr\tMajumdar\tburst\tout\tlaughing.\t\u2018I\tam no t\t g o ing \t to \t tell\t yo u.\t All\t I\t can\t say\t is\t that\t what\t yo u\t just\t hear d\t was\t a\t co de,\t and\t it\t has\t to \t do \t with\t that locked\tchest\tover\tthere.\tYou\thave\ttwelve\thours\tto\twork\tit\tout.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tMay\tI\task\twhy\tthe\tbird\thas\tbeen\ttaught\tto\tsay\tit?\u2019","\u2018You\tmay\tindeed,\tand\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\ttell\tyou\twhy.\tAge\tdoes\tstrange\tthings\tto\tone\u2019s\tmemory.\tAbout three\tyears\tago,\tone\tday,\tI\tsuddenly\tdiscovered\tthat\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember\tthe\tcombination\tthat\twould open\tthe\tchest.\tCan\tyou\tbelieve\tthat?\tAfter\tusing\tthe\tsame\tnumbers\tfor\tyears,\talmost\tevery\tday,\tit\thad simply\tvanished\tfrom\tmy\tmind,\tjust\tlike\tthat.\tAll\tday,\tI\ttried\tto\tremember\tthe\tnumbers.\tThen,\tfinally, it\tcame\tback\tin\ta\tflash,\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight.\tI\tcould\thave\twritten\tit\tdown,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto,\tin case\tit\tfell\tinto\tthe\twrong\thands.\tIt\twas\tfar\tbetter\tto\tkeep\tit\tin\tmy\thead,\tbut\tnow\tI\trealized\tI\tcould\tno longer\tdepend\tort\tmy\tmemory.\tSo\tthe\tnext\tmorning,\tI\tmade\tup\tthat\tcode\tand\ttaught\tmy\tparrot\tto\tsay it.\tNow\tit\tsays\tit\tevery\tnow\tand\tthen,\tjust\tas\tother\tparrots\tsay,\t\u201cRadhey\tShyam\u201d\tor\t\u201chow\tare\tyou?\u201d\u2019 Feluda\twas\tstill\tstaring\tat\tthe\tchest.\tI\tsaw\thim\tfrown\tsuddenly\tand\tget\tup\tto\tpeer\tat\tit\tclosely.\tThen he\tpicked\tup\tthe\tcandle\tand\tbegan\texamining\tits\tlid. \u2018What\tis\tit?\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\tasked\tanxiously.\t\u2018What\thave\tyou\tfound?\tDo\tyour\ttrained\teyes\ttell\tyou anything?\u2019 \u2018I\tthink,\tMr\tMajumdar,\tsomeone\ttried\tto\tforce\tthis\tchest\topen.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tsure?\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\thad\tstopped\tsmiling. Feluda\t put\t the\t candle\t back\t o n\t the\t table.\t \u2018Ther e\t ar e\t so me\t mar ks\t o n\t it,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Or dinar y\t dusting and\tcleaning\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tleft\tmarks\tlike\tthose.\tBut\tis\tthere\tanyone\twho\u2019d\twant\tto\topen\tit?\u2019 Mr\tMajumdar\tthought\tfor\ta\tmoment.\tThen\the\tsaid\tslowly,\t\u2018Not\tmany\tpeople\tlive\there,\tMr\tMitter. Apar t\t fr o m\t myself,\t ther e\u2019s\t Go kul,\t Rajen,\t my\t dr iver \t Mo nilal,\t a\t co o k\t and\t a\t mali.\t Vishwanath\u2014that\u2019s my\t so n\u2014ar r ived\t five\t days\t ag o .\t He\t lives\t in\t Calcutta\t and\t visits\t me\t r ar ely.\t He\u2019s\t her e\t no w\t because\t o f my\t illness.\t Yo u\t see,\t last\t Mo nday\t I\t had\t been\t sitting \t in\t the\t g ar den.\t When\t I\t tr ied\t to \t g et\t up,\t ever ything suddenly\twent\tdark\tand\tI\tfell\tdown\ton\tthe\tbench.\tRajen\trang\tVishwanath\tfrom\tPlassey,\tand\the\tcame the\tnext\tday\twith\ta\tdoctor\tfrom\tCalcutta.\tIt\tappears\tto\thave\tbeen\ta\tmild\tstroke.\tIn\tany\tcase,\tI\tknow\tI haven\u2019t\tgot\tlong\tto\tlive.\tBut\t.\t.\t.\tdon\u2019t\ttell\tme\tI\thave\tto\tspend\tmy\tlast\tfew\tdays\tin\tdoubt\tand\tanxiety? Always\tafraid\tthat\ta\tthief\tmight\tget\tinto\tmy\troom\tand\tforce\topen\tthat\tchest?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tThere\tis\tno\tneed\tto\tjump\tto\tconclusions.\tI\tmay\tbe\tquite\twrong,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\treassuringly. \u2018Those\t marks\t may\t have\t appeared\t when\t the\t chest\t was\t first\t installed\t in\t that\t corner.\t I\t can\u2019t\t see\t very clearly\t in\t the\t light\t from\t one\t candle,\t so\t I\t cannot\t tell\t whether\t those\t marks\t are\t old\t or\t new.\t I\u2019ll\t have another\tlook\tin\tthe\tmorning.\tIs\tyour\tservant\ttrustworthy?\u2019 \u2018Absolutely,\tHe\u2019s\tbeen\twith\tme\tfor\tthirty\tyears.\u2019 \u2018And\tRajen?\u2019 \u2018Rajen\t has\t also \t spent\t a\t g o o d\t many\t year s\t her e.\t But\t then,\t wher e\u2019s\t the\t g uar antee\t that\t so meo ne\t who has\thonoured\tmy\ttrust\tuntil\ttoday\twon\u2019t\tbetray\tit\ttomorrow?\u2019 Feluda\tnodded\tin\tagreement.\t\u2018No,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tguarantee\tat\tall,\tunfortunately.\tAnyway,\ttell\tGokul\tto keep\tan\teye\ton\tthings.\tI\tdon\u2019t\treally\tthink\tthere\u2019s\tany\timmediate\tdanger.\u2019 \u2018Oh.\tGood.\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\tappeared\trelieved.\tWe\trose. \u2018Gokul\t will\t show\t you\t your\t room,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018You\u2019ll\t find\t blankets\t and\t quilts\t and\t mosquito\t nets. Vishwanath\thas\tgone\tto\tBehrampore,\the\tshould\tbe\tgetting\tback\tsoon.\tYou\tmust\thave\tyour\tdinner\tas so o n\t as\t he\t r etur ns.\t To mo r r o w\t mo r ning ,\t if\t yo u\t like,\t yo u\t can\t g o \t fo r \t a\t r ide\t in\t my\t car,\t tho ug h\t ther e isn\u2019t\tmuch\tto\tsee\tin\tthis\tarea.\u2019 Feluda\t picked\t up\t the\t bo o ks\t fr o m\t the\t table\t and\t thanked\t him\t ag ain.\t Befo r e\t saying \t g o o d\t nig ht,\t Mr Majumdar\treminded\thim\tabout\tthe\tcode.\t\u2018If\tyou\tcan\tcrack\tit,\tMr\tMitter,\tI\twill\tgive\tyou\tthe\twhole\tset","by\tGaboriau.\u2019 Gokul\tcame\tback\twith\ta\tlantern\tand\ttook\tus\tto\tour\troom.\tIt\twas\tsmaller\tthan\tMr\tMajumdar \u2019s\tbut with\t less\t fur nitur e,\t which\t made\t it\t easier \t to \t mo ve\t abo ut.\t Two \t beds\t had\t been\t made\t with\t co nsider able care.\tA\tlantern\tburnt\tin\ta\tcorner.\tFeluda\tsat\tdown\ton\tthe\tspotless\tsheet\tthat\tcovered\this\tbed,\tand\tsaid, \u2018Can\tyou\tremember\tthe\tcode?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Very\t well.\t Here\u2019s\t my\t notebook\t and\t a\t pen.\t Write\t it\t down.\t I\t would\t love\t to\t get\t those\t books\t by Gaboriau.\u2019 I\t wrote\t the\t words\t down.\t None\t of\t it\t made\t any\t sense.\t How\t on\t earth\t was\t Feluda\t going\t to\t find\t its meaning? \u2018I\t simply\t cannot\t see\t how\t the\t numbers\t for\t a\t combination\t lock\t can\t be\t hidden\t in\t this\t strange message!\u2019\tI\tcomplained.\t\u2018I\tmean,\tthis\tis\tpure\tnonsense,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tHow\tcan\ta\then\tshut\ta\tdoor?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\twhere\tthe\tchallenge\tlies,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tsee?\tNobody\u2019s\tactually\tasking\ta\then\tto\tshut\ta\tdoor.\tThat much\t is\t o bvio us.\t Each\t wo r d\t has\t a\t separ ate\t meaning .\t I\t have\t to \t fig ur e\t it\t o ut\t so meho w\t by\t to mo r r o w morning.\u2019 Feluda\tgot\tup\tand\topened\ta\twindow.\tThe\tmoon\thad\trisen\tby\tthis\ttime,\tand\teverything\twas\tbathed\tin moonlight.\tI\twent\tand\tstood\tby\this\tside.\tOur\troom\toverlooked\tthe\trear\tportion\tof\tthe\thouse.\t\u2018There\u2019s probably\t a\t pond\t over\t there\t on\t the\t right,\u2019\t Feluda\t remarked,\t pointing.\t Through\t a\t thick\t growth\t of plants\t and\t shrubs,\t I\t could\t see\t the\t shimmering\t surface\t of\t water.\t The\t only\t noise\t that\t could\t be\t heard was\t that\t of\t jackals\t calling\t in\t the\t distance,\t and\t crickets\t chirping\t in\t the\t bushes.\t Never\t before\t had\t I visited\ta\tplace\tso\ttotally\tisolated\tand\tremote. Feluda\t shut\t the\t window\t again\t to\t keep\t out\t the\t cold\t night\t air.\t In\t the\t same\t instant,\t we\t heard\t a\t car arrive.\tIt\twas\tobviously\ta\tdifferent\tcar,\tnot\tthe\tAmerican\tone\twe\thad\ttravelled\tin. \u2018That\u2019s\tprobably\tVishwanath\tMajumdar,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked.\tGood,\tI\tthought.\tThis\tmight\tmean\twe\u2019d soon\t be\t called\t in\t to\t dinner.\t To\t tell\t the\t truth,\t I\t was\t feeling\t quite\t hungry.\t We\t had\t left\t after\t an\t early lunch,\t since\t our\t train\t was\t at\t two\t o\u2019clock.\t We\t did\t get\t ourselves\t a\t cup\t of\t tea\t and\t some\t sweets\t at Ranaghat,\tbut\teven\tthat\twas\ta\tlong\ttime\tago.\tOrdinarily,\tI\twould\tprobably\tnot\tbe\tthinking\tof\tfood\tat eight\tin\tthe\tevening,\tbut\tsince\tthere\twas\tnothing\telse\tto\tdo\tin\ta\tplace\tlike\tthis,\tI\tquite\tliked\tthe\tidea\tof dinner\tand\tan\tearly\tnight. Looking\taround\tin\tthe\troom,\tmy\teyes\tsuddenly\tfell\tupon\tsomething\tI\thadn\u2019t\tnoticed\tbefore.\tIt\twas the\tportrait\tof\ta\tman\tthat\ttook\tup\tmost\tof\tthe\topposite\twall.\tThere\tcould\tbe\tno\tdoubt\tthat\the\twas\tone of\tMr\tMajumdar \u2019s\tancestors.\tHe\twas\tsitting\tin\ta\tchair,\tlooking\trather\tgrim.\tHis\ttorso\twas\tbare,\twhich showed\t to\t perfection\t his\t very\t broad\t shoulders.\t His\t eyes\t were\t large,\t and\t his\t moustache\t thick,\t its edges\tturning\tupwards.\tHis\thair\trippled\tdown\tto\this\tshoulders. \u2018I\tbet\the\tused\tto\twrestle,\tand\tuse\theavy\tclubs\tregularly,\u2019\tFeluda\twhispered.\t\u2018Perhaps\the\twas\tthe\tfirst bandit\twho\tbecame\ta\tzamindar.\u2019 There\t were\t footsteps\t outside.\t Both\t of\t us\t looked\t at\t the\t door.\t Gokul\t had\t left\t a\t lantern\t on\t the veranda.\tA\tshadow\tblocked\tout\tits\tlight\tfor\ta\tsecond,\tthen\tfell\ton\tthe\tthreshold.\tIt\twas\tfollowed\tby\tthe figure\t of\t a\t man.\t Could\t this\t be\t Vishwanath\t Majumdar?\t Surely\t not?\t This\t man\t was\t wearing\t a\t short dhoti\tand\ta\tgrey\tkurta,\thad\ta\tbushy\tmoustache\tand\tglasses\twith\tthick\tlenses.\tHe\twas\tpeering\tinto\tthe room,\ttrying\tto\tfind\tus.","\u2018What\tis\tit,\tRajen\tBabu?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. Rajen\tBabu\tfinally\tfound\twhat\the\twas\tlooking\tfor.\tHis\teyes\tcame\tto\trest\tupon\tFeluda. \u2018Chhoto\t Babu\t has\t just\t returned,\u2019\t he\t said\t in\t a\t gruff\t voice\t that\t suggested\t he\t might\t have\t a\t cold.\t \u2018I have\tasked\tGokul\tto\tserve\tdinner.\tHe\u2019ll\tcome\tand\tcall\tyou\tin\ta\tfew\tminutes.\u2019 He\tleft.\t\u2018What\tis\tthat\tsmell,\tFeluda?\u2019\tI\tasked\tas\tsoon\tas\the\thad\tgone. \u2018Naphthalene.\tI\tthink\the\tjust\ttook\tthat\twoollen\tkurta\tout\tof\ta\tsuitcase\tand\tput\tit\ton.\u2019 Silence\tfell\tonce\tmore\tas\tthe\tsound\tof\tfootsteps\tfaded\taway.\tHad\tFeluda\tnot\tbeen\twith\tme,\tI\tcould never\thave\tspent\teven\tfive\tminutes\tin\tsuch\tan\teerie\tatmosphere.\tHow\tdid\tMr\tMajumdar\tand\tthe\tothers manage\t to\t live\t here\t day\t after\t day?\t Suddenly,\t I\t remembered\t someone\t had\t been\t murdered\t in\t this house.\tGod\tknew\tin\twhich\troom\tit\thad\ttaken\tplace. Feluda,\tin\tthe\tmeantime,\thad\tdragged\tthe\ttable\twith\tthe\tlantern\ton\tit\tcloser\tto\this\tbed\tand\topened his\tnotebook\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\tcode.\tI\theard\thim\tmutter,\t\u2018Shut\tthe\tdoor\t.\t.\t.\tshut\tthe\tdoor\t.\t.\t.\u2019\ta\tcouple\tof times.\tThoroughly\tbored,\tI\tdecided\tto\tstep\tout\tof\tthe\troom\tand\tstand\ton\tthe\tveranda\toutside. Oh\t God,\t what\t was\t that?\t My\t heart\t nearly\t jumped\t into\t my\t mouth.\t Something\t was\t moving\t in\t the distance,\twhere\tthe\tfaint\tlight\tfrom\tthe\tlantern\tgave\tway\tto\tcomplete\tdarkness.\tI\tforced\tmyself\tto\tstay silent\tand\tstared\tat\tthe\tmoving\tobject.\tA\tcouple\tof\tseconds\tlater,\tI\trealized\tit\twas\tonly\ta\tcat,\tnot\tblack or\twhite,\tbut\tone\twith\tstripes\ton\tits\tbody\tlike\ta\ttiger.\tIt\treturned\tmy\tstare\tsombrely,\tthen\tgave\ta\tyawn before\twalking\tlazily\tback\tinto\tthe\tdarkness.\tA\tfew\tmoments\tlater,\tthe\tparrot\tgave\ta\traucous\tcry,\tand then\t all\t was\t silent\t once\t more.\t I\t wondered\t where\t Vishwanath\t Majumdar \u2019s\t room\t was.\t Was\t it\t on\t the ground\t floor?\t Where\t did\t Rajen\t Babu\t live?\t Why\t had\t we\t been\t given\t a\t room\t from\t which\t it\t was impossible\tto\thear\tnoises\tin\tother\tparts\tof\tthe\thouse? I\tcame\tback\tto\tthe\troom.\tFeluda\twas\tsitting\tcrosslegged\ton\tthe\tbed,\this\tnotebook\tin\this\tlap.\t\u2018Why ar e\t they\t taking \t so \t lo ng ?\u2019\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t help\t so unding \t cr o ss.\t Feluda\t lo o ked\t at\t his\t watch.\t \u2018Yo u\u2019r e\t r ig ht, Topshe.\tRajen\tBabu\tleft\tat\tleast\tfifteen\tminutes\tago.\u2019\tHe\tthen\twent\tback\tto\tstaring\tat\this\tnotebook. I\t beg an\t g o ing \t thr o ug h\t the\t bo o ks\t Feluda\t had\t been\t g iven.\t One\t was\t o n\t analysing \t fing er pr ints,\t o ne was\t simply\t called\t Criminology,\t and\t the\t third\t was\t called\t Crime\t and\t its\t Detection.\t I\t picked\t up\t the fourth,\tbut\tcould\tnot\tunderstand\twhat\tits\tname\tmeant.\tIt\twas\tfull\tof\tpictures,\tchiefly\tof\tfirearms.\tHad Feluda\tbrought\this\trevolver? No,\twhy\tshould\the?\tAfter\tall,\the\thadn\u2019t\tcome\there\tto\tsolve\ta\tcrime.\tThere\twas\tno\treason\tfor\thim to\t have\t brought\t his\t revolver.\t I\t put\t the\t books\t in\t our\t suitcase\t and\t was\t about\t to\t sit\t down,\t when\t the sound\t of\t an\t unfamiliar\t voice\t startled\t me\t again.\t Another\t man\t was\t standing\t at\t the\t door.\t This\t time, there\twas\tno\tproblem\tin\trecognizing\thim.\tHe\twasn\u2019t\tGokul,\tor\tRajen\tBabu,\tor\tthe\tdriver\tMondal.\tHe had\tto\tbe\tKalikinkar \u2019s\tson,\tVishwanath. \u2018Sorry\t to\t have\t kept\t you\t waiting,\u2019\t he\t said,\t folding\t his\t hands\t and\t looking\t at\t Feluda.\t \u2018My\t name\t is Vishwanath\tMajumdar.\u2019 Now\tI\tcould\tsee\tthat\the\tresembled\this\tfather\tto\ta\tgreat\tdegree.\tHe\thad\tthe\tsame\teyes\tand\tthe\tsame nose.\tHe\twas\tprobably\tin\this\tmid-forties.\tHis\thair\twas\tstill\tblack,\the\twas\tclean-shaven\tand\thad\tvery thin\tlips.\tI\ttook\tan\tinstant\tdislike\tto\thim,\tthough\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tfind\ta\tproper\treason\tfor\tit.\tIt\twas\tperhaps simply\t because\t he\t had\t made\t us\t wait\t a\t lo ng \t time,\t and\t I\t was\t tir ed.\t Or \t it\t co uld\t be\t that\u2014but\t this\t co uld just\tbe\tmy\timagination\u2014when\the\tsmiled,\this\teyes\tremained\tcold\tand\taloof.\tHe\tseemed\tas\tthough\the wasn\u2019t\treally\tpleased\tto\tsee\tus.\tPerhaps\tit\twas\tonly\tour\tdeparture\tthat\twould\tmake\thim\thappy.","Feluda\tand\tI\twent\twith\thim\tdown\tto\tthe\tground\tfloor\tto\tthe\tdining\troom.\tI\thad\thalf\texpected\tto\tbe asked\tto\tsit\tdown\ton\tthe\tfloor\tfor\ta\ttraditional\tmeal,\tbut\tfound\tto\tmy\tsurprise\tthat\tthere\twas\ta\tdining table.\tSilver\tplates\tand\tbowls\tand\tglasses\twere\tplaced\ton\tit. When\t we\t were\t all\t seated,\t Vishwanath\t Majumdar\t said,\t \u2018I\t like\t having\t a\t bath\t twice\t a\t day,\t be\t it summer\tor\twinter.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\ttook\tso\tlong,\tI\u2019m\tafraid.\u2019 He\twas\tstill\treeking\tof\tperfumed\tsoap\tand,\tpossibly,\tan\texpensive\tcologne.\tClad\tin\tgrey\ttrousers,\ta white\tsilk\tshirt\tand\ta\tdark\tgreen\tsleeveless\tpullover,\the\twas\tclearly\ta\tman\tfond\tof\tthe\tgood\tthings\tin life. We\t began\t eating.\t Several\t little\t bowls\t were\t placed\t in\t a\t semicircle\t around\t our\t plates,\t each containing\ta\tdifferent\tdish.\tThere\twere\tthree\tdifferent\tvegetables,\tdaal\tand\tfish\tcurry. \u2018Have\t you\t spoken\t to\t my\t father?\u2019\t Vishwanath\t Majumdar\t asked.\t \u2018Yes.\t I\t am\t rather\t embarrassed\t by what\the\tdid.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tthe\tbooks\the\tgave\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tEven\tif\tthose\tbooks\twere\tstill\tavailable,\tthey\twould\thave\tcost\tat\tleast\ta\tthousand\trupees.\u2019 Vishwanath\t Majumdar\t laughed.\t \u2018When\t he\t told\t me\t he\t had\t asked\t you\t to\t come\t here,\t I\t was\t at\t first quite\tannoyed\twith\thim,\u2019\the\ttold\tus.\t\u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tit\twas\tfair\tto\tinvite\tpeople\tfrom\tthe\tcity\tto\ta\tplace like\tthis.\u2019 \u2018Why\tnot?\u2019\tFeluda\tprotested.\t\u2018Why\tshould\tyou\thave\tobjected\tto\tthat?\tI\thave\tlost\tnothing\tby\tcoming here.\tOn\tthe\tcontrary,\tI\thave\tgained\tsuch\ta\tlot!\u2019 Vishwanath\t Majumdar\t did\t not\t pay\t much\t attention\t to\t these\t words.\t \u2018Speaking\t for\t myself,\u2019\t he declared,\t\u2018I\u2019d\tbe\tperfectly\thappy\tto\tgo\tback\ttomorrow.\tThe\tlast\tfour\tdays\thave\tbeen\tquite\tenough\tfor me,\tthank\tyou.\tI\thave\tno\tidea\thow\tmy\tfather\tcan\tlive\there\tpermanently.\u2019 \u2018Doesn\u2019t\the\tgo\tout\tat\tall?\u2019 \u2018No.\tHe\tspends\tmost\tof\this\ttime\tin\tthat\tdark\troom.\tHe\tused\tto\tgo\tout\tand\tsit\tin\tthe\tgarden\ta\tcouple of\ttimes\tevery\tday.\tBut\tnow\tthe\tdoctor\thas\tforbidden\tall\tmovement.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsay\tyou\twere\treturning\ttomorrow?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tFather\tis\tnot\tin\tany\timmediate\tdanger.\tWill\tyou\tbe\tcatching\tthe\ttrain\tat\thalf\tpast\tten?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tThat\tmeans\tI\tshall\tleave\tsoon\tafter\tyou\tget\tto\tthe\tstation.\u2019\tFeluda\tpoured\tdaal\tover\this\trice. \u2018Your\tfather\tis\tinterested\tin\tso\tmany\tdifferent\tsubjects.\tAre\tyou\tinterested\tin\tanything\tother\tthan\tyour business?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tI\tsimply\tdon\u2019t\thave\tthe\ttime\tfor\tanything\telse\tonce\tmy\tday\u2019s\twork\tis\tdone.\tI\tam\tentirely happy\tbeing\ta\tbusinessman,\tand\tno\tmore.\u2019 By\tthe\ttime\twe\tsaid\tgood\tnight\tto\tVishwanath\tMajumdar\tand\treturned\tto\tour\troom,\tit\twas\thalf\tpast nine.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t really\t matter\t what\t time\t my\t watch\t showed,\t for\t time\t seemed\t to\t have\t very\t little significance\there.\tSeven\to\u2019clock\thad\tseemed\tlike\tmidnight. \u2018Do\tyou\tmind\tif\tI\tkeep\tmy\tpillow\ton\tthe\tother\tside?\u2019\tI\tasked\tFeluda. \u2018No,\tbut\twhy\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tdo\tthat?\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tno\twish\tto\tsee\tthat\tgrim\tface\ton\tthe\twall\tthe\tminute\tI\topen\tmy\teyes\tin\tthe\tmorning.\u2019 Feluda\tlaughed.\t\u2018All\tright.\tI\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tdo\tthe\tsame,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tmust\tsay\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tthe\tlook\tin\this eyes,\teither.\u2019","Just\tbefore\tgoing\tto\tbed,\tFeluda\tpicked\tup\tthe\tlantern\tand\tturned\tits\tlight\tdown.\tThe\troom\tseemed to\tshrink\tin\tsize.\tIn\tjust\ta\tfew\tminutes,\tI\tcould\tfeel\tmy\teyes\tgrowing\theavy\twith\tsleep.\tBut,\tjust\tas\tI was\tabout\tto\tdrop\toff,\tI\theard\tFeluda\tmuttering,\twhich\tmade\tme\topen\tthem\tat\tonce. \u2018Shut\tthe\tdoor\t.\t.\t.\tand\topen\tthe\tgate\t.\t.\t.\tno,\tthat\u2019s\twrong.\tPick\tup\tsticks.\tYes,\tthat\tcomes\tfirst.\u2019 \u2018Feluda!\u2019\t I\t cried,\t slightly\t alarmed.\t \u2018Wake\t up,\t Feluda!\t You\t are\t talking\t in\t your\t sleep.\t What\u2019s\t the matter\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\t no,\u2019\t I\t heard\t him\t chuckle\t in\t the\t darkness.\t \u2018I\t am\t fully\t awake,\t and\t no,\t I\t haven\u2019t\t gone\t mad,\t I assure\tyou.\tWhat\thas\tjust\thappened,\tTopshe,\tis\tthat\tI\tthink\tI\u2019ve\twon\tthat\tset\tby\tGaboriau.\u2019 \u2018What!\tYou\u2019ve\tcracked\tthe\tcode?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tthink\tso.\tIt\twas\tactually\tridiculously\tsimple.\tI\tshould\thave\tspotted\tit\tat\tonce.\u2019 \u2018It\tstill\tmakes\tno\tsense\tto\tme.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tonly\tbecause\tyou\taren\u2019t\tthinking.\tHow\twere\tyou\ttaught\tto\tcount\twhen\tyou\twere\ta\tchild?\u2019 \u2018Very\tsimply.\tOne,\ttwo,\tthree,\tfour\t.\t.\t.\tthat\twas\tall.\u2019 \u2018Was\t it?\t Think,\t dear\t boy,\t think.\t Did\t no\t one\t try\t to\t make\t it\t easier\t for\t you?\t Weren\u2019t\t you\t taught\t a rhyme?\u2019 \u2018A\trhyme\tto\tgo\twith\tnumbers?\tYou\tmean\tsomething\tthat\tbegan\twith\tone,\ttwo\t.\t.\t.\tno,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\t.\t. .\they,\twait\ta\tminute!\tFeluda,\tFeluda,\tI\tknow\twhat\tyou\tmean!\tYes,\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tit.\u2019\tI\tsat\tup\tin\texcitement.\tI could\tdimly\tsee\tFeluda\tturn\this\thead\tto\tlook\tat\tme.\tHe\twas\tgrinning. \u2018Very\twell.\tLet\u2019s\thave\tit,\tthen.\u2019 Softly,\tI\tbegan\tto\tchant\ta\trhyme\tI\thad\tbeen\ttaught\tin\tnursery\tschool: \u2018One,\ttwo Buckle\tmy\tshoe.\t Three,\tfour\t Shut\tthe\tdoor.\t Five,\tsix\t Pick\tup\tsticks.\t Seven,\teight\t Open\tthe\tgate.\t N ine,\tten\t A\tbig\tfat\then.\t Eleven,\ttwelve\t Dig\tand\tdelve\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019ll\tdo.\tNow\twhat\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthe\tfull\tmessage\tmeans?\u2019 \u2018Shut\tthe\tdoor\t.\t.\t.\tthat\twould\tmean\tthree\tand\tfour.\tBig\tfat\then\twould\tmean\tnine\tand\tten.\tRight?\u2019 \u2018Rig ht.\t But\t ther e\u2019s\t an\t \u201cO\u201d\t befo r e\t \u201cbig \t fat\t hen\u201d.\t That\t means\t the\t who le\t number \t is\t 340910.\t Simple, isn\u2019t\tit?\tNow,\tgo\tto\tsleep.\u2019 I\t lay\t down\t again,\t marvelling\t at\t Feluda\u2019s\t cleverness.\t But\t just\t as\t I\t began\t to\t close\t my\t eyes\t once more,\t footsteps\t sounded\t on\t the\t veranda.\t It\t was\t Rajen\t Babu\t again.\t What\t did\t he\t want\t at\t this\t time\t of night? \u2018Yes,\tRajen\tBabu?\u2019\tFeluda\tcalled. \u2018Chhoto\tBabu\ttold\tme\tto\tfind\tout\tif\tyou\tneeded\tanything.\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tWe\u2019re\tfine,\tthank\tyou.\u2019","Rajen\tBabu\tdisappeared\tsilently.\tThis\ttime,\tsleep\tcame\tvery\tquickly.\tAll\tI\twas\taware\tof\tas\tI\tclosed my\t eyes\t was\t that\t the\t moonlight\t that\t had\t seeped\t through\t closed\t shutters\t had\t suddenly\t gone\t pale.\t I thought\tI\theard\tdistant\tthunder,\tand\tthe\tcat\tmeeaowed\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes.\tThen\tI\tfell\tasleep. When\tI\twoke\tin\tthe\tmorning,\tFeluda\twas\topening\tthe\twindows.\t\u2018It\trained\tlast\tnight,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Did you\thear\tit?\u2019 I\thadn\u2019t.\tBut\tnow\tI\tcould\tsee\tthrough\tthe\twindow\tthat\tthe\tclouds\thad\tgone.\tThe\tsun\tshone\tbrightly on\tthe\tleaves\tI\tcould\tsee\tfrom\tmy\tbed. Gokul\t appeared\t with\t two\t cups\t of\t tea\t half\t an\t hour\t later.\t Looking\t at\t him\t in\t daylight,\t I\t was considerably\tsurprised.\tNot\tonly\tdid\the\tseem\told,\tbut\this\tface\theld\tan\texpression\tof\tdeep\tdistress. \u2018Has\t Kalikinkar\t Babu\t woken\t up?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked.\t Perhaps\t Gokul\t was\t hard\t of\t hearing.\t He\t did\t not answer \t Feluda\u2019s\t questio n\t at\t fir st.\t All\t he\t did\t was\t star e\t at\t him\t vacantly.\t Feluda\t had\t to \t r aise\t his\t vo ice and\task\tagain\tbefore\the\tnodded\tand\tleft\tthe\troom\tquickly. We\tmade\tour\tway\tto\told\tMr\tMajumdar \u2019s\troom\tat\ta\tround\tseven-thirty,\tand\tfound\thim\texactly\tas we\u2019d\t left\t him\t the\t night\t before.\t He\t was\t still\t lying\t in\t his\t bed,\t a\t blanket\t covering\t most\t of\t his\t body including\this\tarms.\tThe\twindow\tnext\tto\this\tbed\twas\tshut,\tpossibly\tto\tavoid\tdirect\tsunlight.\tThe\tonly light\tthat\tcame\tinto\tthe\troom\twas\tthrough\tthe\topen\tdoor.\tI\tnoticed\ta\tphotograph\ton\tthe\twall\tover\this bed.\t It\t must\t have\t been\t taken\t many\t year s\t ag o ,\t fo r \t it\t sho wed\t a\t much\t yo ung er \t Kalikinkar \t Majumdar. His\thair\tand\tbeard\twere\tboth\tjet\tblack. He\tgreeted\tus\twith\ta\tsmile. \u2018I\tgot\tRajen\tto\ttake\tout\tthe\tbooks\tby\tGaboriau.\tI\tknew\tyou\tcould\tdo\tit,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Well,\tit\tis\tfor\tyou\tto\tdecide\twhether\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tright\tnumber.\t340910.\tIs\tthat\tit?\u2019 \u2018Well\t done!\u2019\t Mr\t Majumdar \u2019s\t voice\t held\t both\t pleasure\t and\t admiration.\t \u2018Go\t on,\t take\t those\t books and\t put\t them\t in\t your\t bag.\t And\t please\t take\t another\t look\t at\t those\t marks\t on\t the\t chest.\t I\t had\t a\t look myself.\tThey\tdidn\u2019t\tstrike\tme\tas\tanything\tto\tworry\tabout.\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen,\tthat\tsettles\tit.\tIf\tyou\u2019re\tnot\tworried\tabout\tit,\tnothing\telse\tmatters.\u2019 Feluda\t thanked\t him\t once\t more\t before\t collecting\t the\t four\t books\t written\t by\t the\t first\t writer\t of detective\tfiction. \u2018Have\tyou\thad\ttea?\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018I\ttold\tthe\tdriver\tto\tbring\tthe\tcar\tout.\tVishwanath\tleft\tvery\tearly\tthis\tmorning.\tHe\tsaid\the\twanted\tto reach\t Calcutta\t by\t ten.\t Rajen\t has\t gone\t to\t the\t local\t market.\t Gokul\t will\t help\t you\t with\t your\t luggage. Would\tyou\tlike\tto\tgo\tfor\ta\tdrive\tbefore\tyou\tcatch\tyour\ttrain?\u2019 \u2018I\twas\tactually\tthinking\tof\tgoing\tby\tan\tearlier\ttrain.\tWe\tdon\u2019t\treally\thave\tto\twait\tuntil\tten-thirty.\tIf we\tleft\timmediately,\tperhaps\twe\tcould\tcatch\tthe\t372\tDown.\u2019 \u2018Very\t well.\t I\t have\t no\t wish\t to\t keep\t anyone\t from\t the\t city\t in\t this\t small\t village\t any\t longer\t than\t is necessary.\tBut\tI\u2019m\treally\tpleased\tthat\tyou\tcould\tcome.\tI\tmean\tthat.\u2019 Soon,\twe\twere\ton\tour\tway\tto\tthe\trailway\tstation.\tThe\troad\twent\tthrough\trice\tfields,\twhich\tglistened in\t the\t early\t morning\t sun\t after\t a\t rainy\t night.\t I\t was\t looking\t at\t these\t with\t admiration,\t when\t I\t heard Feluda\task\ta\tquestion.\t\u2018Is\tthere\tany\tother\tway\tto\tget\tto\tthe\tstation?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir,\tthis\tis\tthe\tonly\tway,\u2019\tMonilal\treplied.","Feluda\t was\t suddenly\t looking\t rather\t grave.\t I\t wanted\t to\t ask\t him\t if\t he\t had\t noticed\t anything suspicious,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\topen\tmy\tmouth. The\troad\tbeing\twet\tand\tmuddy,\tit\ttook\tus\tlonger\tto\treach\tthe\tstation.\tFeluda\ttook\tthe\tluggage\tout of\tthe\tcar\tand\tthanked\tthe\tdriver,\twho\tthen\tdrove\toff.\tBut\tFeluda\tmade\tno\tattempt\tto\tgo\tto\tthe\tticket counter\tto\tbuy\ttickets\tfor\tour\treturn\tjourney.\tHe\tfound\tthe\tstationmaster \u2019s\troom\tinstead\tand\tleft\tour luggage\twith\thim.\tThen\the\tcame\tout\tonce\tmore\tand\tapproached\tone\tof\tthe\tcycle-rickshaws\tthat\twere waiting\toutside. \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhere\tthe\tlocal\tpolice\tstation\tis?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Can\tyou\ttake\tus\tthere?\tWe\u2019re\tin\ta\thurry.\u2019 We\t climbed\t into\t the\t rickshaw\t quickly.\t The\t driver\t began\t pedalling\t fast,\t honking\t as\t loudly\t as\t he could,\t weaving\t his\t way\t through\t the\t milling\t crowds,\t narrowly\t avoiding\t collisions\t more\t than\t once. We\treached\tthe\tpolice\tstation\tin\tfive\tminutes.\tThe\tofficer\tleft\tin\tcharge\twas\tSub-inspector\tSarkar.\tIt turned\tout\tthat\the\tknew\tFeluda\u2019s\tname.\t\u2018We\thave\theard\ta\tlot\tabout\tyou,\tsir,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018What\tbrings\tyou here?\u2019 \u2018What\tcan\tyou\ttell\tme\tabout\tKalikinkar\tMajumdar\tof\tGhurghutia?\u2019 \u2018Kalikinkar\tMajumdar?\tAs\tfar\tas\tI\tknow,\the\tis\ta\tperfect\tgentleman,\twho\tkeeps\thimself\tto\thimself. Why,\tI\u2019ve\tnever\theard\tanything\tnasty\tsaid\tabout\thim!\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\this\tson,\tVishwanath?\tDoes\the\tlive\there?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tthink\the\tlives\tin\tCalcutta.\tWhatever \u2019s\tthe\tmatter,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019 \u2018Can\tyou\ttake\tyour\tjeep\tand\tcome\twith\tme?\tThere\u2019s\tsomething\tseriously\twrong.\u2019 Mr\t Sarkar\t did\t not\t waste\t another\t minute.\t We\t began\t bumping\t our\t way\t back\t to\t Ghurghutia\t in\t a police\t jeep,\t splashing\t mud\t everywhere.\t Feluda\u2019s\t face\t held\t a\t look\t of\t suppressed\t excitement,\t but\t he opened\this\tmouth\tonly\tonce.\tI\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tcould\thear\this\twords: \u2018Arthritis,\t those\t marks\t on\t the\t chest,\t the\t late\t dinner,\t the\t hoarseness\t in\t Rajen\t Babu\u2019s\t voice,\t the naphthalene\t .\t .\t .\t ever y\t little\t piece\t has\t fallen\t into \t place,\t To pshe.\t I\t tend\t to \t fo r g et\t so metimes\t that\t ther e are\tother\tpeople\tjust\tas\tclever\tas\tFelu\tMitter.\u2019 The\t fir st\t thing \t that\t I\t no ticed\t with\t co nsider able\t sur pr ise\t o n\t r eaching \t the\t o ld\t mansio n\t was\t a\t black Ambassador\tstanding\toutside\tthe\tmain\tgate.\tIt\tobviously\tbelonged\tto\tVishwanath\tMajumdar.\t\u2018Look\tat its\t wheels,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t as\t we\t g o t\t o ut\t o f\t the\t jeep.\t \u2018Ther e\t is\t no \t tr ace\t o f\t mud\t anywher e.\t This\t car \t has only\tjust\tcome\tout\tof\ta\tgarage.\u2019 A\t man\u2014possibly\t its\t driver,\t whom\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t seen\t before\u2014was\t standing\t near\t the\t car.\t He\t turned visibly\tpale\tand\tfrightened\tat\tthe\tsight\tof\tour\tjeep. \u2018Are\tyou\tthe\tdriver\tof\tthis\tcar?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim. \u2018Y-yes,\ts-sir.\u2019 \u2018Is\tVishwanath\tMajumdar\tat\thome?\u2019 The\tman\thesitated.\tFeluda\tignored\thim\tand\twalked\tstraight\tinto\tthe\thouse,\tfollowed\tclosely\tby\tthe inspector,\tme\tand\ta\tconstable. Together,\t we\t ran\t up\t the\t stairs,\t and\t down\t the\t long\t passage\t that\t led\t to\t Kalikinkar \u2019s\t room.\t It\t was empty.\tThe\tblanket\tlay\ton\tthe\tbed,\tall\tthe\tfurniture\twas\tin\tplace,\tbut\tits\toccupant\thad\tvanished.","\u2018Oh\t no!\u2019\t Feluda\t exclaimed.\t I\t found\t him\t staring\t at\t the\t chest.\t It\t was\t open.\t Judging\t by\t its\t gaping emptiness,\tnearly\tall\tof\tits\tcontents\thad\tbeen\tremoved. Gokul\tcame\tand\tstood\toutside\tthe\tdoor.\tHe\twas\ttrembling\tviolently.\tThere\twere\ttears\tin\this\teyes. He\tlooked\tas\tthough\the\tmight\tcollapse\tany\tminute.\tFeluda\tcaught\thim\tby\this\tshoulders. \u2018Gokul,\twhere\tis\tVishwanath\tMajumdar?\u2019 \u2018He\t.\t.\t.\the\tran\tout\tof\tthe\tback\tdoor!\u2019 \u2018Mr\tSarkar!\u2019 The\tinspector\tleft\twith\tthe\tconstable\twithout\ta\tword. \u2018Listen,\u2019\t Feluda\t shook\t Gokul\t gently,\t \u2018if\t you\t tell\t me\t a\t single\t lie,\t you\t will\t go\t to\t prison.\t Do\t you understand?\tWhere\tis\tyour\tmaster?\u2019 Gokul\u2019s\teyes\twidened\tin\tfear,\tlooking\tas\tthough\tthey\twould\tsoon\tpop\tout\tof\ttheir\tsockets. \u2018He\t.\t.\t.\the\thas\tbeen\tmurdered!\u2019\the\tgasped. \u2018Who\tkilled\thim?\u2019 \u2018Chhoto\tBabu.\u2019 \u2018When?\u2019 \u2018The\tday\the\tarrived,\tthat\tsame\tnight.\tHe\thad\tan\targument\twith\this\tfather,\tand\tasked\tfor\tthe\tnumbers to\topen\tthe\tchest.\tThe\tmaster\tsaid,\t\u201cI\tam\tnot\tgoing\tto\tgive\tit\tto\tyou.\tAsk\tmy\tparrot.\u201d\tThen\t.\t.\t.\ta\twhile later\t.\t.\t.\tChhoto\tBabu\tand\this\tdriver\t.\t.\t.\tthey\tgot\ttogether\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tGokul\tchoked.\tHe\tuttered\tthe\tnext\tfew words\twith\tgreat\tdifficulty:\t\u2018The\ttwo\tof\tthem\tdropped\tthe\tdead\tbody\tinto\tthe\tlake\tbehind\tthe\thouse. They\t.\t.\t.\tthey\ttied\ta\tstone\tround\tits\tneck.\tAnd\tChhoto\tBabu\tsaid\tif\tI\tbreathed\ta\tword\tto\tanyone,\the\u2019d k-kill\tme,\ttoo!\u2019 \u2018I\t see,\u2019\t Feluda\t helped\t him\t sit\t down.\t \u2018Now\t tell\t me,\t am\t I\t right\t in\t thinking\t there\t is\t no\t one\t called Rajen\tBabu\tat\tall?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tWe\tdid\tonce\thave\ta\tmanager\tby\tthat\tname,\tbut\the\tdied\ttwo\tyears\tago.\u2019 Feluda\tand\tI\tleapt\tout\tof\tthe\troom,\tand\tbegan\trunning\tdown\tthe\tstairs.\tThere\twas\ta\tdoor\tto\tthe\tleft where\tthe\tstairs\tended,\twhich\tled\tto\tthe\trear\tof\tthe\thouse.\tWe\theard\tMr\tSarkar \u2019s\tvoice\tas\twe\temerged through\tthis\tdoor. \u2018It\u2019s\tno\tuse\ttrying\tto\tescape,\tMr\tMajumdar.\tI\thave\ta\tgun\tin\tmy\thand!\u2019\the\tshouted. This\twas\tfollowed\timmediately\tby\ta\tloud\tsplash\tand\tthe\tsound\tof\ta\trevolver\tgoing\toff. We\tcontinued\trunning,\tjumping\tover\tsmall\tbushes\tand\tcrashing\tthrough\tthick\tfoliage.\tEventually, we\tfound\tMr\tSarkar\tstanding\tunder\ta\tlarge\ttamarind\ttree,\twith\ta\trevolver\tin\this\thand.\tBehind\tthe\ttree was\t the\t lake\t we\t had\t g limpsed\t last\t nig ht\t thr o ug h\t o ur \t windo w.\t Its\t sur face\t was\t co ver ed\t almo st\t to tally with\tweed\tand\talgae. \u2018He\tjumped\tbefore\tI\tcould\tfire,\u2019\tMr\tSarkar\tsaid,\t\u2018but\the\tcannot\tswim.\tGirish,\tsee\tif\tyou\tcan\tdrag him\tout.\u2019 Vishwanath\t Majumdar\t was\t fished\t out\t in\t a\t few\t minutes\t by\t the\t constable,\t and\t transferred\t behind bars,\t very\t much\t like\t his\t father \u2019s\t parrot.\t The\t money\t and\t the\t jewellery\t he\t had\t stolen\t from\t the\t chest were\t recovered\t by\t the\t police.\t It\t appeared\t that\t although\t he\t ran\t a\t successful\t business,\t he\t used\t to gamble\trather\theavily,\tand\twas\tup\tto\this\tneck\tin\tdebt. Feluda\t explained\t how\t he\t had\t arrived\t at\t the\t truth.\t \u2018Rajen\t Babu\t came\t to\t our\t room\t twenty\t minutes after\twe\tleft\tKalikinkar;\tand\twe\tsaw\tVishwanath\tMajumdar\thalf\tan\thour\tafter\tRajen\tBabu\u2019s\tdeparture.","Then\t Rajen\t Babu\t came\t back\t briefly\t after\t dinner.\t Not\t once\t did\t we\t see\t father\t and\t son\t and\t their manager\t together.\t This\t made\t me\t wonder\t whether\t there\t were\t indeed\t three\t different\t people,\t or whether \t o ne\t sing le\t per so n\t was\t playing \t differ ent\t r o les.\t T hen\t I\t r emember ed\t the\t bo o ks\t o n\t dr ama\t and acting.\t Perhaps\t those\t books\t belonged\t to\t Vishwanath\t Majumdar?\t Maybe\t he\t was\t interested\t in\t acting and\t was\t good\t at\t putting\t on\t make-up?\t If\t so,\t it\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t been\t difficult\t for\t him\t to\t wear\t a\t false beard\tand\tdifferent\twigs\tand\tchange\this\tvoice,\tto\tfool\ta\tcouple\tof\tvisitors\tin\ta\tdark\thouse.\tHe\thad\tto hide\t his\t hands,\t though,\t for\t presumably\t his\t knowledge\t of\t make-up\t wasn\u2019t\t adequate\t to\t turn\t his\t own hands\tinto\tthose\tof\ta\tseventy-three-year-old\tman.\tBut\tmy\tsuspicions\twere\tconfirmed\twhen\tI\tnoticed this\tmorning\tthat\talthough\the\twas\tsupposed\tto\thave\tleft\tquite\tearly,\tthere\twere\tno\ttyre\tmarks\ton\tthe ground.\u2019 \u2018But\twho\thad\tactually\twritten\tto\tyou,\tasking\tyou\tto\tcome\there?\u2019\tI\tput\tin. \u2018Oh,\t that\t letter\t was\t written\t by\t Kalikinkar\t himself,\t I\t am\t sure.\t His\t son\t knew\t about\t it.\t So\t he\t did nothing\tto\tstop\tour\tarrival,\tfor\the\tknew\the\tcould\tuse\tme\tto\tfind\tout\tthe\tcombination\tnumbers.\u2019 In\t the\t end\t we\t got\t so\t delayed\t that\t we\t couldn\u2019t\t catch\t a\t train\t before\t half\t past\t ten.\t Before\t we\t left, Feluda\ttook\tout\tthe\teight\tbooks\the\thad\tbeen\tgiven\tand\thanded\tthem\tto\tme.\t\u2018I\thave\tno\twish\tto\taccept gifts\tfrom\ta\tmurderer,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Topshe,\tgo\tand\tput\tthese\tback.\u2019 I\t replaced\t the\t books,\t filling\t each\t gap\t in\t the\t shelves\t and\t came\t out\t quietly.\t The\t parrot\u2019s\t cage\t was still\thanging\toutside\tin\tthe\tveranda. \u2018Shut\tthe\tdoor!\u2019\tit\tsaid\tto\tme.\t\u2018Shut\tthe\tdoor\t.\t.\t.\tO\tbig\tfat\then!\u2019","","T HE\t MYS T ERY \t O F \t T HE\t ELEP HANT \t GO D","One Lalmohan\t Babu\u2014alias\t Jatayu\u2014broke\t open\t a\t groundnut\t carefully,\t and\t promptly\t transferred\t its contents\tinto\this\tmouth.\tThen\the\tdropped\tthe\tshell\tinto\tan\tashtray,\trubbed\this\thands\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Have you\tever\tseen\tthe\tVijaya\tDashami\tcelebrations\tin\tVaranasi?\tYou\tknow,\twhen\tDurga\tPuja\tends\tand\tall the\tidols\tare\timmersed\tin\tthe\triver\tat\tDashashwamedh\tGhat?\u2019 Feluda\twas\tsitting\twith\ta\tchessboard\tin\tfront\tof\thim,\tand\ta\tbook\tcalled\tGreat\tGames\tof\tChess\tby his\t side.\t He\t had\t recently\t started\t playing\t chess\t by\t himself.\t Jatayu\t had\t arrived\t when\t he\t was\t almost halfway\tthrough\tthe\tgame.\tHe\ttold\tSrinath,\tour\tcook,\tto\tbring\ta\tfresh\tpot\tof\ttea\tand\tbegan\tanswering Jatayu\u2019s\tquestions\tbetween\tmoves. \u2018No,\u2019\the\treplied\tbriefly. \u2018Oh,\tit\u2019s\t.\t.\t.\tit\u2019s\treally\ta\tspectacular\taffair!\tYou\tcan\u2019t\timagine\twhat\tit\u2019s\tlike!\u2019 Feluda\tmade\tthe\tlast\tmove,\tstared\tfor\ta\tsecond\tat\tthe\tboard\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Are\tyou\ttrying\tto\t.\t.\t.\ttempt me?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tyes,\tyou\u2019ve\tguessed\tit.\tHeh\theh!\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tyou\u2019ll\thave\tto\tdescribe\tthe\tscene\tmuch\tbetter\tthan\tthat.\tWhat\tyou\tjust said\twon\u2019t\tdo\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\traised\this\teyebrows. Feluda\t beg an\t putting \t the\t chessmen\t away.\t \u2018Because,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018the\t wo r d\t \u201cspectacular \u201d\t do es\t no t,\t by itself,\tevoke\tan\timage.\tIt\tdoesn\u2019t\texplain\twhy\tVijaya\tDashami\tis\tspecial.\tYou\tare\ta\twriter,\tLalmohan Babu.\tYou\tshould\tbe\table\tto\tbe\ta\tbit\tmore\tgraphic.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t yo u\u2019r e\t r ig ht,\t o f\t co ur se,\u2019\t said\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t quickly.\t \u2018It\t was\t near ly\t twenty-five\t year s\t ag o , you\tsee,\twhen\tI\tsaw\tthe\tcelebrations.\tSo\tthe\tdetails\tare\ta\tlittle\thazy\tin\tmy\tmind.\tBut\tI\tstill\tremember both\tmy\teyes\tand\tears\tbeing\tdazzled\tby\twhat\tI\tsaw.\u2019 \u2018There\tyou\tare!\tYou\tsaid\tit.\tEyes\tand\tears.\tYour\tdescription\tshould\thave\tsomething\tthat\tappeals\tto one\u2019s\tsenses.\u2019 \u2018What?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t Try\t to\t think\t of\t exactly\t what\t you\t saw\t or\t heard\t or\t even\t smelt!\t Don\u2019t\t look\t so\t surprised.\t A particular\t place\t has\t a\t particular\t smell,\t haven\u2019t\t you\t noticed?\t The\t little\t alley\t that\t leads\t to\t the Vishwanath\ttemple\tin\tVaranasi\tsmells\tof\tincense,\tflowers,\tcow\tdung,\tdust\tand\tsweat.\tIf\tyou\tcame\tout of\t the\t alley\t and\t began\t walking\t towards\t the\t river,\t you\u2019d\t pass\t through\t a\t relatively\t smell-free\t zone, until\tyou\tcame\tface\tto\tface\twith\ta\therd\tof\tgoats.\tThe\tsmell\twould\tthen\tbe\tmost\tunpleasant,\tI\tcan\ttell you.\tBut\tthen\tyou\u2019d\twalk\ton\tand\twould\tsoon\tbe\tgreeted\twith\tanother\tscent\twhich\twould\tbe\ta\tmixture of\tthe\tscent\tof\tthe\tearth,\twater,\toil,\tsandalwood,\tflowers\tand\tmore\tincense.\u2019 \u2018Hey,\tthat\tmeans\tyou\u2019ve\tbeen\tto\tBanaras!\u2019","\u2018Yes,\twhen\tI\twas\tin\tcollege.\tI\u2019d\tgone\tto\tplay\tin\ta\tcricket\tmatch\twith\tthe\tHindu\tUniversity.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tbegan\tfishing\tin\this\tpocket. \u2018The\t paper\t cutting\t you\u2019re\t looking\t for,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t \u2018slipped\t out\t of\t your\t pocket\t and\t fell\t on\t the floor\tas\tsoon\tas\tyou\twalked\tin.\tThere\tit\tis,\tnear\tthat\tstool.\u2019 \u2018Eh\theh\t.\t.\t.\twhen\tI\ttook\tmy\thandkerchief\tout,\tit\tmust\thave\t.\t.\t.\u2019 I\tpicked\tit\tup\tand\thanded\tit\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018Is\t it\t that\t story\t about\t the\t sadhubaba\t in\t Banaras?\u2019\t asked\t Feluda.\t \u2018You\t knew!\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu complained.\t\u2018Why\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tsay\tsomething?\tIsn\u2019t\tit\ta\tstrange\tstory?\tAll\tvery\tmysterious.\u2019 I\ttook\tthe\tcutting\tback\tfrom\thim\tand\tread\tit.\tIt\tsaid: Machchli\tBaba\tin\tVaranasi The\tarrival\tof\ta\tcertain\tholy\tman\tin\tVaranasi\tlast\tThursday\thas\tcreated\tquite\ta\tstir.\tA\tsenior\tresident\tof\tthe\tcity,\tAbhaycharan Chakravarty,\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tmeet\tthis\tsadhu\tat\tKedar\tGhat\tand\tdiscover\tthat\the\tpossessed\tvery\tspecial\tsupernatural\tpowers. The\t sadhu\t has\t since\t been\t staying\t in\t Abhaycharan\u2019s\t house.\t His\t devotees\t call\t him\t \u2018Machchli\t Baba\u2019.\t According\t to\t them,\t he arrived\tin\tVaranasi\tfrom\tPrayag,\tfloating\ton\tthe\triver. Yet\t another\t Wonder\t Man.\t The\t report\t did\t not\t strike\t me\t as\t anything\t extraordinary,\t but\t Lalmohan Babu\twas\tclearly\tvery\texcited\tabout\tit. \u2018Just\t imagine!\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Maybe\t he\t began\t his\t journey\t from\t Tibet,\t right\t from\t the\t source\t of\t the Ganges.\tOooh,\tthe\tvery\tthought\tgives\tme\tgoosepimples!\u2019 \u2018Who\ttold\tyou\tthe\tsource\tof\tthe\tGanges\twas\tin\tTibet?\u2019 \u2018Oh,\t I\u2019m\t sorry.\t Do\t I\t mean\t the\t Brahmaputra?\t But\t never\t mind.\t The\t Ganges\t starts\t from\t the Himalayas,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tgood\tenough?\u2019 \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tto\tmeet\tthis\tman?\u2019 \u2018Wouldn\u2019t\t you?\t I\t mean,\t can\u2019t\t you\t smell\t a\t mystery\t in\t all\t this?\t Machchli\t Baba\u2014even\t the\t name\t is unique!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t the\t name\t is\t somewhat\t unusual,\t I\t admit,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t \u2018but\t that\u2019s\t about\t the\t only\t thing\t in\t that story\t that\t makes\t an\t impression.\t If\t one\t must\t go\t to\t Banaras,\t why\t should\t it\t be\t because\t of\t a\t certain sadhu?\tI\twould\tgo\tback\tjust\tto\ttaste\tthe\trabri\tyou\tcan\tget\tin\tKachauri\tGali.\u2019 \u2018And\t suppo se\t yo u\t fo und\t that\t the\t man\t who \t makes\t the\t r abr i\t was\t mur der ed\t by\t a\t per so n\t o r \t per so ns unknown\t.\t.\t.\tand\this\tblood\thad\tsplashed\ton\tthe\twhite\trabri\tand\tturned\tit\tpink\u2014well,\tthat\twould\tmake your\tday,\twouldn\u2019t\tit?\tYou\u2019d\thave\ta\tcase\tin\tKashi,\tand\tearn\tsome\tcash,\tha\tha!\tYou\thaven\u2019t\tbeen\tvery busy\tlately,\thave\tyou?\u2019 This\twas\ttrue.\tFor\tabout\tthree\tmonths\tFeluda\thad\tnot\taccepted\ta\tsingle\tcase,\tbecause\tnone\thad\tbeen challenging\t enough.\t He\t had\t spent\t the\t time\t reading,\t doing\t yoga,\t trying\t to\t cut\t down\t on\t smoking, playing\tchess\tand\tseeing\tfilms.\tHe\teven\ttried\tgrowing\ta\tbeard\tfor\ta\tweek.\tOn\tthe\teighth\tday,\the\thad taken\tone\tlook\tat\thimself\tin\tthe\tmirror\tand\treached\tfor\this\trazor. \u2018Lo o k,\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t co ntinued,\t \u2018yo u\t haven\u2019t\t g o t\t a\t case,\t and\t I\t haven\u2019t\t g o t\t a\t plo t.\t Fo r \t the\t fir st time,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tthink\tup\ta\tplot\tgood\tenough\tfor\tthe\tPuja\tsales.\tFor\tthe\tfirst\ttime,\tthere\twon\u2019t\tbe\ta\tnew book\t by\t Jatayu\t for\t the\t pujas.\t I\t could\t have\t lifted\t ideas\t from\t foreign\t books\t and\t films\t and\t produced something\tanyhow,\tbut\tI\tknew\tyou\twould\thave\tcaught\tme\tout.\tSo\tI\tthought\tthat\tif\twe\tcould\tget\tout\tof Calcutta,\tmaybe\ta\tfew\toriginal\tideas\tfor\ta\tstory\twould\tcome\tfloating\talong.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tI\u2019ll\tgo\twith\tyou.\tBut\tthere\tis\ta\trisk.\u2019","\u2018What\tis\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Have\t you\t considered\t the\t possibility\t that\t a\t visit\t to\t Varanasi\t may\t well\t fail\t to\t provide\t you\t with\t a plot,\tand\tme\twith\ta\tcase?\u2019 Feluda\twas\tproved\twrong.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tdid\tfind\ta\tplot,\talthough\twhen\this\tbook\teventually\tcame out,\tthe\tstory\tsounded\tsuspiciously\tlike\ta\tcertain\tTintin\tcomic. And\t Feluda?\t He\t g o t\t a\t case\t that\t pitted\t him\t ag ainst\t the\t mo st\t cunning \t o ppo nent\t he\t had\t ever \t had\t to deal\twith.\tHe\ttold\tme\tafterwards,\t\u2018All\tmy\tlife,\tTopshe,\tI\thad\tbeen\twaiting\tfor\ta\tman\tlike\tthis.\tFighting against\tsuch\ta\tman\u2014and\twinning\u2014worked\tlike\ta\ttonic!\u2019 The\tCalcutta\tLodge\tstood\tby\tthe\tside\tof\ta\troad\tthat\tled\tto\tDashashwamedh\tGhat.\tIt\twas\ta\tfifty-year- old\thotel,\trun\tby\tBengalis.\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tcousin\tknew\tthe\tmanager\tand\thad\tmade\treservations\tfor us.\tWe\tarrived\tat\tabout\tten\tin\tthe\tmorning. The\tmanager,\tNiranjan\tChakravarty,\thappened\tto\tbe\taway.\tAnother\tgentleman\thelped\tus\tcheck\tin, and\t a\t bearer\t took\t our\t luggage\t up\t to\t our\t room.\t The\t room\t turned\t out\t to\t be\t a\t mini-dormitory,\t with four\tbeds\tin\tit.\tOne\tof\tthem\thad\ta\tsuitcase\tunder\tit,\ta\tbedroll\tcarelessly\trolled\tup,\tand\ta\tfew\tclothes on\ta\track\tby\tthe\tbed. Feluda\t glanced\t at\t these\t objects\t and\t said,\t \u2018Lalmohan\t Babu,\t the\t sound\t of\t snoring\t doesn\u2019t\t disturb your\tsleep,\tI\thope?\u2019 \u2018Why?\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tsnore.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019m\tnot\ttalking\tof\tmyself.\tI\tmean\tour\troommate.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tyou\thave\tdeduced\tthat\tthe\tman\tsnores\tjust\tby\tlooking\tat\this\tclothes\tand\this\tsuitcase?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tonly\tmaking\ta\tguess.\tYou\tsee,\tusually\tit\u2019s\tlarge\tmen\twho\ttend\tto\tsnore.\tThe\tsize\tof\tthis man\u2019s\tclothes\tsuggests\tthat\this\tbuild\tisn\u2019t\tslight.\tAnd\tlook,\ton\tthat\tshelf\tover\tthere\tis\ta\tbottle\tof\tnasal drops.\tSo\tperhaps\tthe\tman\tgets\ta\tblocked\tnose\toccasionally.\tThat\tincreases\tthe\tchances\tof\tsnoring.\u2019 \u2018My\tgoodness!\tIs\tthere\tanything\telse\tyou\u2019ve\tguessed\tabout\tthis\tman\tin\tthese\tfew\tseconds?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tyou\u2019ll\tsee\tthat\tthere\tisn\u2019t\ta\tshaving\tkit\tin\tsight.\tSo\tunless\the\u2019s\thidden\tit\tsomewhere,\tI\u2019d\tsay the\tfellow\thas\ta\tbeard.\u2019 A\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\tthe\tbearer\tbrought\tus\ttea.\tWe\ttook\tour\tcups\tand\tcame\tout\ton\tthe\tbalcony.\tThe road\tto\tDashashwamedh\tGhat\tstretched\tbefore\tus. \u2018If\t you\t were\t asked\t to\t leave\t Calcutta\t and\t come\t and\t settle\t here,\t do\t you\t think\t you\t could?\u2019\t Feluda asked\tme. I\tthought\tfor\ta\tmoment\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso.\u2019 \u2018And\tyet,\tyou\u2019re\tquite\texcited\tto\tbe\there,\taren\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 Feluda\twas\tright.\tI\twouldn\u2019t\twish\tto\tspend\tmy\twhole\tlife\tin\tBanaras,\tbut\tknowing\tthat\tI\twould\tbe spending\tonly\ta\tlittle\tmore\tthan\ta\tweek\there,\tit\tseemed\ta\tvery\tnice\tplace\tto\tbe\tin. \u2018Do\t you\t know\t why\t you\t feel\t like\t this?\t It\u2019s\t because\t you\u2019re\t thinking\t of\t the\t ancient\t traditions\t we associate\twith\tBanaras.\tKashi,\tBanaras,\tVaranasi\u2014each\tname\tevokes\ta\tspecial\tfeeling,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\tNot just\t because\t it\u2019s\t co nsider ed\t a\t ho ly\t place,\t but\t also \t because\t o f\t the\t ag e\t o f\t the\t city.\t Ever y\t o ld\t building could\t tell\t a\t story\t of\t its\t own.\t To\t a\t newcomer,\t that\t is\t what\t counts,\t no\t matter\t how\t dirty\t or\t filthy\t the place\tmight\tbe.\tThat\tis\tthe\tmagic\tof\tVaranasi.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t slipped\t inside.\t Now\t he\t reappeared\t with\t a\t gentleman,\t who\t turned\t out\t to\t be Niranjan\t Babu,\t the\t manager\t of\t the\t hotel.\t About\t fifty\t years\t old,\t salt-and-pepper\t hair\t parted\t in\t the","middle,\this\tmouth\tslightly\tstained\twith\tthe\tjuice\tof\ta\tpaan,\the\tsmiled\tas\the\tgreeted\tus. \u2018Lalmohan\tBabu\thas\tjust\ttold\tme\twho\tyou\tare.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tprivilege\tto\thave\tyou\tstay\tin\tour\thotel.\tCome to\tmy\troom,\tsir.\tAllow\tme\tto\toffer\tyou\tanother\tcup\tof\ttea.\u2019 We\ttrooped\tdownstairs.\tWith\tthe\ttea\tcame\ta\tplate\tof\tsweets.\t\u2018You\tmust\tsign\tmy\town\tvisitors\u2019\tbook,\u2019 said\tNiranjan\tBabu\tto\tFeluda.\t\u2018A\tnumber\tof\tfamous\tpeople\thave\tstayed\tin\tthis\thotel.\tI\twould\tlike\tto see\tyour\tname\tadded\tto\tthe\tlist.\u2019 \u2018I\thope\tyou\u2019re\taware,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied\twith\ta\tslight\tsmile,\t\u2018that\tmy\tfriend\there\tis\tno\tless\tfamous\tas a\twriter?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t tried\t to\t look\t modest.\t The\t manager\t laughed,\t \u2018Of\t course!\t His\t cousin\t has\t already told\tme\tabout\thim.\tYour\tcoming\twas\ta\ttotal\tsurprise,\tso\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tintervened\tat\tthis\tpoint.\tClearly,\tthere\twas.\tsomething\ton\this\tmind,\tand\the\twanted to\tget\tit\toff\this\tchest. \u2018We\tsaw\tin\tthe\tpapers\tbefore\twe\tcame\t.\t.\t.\tis\tit\ttrue\tabout\tthe\tsadhubaba?\u2019 \u2018Who?\tYou\tmean\tEbony\tBaba?\u2019 \u2018Ebony?\tWhy\tebony?\tI\tthought\the\twas\tcalled\tMachchli\u2014\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes.\tIt\u2019s\tthe\tsame\tman.\tThe\tlocals\tare\tcalling\thim\tMachchli\tBaba.\tI\tdecided\ton\tEbony.\tYou\u2019ll know\twhat\tI\tmean\twhen\tyou\tsee\thim.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\treally\tswim\tall\tthe\tway?\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\twas\tasking\tall\tthe\tquestions.\tFeluda\twas\tlistening\tin\tsilence.\tNiranjan\tBabu\tshook his\t head.\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018So\t they\t say.\t He\u2019s\t supposed\t to\t have\t started\t from\t Haridwar.\t From here\the\u2019ll\tgo\tto\tMunger\tand\tPatna.\tAfter\tthat,\twho\tknows?\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\this\tsupernatural\tpowers?\u2019 \u2018I\t can\t only\t tell\t you\t what\t I\u2019ve\t heard.\t Abhaycharan\t Chakravarty\t is\t seventy\t years\t old.\t For\t the\t last thirty-five\tyears,\the\u2019s\tbeen\tgoing\tto\tKedar\tGhat\tat\tfour\tin\tthe\tmorning\tevery\tday\tto\tbathe\tin\tthe\triver. He\tdoesn\u2019t\tsee\tvery\twell,\tbut\tthat\tdoesn\u2019t\tstop\thim\tfrom\tgoing\tto\tthe\tghat,\tcome\train\tor\tshine.\tOn\tthis particular\tday,\tas\the\twent\tdown\tthe\tsteps\tand\treached\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\triver,\the\tstepped\ton\tsomething soft.\t When\t he\t looked\t closely\t he\t saw\t that\t it\t was\t a\t man,\t apparently\t unconscious.\t His\t skin\t was\t all wr inkled,\t as\t tho ug h\t he\t had\t been\t in\t the\t water \t fo r \t a\t lo ng \t time.\t Befo r e\t Abhaychar an\t co uld\t say\t o r \t do anything,\tthe\tman\topened\this\teyes\tand\tsaid,\t\u201cLook,\tthere\u2019s\twater\teverywhere.\tWhy\tare\tyou\tstill\tafraid of\tfire?\u201d\tAnd\tthat\twas\tthat.\tOld\tAbhaycharan\twas\twon\tover\tinstantly.\u2019 We\tstared.\tNiranjan\tBabu\texplained\tfurther,\t\u2018You\tsee,\tAbhaycharan\tonce\tused\tto\tlive\tnear\tCalcutta. His\twife\tand\tchild\tgot\tkilled\tin\ta\tfire.\tAfter\tsuch\ta\ttragedy,\the\tfound\tit\timpossible\tto\tgo\ton\tliving\tin the\tsame\tplace;\tso\the\tmoved\tto\tKashi.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tvery\tamiable,\tsimple\told\tman.\tSo\tyou\tcan\timagine\twhat an\timpression\tMachchli\tBaba\u2019s\twords\tmade\ton\thim!\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tBabaji\thas\tbeen\tstaying\tin\this\thouse\tsince\tthen?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t yes.\t Apparently,\t Abhaycharan\t has\t been\t specially\t initiated\t by\t the\t Baba.\t Word\t spread\t like wildfir e.\t Peo ple\t star ted\t po ur ing \t in.\t Abhaychar an\u2019s\t ho use\t is\t no t\t far \t fr o m\t the\t r iver.\t T her e\t is\t an\t o pen co ur tyar d\t inside.\t This\t is\t wher e\t Babaji\t r eceives\t visito r s.\t Each\t o ne\t is\t g iven\t a\t fish\t scale,\t blessed\t and purified\tby\tthe\tholy\tman.\u2019 \u2018A\t fish\t scale?\t Oh,\t I\t see.\t In\t keeping \t with\t his\t name?\t But\t do es\t o ne\t have\t to \t eat\t it?\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu made\ta\tface.","\u2018No,\tno.\tAll\tyou\thave\tto\tdo\tis\tgo\tto\tthe\triver\tthe\tnext\tday\tbefore\tsunrise\tand\tdrop\tit\tin\tthe\twater.\u2019 \u2018Has\tit\treally\tmade\tany\tdifference\tto\tanyone?\u2019 \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know\t about\t anyone\t else.\t I\t can\t only\t talk\t of\t myself.\t I\t had\t been\t getting\t a\t mild\t pain\t in\t my stomach.\tMy\tdoctor\ttold\tme\tit\tmight\tbe\ta\tcolic\tpain,\tand\ttold\tme\tto\ttake\tMag\tPhos,\twhich\tI\tdid.\tThen I\theard\tabout\tMachchli\tBaba\u2019s\tarrival\tand\twent\tand\tgot\ta\tfish\tscale.\tI\tdropped\tit\tin\tthe\triver\tthe\tnext day,\tand\tnow\tthe\tpain\thas\tgone.\tWhether\tit\u2019s\tthanks\tto\thomoeopathy,\tor\tfishopathy,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow!\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\twill\the\tstay\there?\u2019 \u2018He\tdoesn\u2019t\tstay\tanywhere\tfor\tvery\tlong.\tBut\tit\tis\talways\this\tfollowers\twho\tdecide\twhen\the\tmust leave.\u2019 \u2018How?\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\tcome\twith\tme\tthis\tevening,\tyou\twill\tfind\tout.\u2019","Two We\tchatted\tin\tNiranjan\tBabu\u2019s\troom\tfor\ta\twhile,\tthen\twent\tfor\ta\twalk.\tNiranjan\tBabu\tcame\twith\tus. We\t came\t o ut\t o f\t the\t ho tel\t and\t beg an\t walking \t to war ds\t the\t r iver.\t T he\t r o ad\t tur ned\t r ig ht\t and\t a\t slo pe began,\tto\tjoin\tthe\tsteps\tof\tthe\tghat.\tBeggars\tlined\tthe\tsteps\tand\tamidst\tthem,\ta\tlarge\tnumber\tof\tgoats roamed\tfreely. \u2018What\t a\t nose\t you\t must\t have,\t Felu\t Babu!\u2019\t exclaimed\t Jatayu.\t \u2018I\t recognize\t the\t smell\t now,\t but\t how could\tI\thave\tforgotten\tit?\u2019 A\t str ang e\t no ise\t r o se\t abo ve\t the\t g ener al\t no ise\t o f\t the\t tr affic.\t It\t was\t simply\t the\t din\t that\t came\t fr o m Dashashwamedh\t Ghat.\t Hundreds\t of\t people\t milled\t around,\t doing\t hundreds\t of\t different\t things. \u2018Spectacular \u2019\twas\tthe\tword\tthat\tautomatically\tcame\tto\tmy\tmind,\tbut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\tmention\tit. I\tcould\tsee\tthe\trailway\tbridge\tfrom\tthe\tsteps\tof\tthe\tghat.\tAcross\tthe\triver\tlay\tRam\tNagar,\twhere\tthe Maharajah\thad\this\tpalace. We\twalked\tover\tto\tMan\tMandir\tGhat,\twhich\twas\tadjacent\tto\tDashashwamedh.\tThere\twas\ta\tbuilding here\tthat\tcontained\tsome\tastronomical\tinstruments\tdesigned\tnearly\tthree\thundred\tyears\tago.\tIt\twas\ta mini\t\u2018Jantar\tMantar \u2019,\tlike\tthe\tone\tin\tDelhi.\tFeluda\tbegan\twalking\ttowards\tthis\tbuilding,\tpossibly\twith a\tview\tto\tlooking\tat\tthese\tinstruments,\twhen\tsomething\thappened. It\t was\t much\t more\t quiet\t here.\t All\t that\t could\t be\t heard\t were\t strains\t of\t a\t Hindi\t song\t being\t played so mewher e\t o n\t a\t lo udspeaker,\t and\t the\t no ise\t o f\t peo ple\t washing \t clo thes\t at\t the\t g hat,\t a\t few\t feet\t belo w. On\tour\tright\twas\ta\tbanyan\ttree.\tIts\ttop\tbranches\tleant\ttowards\tthe\troof\tof\ta\tyellow\ttwo-storey\thouse. A\tshout\tfrom\tthe\troof\tmade\tus\tall\tglance\tup\tquickly. A\tboy\twas\tstanding\ton\tthe\tparapet\ton\ttop\tof\tthe\troof,\tfacing\ta\tred\thouse\tjust\topposite.\tThere\twas obviously\tsomeone\ton\tthe\troof\tof\tthe\tred\thouse\tas\twell,\tthough\the\twas\thidden\tfrom\tsight.\tIt\twas\tthis unseen\tfigure\tthe\tboy\twas\tshouting\tat. \u2018Shaitan\tSingh!\u2019\the\tshouted\tagain,\tlike\ta\tfilm\thero. \u2018That\tchild\u2019s\tfrom\tthe\tGhoshal\tfamily,\u2019\twhispered\tNiranjan\tBabu.\t\u2018A\treckless\tdevil!\u2019 My\tstomach\tbegan\tto\tchurn.\tIf\tthe\tboy\tlost\this\tbalance\tjust\tonce,\the\u2019d\tdrop\tstraight\tto\tthe\tconcrete pavement.\tNo\tone\tcould\tsave\thim. \u2018There\tis\tno\tpoint\tin\thiding\tany\tmore!\u2019\the\tyelled.\t\u2018I\tknow\twhere\tyou\tare!\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tspoke\tthis\ttime.\tHis\tvoice\tsounded\thoarse.\t\u2018Shaitan\tSingh\tis\ta\tcreation\tof\tmy\trival writer\tAkrur\tNandi.\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t co ming \t to \t g et\t yo u!\u2019\t said\t the\t bo y.\t \u2018Get\t r eady\t to \t sur r ender.\u2019\t T he\t bo y\t disappear ed.\t An\t instant later,\t a\t lo ng \t bambo o \t po le\t appear ed\t fr o m\t o ne\t co r ner \t o f\t the\t r o o f\t o f\t the\t yello w\t ho use,\t str etching \t to that\tof\tthe\tred\tone,\tmaking\ta\tbridge\tbetween\tthe\ttwo. \u2018What\tis\the\ttrying\tto\tdo?\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tsoftly.","\u2018Shaitan\t Singh,\t I\u2019ll\t grab\t you\t before\t you\t can\t finish\t counting\t up\t to\t ten!\u2019\t What\t followed\t made\t us break\tinto\ta\tcold\tsweat. The\tboy\tclimbed\tover\tthe\trailing,\tand\tbegan\tswinging\tfrom\tthe\tbamboo\tpole. \u2018One\t.\t.\t.\ttwo\t.\t.\t.\tthree\t.\t.\t.\tfour.\t.\t.\u2019 Shaitan\tSingh\twas\tcounting\tfrom\tthe\tred\thouse.\tThe\tboy\tstarted\tmaking\this\tway\tto\this\tadversary, still\thanging\tfrom\tthe\tpole. \u2018Do\tsomething!\u2019\turged\tNiranjan\tBabu.\t\u2018My\tcolic\tpain\u2019s\tcoming\tback!\u2019 \u2018Sh-h-h,\u2019\thissed\tFeluda.\tThere\twas\tnothing\twe\tcould\tdo,\texcept\twatch\tbreathlessly\twhat\thappened next. \u2018\t.\t.\t.\tsix\t.\t.\t.\tseven\t.\t.\t.\teight.\t.\t.\tnine\t.\t.\t.\u2019 T he\t bo y\t had\t r eached\t the\t o ppo site\t ho use.\t No w\t he\t swung \t himself\t o ver \t the\t wall\t and\t dr o pped\t o n\t to the\troof.\tThis\twas\tfollowed\tby\ta\tpiercing\tscream\tfrom\tShaitan\tSingh\tand\tgleeful\tlaughter\tfrom\tour hero. \u2018Did\t he\t actually\t kill\t him,\t do\t you\t think?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t asked\t anxiously.\t \u2018I\t thought\t I\t saw something\tlike\ta\tdagger\thanging\tfrom\this\twaist.\u2019 Feluda\t beg an\t str iding \t to war ds\t the\t r ed\t ho use.\t \u2018Go d\t kno ws\t what\t the\t villain\t is\t like,\t but\t the\t her o \t is clearly\tremarkably\tbrave,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018We\tmust\ttell\tthe\tchild\u2019s\tfather,\u2019\tobserved\tNiranjan\tBabu. We\tdidn\u2019t\tactually\thave\tto\tenter\tthe\tred\thouse.\tJust\tas\twe\treached\tits\tfront\tdoor,\twe\theard\tfootsteps coming\tdown\ta\tflight\tof\tstairs,\tand\tthe\tvoice\tof\tthe\tfirst\tboy. \u2018.\t.\t.\tThen\the\u2019ll\tfall\tinto\tthe\triver\twith\ta\tloud\tsplash,\tand\tthe\triver\twill\tcarry\thim\tstraight\tto\tthe\tsea. Then\t a\t shark\t will\t come\t and\t swallow\t him.\t But\t when\t this\t shark\t charges\t at\t Captain\t Spark,\t Captain Spark\twill\tstrike\tit\twith\ta\tharpoon,\tand\t.\t.\t.\u2019 He\tcouldn\u2019t\tfinish,\tfor\tthe\ttwo\tboys\thad\tcome\tout\tof\tthe\tdoor\tand\tseen\tus.\tThey\tstopped\tabruptly, staring.\t The\t first\t one\t was\t a\t very\t good-looking\t child,\t about\t ten\t years\t old.\t The\t other\t seemed\t a\t bit older,\tand\tclearly\tnot\tfrom\ta\tBengali\tfamily.\tBoth\thad\tchewing\tgum\tin\ttheir\tmouth. Feluda\tsaid\tto\tthe\tfirst\tboy,\t\u2018I\tcan\tsee\tthat\tyour\tfriend\tis\tShaitan\tSingh.\tWho\tare\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Captain\tSpark,\u2019\tsaid\tthe\tboy\tsharply. \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\thave\tanother\tname?\tWhat\tdoes\tyour\tfather\tcall\tyou?\u2019 \u2018My\tname\tis\tCaptain\tSpark.\tShaitan\tSingh\tkilled\tmy\tfather\tin\tthe\tjungles\tof\tAfrica\twith\ta\tpoisoned arrow.\t I\t was\t seven\t then.\t My\t eyes\t sparkle\t with\t the\t light\t of\t revenge.\t That\u2019s\t why\t I\t am\t called\t Captain Spark.\u2019 \u2018Go o d\t Lo r d!\u2019\t exclaimed\t Lalmo han\t Babu.\t \u2018T his\t bo y\t seems\t to \t have\t memo r ized\t ever y\t wo r d\t Akr ur Nandi\tever\twrote!\u2019 The\tboy\tglared\tat\thim,\tthen\twalked\taway\twith\this\tfriend\twith\tinfinite\tdignity.\tSoon\tthey\twere\tboth out\tof\tsight. \u2018A\tborn\tactor,\u2019\tremarked\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018Do\tyou\thappen\tto\tknow\tthe\tGhoshals?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tNiranjan\tBabu. \u2018Of\tcourse.\tEveryone\tin\tKashi\tknows\tthem.\tThey\thave\tbeen\tliving\there\tfor\tnearly\ta\thundred\tyears. That\tlittle\tboy\u2019s\tgrandfather,\tAmbika\tGhoshal,\tlives\there\tpermanently.\tHe\tused\tto\tbe\ta\tsolicitor,\tbut has\tretired\tnow.\tThe\tboy\u2019s\tfather,\tUmanath\tGhoshal,\tlives\tin\tCalcutta.\tHe\truns\ta\tbusiness\tof\this\town.","He\tcomes\there\twith\this\tfamily\tevery\tyear\tbefore\tDurga\tPuja.\tThey\thave\tthe\tpuja\tin\ttheir\town\thouse. Theirs\tis\tan\told\taristocratic\tfamily.\tI\tbelieve\tthey\tonce\tused\tto\tbe\tzamindars\tin\tEast\tBengal.\u2019 \u2018Would\tit\tbe\tpossible\tto\tmeet\tUmanath\tBabu,\tdo\tyou\tthink?\u2019 \u2018Why,\t certainly.\t We\t might\t see\t him\t this\t evening\t where\t Ebony\t Baba\t is\t staying.\t I\t heard\t something about\tUmanath\twanting\tto\tbe\tinitiated\tas\twell.\u2019 One\t lo o k\t at\t Ebo ny\t Baba\t to ld\t us\t why\t Nir anjan\t Babu\t had\t cho sen\t the\t name.\t I\t had\t never \t seen\t anyo ne quite\tso\tdark.\tBut\tthat\twas\tnot\tall.\tHis\tskin\twas\tso\tsmooth\tthat\tit\tseemed\tas\tthough\the\twas\twearing\ta tight-fitting\tblack\tcostume.\tHis\twavy\thair\trippled\tdown\tto\this\tshoulders;\this\tbeard\tcame\tdown\tto\this chest.\t Both\t were\t jet\t black.\t He\t was\t well-built,\t and\t he\t didn\u2019t\t appear\t to\t be\t older\t than\t thirty-five. Naturally,\t he\t could\t not\t swim\t so\t much\t if\t he\t wasn\u2019t\t young\t and\t strong.\t He\t wore\t a\t scarlet\t lungi,\t and around\this\tshoulders\twas\tdraped\ta\tred\tsilk\tscarf.\tThis\tmade\thim\ta\tparticularly\timpressive\tfigure. The\tfour\tof\tus\twere\tstanding\tbehind\ta\tgroup\tof\tdevotees.\tBabaji\twas\tsitting\ton\ta\tmat\tspread\ton\tthe veranda\t that\t faced\t the\t courtyard.\t Behind\t him\t were\t two\t bolsters\t covered\t with\t yellow\t velvet.\t On\t his left\t sat\t an\t old\t man\t with\t folded\t hands,\t his\t eyes\t closed.\t This\t must\t be\t Abhaycharan\t Chakravarty,\t I thought.\tAnother\tman\twas\tsitting\tin\tone\tcorner\tof\tthe\tveranda,\tsinging\ta\tHindi\tbhajan.\tMachchli\tBaba sat\tin\tpadmasan,\tswaying\this\tbody\tgently\tto\tthe\trhythm\tof\tthe\tsong. He\t was\t not\t going\t to\t give\t out\t fish\t scales\t today.\t We\t were\t to\t witness\t something\t quite\t different. Today,\tthe\tBaba\u2019s\tfollowers\twould\ttell\thim\thow\tlong\the\twas\tto\tstay\tin\tVaranasi.\tNo\tone\tappeared\tto know\tquite\thow\tthis\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\taccomplished. Lalmo han\t Babu\t seemed\t to \t have\t tur ned\t quite\t r elig io us\t since\t his\t ar r ival\t her e.\t This\t mo r ning \t I\t had hear d\t him\t sho ut\t \u2018Jai\t Baba\t Vishwanath!\u2019\t mo r e\t than\t o nce\t at\t the\t g hat.\t No w\t the\t ver y\t sig ht\t o f\t the\t Baba had\tmade\thim\tfold\this\thands.\tHow\tdid\the\thope\tto\tthink\tup\ta\tplot\tfor\ta\tthriller\tif\the\tlet\this\treligious fervour\tcarry\thim\taway?\tOr\twas\the\thoping\tthe\tBaba\twould\tappear\tin\this\tdream\tand\treveal\ta\tsuitable idea\tfor\ta\tstory? At\tthis\tpoint,\ta\tyoung\tman\tcame\tin\tand\tjoined\tus.\tHe\tlooked\tat\tthe\tcrowd,\tperhaps\twondering\thow he\t could\t push\t his\t way\t forward.\t Niranjan\t Babu\t leant\t towards\t him\t and\t asked,\t \u2018Hasn\u2019t\t Mr\t Ghoshal come\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019\treplied\tthe\tyoung\tman.\t\u2018Some\tguests\tarrived\tfrom\tCalcutta\ttoday,\tso\the\tdecided\tnot\tto\tcome.\u2019 The\tman\thad\ta\tpolished,\tsmart\tappearance. \u2018Allow\t me\t to\t introduce\t you,\u2019\t Niranjan\t Babu\t said.\t \u2018This\t is\t Vikas\t Sinha,\t Umanath\t Ghoshal\u2019s secretary.\tAnd\tthis\tis\tPradosh\tMitter,\twho\u2019s\tvisiting\twith\this\tcousin\tTapesh\there\tand\tfriend,\tLalmohan Ganguli.\u2019 Vikas\tSinha\tfrowned.\t\u2018Pradosh\tMitter?\tYou\tmean\tthe\tPradosh\tMitter,\tthe\tinvestigator?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes,\u2019\tNiranjan\tBabu\traised\this\tvoice\tin\texcitement,\tnone\tother.\tOf\tcourse,\tMr\tGanguli\there\tis also\u2014\u2019 He\t pointed\t at\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t but\t Mr\t Sinha\t continued\t to\t stare\t at\t Feluda.\t It\t seemed\t as\t though\t he wanted\tto\tsay\tsomething,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\thow\tto\tbegin. \u2018Where\tare\tyou\tstaying?\u2019\the\tasked\tat\tlast. \u2018In\tmy\thotel,\u2019\tNiranjan\tBabu\tanswered\tfor\tFeluda. \u2018All\tright,\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tVikas\tSinha\tstill\thesitated.\t\u2018It\tmight\tbe\twise\t.\t.\t.\tnever\tmind,\tI\u2019ll\tcontact\tyou tomorrow.\u2019\tHe\tsaid\t\u2018namaskar \u2019\tto\tall\tof\tus\tand\tdisappeared\tinto\tthe\tcrowd.\tAt\tthis\tprecise\tmoment,","Machchli\tBaba\tspoke. \u2018One!\u2019\the\tshouted.\tThe\tbhajan\tstopped.\tEveryone\tin\tthe\tcrowd\tfell\tsilent.\tI\tnoticed\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime that\topposite\tAbhaycharan\twas\tsitting\tanother\tman\twith\ta\tbrightly\tdesigned\tbag\tin\tfront\tof\thim.\tNext to\tthe\tbag,\tlying\tin\ta\theap,\twere\tsome\tstrange\tblack\tobjects. \u2018There\t is\t only\t one\t sun,\t and\t one\t moon.\t One!\u2019\t Babaji\t continued.\t \u2018Two\t ears\t and\t two\t eyes\t and\t two hands\tand\ttwo\tfeet.\tTwo!\u2019 This\t sounded\t like\t pure\t nonsense\t to\t me.\t There\t was\t no\t way\t of\t telling\t whether\t anyone\t else\t could make\thead\tor\ttail\tof\tit.\tBut\tthe\tBaba\twas\tstill\tspeaking.\t\u2018The\tpast,\tpresent\tand\tfuture\u2014three!\tThe\teast, west,\tnorth\tand\tsouth\u2014four!\tWater,\tair,\tfire,\tearth\tand\tthe\tsky\u2014five!\tOne,\ttwo,\tthree,\tfour,\tfive!\u2019\tHe sto pped.\t Ever y\t eye\t was\t fixed\t o n\t him.\t \u2018T hr illing !\u2019\t whisper ed\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t into \t my\t ear.\t T he\t Baba went\t o n\t co unting \t in\t this\t r ather \t cr yptic\t manner \t until\t he\t r eached\t ten,\t r efer r ing \t to \t the\t six\t seaso ns,\t the seven\tstars\tin\tthe\tGreat\tBear,\tthe\teight\tmetals\tconsidered\tpure\tand\tvery\tspecial,\tthe\tnine\tplanets\tand, finally,\t the\t ten\t incarnations\t of\t Vishnu.\t Then\t he\t stopped\t and\t nodded\t at\t the\t man\t with\t the\t bag,\t who whispered\tsomething\tto\thim\tand\tturned\tto\tface\tthe\tcrowd. \u2018This\tbag\tcontains\tblank\tpieces\tof\tpaper,\u2019\tsaid\tthe\tman\tin\ta\tthin,\tsqueaky\tvoice.\t\u2018You\tare\trequested to\t take\t a\t piece\t of\t paper\t and\t a\t piece\t of\t charcoal\t from\t here\t and\t write\t any\t number\t from\t one\t to\t ten. Please\treturn\tthe\tpaper\tto\tme\twith\tyour\tchosen\tnumber\ton\tit.\u2019 Feluda\tturned\tto\tNiranjan\tBabu. \u2018Will\tthe\tnumber\tthat\u2019s\twritten\tby\tmost\tpeople\tdetermine\tthe\tlength\tof\this\tstay?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Maybe.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tsay,\tdid\the?\u2019 \u2018If\tthat\tis\tthe\tcase,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\there\tfor\tmore\tthan\tseven\tdays.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tgoing\tto\twrite\ta\tnumber?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\u2019m\tnot\tinterested\tin\tthe\tBaba\u2019s\tstay.\tWhat\tI\tam\tcurious\tabout\tis\tsomething\tquite\tdifferent.\tTell me,\tare\tall\tthese\tpeople\tjust\tstooges,\tor\tare\tthere\ta\tfew\twell-known\tpeople\tpresent\there?\u2019 \u2018What\t are\t you\t saying,\t sir?\u2019\t Niranjan\t Babu\t raised\t his\t eyebrows.\t \u2018Many\t of\t these\t people\t might\t be called\t the\t cream\t of\t Kashi.\t Look,\t see\t that\t man\t over\t there\t in\t a\t white\t shirt?\t He\u2019s\t Srutidhar\t Mahesh Vachaspati,\ta\tSanskrit\tscholar\tof\trenown.\tAnd\tthere\u2019s\ta\twell-known\tdoctor,\tand\ta\tbank\tmanager.\tThe man\twith\tthe\tbag\tover\tthere\tis\tAbhaycharan\u2019s\tnephew.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tprofessor\tof\tEnglish\tin\tAligarh.\tYou\u2019ll find\t so mebo dy\t fr o m\t ever y\t pr o fessio n,\t I\t can\t tell\t yo u.\t Lo o k\t at\t ho w\t many\t wo men\t ar e\t her e.\t So me\t o f them\t ar e\t well-kno wn\t and\t hig hly\t qualified,\t to o .\t And\t lo o k,\t lo o k\u2014\u2019\t he\t no dded\t to war ds\t a\t r ather \t lar g e man,\tclad\tin\ta\twhite\tkurta,\ta\twhite\tzari\tcap\ton\this\thead.\tHe\twas\tsitting\twith\this\tback\tto\tus. \u2018Do\t you\t know\t who\t he\t is?\t That\u2019s\t Maganlal\t Meghraj.\t The\t richest\t and\t most\t powerful\t man\t in Banaras.\u2019 \u2018Maganlal\tMeghraj?\tThat\tseems\tto\tring\ta\tbell.\u2019 Niranjan\t Babu\t lowered\t his\t voice.\t \u2018The\t police\t raided\t his\t house\t twice.\t His\t office\t in\t Calcutta\t was raided,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018But\tnothing\twas\tfound,\tI\ttake\tit?\u2019 \u2018No,\tof\tcourse\tnot.\tA\tman\tlike\thim\tknows\thow\tto\tprotect\thimself\tand\tkeep\tthe\tpolice\thappy.\u2019 We\tstarted\twalking\ttowards\tthe\texit.\tJust\tas\twe\treached\tit,\tMr\tSinha\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tcrowd.\t\u2018Are you\t leaving?\u2019\t he\t asked\t Feluda\t anxiously.\t Then\t continued\t before\t Feluda\t could\t reply,\t \u2018Do\t you\t think you\tcould\tcome\tto\tour\thouse\tright\taway?\tI\tthink\tMr\tGhoshal\twould\tbe\tpleased\tto\tmeet\tyou.\u2019","Feluda\t glanced\t at\t his\t watch.\t \u2018There\u2019s\t no\t reason\t why\t we\t can\u2019t\t go\t with\t you.\t Only\t Niranjan\t Babu may\thave\tto\treturn\tto\tthe\thotel.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tright,\u2019\tsaid\tNiranjan\tBabu.\t\u2018You\tthree\tgo\talong.\tBut\tdon\u2019t\tbe\tlate\tgetting\tback\tif\tyou\twant your\tdinner\tserved\thot.\tI\u2019ve\tordered\ta\tspecial\tchicken\tcurry\tfor\tyou!\u2019","Three \u2018I\thave\tcertainly\theard\tof\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tUmanath\tGhoshal. Feluda\t smiled\t as\t mo destly\t as\t he\t co uld.\t Umanath\t Babu\t was\t a\t mar t\t in\t his\t fo r ties.\t His\t co mplexio n was\tas\tfair\tas\tthat\tof\this\tson,\tand\the\thad\tlight\thazel\teyes.\tHe\tnow\tturned\tthese\ton\tus\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Er\t.\t.\t. these\tare\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018My\t cousin,\t Tapesh,\u2019\t said\t Feluda\t quickly,\t \u2018and\t this\t is\t my\t friend,\t Lalmohan\t Ganguli.\t He\t writes stories\tof\tadventure\tunder\tthe\tpseudonym\tof\tJatayu.\u2019 \u2018Jatayu?\u2019\tUmanath\tGhoshal\traised\tan\teyebrow.\t\u2018I\tseem\tto\thave\theard\tthe\tname.\tI\tthink\tRuku\thas\ta number\tof\tyour\tbooks.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tso,\tVikas?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir,\u2019\tsaid\tVikas\tSinha.\t\u2018I\tthink\tso.\u2019 \u2018You\tshould\tknow!\tYou\tare\tthe\tone\twho\tbuys\tall\tthose\tbooks\tfor\thim.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tto,\tsir.\tHe\tdoesn\u2019t\tread\tanything\tother\tthan\tadventure\tand\tmystery\tstories.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tnatural,\u2019\tJatayu\tpiped\tup,\t\u2018especially\tat\this\tage.\u2019\tI\twas\tglad\tto\tnote\tthat\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad perked\t up\t a\t little.\t He\t had\t been\t looking\t decidedly\t morose\t ever\t since\t our\t encounter\t with\t Captain Spark.\tAkrur\tNandi\twas\tclearly\ta\tpopular\twriter\tand\tliable\tto\tcause\tJatayu\tpangs\tof\tenvy. Feluda\tsaid,\t\u2018We\twere\tgoing\tto\tcall\ton\tyou\tanyway.\tYou\tsee,\twe\tmet\tyour\tson\tthis\tmorning.\tI\tdon\u2019t know\twhat\this\treal\tname\tis,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\tlearnt\tthe\tname\tof\tthe\tcharacter\the\twas\tplaying.\u2019 \u2018He\t does\t that\t all\t the\t time.\t In\t fact,\t he\t even\t gets\t others\t to\t join\t him.\t Aren\u2019t\t you\t playing\t a\t special character\tfor\thim,\tVikas?\tHe\tcalls\tyou\tby\ta\tdifferent\tname,\tdoesn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018It\tisn\u2019t\tjust\ta\tsingle\tname\tor\ta\tsingle\trole,\tsir.\tI\tam\tquite\tversatile!\u2019\tVikas\tSinha\tlaughed. \u2018Anyway,\twhere\tdid\tyou\tmeet\tmy\tson?\u2019 Feluda\ttold\thim\tas\tbriefly\tas\the\tcould.\tUmanath\tBabu\tnearly\tfell\toff\this\tchair.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tthis! My\tGod,\the\tmight\thave\tbeen\tkilled!\tVikas,\task\tRuku\tto\tcome\there\tat\tonce!\u2019 Mr\tSinha\tleft\tthe\troom. \u2018What\tis\tRuku\u2019s\treal\tname?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda. \u2018Rukmini\t Kumar.\t He\u2019s\t my\t o nly\t child.\t So \t yo u\t can\t imag ine\t ho w\t upset\t I\u2019m\t feeling .\t I\t knew\t he\t was naughty,\tbut\tthis\u2014!\u2019 I\tlooked\taround\twhile\twe\twaited\tfor\tRuku\tto\tturn\tup.\tFrom\tone\tcorner\tof\tthe\tliving\troom\tI\tcould see\t a\t portion\t of\t the\t veranda\t where\t artists\t were\t working\t on\t an\t idol\t of\t Durga.\t Puja\t was\t only\t a\t few days\taway. A\tbearer\tcame\tin\twith\ta\ttray.\tWe\twere\thanded\tcups\tof\ttea\tand\tplates\tof\tsweets. \u2018You\twent\tto\tsee\tMachchli\tBaba,\tI\tbelieve,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tGhoshal.\t\u2018What\tdid\tyou\tthink\tof\thim?\u2019 \u2018We\tdidn\u2019t\tstay\tvery\tlong.\tYou,\ttoo,\twere\tsupposed\tto\tgo,\tweren\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\thave\tbeen\tto\tsee\thim\tonce.\tI\thave\tno\twish\tto\tgo\tback.\tIf\tonly\tI\thadn\u2019t\tgone\tout\tthat\tevening, we\tmight\thave\tbeen\tspared\tthe\tdisaster.\u2019","\u2018Disaster?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\t Mr\t Ghoshal\t sighed.\t \u2018Last\t Wednesday,\t when\t I\t went\t to\t visit\t Machchli\t Baba,\t an\t extremely valuable\tobject\twas\tstolen\tfrom\tmy\tfather \u2019s\troom.\tIf\tyou\tcan\tget\tit\tback\tfor\tme,\tMr\tMitter,\tI\tshall\tbe eternally\tgrateful.\tAnd,\tof\tcourse,\tI\twill\tpay\tyou\tadequately.\u2019 A\tfamiliar\trace\tbegan\tin\tmy\theart. \u2018May\tI\task\twhat\tit\twas?\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018Ganesh.\t It\t was\t a\t small\t figure\t of\t Ganesh,\u2019\t Mr\t Ghoshal\t spread\t his\t fingers\t slightly\t to\t indicate\t its size,\t\u2018made\tof\tgold\tand\tstudded\twith\tprecious\tstones.\tIt\twas\tonly\tabout\ttwo-and-a-half\tinches\thigh.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\tyou\tget\tit?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\t tell\t yo u.\t It\t mig ht\t so und\t like\t a\t fair y\t tale,\t but\t I\t can\t assur e\t yo u\t it\u2019s\t tr ue.\u2019\t He\t lit\t a\t cig ar ette\t and began.\t \u2018My\t great-grandfather,\t Someshwar\t Ghoshal,\t was\t a\t great\t traveller.\t He\t travelled\t all\t over\t the country,\tusing\twhatever\tmode\tof\ttransport\the\tcould\tget,\tranging\tfrom\tbullock\tcarts\tto\ttrains.\tWhen he\tcould\tget\tnothing,\the\tsimply\twalked.\tOnce,\twhen\the\twas\tin\tsouth\tIndia,\the\thappened\tto\tbe\tgoing through\ta\theavily\twooded\tarea\tnear\tMadurai\tin\ta\tbullock\tcart.\tIt\twas\tdark,\tand\tthe\tpath\twas\ta\tnarrow one.\tThree\trobbers\tattacked\thim.\tBut\tSomeshwar\twas\texceptionally\tstrong.\tHe\tused\ta\theavy\tbamboo rod,\tand\tmanaged\tto\tknock\tone\tof\this\tattackers\tunconscious.\tThe\tother\ttwo\tran\taway,\tleaving\tbehind a\t bag\t that\t contained,\t among\t other\t things,\t this\t little\t figure\t of\t Ganapati.\t He\t returned\t home\t with\t the statuette,\t and\t things\t changed\t dramatically\t in\t our\t family.\t Don\u2019t\t think\t I\t am\t old-fashioned\t and superstitious,\tbut\tI\thave\theard\tit\tsaid\tthat\tthe\tGanesh\tbrought\tus\tgood\tluck.\tTwo\tyears\tafter\tits\tarrival, there\t was\t a\t devastating\t flood.\t Our\t house\t was\t quite\t close\t to\t the\t river,\t but\t was\t miraculously\t saved. There\t are\t other\t instances,\t too,\t which\t I\t needn\u2019t\t go\t into.\t My\t main\t concern\t is\t that\t we\t had\t had\t the Ganesh\tfor\ta\thundred\tyears.\tNow\tit\thas\tbeen\ttaken\tfrom\tus.\tPuja\twill\tstart\tin\ta\tfew\tdays,\tthe\thouse\tis full\tof\tguests,\tbut\tno\tone\tcan\trelax\tand\tenjoy\tthemselves.\tYou\tdo\tsee\tmy\tpredicament,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 Mr\tGhoshal\tleant\tback,\tsighing\twearily. \u2018When\tdid\tyou\tvisit\tMachchli\tBaba?\u2019\tPeluda\tasked. \u2018Three\tdays\tago,\ton\tWednesday.\tWe\tarrived\tfrom\tCalcutta\tabout:\tten\tdays\tago.\tMy\twife\twas\tvery keen\tto\tsee\tthe\tBaba,\tso\tI\ttook\ther\tand\tRuku\tthat\tevening.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyour\tson\treally\twant\tto\tgo?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t guess\t he\t was\t intrigued\t by\t the\t name.\t He\t told\t me\t he\t had\t read\t about\t a\t man\t who\t had\t swum seventy\t miles\t through\t a\t shark-infested\t sea.\t But\t when\t he\t actually\t saw\t the\t Baba,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t too impressed.\t He\t began\t to\t fidget\t and,\t only\t about\t ten\t minutes\t later,\t we\t left.\t We\t returned\t to\t find\t the Ganesh\tmissing.\u2019 \u2018This\tlittle\tfigure\tof\tGanesh\twas\tkept\tin\ta\tchest,\tI\tpresume?\tIn\tyour\tfather \u2019s\troom,\tdid\tyou\tsay?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tI\thave\tthe\tkey.\tNormally,\tit\tstays\twith\tmy\twife.\tThat\tevening,\tsince\tshe\twas\tcoming\twith me,\t I\t took\t it\t from\t her\t and\t put\t it\t in\t a\t drawer\t in\t my\t father \u2019s\t room.\t It\t was\t a\t foolish\t thing\t to\t do,\t of course,\t for\t my\t father\t is\t an\t opium\t addict\t and\t usually\t sleeps\t in\t the\t evening.\t Anyway,\t I\t pushed\t the drawer\tshut\tfirmly,\tbut\twhen\tI\tgot\tback,\tit\twas\topen\tby\tabout\tan\tinch.\tThis\tmade\tme\tsuspicious,\tso\tI looked\tinto\tthe\tdrawer\timmediately.\tThe\tkey\twas\twhere\tI\thad\tleft\tit,\tbut\tthe\tGanesh\thad\tgone.\u2019 Feluda\tfrowned.\t\u2018May\tI\task\twho\twas\tpresent\tin\tthe\thouse\tat\tthe\ttime?\u2019 Feluda\t had\t not\t brought\t his\t notebook.\t But\t I\t had\t no\t doubt\t that\t he\t would\t be\t able\t to\t remember everything\tMr\tGhoshal\twas\tsaying,\tand\twould\twrite\tit\tdown\tlater\tin\tour\thotel\troom.","\u2018Well,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tGhoshal,\t\u2018you\tsaw\tTrilochan,\tour\tchowkidar,\tat\tthe\tgate.\tHe\u2019s\tbeen\twith\tour\tfamily for\tthirty-five\tyears.\tThere\tare\ta\tcouple\tof\tservants\tand\tmaids\u2014all\thave\tbeen\twith\tus\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime. Shashi\t Babu,\t the\t ar tist,\t is\t wo r king \t o n\t the\t ido l\t o f\t Dur g a,\t to g ether \t with\t his\t so n.\t I\u2019ve\t kno wn\t him\t fo r thir ty\t year s.\t He\u2019s\t a\t mo st\t g ifted\t ar tist.\t Apar t\t fr o m\t these\t peo ple\t in\t the\t ho use,\t ther e\t was\t o ur \t mali,\t and Vikas,\twho\tbrought\tyou\there.\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\thave\tyou\thad\thim\tas\tyour\tsecretary?\u2019 \u2018About\tfive\tyears.\tBut\the\u2019s\tspent\tvirtually\tall\this\tlife\tin\tour\thouse.\tHis\tfather\tused\tto\twork\ton\tour estate\tin\tBengal.\tHe\tdied\twhen\tVikas\twas\tsmall.\tOne\tof\tmy\tuncles\tbrought\tVikas\thome\tto\tlook\tafter him,\tand\the\tstayed\ton.\tHe\u2019s\tno\tdifferent\tfrom\ta\tfamily\tmember.\tHe\u2019s\tan\tintelligent\tman,\tdid\twell\tin school\tand\tcollege.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\tinform\tthe\tpolice\tabout\tthe\ttheft?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tI\trang\tthem\tthe\tsame\tevening.\tBut\tthey\thaven\u2019t\tbeen\table\tto\tdo\tanything\tyet.\u2019 \u2018Did\tanyone\toutside\tyour\tfamily\tknow\tabout\tthe\tGanesh?\u2019\tBefore\tMr\tGhoshal\tcould\tmake\ta\treply, Ruku\tarrived\twith\tVikas\tBabu.\tI\tlooked\tat\tRuku\u2019s\tfather,\texpecting\thim\tto\texplode.\tBut\tMr\tGhoshal showed\tadmirable\tcontrol,\tgoing\tonly\tso\tfar\tas\tto\tgive\this\tson\ta\tsidelong\tglance\tand\tsay\tin\ta\tsteely voice,\t \u2018You\t are\t forbidden\t from\t stepping\t out\t of\t the\t house\t until\t puja\t is\t over.\t You\t can\t play\t in\t the garden\tand\tthe\tterrace,\tbut\tunless\tI\tpersonally\ttake\tyou\tout,\tyou\tare\tto\tremain\tindoors\tat\tall\ttimes.\tIs that\tunderstood?\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tShaitan\tSingh?\u2019\tasked\tRuku\tsharply. \u2018Who\ton\tearth\tis\tthat?\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\tbroken\tout\tof\tthe\tprison.\tHe\tmust\tbe\tcaught!\u2019 \u2018Never\tmind,\tI\u2019ll\ttrack\thim\tdown\tfor\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tVikas\tBabu\tlightly.\tRuku\tgave\thim\ta\tgrateful\tlook, and\twent\tquietly\tout\tof\tthe\troom\twith\thim,\twithout\tsaying\tanother\tword\tabout\this\tpunishment. \u2018As\tyou\u2019ve\tseen,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\tMr\tGhoshal\tsaid,\t\u2018this\tchild\tis\texceptionally\timaginative.\tBut\tanyway, let\t me\t answer \t yo ur \t questio n.\t Yes,\t a\t lo t\t o f\t peo ple\t knew\t abo ut\t the\t Ganesh,\t especially\t when\t we\t wer e still\tliving\tin\tour\tancestral\thome.\tThe\tstory\tof\tSomeshwar \u2019s\tfight\twith\tthe\trobbers\thad\tspread\tlike\ta legend.\tBut\tthat\twas\tlong\tbefore\tI\twas\tborn.\tWhen\twe\tmoved\tto\tCalcutta,\tthere\tweren\u2019t\tmany\tpeople left\tto\ttalk\tabout\tit.\tWhile\tI\twas\tin\tcollege\tin\tCalcutta,\tI\tmentioned\tit\tcasually\tto\ta\tfew\tfriends.\tOne\tof them\u2014but\tmind\tyou,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tconsider\thim\ta\tfriend\tany\tmore\u2014now\tlives\there\tin\tBanaras.\tHis\tname\tis Maganlal\tMeghraj.\u2019 \u2018Oh\t yes,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t \u2018I\t know\t who\t you\t mean.\t We\t saw\t him\t this\t evening\t at\t Machchli\t Baba\u2019s meeting.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tknow.\tHe\twas\tthere\tlast\tWednesday\tas\twell.\tThere\tis\ta\treason\twhy\the\tkeeps\tgoing\tback\tfor the\t Baba\u2019s\t help.\t He\u2019s\t going\t through\t a\t bad\t time,\t you\t see.\t His\t plywood\t factory\t got\t burnt\t down\t last year.\tThen\tthere\twere\trumours\tabout\tcertain\tshady\tdealings.\tSo\tthe\tpolice\traided\this\thouse\tand\toffice both\there\tand\tin\tCalcutta.\tHe\tcame\tto\tsee\tme\ttwo\tdays\tafter\tI\tarrived.\tHe\ttold\tme\tstraightaway\tthat\the wanted\t to\t buy\t the\t Ganesh.\t He\t knew\t we\t kept\t it\t here\t in\t my\t father \u2019s\t room.\t He\t offered\t me\t thirty tho usand\t r upees,\t but\t I\t r efused.\t In\t the\t end,\t he\t left\t saying \t he\u2019d\t g et\t it\t by\t ho o k\t o r \t by\t cr o o k.\t Five\t days after\this\tvisit,\tthe\tGanesh\tvanished.\u2019 Mr\t Ghoshal\t fell\t silent.\t Feluda\t was\t silent,\t too.\t He\t sat\t quietly,\t a\t deep\t crease\t between\t his\t brows. Something\t told\t me\t his\t three-month-long\t vacation\t had\t come\t to\t an\t end.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t prophecy","was\tgoing\tto\tcome\ttrue.\tHere\tin\tKashi\twas\ta\tcase,\tbut\tthe\tcash,\tof\tcourse,\tdepended\ton\t.\t.\t. \u2018We\u2019r e\t ver y\t fo r tunate\t to \t have\t yo u\t her e\t at\t this\t time,\u2019\t Mr \t Gho shal\t br o ke\t the\t silence.\t \u2018No w,\t if\t o nly you\u2019d\taccept.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tCertainly.\u2019\tFeluda\trose\tto\this\tfeet.\t\u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tcome\tback\ttomorrow,\tif\tI\tmay,\tand talk\tto\tyour\tfather.\tWould\tthat\tbe\tpossible?\u2019 \u2018Why\t not?\t My\t father\t isn\u2019t\t always\t very\t easy\t to\t talk\t to,\t but\t his\t aggressive\t air\t is\t just\t a\t pretence. Come\tat\taround\teight.\tI\u2019ll\tmake\tsure\tyou\tfind\tFather\tready\tand\twaiting.\tBesides,\tif\tyou\twish\tto\twalk around\tin\tthe\tgarden\tor\telsewhere\tin\tour\tcompound,\tplease\tfeel\tfree\tto\tdo\tso.\tI\u2019ll\ttell\tTrilochan\tto\tlet you\tin\twhenever\tyou\twish\tto\tvisit.\tVikas\tcan\thelp\tyou,\ttoo.\u2019 We\ttook\tour\tleave\tsoon\tafter\tthis.\tOn\tour\tway\tback\tto\tthe\thotel,\tI\tnoticed\ta\tman\tfollowing\tus.\tHe was\twrapped\tup\tin\ta\tblanket.\tI\tcould\tnot\tsee\this\tface.\tBut\twhen\tI\ttried\tto\twarn\tFeluda\twe\twere\tbeing followed,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t pay\t any\t attention\t at\t all\t and\t continued\t to\t hum\u2014quite\t tunelessly\u2014a\t song\t from\t a Hindi\tfilm.","Four The\tcook\tat\tthe\tCalcutta\tLodge\tproduced\tan\texcellent\tchicken\tcurry.\tHe\talso\tserved\tfish,\twhich\twas equally\ttasty,\tbut\tLalmohan\tBabu\tdid\tnot\ttouch\tit. \u2018After\thaving\tseen\tMachchli\tBaba\tthis\tevening,\u2019\the\tinformed\tus,\t\u2018I\tcouldn\u2019t\teat\tfish,\tever\tagain.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019\t Feluda\t laughed,\t \u2018would\t that\t make\t you\t feel\t you\t were\t chewing\t the\t Baba\u2019s\t flesh?\t Do\t you suppose\tMachchli\tBaba\thimself\tabstains\tfrom\tconsuming\twhat\tyou\tare\tproposing\tto\tgive\tup?\u2019 \u2018Doesn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tyou\thave\theard\the\tspends\tmost\tof\this\ttime\tin\twater.\tSo\twhat\tcould\the\tpossibly\tlive\ton\texcept fish?\tCertain\tspecies\tof\tfish\teat\tother\tfish,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tknow?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t did\t not\t say\t anything.\t I\t felt\t quite\t sure\t he\u2019d\t go\t back\t to\t being\t his\t fish-eating\t self from\tthe\tnext\tday. After \t an\t eventful\t day,\t I\t was\t lo o king \t fo r war d\t to \t a\t g o o d\t nig ht\u2019s\t sleep.\t But\t that\t was\t no t\t to \t be.\t Our roommate,\tJeevan\tBabu\t(short\tand\tfat\tand\twith\ta\tbeard,\tjust\tas\tFeluda\thad\tpredicted),\tturned\tout\tto\tbe a\tchampion\tsnorer.\tI\tspent\tmost\tof\tthe\tnight\ttossing\tand\tturning\tin\tmy\tbed,\twondering\twhy,\tjust\tthis once,\tFeluda\tcould\tnot\thave\tbeen\tproved\twrong. The\t next\t morning,\t as\t we\t were\t coming\t out\t of\t the\t hotel\t after\t breakfast,\t we\t met\t Niranjan\t Babu. Feluda\t exchanged\t pleasantries\t before\t asking,\t \u2018Do\t you\t happen\t to\t know\t where\t Maganlal\t Meghraj lives?\u2019 \u2018Meghraj?\tAs\tfar\tas\tI\tknow,\the\thas\ttwo\thouses,\tboth\tin\tthe\theart\tof\tBanaras.\tOne\tof\tthem\tis\tnot\tfar from\tthe\tVishwanath\ttemple.\tAnyone\twill\tshow\tyou\tthe\tway.\u2019 Niranjan\tBabu\ttold\tus\tone\tmore\tthing.\tMachchli\tBaba\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tin\tBanaras\tfor\tanother\tsix days.\tFeluda\u2019s\tfamous\tlopsided\tsmile\tpeeped\tout\tat\tthis,\tbut\the\tsaid\tnothing. We\t ar r ived\t at\t the\t Gho shal\t r esidence\t o n\t the\t do t\t o f\t eig ht.\t Tr ilo chan\t o pened\t the\t g ate\t fo r \t us\t with\t a bright\tsmile\tand\ta\tsmart\tsalute.\tHe\tmust\tbe\tabout\tseventy,\tI\tthought;\tbut\the\tcertainly\tdid\tnot\tlook\tit. His\tback\twas\tramrod\tstraight,\tand\tthe\tsize\tof\this\tmoustache\tmost\timpressive. Vikas\tBabu\tcame\tout\tto\tgreet\tus.\t\u2018I\tsaw\tyou\tarrive,\u2019\the\tsaid.\tHe\thad\tprobably\tjust\tfinished\tshaving, for\tthere\twas\ta\tlittle\tsoap\tstuck\tunder\this\tright\tear. \u2018Would\t you\t like\t to\t come\t in?\t Old\t Mr\t Ghoshal\t is\t waiting\t for\t you.\t You\t wanted\t to\t see\t him\t in particular,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tbefore\twe\tdo\tthat,\tdo\tyou\tmind\ttelling\tme\ta\tfew\tthings?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tat\tall.\u2019 Feluda\t asked\t a\t few\t rapid\t questions\t and\t noted\t the\t answers\t in\t his\t notebook.\t The\t following\t points emerged: 1.\tMaganlal\tcame\tto\tmeet\tMr\tGhoshal\tat\this\thouse\ton\tthe\t10th\tof\tOctober.","2.\tMr\tGhoshal\ttook\this\twife\tand\tchild\tto\tsee\tMachchli\tBaba\ton\tthe\t15th,\tat\t7.30\tp.m.\tHe\treturned\ta little\tmore\tthan\tan\thour\tlater.\tThe\tfigure\tof\tGanesh\twas\tstolen\tduring\tthat\ttime. 3.\tIn\tthe\thouse\tbetween\t7.30\tand\t8.30\tp.m.\twere\tUmanath\tGhoshal\u2019s\tfather,\tAmbika\tGhoshal,\tVikas Sinha,\tTrilochan,\ttwo\tbearers,\ta\tmaid,\ta\tcook,\ta\tmali\tand\tthe\ttwo\tartists.\tAssuming\tthat\tno\tone\tcame in\tfrom\toutside,\tit\thad\tto\tbe\tone\tof\tthese\tpeople\twho\thad\ttaken\tthe\tGanesh\tout\tof\tthe\tchest\tin\tAmbika Ghoshal\u2019s\troom. Feluda\tput\this\tnotebook\taway\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018You\tmust\tforgive\tme\tfor\tthis,\tbut\tI\tcannot\tpossibly\tleave anyone\tout,\tnot\teven\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tunderstand\tthat.\tI\u2019ve\talready\thad\tto\tface\tthe\tpolice.\tI\tsuppose\tyou\twant\tto\tknow\twhat\tI\twas doing\tin\tthe\thouse\tduring\tthat\ttime?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tthere\u2019s\tsomething\telse\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\task\tfirst.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tBut\tlet\u2019s\tgo\tto\tmy\troom.\u2019 We\twent\tinto\tthe\thouse.\tA\tstaircase\twent\tup\tfrom\tthe\tfront\thall.\tVikas\tBabu\u2019s\troom\twas\ton\tthe\tleft on\tthe\tground\tfloor. \u2018You\tmust\thave\tknown\tabout\tthe\tGanesh,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked,\ttaking\ta\tchair. \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tI\u2019ve\tknown\tabout\tit\tfor\tages.\u2019 \u2018Were\tyou\tat\thome\twhen\tMaganlal\tcame\tto\tvisit\tUmanath\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tIn\tfact,\tI\treceived\tMaganlal\tand\ttook\thim\tto\tthe\tliving\troom.\tThen\tI\tgot\tone\tof\tthe\tbearers\tto go\tupstairs\tand\tinform\tMr\tGhoshal.\u2019 \u2018And\tthen?\u2019 \u2018Then\tI\treturned\tto\tmy\troom.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tknow\tthe\ttwo\thad\tan\targument?\u2019 \u2018No.\tYou\tcannot\thear\tfrom\tmy\troom\tanything\tthat\u2019s\tsaid\tin\tthe\tliving\troom.\tBesides,\tI\twas\tplaying the\tradio.\u2019 \u2018Were\tyou\tin\tyour\troom\tthe\tevening\tthe\tGanesh\tgot\tstolen?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tfor\tmost\tof\tthe\ttime.\tWhen\tMr\tGhoshal\tleft\twith\this\twife\tand\tRuku,\tI\twalked\twith\tthem\tup\tto the\t g ate.\t Fr o m\t ther e\t I\t went\t to \t lo o k\t at\t Shashi\t Babu\t and\t his\t so n\t wo r king \t in\t the\t ver anda.\t Shashi\t Babu appeared\ta\tlittle\tunwell.\tSo\tI\tcame\tback\tto\tmy\troom\tto\tfetch\tsome\tmedicine\tfor\thim.\u2019 \u2018Homoeopathic\tmedicine?\tI\tcan\tsee\ta\tcouple\tof\tbooks\ton\thomoeopathy\ton\tthat\tshelf.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyou\u2019re\tright.\tI\tgave\thim\ta\tdose\tof\tPulsetilla\t30.\u2019 \u2018And\tthen\tdid\tyou\treturn\tto\tyour\troom?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tdo?\u2019 \u2018I\tlistened\tto\tthe\tradio.\tThe\tLucknow\tstation\twas\tplaying\trecords\tof\tBegum\tAkhtar.\u2019 \u2018How\tmuch\ttime\tdo\tyou\tthink\tyou\tspent\tlistening\tto\tthe\tradio?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tthe\tradio\thad\tbeen\tleft\ton\tfor\tsome\ttime.\tI\twas\treading\ta\tmagazine\u2014the\tIllustrated\t Weekly \u2014and\twas\tlistening\tto\tthe\tmusic\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tstay\tin\tyour\troom\tuntil\tMr\tGhoshal\treturned?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t You\t see,\t a\t few\t members\t of\t the\t Bengali\t Club\t were\t supposed\t to\t be\t calling\t to\t invite\t Mr Ghoshal\tto\ttheir\tplay,\tKabuliwala.\tI\twas\twaiting\tfor\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Did\tthey\tcome?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tbut\tmuch\tlater;\twell\tafter\t9\tp.m.\u2019 Feluda\tpointed\tat\tthe\tstaircase.\t\u2018Can\tyou\tremember\tseeing\tanyone\tgoing\tup\tor\tcoming\tdown\tthose stairs?\u2019 \u2018No.\tBut\tthere\tis\tanother\tstaircase\tat\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\thouse.\tIf\tanyone\tcame\tin\tor\twent\tout\tusing\tthis other\tstaircase,\tI\tcould\tnot\thave\tseen\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tand\trose.\tVikas\tSinha\tthen\ttook\tus\tto\tmeet\tAmbika\tGhoshal. We\t found\t him\t sitting\t by\t the\t window\t in\t an\t easy\t chair,\t reading\t the\t Statesman.\t The\t sound\t of\t our footsteps\tmade\thim\tlook\tup\tand\tpeer\tat\tus\tover\tthe\tgolden\tframe\tof\this\tglasses.\tHis\thead\twas\tquite bald,\t except\t for\t a\t few\t strands\t of\t snowy\t white\t hair\t around\t his\t ears.\t Knitted\t in\t a\t frown\t were\t dark, bushy\teyebrows,\tflecked\twith\tgrey. Vikas\tBabu\tmade\tthe\tintroductions.\tAmbika\tGhoshal\tlooked\tstraight\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tasked, \u2018Are\tyou\tfrom\tthe\tpolice?\u2019 Taken\taback,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tbegan\tto\tstammer,\t\u2018No-no,\tI\t.\t.\t.\tI\u2019m\tnothing!\u2019 \u2018Nothing?\tYou\u2019re\tnothing?\tIs\tthat\tjust\tmodesty,\tor\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018No,\twhat\tI\tmean\tis,\tI\tam\tnot\tthe\td-d-d\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Vikas\tBabu\tcame\tto\this\trescue.\t\u2018This\tis\tPradosh\tMitter,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tpointing\tat\tFeluda,\t\u2018a\twell-known private\tinvestigator.\tSince\tthe\tpolice\tcouldn\u2019t\tcatch\tthe\tthief,\tMr\tGhoshal\tfelt.\t.\t.\u2019 Ambika\t Ghoshal\t turned\t his\t eyes\t on\t Feluda.\t \u2018What\t did\t my\t son\t tell\t you?\t Did\t he\t say\t our\t whole family\t is\t g o ing \t to \t be\t destr o yed\t because\t the\t Ganesh\t has\t g o ne?\t No nsense!\t Ho w\t o ld\t is\t he?\t No t\t even forty.\tAnd\tI\tam\tseventy-three.\tDoes\the\tthink\the\tknows\tmore\tthan\tme\tabout\tthe\thistory\tof\tthe\tGhoshal family?\tPooh!\tHow\thave\twe\tsurvived\tall\tthese\tyears?\tHow\tdid\twe\tmanage\tto\tdo\tso\twell?\tNot\tbecause the\t Ganesh\t protected\t us,\t but\t because\t of\t our\t own\t intelligence\t and\t hard\t work.\t My\t son\t is\t a\t shrewd businessman\t all\t right,\t but\t I\t fear\t he\t should\t have\t been\t born\t a\t hundred\t years\t ago.\t I\t hear\t he\u2019s\t even thinking\tof\tadopting\ta\tguru!\u2019 \u2018Does\tthat\tmean\tyou\thave\tno\tregrets\tabout\tthe\tGanesh\u2019s\tdisappearance?\u2019 Ambika\tBabu\ttook\toff\this\tglasses\tand\ttrained\this\tpale\teyes\ton\tFeluda\tonce\tmore.\t\u2018Did\tUmanath\ttell you\tthere\twas\ta\tdiamond\ton\tthe\tfigure\tof\tthat\tGanesh?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\the\tdid.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\ttell\tyou\twhat\tdiamond\tit\twas?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tnot.\u2019 \u2018Ther e\t yo u\t ar e,\t yo u\t see?\t He\t didn\u2019t\t tell\t yo u\t because\t he\t didn\u2019t\t kno w!\t Have\t yo u\t ever \t hear d\t o f\t the Vanaspati\tdiamond?\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tthe\tone\tthat\thas\ta\tgreenish\ttinge?\u2019 Ambika\tBabu\tsat\tup.\tWhen\the\tspoke\tagain,\this\ttone\thad\tsoftened.\t\u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tSo\tyou\tdo\tknow\tabout these\tthings,\tthen.\tThat\tkind\tof\tdiamond\tis\textremely\trare.\tBut\tthat\tdoesn\u2019t\tworry\tme\tso\tmuch;\tnor\tdo I\t believe\t that\t the\t Ganesh\t brought\t us\t luck,\t or\t watched\t over\t us,\t or\t any\t such\t thing.\t What\t I\t am\t sorry about\tis\tthat\tit\twas\ta\twork\tof\tart.\tAnd,\tas\tsuch,\tit\tis\ta\tpity\u2014a\tgreat\tpity\u2014to\thave\tlost\tit.\u2019 \u2018Was\t the\t key\t kept\t in\t the\t drawer\t of\t that\t table\t over\t there?\u2019\t asked\t Feluda.\t A\t few\t yards\t away\t from where\t Ambika\t Babu\t was\t sitting,\t between\t two\t windows\t was\t a\t table.\t The\t chest\t was\t in\t the\t opposite corner.\tBetween\tthe\ttwo\twas\ta\tlarge,\told-fashioned\tbed. Instead\tof\tgiving\tFeluda\tan\tanswer,\tAmbika\tBabu\tasked\tanother\tquestion.","\u2018Did\tmy\tson\talso\ttell\tyou\tthat\tI\ttake\topium?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 Very\tseldom\thad\tI\theard\tFeluda\tspeak\tto\tanyone\tso\tpolitely. \u2018I\t am\t g ener ally\t dead\t to \t the\t wo r ld\t in\t the\t evening .\t So \t if\t anyo ne\t came\t into \t my\t r o o m\t after \t seven,\t I wouldn\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 Feluda\t walked\t over\t to\t the\t table\t and\t pulled\t at\t the\t drawer\t carefully.\t It\t opened\t smoothly,\t without making\t a\t sound.\t Feluda\t pushed\t it\t back\t and\t made\t his\t way\t to\t the\t chest.\t Like\t the\t bed,\t it\t was\t a\t huge affair. \u2018The\tpolice\tsearched\tit\tthoroughly,\tI\tpresume?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse,\u2019\tVikas\tBabu\treplied.\t\u2018They\teven\tlooked\tfor\tfingerprints,\tbut\tfound\tnothing.\u2019 We\t to o k\t o ur \t leave\t and\t came\t o ut\t o f\t Ambika\t Babu\u2019s\t r o o m.\t We\t passed\t thr o ug h\t a\t smaller \t r o o m\t o n the\tright,\tand\tfound\tourselves\ton\ta\tlarge\tveranda\twith\ta\tmarble\tfloor.\tFrom\there,\tI\tcould\tsee\tthe\triver in\t the\t distance\t through\t a\t number\t of\t neem\t and\t tamarind\t trees.\t The\t skyline\t was\t dotted\t with\t several temple-tops. I\t had\t started\t to\t count\t these,\t and\t Feluda\t and\t Vikas\t Babu\t had\t both\t lit\t cigarettes,\t when\t something came\t floating\t down\t from\t the\t roof.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t reached\t out\t and\t caught\t it.\t It\t proved\t to\t be\t a chewing\tgum\twrapper. \u2018Mr\tRukmini\tKumar\tappears\tto\tbe\ton\tthe\troof,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018Where\telse\tcould\the\tplay?\tHe\u2019s\tnow a\tprisoner\tin\this\town\thouse.\u2019\tVikas\tSinha\tsmiled.\t\u2018He\thas\ta\troom\tof\this\town\ton\tthe\troof,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 \u2018Could\twe\tsee\tit?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tCome\twith\tme,\tplease.\tI\tcan\tshow\tyou\tthe\tother\tstaircase\tas\twell.\u2019 It\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\ta\tspiral\tstaircase\tthat\twent\tstraight\tup\tto\tthe\troof.\tRuku\u2019s\troom\twas\ton\tone\tside where\t the\t stairs\t ended.\t We\t found\t him\t kneeling\t on\t the\t floor,\t getting\t a\t kite\t ready\t for\t flying.\t He dropped\tthe\tkite\tand\tsat\tback\tas\the\tsaw\tus\tarrive. It\twas\tobvious\tthat\this\troom\twas\treally\tan\told\tstoreroom,\tfilled\twith\trusted\ttrunks,\tpacking\tcases, torn\tmattresses\tand\tpiles\tof\told\tnewspapers\tand\tmagazines. \u2018Are\tyou\ta\tdetective?\u2019\tasked\tRuku,\tlooking\tat\tFeluda\tsteadily.\tFrom\tthe\tway\this\tjaw\tmoved,\tit\twas obvious\tthat\the\thad\tchewing\tgum\tin\this\tmouth. \u2018How\tdid\tCaptain\tSpark\tget\tthis\tinformation?\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\twith\ta\tsmile. \u2018My\tassistant\ttold\tme,\u2019\tRuku\treplied\tgravely,\tpicking\tup\this\tkite\tonce\tmore. \u2018Who\tis\tyour\tassistant?\u2019 \u2018Captain\tSpark\u2019s\tassistant\tis\tLittle\tRaxit,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tknow?\tWhat\tkind\tof\ta\tsleuth\tare\tyou?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t cleared\t his\t throat.\t \u2018Khudiram\t Raxit,\u2019\t he\t explained.\t \u2018Height:\t four-and-a-half\t feet. Captain\tSpark\u2019s\tright\thand.\tHe\tcalls\thim\tLittle\tRaxit.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tquickly.\t\u2018Yet\tanother\tcreation\tof\tAkrur\tNandi?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 Feluda\tturned\tto\tRuku.\t\u2018Where\tis\tyour\tassistant?\u2019 Vikas\t Babu\t replied\t this\t time.\t \u2018Er\t .\t .\t .\t I\t am\t playing\t that\t role\t for\t the\t moment,\u2019\t he\t said,\t looking somewhat\tembarrassed. \u2018Do\tyou\thave\ta\trevolver?\u2019\tRuku\tasked\tsuddenly. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tFeluda\tanswered.","\u2018What\tkind?\u2019 \u2018Colt.\u2019 \u2018And\ta\tharpoon?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\thaven\u2019t\tgot\ta\tharpoon.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\tgo\tlooking\tfor\tprey\tunder\twater?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\thaven\u2019t\thad\tto\tdo\tthat\tyet.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thave\ta\tdagger?\u2019 \u2018No ,\t I\t haven\u2019t\t g o t\t a\t dag g er,\t either.\t No t\t even\t o ne\t like\t this.\u2019\t Feluda\t po inted\t at\t a\t plastic\t dag g er \t that hung\ton\tthe\twall.\tWe\thad\tseen\tit\tdangling\tfrom\tRuku\u2019s\twaist\tthe\tday\tbefore. \u2018I\twill\tkill\tShaitan\tSingh\twith\tthat\tdagger.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell,\u2019\tFeluda\tsat\tdown\ton\tthe\tfloor\tbeside\tRuku.\t\u2018But\twhat\tabout\tyour\tGanesh?\tDid\tShaitan Singh\ttake\tit?\tOr\twas\tit\tsomeone\telse?\u2019 \u2018Shaitan\tSingh\tcould\tnever\tget\tinto\tthis\thouse.\u2019 \u2018If\t Captain\t Spar k\t hadn\u2019t\t g o ne\t to \t visit\t Machchli\t Baba\t that\t evening ,\t the\t Ganesh\t wo uld\t still\t be\t safe, wouldn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Machchli\tBaba\tis\tas\tdark\tas\tGongorilla\tof\tCongo.\u2019 \u2018Well\tdone!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tspoke\tsuddenly.\t\u2018Have\tyou\tread\tThe\tGorilla\u2019s\tGrasp,\tRuku\tBabu?\u2019 Gongorilla\t was\t the\t name\t of\t a\t ninety-foot-high\t gorilla\t in\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t book\t The\t Gorilla\u2019s Grasp.\t He\t freely\t admitted\t to\t having\t pinched\t the\t idea\t from\t King\t Kong.\t \u2018That\t book,\t you\t see,\u2019\t he continued\teagerly,\t\u2018was\twritten\tby\u2014\u2019\tHe\tbroke\toff\tat\ta\tstern\tglance\tfrom\tFeluda. But\tRuku\tpaid\tno\tattention.\t\u2018Our\tGanesh\tis\twith\ta\tking,\u2019\the\tdeclared.\t\u2018Shaitan\tSingh\tcouldn\u2019t\tfind it,\tever.\tNo\tone\tcould.\tNot\teven\tDaku\tGanderia.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tno!\u2019\tsighed\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018Akrur\tNandi\tagain!\u2019 Vikas\t Babu\t laughed.\t \u2018You\u2019d\t need\t to\t read\t every\t book\t in\t the\t adventure\t series\t to\t follow\t his conversation,\u2019\the\tsaid. Feluda\twas\tstill\tsitting\ton\tthe\tfloor,\tgazing\tthoughtfully\tat\tRuku,\tas\tthough\the\twas\ttrying\tto\tmake some\tsense\tout\tof\this\tapparently\tmeaningless\tchatter. \u2018Which\tking\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout,\tRuku?\tWhere\tdoes\the\tlive?\u2019\the\tasked\tsoftly.\tRuku\u2019s\treply\tcame at\tonce. \u2018Africa,\u2019\the\tsaid. We\tspoke\tto\tone\tother\tperson\tbefore\tleaving\tMr\tGhoshal\u2019s\thouse.\tIt\twas\tShashi\tBhushan\tPal,\tthe ar tist.\t He\t was\t painting \t the\t statue\t o f\t Kar tik\t when\t we\t fo und\t him.\t A\t man\t in\t his\t mid-sixties,\t he\t said\t he had\tspent\tnearly\tfifty\tyears\tmaking\tidols\tof\tDurga\tand\tother\tgods\tand\tgoddesses. \u2018We\theard\tabout\tyour\tillness,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018I\thope\tyou\u2019re\tfeeling\tbetter\tnow?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t thank\t you.\t Sinha\t Babu\u2019s\t medicine\t helped\t a\t lot,\u2019\t Shashi\t Babu\t replied,\t without\t stopping\t his work. \u2018When\tdo\tyou\tthink\tyou\tcan\tfinish\tthe\twhole\tthing?\u2019 \u2018Puja\t begins\t the\t day\t after\t tomorrow.\t I\t hope\t to\t get\t everything\t ready\t by\t tomorrow\t evening.\t I\u2019m getting\told,\tyou\tsee,\tI\tcan\u2019t\twork\tas\tfast\tas\tI\tused\tto.\u2019 \u2018Even\tso,\tyour\twork\tis\texquisite.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\tbabu.\tPeople\tonly\tlook\tat\tthe\tgoddess.\tWho\tthinks\tof\tthe\tpoor\tartist\u2019s\thard\twork?\u2019","\u2018Something\tfrom\tthis\thouse\tgot\tstolen\tthe\tday\tVikas\tBabu\tgave\tyou\tthe\tmedicine.\tAre\tyou\taware of\tthat?\u2019 The\tbrush\tin\tShashi\tBabu\u2019s\thand\ttrembled\ta\tlittle.\tHis\tvoice\thad\ta\tslight\tcatch\tin\tit\tas\the\tmade\this reply.\t \u2018I\t have\t been\t working\t in\t this\t house\t for\t so\t many\t years.\t Never\t did\t I\t think\t one\t day\t I\t would\t be questioned\tby\tthe\tpolice!\tWhen\tI\tdo\tmy\twork,\tbabu,\tI\tforget\teverything\telse.\tAsk\tSinha\tBabu,\task\tthe little\tboy,\task\tanyone\twho\u2019s\tseen\tme\tat\twork.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tleave\tthis\tveranda\tfor\ta\tminute!\u2019 A\tyoung\tman\tof\tabout\ttwenty\twas\tworking\twith\tShashi\tBabu.\tHe\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\this\tson,\tKanai.\tHe co nfir med\t that\t neither \t o f\t them\t had\t left\t the\t ver anda\t between\t seven\t and\t eig ht-thir ty\t the\t evening \t when the\tGanesh\twent\tmissing. Vikas\tBabu\tcame\tto\tthe\tgate\tto\tsee\tus\toff. \u2018I\t did\t not\t disturb\t Umanath\t Babu,\u2019\t Feluda\t told\t him,\t \u2018because\t knew\t he\t was\t busy\t with\t his\t guests. Please\ttell\thim\tthat\tI\tmay\tdrop\tit\tfrom\ttime\tto\ttime,\tand\task\ta\tfew\tquestions.\u2019 \u2018Since\t he\t has\t asked\t you\t to\t make\t an\t investigation,\t that\t is\t your\t right\t and\t privilege,\u2019\t Vikas\t Babu remarked. Just\tas\twe\tstepped\tout,\ta\tsudden\tnoise\tfrom\tabove\tmade\tus\tall\tlook\tup.\tRuku\twas\tstill\ton\tthe\troof, flying\this\tkite.\tWe\tcould\tonly\tsee\this\tlittle\thands\tfrom\twhere\twe\tstood,\tpulling\tat\tthe\tthread. Feluda\tstared\tat\tthe\tkite,\tnow\tflying\tfreely\tin\tthe\tsky. \u2018That\tchild\tseems\tvery\tlonely,\u2019\the\tsaid\tto\tVikas\tBabu. \u2018Yes,\the\tis.\tHe\u2019s\tan\tonly\tchild,\tyou\tsee.\tAt\tleast\the\u2019s\tfound\ta\tfriend\there.\tYou\u2019ve\tseen\tSuraj,\thaven\u2019t you?\tHe\tdoesn\u2019t\thave\ta\tsingle\tfriend\tin\tCalcutta.\u2019","Five On\t our\t way\t back\t from\t Mr\t Ghoshal\u2019s\t house,\t we\t decided\t to\t take\t a\t short\t cut\t through\t an\t alley,\t away from\tthe\ttraffic\ton\tthe\tmain\troad. Here\ttoo,\ta\tfew\tsheep\tand\tlambs\twere\troaming\tabout.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tprodded\ta\tlamb\tgently\twith his\tumbrella\tto\tget\tit\tout\tof\tthe\tway,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Shall\tI\ttell\tyou\tsomething,\tFelu\tBabu,\tabout\tmyself? You\tsee,\twhen\tI\tvisit\ta\tnew\tplace,\tI\tlike\tto\tget\tinto\tthe\tspirit\tof\tthings\u2014you\tknow,\tlive\tlike\tthe\tlocals, act\tlike\tthe\tnatives.\tIn\tfact,\twhen\twe\twere\tin\tRajasthan,\tI\tkept\tthinking\tof\tmyself\tas\ta\tRajput.\tA\tcouple of\t times\t I\t even\t put\t up\t my\t hand\t to\t feel\t my\t pugri,\t and\t was\t most\t surprised\t to\t find\t my\t bald\t dome instead!\u2019 \u2018And\there?\tHave\tyou\tbeen\tstartled\tto\tdiscover\tthe\tabsence\tof\tlong,\tmatted\thair\tlike\ta\tsadhu?\u2019 \u2018No,\t but\t I\t must\t confess\t the\t thought\t that\t the\t whole\t world\t is\t but\t an\t illusion\t did\t cross\t my\t mind yesterday\twhen\twe\twere\tat\tthe\tghat.\tToday,\twalking\tthrough\tthis\talley,\tI\twould\thave\tbeen\tquite\thappy to\thave\ta\tdagger\thanging\tfrom\tmy\twaist.\tIt\u2019s\tthe\tatmosphere,\tisn\u2019t\tit\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 He\t co ntinued\t to \t expo und\t o n\t his\t theo r y,\t but\t I\t did\t no t\t pay\t much\t attentio n.\t I\t had\t caug ht\t sig ht\t o f\t the same\tfigure\tthat\thad\tfollowed\tus\tthe\tday\tbefore.\tAmong\tthe\tvarious\tpeople\twho\twere\teither\treturning from\t the\t ghat\t or\t going\t to\t it,\t or\t crowding\t around\t shops,\t was\t this\t man,\t wearing\t tight\t pyjamas\t that peeped\tout\tfrom\tunder\ta\tpurple\tblanket\twhich\tcovered\tthe\trest\tof\this\tbody,\tincluding\this\tface.\tHe\twas following\tus\tdoggedly\tat\ta\tdistance\tof\tabout\tten\tyards.\tSince\tFeluda\thad\tappeared\tquite\tunconcerned the\tprevious\tday,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\traise\tthe\tmatter\tagain,\tbut\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tuncomfortable. Lalmohan\tBabu\thadn\u2019t\tstopped\ttalking.\t\u2018This\tbusiness\tof\tthe\tGanesh\tis\tgoing\tto\tbe\tcomplicated,\tas far\tas\tI\tcan\tsee,\u2019\the\twas\tsaying. \u2018It\t is\t difficult\t to \t say\t whether \t a\t case\t is\t g o ing \t to \t be\t co mplex\t o r \t simple\t befo r e\t it\t r eaches\t a\t cer tain stage.\tAre\tyou\ttelling\tme\tthat\twe\thave\tcome\tto\tsuch\ta\tstage\talready?\u2019 \u2018Haven\u2019t\twe?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tin\tthe\tleast.\u2019 \u2018But\tthe\treal\tvillain\tcould\tnot\thave\ttaken\tit,\tcould\the?\u2019 \u2018Who\tare\tyou\treferring\tto,\tmay\tI\task?\u2019 \u2018Why,\t it\u2019s\t that\t man\t called\t Meghlal\t .\t .\t .\t or\t is\t it\t Meghram?\t .\t .\t .\t You\t know,\t the\t man\t we\t saw\t where Machchli\tBaba\u2019s\tstaying?\tMy\tGod,\tI\u2019ve\tnever\tseen\ta\tman\twith\tsuch\tbroad\tshoulders.\tGive\thim\ta\tpair of\thorns,\tand\the\tcould\teasily\tjoin\tthose\tmassive\tbulls\tBanaras\tis\tfamous\tfor!\u2019 \u2018You\t mean\t you\t think\t Maganlal\t Meghraj\t would\t have\t turned\t up\t personally\t to\t jump\t over\t the\t wall, steal\tinto\tAmbika\tBabu\u2019s\troom\tand\tremove\tthe\tGanesh?\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tHe\twould\thave\tused\tan\tagent,\tright?\u2019 \u2018Isn\u2019t\tthat\tfar\tmore\tnatural?\tBesides,\the\tmight\thave\tthreatened\tto\tget\tthe\tGanesh\tsomehow,\tbut\tthat does\tnot\tnecessarily\tmake\thim\tthe\treal\tculprit.\u2019","We\t had\t r eached\t the\t ho tel.\t Nir anjan\t Babu\u2019s\t r o o m\t was\t next\t to \t the\t r eceptio n.\t We\t fo und\t a\t well-built young\tman\tsitting\topposite\thim,\texplaining\tsomething\trather\tanimatedly. Nir anjan\t Babu\t lo o ked\t up\t as\t we\t ar r ived.\t \u2018Her e\t they\t ar e.\t T his\t visito r \t has\t been\t waiting \t fo r \t yo u\t fo r nearly\t twenty\t minutes.\t Allow\t me\t to\t introduce\t you.\t This\t is\t Inspector\t Tiwari,\t and\t these\t are\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t He rattled\toff\tour\tnames\tquickly. Mr \t Tiwar i\t was\t lo o king \t str aig ht\t at\t Feluda.\t His\t eyes\t twinkled.\t Feluda\t fr o wned\t fo r \t a\t mo ment,\t then his\tface\tbroke\tinto\ta\tgrin. \u2018You\twere\tin\tAllahabad,\tweren\u2019t\tyou?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tbut\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tthat\tyou\u2019d\tremember\tme,\u2019\tMr\tTiwari\treplied,\tshaking\this\thand. \u2018It\twould\u2019ve\tbeen\tdifficult,\tI\tmust\tadmit.\tYou\thave\tlost\ta\tlot\tof\tweight.\tIf\tI\tmay\tsay\tso,\tit\u2019s\tdone\tyou some\tgood!\u2019 Mr\tTiwari\tlaughed.\tHis\theight\twas\tabout\tthe\tsame\tas\tFeluda\u2019s,\tand\the\tlooked\tjust\tas\ttrim.\tA\tcouple of\tyears\tago,\tFeluda\thad\thad\tto\tgo\tto\tAllahabad\tin\tconnection\twith\ta\tcase.\tHe\thad\tobviously\tmet\tMr Tiwari\tthen. \u2018I\u2019d\t g o ne\t to \t meet\t Mr \t Gho shal\t last\t nig ht,\u2019\t said\t Mr \t Tiwar i,\t \u2018after \t yo u\t had\t left.\t He\t to ld\t me\t o f\t yo ur arrival\tand\twhere\tyou\twere\tstaying.\u2019 Niranjan\tBabu\trang\tfor\ttea.\tWe\tall\tsat\tdown. \u2018I\t must\t say\t this\t is\t a\t r elief,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t to \t the\t inspecto r.\t \u2018I\t was\t beg inning \t to \t wo r r y\t abo ut\t ho w\t the police\tmight\treact\tto\tmy\tpresence.\tI\tknow\tI\twon\u2019t\thave\tany\tproblems\twith\tyou.\tTwo\theads\tare\tbetter than\tone,\taren\u2019t\tthey?\tAnd\tit\tdoes\tappear\tto\tbe\ta\tdifficult\tcase.\u2019 Mr\tTiwari\u2019s\tface\tfell.\tHe\tforced\ta\tsmile,\tand\tsaid\tslowly,\t\u2018Yes,\tMr\tMitter,\tit\tis\tso\tvery\tdifficult\tthat I\tcame\tto\ttell\tyou\tto\tstay\tout\tof\tit.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018Because\t Maganlal\t is\t involved\t in\t this.\t In\t fact,\t I\u2019m\t concerned\t that\t you\u2019ve\t already\t been\t to\t Mr Ghoshal\u2019s\t house.\t You\t must\t be\t very\t careful.\t Maganlal\t has\t a\t team\t of\t hired\t hooligans\t working\t for him.\u2019 A\t bearer\t came\t in\t with\t the\t tea.\t Feluda\t picked\t up\t a\t cup,\t looking\t slightly\t worried,\t and\t asked,\t \u2018But how\tcan\tyou\tbe\tsure\tthat\tMaganlal\tis\ttruly\tinvolved?\u2019 \u2018The\tline\tof\tinvestigation\twe\u2019re\tfollowing\tpoints\ttowards\tMaganlal.\tI\thave\tnever\tseen\tanyone\twith such\tcunning.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat\tis\tthis\tline\tof\tinvestigation?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\ttell\tyou.\tHave\tyou\tmet\teveryone\tin\tthe\tGhoshal\thousehold?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tall\texcept\tthe\tservants.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tShashi\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\twe\tmet\thim\tthis\tmorning.\u2019 \u2018And\this\tson?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\the\twas\tworking\twith\this\tfather.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tknow\tShashi\tBabu\thas\tanother\tson?\u2019 \u2018Does\the?\tNo,\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tthat.\u2019 \u2018This\t o ther \t so n\t is\t called\t Nitai.\t A\t bad\t type,\t ver y\t bad.\t He\u2019s\t o nly\t eig hteen,\t but\t ther e\u2019s\t ver y\t little\t he hasn\u2019t\ttried\this\thand\tat.\tSupposing\the\thas\tjoined\tMaganlal\u2019s\tgang\t.\t.\t.\u2019","Feluda\traised\ta\thand.\t\u2018I\tget\tit.\tMaganlal\twould\tget\tNitai\tto\twork\tthrough\teither\this\tfather\tor\tbrother to\tget\tthe\tGanesh.\u2019 \u2018Exactly.\t Nitai\t could\t easily\t be\t persuaded\t to\t use\t force,\t even\t on\t his\t own\t family.\t So\t I\t suggest\t you take\tit\teasy,\tat\tleast\tfor\tthe\ttime\tbeing.\tThere\tis\ta\tlot\tto\tsee\tin\tBanaras\tduring\tthe\ttime\tof\tDurga\tPuja and\tDussehra.\tSo\tdo\tenjoy\tyourselves,\tbut\tdon\u2019t\tgo\tanywhere\tnear\tthe\tGhoshal\tfamily.\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled\tand\tchanged\tthe\tsubject.\t\u2018Aren\u2019t\tyou\tthinking\tof\tinvestigating\tthe\tcase\tof\tMachchli Baba?\u2019\the\tasked. Mr\tTiwari\tput\this\tcup\tdown\ton\tthe\ttable\tand\tburst\tout\tlaughing.\t\u2018You\u2019ve\talready\tbeen\tto\tsee\thim, have\tyou?\tWhat\tdid\tyou\tthink\tof\tit\tall?\u2019 \u2018Since\t I\t raised\t the\t question\t of\t an\t investigation,\t you\t must\t assume\t he\t didn\u2019t\t arouse\t any\t religious ardour\tin\tme.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tMr\tMitter,\tbut\tyou\u2019re\ttalking\tonly\tof\tyourself.\tWhat\tabout\this\tdevotees?\tDo\tyou\tthink\tthey\u2019d stand\tby\tand\twatch\tquietly\tif\twe\topenly\ttried\tto\tcarry\tout\tan\tenquiry?\tThey\u2019d\tskin\tus\talive!\u2019 Mr\tTiwari\tspoke\tthe\tlast\tsentence\twith\ta\tsidelong\tglance\tat\tNiranjan\tBabu,\twho\tthrew\tup\this\thands in\tprotest.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tlook\tat\tme,\tTiwariji!\u2019\the\texclaimed.\t\u2018What\tdo\tI\tknow\tof\tdevotion?\tAll\tI\tcan\tsay\tis that\t in\t o ur \t o ther wise\t bo r ing \t and\t eventless\t life,\t Machchli\t Baba\t is\t an\t event,\t an\t excitement\u2014but\t that\u2019s all.\u2019 \u2018There\tis\tsomething\tyou\tcan\tdo,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018Try\tand\tfind\tout\tif\tanyone\tcalled\tMachchli\tBaba\thad appeared\trecently\tin\tHaridwar\tor\tAllahabad.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tThat\tshouldn\u2019t\tbe\ta\tproblem.\tI\u2019ll\tget\tyou\tthis\tinformation\tin\ta\tcouple\tof\tdays.\u2019 Mr\t Tiwari\t looked\t at\t his\t watch\t and\t rose.\t Just\t before\t stepping\t out\t of\t the\t room,\t he\t stopped\t for\t a minute\tand\tslapped\tFeluda\ton\tthe\tback.\t\u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tcome\tto\tmy\toffice\tone\tday\tand\tsee\thow\twe deal\twith\tcrime\tin\tVaranasi?\tBut\tdo\tremember\u2014and\tI\tmean\tthis\tseriously\u2014you\tmust\tstay\taway\tfrom the\tcase\tof\tthe\tmissing\tGanesh.\u2019 After\tlunch\tthat\tafternoon,\twe\twent\tout\tfor\ta\twalk\tagain.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhether\tFeluda\thad\tanywhere specific\tin\tmind,\tbut\tLalmoham\tBabu\tand\tI\tfollowed\thim\tinto\tan\talley\topposite\tthe\thotel. \u2018I\t think\t yo ur \t co usin\t is\t lo o king \t fo r \t a\t sweet\t sho p\t fo r \t a\t plate\t o f\t r abr i,\u2019\t whisper ed\t Lalmo han\t Babu into\tmy\tear.\tI\thad\tto\tlaugh,\tbut\tI\tknew\the\twas\twrong. The\talley\twas\tboth\tnarrow\tand\twinding.\tHouses\twith\ttwo\tor\tthree\tstoreys\tstood\ton\tboth\tsides.\tThe sun\t hardly\t came\t in\t at\t all.\t Feluda\t told\t us\t most\t of\t these\t houses,\t like\t many\t others\t in\t Varanasi,\t were more\tthan\ta\thundred\tyears\told.\tSome\thad\tpaintings\tof\tanimals\tand\tbirds\ton\ttheir\tfront\twalls.\tA\tfew had\thandwritten\tposters\tand\tadvertisements\tin\tHindi. As\twe\tmade\tour\tway\tcarefully\tthrough\tthis\tdim,\tdingy\talley,\tseveral\tnew\tnoises\tbegan\tto\treach\tmy ears.\t The\t loudest\t among\t them\t was\t that\t of\t pealing\t bells.\t We\t were\t getting\t closer\t to\t the\t temple\t of Vishwanath. Sheep\tand\tlambs\thad\tbeen\treplaced\there\tby\tlarge\tcows\tand\tbulls.\tEach\ttime\twe\tsaw\ta\tparticularly strong\tbull,\tLalmohan\tBabu\texclaimed,\t\u2018Look,\tthere\tgoes\tMeghraj!\u2019\tIn\tthe\tend,\tFeluda\twas\tobliged\tto say,\t\u2018Look\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tI\tdo\tthink\tthose\tpoor\tbulls\tare\ta\tlot\tless\tharmful\tthan\tMeghraj,\tso\tplease sto p\t making \t a\t co mpar iso n.\t Anyway,\t I\t am\t tr ying \t to \t pictur e\t him\t as\t a\t man\t with\t thin,\t cr uel\t lips\t and\t a malicious\tglint\tin\this\teyes.\tYou\tare\tspoiling\tit\tfor\tme\tby\tconstantly\tharping\ton\tthe\tbulls!\u2019","It\t soon\t became\t impossible\t to\t walk\t freely.\t The\t crowd\t pushed\t us\t along\t in\t one\t direction.\t Pandas were\tscattered\teverywhere,\teach\tone\tpouncing\ton\tus\teagerly.\t\u2018Darshan?\tWould\tyou\tlike\ta\tdarshan\tof Baba\tVishwanath,\tbabu?\u2019\tthey\tkept\tasking.\tWe\twalked\tstraight\tahead,\tignoring\tthem\tas\tbest\twe\tcould. My\tattention\twas\ttaken\tup\ttotally\tin\ttrying\tto\tprotect\tmy\tpocket\tand\tmy\twallet\tin\tit,\tand\tstop\tmyself from\tstepping\tinto\tthe\tmany\tpuddles\tthat\tdotted\tthe\tway.\tWhen\tI\tfinally\tlooked\tup,\tI\tfound\tLalmohan Babu\t gazing\t at\t the\t golden\t dome\t of\t the\t temple,\t wonder\t and\t amazement\t in\t his\t eyes.\t I\t saw\t him\t ask Feluda\t so mething ,\t but\t co uldn\u2019t\t quite\t catch\t what\t he\t said.\t Only\t the\t wo r d\t \u2018car at\u2019\t r eached\t my\t ear s.\t All thoughts\tof\tGod\tand\treligion\thad\tclearly\tbeen\tabandoned,\tat\tleast\tfor\tthe\tmoment. Then\t I\t saw\t the\t kite.\t It\t was\t a\t r ed\t and\t white\t kite,\t identical\t to \t the\t o ne\t Ruku\t had\t been\t flying \t ear lier. There\tit\twas,\tdisappearing\tbehind\tthe\ttemple. Feluda,\ttoo,\twas\tstaring\tat\tit.\t\u2018Most\tinteresting,\u2019\the\tsaid\tbriefly.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tnot\tjust\tinteresting,\tmy\tfriend,\u2019 said\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t \u2018I\t find\t it\t positively\t disturbing.\t No,\t I\t am\t not\t talking\t of\t that\t kite.\t But\t do\t you realize\tthis\tplace\tmight\tbe\tinfested\twith\tMeghraj\u2019s\tspies?\tIn\tfact,\tone\tof\tthem\tcan\u2019t\ttake\this\teyes\toff you.\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\twatching\thim\tfor\tnearly\tthree\tminutes.\u2019 \u2018Is\tit\tsomeone\tdressed\tas\ta\tsadhu,\twith\ta\tlong\tflowing\tbeard\tand\ta\tbrand\tnew\trobe?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked, still\tstaring\tat\tthe\tsky. \u2018Full\tmarks,\u2019\tJatayu\treplied. Now\tI\tnoticed\tthe\tman.\tHe\twas\tstanding\tnear\ta\tshop\tladen\twith\tflowers,\tincense\tand\tvermilion.\tAs we\t passed\t him,\t Feluda\t stopped\t for\t a\t second\t and\t said,\t \u2018Jai\t Baba\t Vishwanath!\u2019\t in\t a\t very\t loud\t voice. This\tnearly\tmade\tme\tburst\tout\tlaughing,\tbut\tI\tcontrolled\tmyself. By\t now\t we\t had\t come\t out\t of\t the\t alley,\t having\t left\t the\t temple\t behind\t us.\t Close\t to\t where\t we\t were standing\t was\t the\t mosque\t built\t by\t Aurangzeb,\t and\t a\t huge\t open\t terrace.\t I\t looked\t up\t again\t as\t we r eached\t the\t ter r ace,\t but\t co uldn\u2019t\t see\t the\t kite\t any\t mo r e.\t Steps\t r an\t do wn\t fr o m\t the\t ter r ace\t to \t the\t r o ad below.\tFeluda\tturned\ttowards\tthese.\tI\tdid\thave\ta\tvague\tsuspicion\tabout\twhere\the\twanted\tto\tgo,\tbut\tas it\tturned\tout,\tthe\tsame\tidea\thad\toccurred\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttoo. \u2018Are\tyou,\tby\tany\tchance,\theading\tfor\tMeghraj\u2019s\thouse?\u2019\the\tasked.\t\u2018Who\telse\twould\tI\twish\tto\tcall on?\tIf\tthere\twere\tno\tcriminals,\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tyour\tfriend\there\twould\tstarve.\tSo\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink\twe should\tpay\ta\tvisit\tto\tthe\ttemple\tof\tthe\tbiggest\tcriminal\tin\tKashi?\u2019 My\t heart\t began\t thudding\t faster.\t Since\t the\t crowd\t had\t thinned\t somewhat,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t to lower\this\tvoice\tto\task\tthe\tnext\tquestion,\t\u2018I\thope\tyou\thaven\u2019t\tcome\twithout\tyour\tweapon?\u2019 \u2018If\tby\ta\tweapon\tyou\tmean\tmy\trevolver,\tno,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tbring\tit\twith\tme.\tBut\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tall\tthe\tother\tthree, thank\tyou.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tlooked\tup,\tstartled,\tand\tnearly\tstumbled\tagainst\ta\tstep.\tBut\the\tsaid\tnothing\tmore.\tI knew\tthat\twhen\tFeluda\tmentioned\tthree\tother\tweapons,\the\twas\tsimply\treferring\tto\this\tpowerful\tbrain, steady\tnerves\tand\tstrong\tmuscles. A\t tailor \u2019s\t shop\t stood\t where\t the\t steps\t ended.\t An\t old\t man\t was\t sitting\t just\t outside\t its\t entrance, working\t on\t a\t sewing\t machine.\t He\t told\t us\t where\t Maganlal\t lived.\t \u2018Go\t straight,\t past\t the\t Hanuman Mandir,\tand\ttake\tthe\tfirst\tright\tturn.\tYou\u2019ll\tfind\tMaganlal\u2019s\thouse\teasily\tenough;\tit\u2019s\tthe\tone\twith\ttwo large\tpaintings\tof\tguards\twith\tswords,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018And\taren\u2019t\tthere\treal\tguards\toutside\tthe\tmain\tdoor?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Oh\tyes,\tyou\u2019ll\tfind\tthose\tas\twell.\u2019","In\t less\t than\t two\t minutes,\t we\t were\t standing\t outside\t Maganlal\u2019s\t house.\t Two\t armed\t guards\t were painted\ton\tthe\twall,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tsight.\tThe\tstreet,\tunlike\tthe\tones\twe\thad\tpassed\tthrough, was\tremarkably\tquiet.\tNot\teven\ta\tgoat\tor\ta\tlamb\tcould\tbe\tseen. The\tfront\tdoor\twas\twide\topen.\tHow\tvery\tstrange!\tWhere\thad\tthe\tguards\tgone?\tWere\tthey\tperhaps having\ttheir\tlunch?\tFeluda\tsniffed\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tcan\tsmell\ttobacco.\u2019\tThen\the\tlooked around\tand\tadded,\t\u2018Come\ton,\tlet\u2019s\tgo\tin.\tIf\twe\u2019re\tstopped,\twe\tcan\talways\tsay\twe\u2019re\tnew\tand\tslipped in\tby\tmistake,\tthinking\tit\twas\ta\ttemple.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I\t followed\t him\t in.\t Goodness,\t was\t this\t where\t the\t great\t Maganlal\t lived,\t I thought\tin\twonder,\tstaring\tat\tthe\tcows\tthat\tstood\tin\tthe\tdark,\tdamp\tcourtyard.\tOur\tappearance\tdid\tnot bother\tthem\tat\tall.\tEach\tcontinued\tto\tchew\tthe\tcud,\tgazing\tat\tus\tcalmly. \u2018This\tis\tquite\tcommon\there,\u2019\tFeluda\twhispered.\t\u2018Very\tfew\tpeople\thave\tany\topen\tspace\tto\tkeep\ttheir cows\t in.\t So\t they\t keep\t them\t in\t their\t courtyard\t inside\t the\t house,\t for\t they\t can\u2019t\t do\t without\t large quantities\tof\tmilk\tand\tghee.\u2019 On\t our\t right\t and\t left\t were\t corridors,\t leading\t to\t nothing\t but\t darkness,\t as\t far\t as\t I\t could\t see. Presumably,\tthere\twas\ta\tstaircase\tsomewhere,\tfor\tI\thad\tnoted\toutside\tthat\tthe\thouse\thad\tthree\tfloors. As\twe\tstood\tdebating\twhat\tto\tdo\tnext,\tmy\teyes\tsuddenly\tfell\ton\ta\tfigure\tthat\thad\temerged\tsilently from\tthe\tdark\tdepths\tand\twas\tstanding\ton\tour\tright. It\twas\ta\tmiddle-aged\tman,\tof\tmedium\theight,\tclad\tin\ta\tgreen\tkurta-pyjama,\tan\tembroidered\twhite cotton\tcap\ton\this\thead.\tA\tthick\tmoustache\tdrooped\tdown,\tbrushing\tagainst\this\tchin.\tWhen\the\tspoke, his\tvoice\tsounded\tlike\tan\told,\tworn\tout\tgramophone\trecord. \u2018Sethji\twould\tlike\tto\tmeet\tyou,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Which\tSethji?\u2019 \u2018Seth\tMaganlalji.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tLet\u2019s\tgo.\u2019","Six \u2018Jai\tBaba\tVishwanath!\u2019 I\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tthe\tlook\ton\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tface,\tbut\tI\tcould\ttell\tfrom\this\tvoice\thow\the\tfelt. \u2018Do \t yo u\t r eally\t have\t a\t lo t\t o f\t faith\t in\t Vishwanath?\u2019\t asked\t Feluda.\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t imag ine\t ho w\t he\t co uld speak\tso\tlightly. \u2018Jai\tBaba\tFelunath!\u2019\twhispered\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018That\u2019s\tbetter!\u2019 We\t were\t groping\t our\t way\t upstairs,\t climbing\t a\t series\t of\t stairs\t that\t were\t amazingly\t high. Everything\twas\tin\ttotal\tdarkness.\tThe\tman\twho\thad\tcome\tto\tfetch\tus\thadn\u2019t\tbothered\tto\tbring\ta\tlight. Lalmohan\tBabu\twas\tstill\tmuttering\tunder\this\tbreath.\tI\tcaught\tthe\tword\t\u2018black\thole\u2019\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes. At\t last,\t we\t r eached\t the\t to p\t flo o r.\t Our \t emissar y\t passed\t thr o ug h\t a\t do o r.\t We\t fo llo wed\t him.\t He\t then took\tus\tthrough\ta\troom,\ta\tnarrow\tpassage,\tanother\tchamber,\tand\tfinally\tstopped\tbefore\ta\tsmall\tdoor, motioning\tus\tto\tgo\tin. We\tstepped\tinto\tthe\troom.\tAt\tfirst\tI\tcould\tsee\tnothing\texcept\tsome\tcoloured\tglass.\tThen\tI\trealized\tI was\tlooking\tat\ta\twindow.\tThe\tlight\tfrom\toutside\twas\tshining\tthrough\tits\tcolourful\tpanes. \u2018Namaskar,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\tsaid\ta\tdeep,\tgruff\tvoice. A\tfew\tthings\tbecame\tvisible.\tA\tthick\tmattress,\tcovered\twith\ta\twhite\tsheet,\twas\tspread\ton\tthe\tfloor. On\tit\twere\tfour\tbolsters,\talso\tcovered\tin\twhite.\tThe\tfigure\tthat\tsat\tleaning\ton\tone\tof\tthese\twas\tthat\tof the\tman\twe\thad\tseen\tfrom\tthe\trear\tat\tAbhay\tChakravarty\u2019s\thouse. With\t a\t faint\t click,\t a\t light\t on\t the\t ceiling\t came\t on.\t We\t were\t finally\t face\t to\t face\t with\t Maganlal Meghraj.\tThe\teyes\tthat\tregarded\tus\tsolemnly\twere\tsunk\tin,\tset\tunder\tthick,\tbushy\teyebrows.\tA\tblunt nose,\t thick\t lips\t and\t a\t pointed\t chin\t completed\t the\t picture.\t He\t too\t was\t wearing\t a\t kurta-pyjama.\t The buttons\ton\this\tkurta\tmight\twell\thave\tbeen\tdiamonds.\tBesides\tthese,\ton\teight\tof\this\tten\tfingers\tflashed other\tstones\tof\tevery\tpossible\tcolour. \u2018Why\tare\tyou\tstanding?\tDo\tsit\tdown,\u2019\the\tinvited.\t\u2018Take\ta\tchair,\tif\tyou\tlike.\u2019 There\twere\tlow,\tGujarati\tchairs\tplaced\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\tmattress.\tWe\ttook\tthree\tof\tthese. \u2018I\t wanted\t to\t meet\t you,\t Mr\t Mitter.\t I\t would\t have\t invited\t you\t properly,\t but\t luckily\t you\t came\t here yourself.\u2019\tAfter\ta\tmoment\u2019s\tpause\the\tadded,\t\u2018You\tmay\tnot\tknow\tme,\tMr\tMitter,\tbut\tI\tknow\tall\tabout you.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\theard\tyour\tname,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied\tpolitely.\t\u2018You\u2019re\tpretty\twell\tknown\tyourself.\u2019 \u2018Well\tknown?\u2019\tMaganlal\tlaughed\tloudly,\tdisplaying\tpaan-stained\tteeth.\t\u2018Not\twell\tknown,\tMr\tMitter. What\tyou\tmean\tis\tinfamous.\tNotorious.\tCome\ton,\tadmit\tit!\u2019 Feluda\tremained\tsilent.\tMaganlal\u2019s\teyes\tturned\ttowards\tme.\t\u2018Is\tthis\tyour\tbrother?\u2019 \u2018My\tcousin.\u2019 \u2018And\twho\tis\tthis?\tYour\tuncle?\u2019\tMaganlal\twas\tsmiling.","\u2018This\tis\tmy\tfriend,\tLalmohan\tGanguli.\u2019 \u2018Very\tgood!\tLalmohan,\tMohanlal,\tMaganlal\t.\t.\t.\tit\u2019s\tall\tjust\tthe\tsame,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tWhat\td\u2019you\tsay,\teh?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t been\t shaking\t his\t legs\t with\t an\t \u2018I-don\u2019t-feel-nervous-at-all\u2019\t air.\t Maganlal\u2019s words\t made\t his\t knees\t knock\t against\t each\t other.\t At\t this\t point,\t Maganlal\t suddenly\t brought\t his\t hand down\t on\t a\t bell,\t making\t it\t ring\t sharply.\t This\t startled\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t so\t much\t that\t he\t choked\t and began\tto\tsplutter. \u2018Does\tyour\tthroat\tfeel\ta\tbit\t.\t.\t.\tdry?\u2019\tqueried\tMaganlal. The\tman\twho\thad\tbrought\tus\tupstairs\treappeared\tsilently.\t\u2018Bring\tsome\tsherbet,\u2019\tordered\tMaganlal. It\twas\tnow\tpossible\tto\tsee\teverything\tquite\tclearly.\tThere\twere\ttwo\t steel\t almirahs\t in\t one\t corner. Behind\tMaganlal,\tthe\twall\twas\tcovered\twith\tpictures\tof\tHindu\tgods\tand\tgoddesses.\tOn\tthe\tmattress, on\this\tright,\twere\ta\tfew\tpapers\tand\tfiles,\ta\tsmall\tmetal\tcash-box\tand\ta\tred\ttelephone.\tOn\this\tleft\twas\ta silver\tbox\tstuffed\twith\tpaan,\tand\ta\tsilver\tspittoon. \u2018Well,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\the\tasked\tgravely,\t\u2018have\tyou\tcome\tto\tBanaras\ton\tholiday?\u2019 \u2018That\twas\tmy\toriginal\tplan,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied,\tlooking\tstraight\tat\thim. \u2018Then\t.\t.\t.\twhy\t.\t.\t.\tare\t.\t.\t.\tyou\t.\t.\t.\twasting\t.\t.\t.\tyour\t.\t.\t.\ttime?\u2019\tMaganlal\tspoke\tthrough\tclenched\tteeth, uttering\teach\tword\tdistinctly. \u2018Have\tyou\tbeen\tto\tSarnath?\u2019\the\twent\ton.\t\u2018Ramnagar?\tDurga\tBari,\tMan\tMandir,\tHindu\tUniversity? No,\t I\t know\t you\t haven\u2019t\t seen\t any\t of\t these\t famous\t places.\t You\t walked\t past\t the\t Vishwanath\t temple today,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tgo\tin.\tYet,\tyou\tkeep\tgoing\tback\tto\tUmanath\tGhoshal\u2019s\thouse.\tWhy?\tForget\twhat\the told\tyou.\tI\tcan\tmake\tyour\tstay\tin\tKashi\tso\tmuch\tmore\tenjoyable.\tI\thave\tmy\town\tbarge,\tdid\tyou\tknow that?\tCome\tany\tday\tto\tthe\triver.\tI\u2019ll\ttake\tyou\ton\ta\tcruise\tfrom\tone\tside\tto\tthe\tother.\tYou\u2019d\tlove\tit!\u2019 \u2018You\t seem\t to\t be\t forgetting,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t still\t speaking\t calmly,\t \u2018that\t I\t am\t a\t professional investigator.\tMr\tGhoshal\thas\tgiven\tme\ta\tspecific\ttask.\tI\tcannot\tthink\tabout\thaving\ta\tholiday\tor\tgoing on\ta\tcruise\ton\tyour\tboat\tuntil\tthat\ttask\thas\tbeen\tcompleted.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tyour\tfee?\u2019 Feluda\twas\tquiet\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018That\tdepends\u2014\u2019 \u2018Here,\ttake\tthis!\u2019 I\t gave\t an\t involuntary\t gasp.\t Maganlal\t had\t opened\t the\t cash-box\t and\t taken\t out\t a\t large\t fistful\t of hundred\trupee\tnotes.\tHe\twas\tnow\toffering\tthese\tto\tFeluda.\tFeluda\u2019s\tlips\tbecame\tset.\t\u2018I\tdo\tnot,\u2019\the\tsaid clearly,\t\u2018accept\ta\tfee\twithout\thaving\tdone\tanything\tto\tearn\tit.\u2019 \u2018I\t see,\t I\t see!\u2019\t Maganlal\t bared\t his\t paan-stained\t teeth\t again.\t \u2018But\t how\t will\t you\t earn\t it,\t Mr\t Mitter? How\tcan\tyou\tcatch\ta\tthief\twhen\tthere\thas\tbeen\tno\ttheft?\u2019 \u2018What\t do \t yo u\t mean?\u2019\t This\t time\t even\t Feluda\t so unded\t sur pr ised.\t \u2018If\t no \t o ne\t sto le\t anything ,\t wher e has\tit\tgone?\u2019 \u2018It,\u2019\tsaid\tMaganlal,\t\u2018was\tsold\tto\tme.\tI\tpaid\tUmanath\tthirty\tthousand\tfor\tit.\u2019 \u2018What\trubbish\tis\tthis?\u2019 How\tcould\tFeluda\ttalk\tlike\tthis?\tMy\thands\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tclammy.\tLalmohan\tBabu,\ttoo,\twas\tlooking decidedly\tpale. Maganlal\t had\t started\t to\t laugh,\t but\t Feluda\u2019s\t words\t instantly\t wiped\t the\t laughter\t from\t his\t face.\t A deep\t frown\t creased\t his\t brow,\t his\t eyes\t glinted\t under\t the\t light.\t \u2018Rubbish?\t Maganlal\t doesn\u2019t\t talk rubbish,\tMr\tMitter.\tObviously,\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tenough\tabout\tUmanath\tand\this\taffairs.\tDid\tyou\tknow","his\t business\t isn\u2019t\t doing\t well?\t Are\t you\t aware\t how\t much\t he\t owes\t people?\t Did\t anyone\t tell\t you Umanath\t himself\t called\t me\t over\t to\t his\t house\t and\t took\t the\t Ganesh\t out\t of\t the\t chest?\t How\t do\t you propose\tto\tcatch\tthe\tculprit\twhen\tit\tis\tnone\tother\tthan\tyour\tclient\thimself?\u2019 \u2018I\tstill\tdon\u2019t\tunderstand,\tMaganlalji,\u2019\tFeluda\tanswered.\t\u2018Why\tshould\tMr\tGhoshal\thave\tto\tsteal\tthe Ganesh?\tWhy\tcouldn\u2019t\the\tsimply\ttake\tit\tout\topenly\tif\the\thad\tdecided\tto\tsell\tit\tto\tyou?\u2019 \u2018That\tGanesh\tdid\tnot\tbelong\tonly\tto\tUmanath.\tIt\twas\tthe\tproperty\tof\this\tfamily.\tHis\tbrother\u2014who lives\tin\tEngland\u2014and\this\tfather\thad\tan\tequal\tclaim\ton\tit.\tIt\twas\this\tfather\twho\thad\thad\tit\tall\talong, and\the\thas\tcertainly\tbeen\tlucky.\tJust\tlook\tat\thow\tmuch\tmoney\the\u2019s\tearned,\tand\twhat\tcomfort\the\tlives in.\tUmanath\twould\tnever\thave\tdared\ttell\this\tfather\the\twas\tselling\ttheir\tmost\tprecious\theirloom!\u2019 Feluda\tappeared\tto\tbe\tthinking.\tWas\the\tbeginning\tto\tbelieve\tMaganlal? \u2018I\u2019ll\ttell\tyou.\u2019\tMaganlal\tsat\tup.\t\u2018He\tcalled\tme\tover\tto\this\thouse\ton\tthe\ttenth\tof\tOctober,\tand\toffered to\tsell\tthe\tGanesh.\tI\tagreed.\tI\thave\trecently\thad\ta\trun\tof\tbad\tluck,\tas\tyou\tmay\thave\theard.\tSo\tI\tthought the\tGanesh\twould\thelp\tchange\tmy\tluck.\tUmanath\tknows\tnothing\tof\tthe\tvalue\tof\tthat\tgreen\tdiamond. It\u2019s\tactually\tworth\tfar\tmore\tthan\twhat\tI\tpaid.\tAnyway,\twe\thad\ta\tchat\ton\tthe\ttenth.\tHe\tsaid\the\tneeded\ta little\t time\t to \t g et\t thing s\t o r g anized.\t So \t I\t said\t fine,\t take\t yo ur \t time.\t On\t the\t fifteenth,\t he\t r ang \t me\t ag ain and\t said\t he\t had\t actually\t got\t the\t Ganesh.\t I\t told\t him\t to\t come\t to\t Machchli\t Baba\u2019s\t meeting.\t We\t both arrived\twith\ta\tlittle\tbag\tin\tour\tpockets.\tHis\thad\tthe\tGanesh.\tMine\thad\tthirty\tthousand\tin\thundred\trupee notes.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t\ttake\tus\tlong\tto\texchange\tthe\tbags.\tAnd\tthat\u2019s\tall.\tEnd\tof\tstory.\u2019 If\twhat\tMaganlal\twas\tsaying\twas\ttrue,\tthen\tone\thad\tto\tadmit\tMr\tGhoshal\thad\tdeceived\tnot\tjust\tus but\talso\tthe\tpolice.\tPerhaps\the\thad\thired\tFeluda\tonly\tas\ta\tcover-up.\tBut\twhy\twas\tMaganlal\ttelling\tus all\tthis?\tWhat\tdid\the\tstand\tto\tgain? To\t my\t surprise,\t Feluda\t asked\t him\t the\t same\t question.\t Maganlal\u2019s\t small\t eyes\t narrowed\t further.\t \u2018I know\tyou\tare\tan\tintelligent\tman,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\the\tproclaimed.\t\u2018In\tfact,\tyour\tintelligence\tis\treputed\tto\tbe extraordinary.\tIf\tyou\tbegan\tan\tinvestigation,\twould\tyou\tnot\thave\tdiscovered\tthe\ttruth?\tAnd\tif\tyou\tdid, how\tdo\tyou\tsuppose\tUmanath\tand\tI\twould\thave\tlooked?\tThe\tpolice\twould\thave\tdriven\tus\tmad!\tAfter all,\tour\tdealing\twasn\u2019t\texactly\tlegal\tand\tabove\tboard,\twas\tit?\tSurely\tyou\tcan\tsee\tthat?\u2019 Feluda\tdid\tnot\tsay\tanything\timmediately.\tWhile\tMaganlal\twas\ttalking,\ta\tman\thad\tbrought\tin\tthree glasses\t of\t sherbet,\t which\t were\t placed\t before\t us\t on\t a\t low\t table.\t Feluda\t picked\t up\t a\t glass\t and\t said, \u2018That\tmeans\tyou\thave\tgot\tthe\tGanesh.\tMay\tI\tsee\tit?\tI\tam\tnaturally\tcurious\tto\thave\ta\tlook\tat\tthis\tobject that\u2019s\tcreated\tsuch\ta\tfurore.\u2019 Mag anlal\t sho o k\t his\t head\t r eg r etfully.\t \u2018Ver y\t so r r y,\t Mr \t Mitter,\t I\t do \t no t\t have\t it\t her e.\t Yo u\t kno w\t this house\twas\traided\tonce.\tSo\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tkeep\tit\there.\tI\u2019ve\thad\tto\tsend\tit\tto\ta\tsafer\tplace.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\u2019\tFeluda\tspoke\tcasually.\t\u2018You\tdid\twhat\tyou\tthought\tbest,\tand\tI\tshan\u2019t\targue\twith\tthat.\tBut don\u2019t\t you\t see\t that\t I\t have\t to\t carry\t on\t with\t my\t investigation\t simply\t to\t find\t out\t if\t you\u2019re\t telling\t the truth?\tIf\tyou\tare,\twe\thave\tnothing\tto\tworry\tabout.\tBut\twhat\tif\tyou\u2019re\tnot?\u2019 Maganlal\u2019s\t eyes\t virtually\t disappeared.\t His\t lips\t curled\t ominously.\t \u2018You\t mean\t you\t don\u2019t\t believe me?\u2019 Feluda\traised\tthe\tglass\tto\this\tlips\tand\ttook\ta\tsip.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018You\ttold\tme\tyourself\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow you.\tSo\thow\tcan\tyou\texpect\tme\tto\tbelieve\tall\tthat\tyou\u2019ve\tjust\tsaid?\tWould\tyou\tbelieve\teverything\ta man\t to ld\t yo u\t the\t fir st\t time\t yo u\t met\t him?\t Especially\t if\t he\t clear ly\t appear ed\t to \t be\t tamper ing \t with\t the truth?\u2019","Maganlal\twent\ton\tstaring\tat\thim.\tIn\tthe\tsilence,\tall\tI\tcould\thear\twas\ta\tclock\tticking\tsomewhere,\tbut couldn\u2019t\t see\t it.\t Then\t Maganlal\t raised\t his\t right\t arm\t and\t extended\t it\t towards\t Feluda.\t He\t was\t still clutching\t the\t money.\t \u2018I\t have\t three\t thousand\t here,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Take\t it,\t Mr\t Mitter,\t and\t enjoy\t yourself. Have\ta\tgood\tholiday\twith\tyour\tcousin\tand\tyour\tuncle.\u2019 \u2018No,\tMaganlalji,\tI\tdo\tnot\ttake\tmoney\tlike\tthis.\u2019 \u2018Does\tthat\tmean\tyou\u2019ll\tcontinue\tworking\ton\tthis\tcase?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tI\thave\tto.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\u2019 Mag anlal\t str uck\t the\t bell\t ag ain.\t T he\t same\t man\t came\t back.\t Mag anlal\t said,\t witho ut\t even\t lo o king \t at him,\t\u2018Call\tArjun.\tAnd\tget\tthat\tbox\u2014number\tthirteen.\tAnd\tthe\twooden\tboard.\u2019 The\t man\t disappeared.\t God\t knew\t what\t he\t would\t come\t back\t with.\t Maganlal\t now\t turned\t towards Lalmohan\tBabu,\ta\tsmile\thovering\ton\this\tlips.\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tright\thand\twas\tcurled\taround\ta\tglass, but\tit\tlooked\tas\tthough\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tbring\thimself\tto\tdrink\tfrom\tit. \u2018What\tis\tit,\tMohanbhog\tBabu,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tlike\tmy\tsherbet?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tquickly\tbrought\tthe\tglass\tto\this\tlips\tand\tswallowed\tsome\tof\tits contents. \u2018Don\u2019t\tworry,\tMohan\tBabu,\tthat\tsherbet\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\tpoisoned.\u2019 \u2018No,\tno\u2014\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tpoison.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tP-poison\tis,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgulped,\t\u2018very\tbad.\u2019 \u2018There\tare\tother\tthings\tfar\tmore\teffective.\u2019 \u2018Other\tthings?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tshow\tyou\twhat\tI\tmean.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tchoked\tagain.\tThere\twere\tfootsteps\toutside.\tA\tstrange\tcreature\tentered\tthe\troom.\tIt was\t a\t man,\t I\t had\t to\t admit,\t but\t I\t had\t never\t seen\t a\t man\t like\t him.\t About\t five\t feet\t in\t height,\t he\t was r emar kably\t thin.\t Ever y\t vein\t in\t his\t bo dy\t sto o d\t o ut.\t His\t eyes\t sug g ested\t he\t mig ht\t have\t been\t a\t Nepali, but\this\tnose\twas\tlong\tand\tsharp.\tHis\thair\twas\tcut\tvery\tshort,\tand\this\tears\tstuck\tout.\tThere\twas\tnot\ta single\t hair\t on\t his\t body.\t I\t could\t see\t his\t arms\t and\t legs\t and\t chest,\t for\t he\t was\t wearing\t a\t dirty,\t torn sleeveless\tvest\tand\tan\told\tpair\tof\tshorts.\tIt\twas\timpossible\tto\tguess\this\tage. The\tman\tgave\tMaganlal\ta\tsalute,\tthen\tstood\twaiting\tfor\tinstructions. Two \t men\t no w\t came\t in\t car r ying \t a\t lo ng \t wo o den\t bo x.\t This\t was\t pr o bably\t the\t bo x\t number \t thir teen Maganlal\t had\t mentioned.\t The\t noise\t it\t made\t when\t set\t down\t on\t the\t floor\t suggested\t that\t its\t contents were\tmade\tof\teither\tiron\tor\tbrass. A\tlarge\twooden\tboard\twas\tthen\tbrought\tin\tand\tplaced\tagainst\tthe\tclosed\tdoor\tbehind\tus.\tMaganlal opened\this\tmouth\tonce\tmore. \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhat\tknife-throwing\tis,\tMr\tMitter?\tHave\tyou\tever\tseen\tit\tin\ta\tcircus?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\thave.\u2019 I\thadn\u2019t,\tbut\tI\tknew\twhat\tit\twas.\tA\tman\tstood\twith\this\tback\tto\ta\tboard.\tAnother\tthrew\tknives\tat\thim which,\t instead\t of\t hitting\t him,\t hit\t the\t board,\t just\t a\t few\t inches\t away\t from\t his\t body.\t Even\t a\t slight mistake\t made\t by\t the\t thrower\t could\t result\t in\t serious\u2014even\t fatal\u2014injury.\t Was\t this\t creature\t called Arjun\tgoing\tto\tthrow\tknives?\tAt\twhom?","One\t o f\t the\t men\t o pened\t the\t bo x.\t It\t was\t filled\t with\t knives,\t each\t with\t an\t ivo r y\t handle,\t an\t identical pattern\tat\tone\tend. \u2018The\t king \t o f\t Har banspur \t had\t a\t pr ivate\t cir cus.\t Ar jun\t used\t to \t per fo r m\t in\t it.\t No w\t he\t per fo r ms\t fo r me,\tin\tmy\town\tcircus\t.\t.\t.\tha\tha\tha!\u2019 Twelve\tknives\thad\tbeen\tselected\tfrom\tthe\tbox\tand\tspread\tout\ton\ta\tmarble\ttable\tlike\ta\tJapanese\tfan. \u2018Come\ton,\tUncle!\u2019\tsaid\tMaganlal. Lalmohan\tBabu\tgave\ta\tviolent\tstart,\tspilling\tmost\tof\tthe\tremaining\tliquid\tin\this\tglass\ton\tthe\tfloor. Feluda\tspoke\tthis\ttime.\t\u2018Why\tare\tyou\tcalling\thim?\u2019\the\tasked,\tice\tin\this\tvoice. Maganlal\u2019s\tfat\tbody\trocked\twith\tlaughter.\t\u2018Who\telse\tcan\tstand\tbefore\tthe\tboard,\ttell\tme?\tIf\tI\tasked you\t to\t stand\t there,\t you\t couldn\u2019t\t see\t the\t game,\t could\t you?\t No,\t don\u2019t\t say\t another\t word.\t You\t have insulted\tme\ttoday\tby\tcalling\tme\ta\tliar.\tLet\tme\twarn\tyou\tthat\tI\thave\tother\tweapons,\ttoo.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tuse\tjust knives.\tLook\tat\tthose\tsmall\twindows.\tTwo\tguns\tare,\tat\tthis\tmoment,\tpointed\tat\tyou.\tIf\tyou\tbehave\tand don\u2019t\tstart\tan\targument,\tyou\u2019ll\tcome\tto\tno\tharm.\tNor\twill\tyour\tfriend.\tArjun\tis\ta\tmaster\tin\tthis\tgame, believe\tme.\u2019 I\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\tlook\tat\tthe\twindows.\tA\tmoment\tlater,\tLalmohan\tBabu\trose\tshakily\tto\this\tfeet,\tsaying, \u2018If\t I\t l-live,\t no\t wo-worries\t about\t a\t p-plot\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t A\t couple\t of\t men\t grabbed\t him\t and\t took\t him\t to\t stand before\tthe\tboard.\tHe\tclosed\this\teyes.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tbear\tto\tlook\tany\tmore. Lalmohan\tBabu\twas\tstanding\tbehind\tme.\tBefore\tme\tstood\tArjun,\tpicking\tup\tthe\tknives\tone\tby\tone, slowly\tbut\tsteadily.\tEach\tone\tflew\tover\tthe\ttop\tof\tmy\thead\tand\thit\tthe\tboard\twith\ta\tfaint\tswish.\tFeluda must\t have\t been\t facing \t Lalmo han\t Babu\t and\t actually\t watching \t the\t sho w,\t o r \t no \t do ubt\t o ne\t o f\t the\t g uns would\thave\tbeen\tfired. At\t last,\t the\t last\t knife\t was\t thrown.\t Arjun\t stood\t mutely\t before\t the\t empty\t table,\t breathing\t heavily. Maganlal\tsaid,\t\u2018Well\tdone!\u2019\tThe\tinvisible\tclock\tticked\taway. No\t one\t else\t spoke.\t Nobody\t moved.\t Then,\t a\t few\t seconds\t later,\t just\t as\t my\t own\t breathing\t was beginning\tto\tget\tnormal,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstaggered\tforward,\tand\tgrabbed\tArjun\u2019s\thand. \u2018Thank\tyou,\tsir,\u2019\the\tsaid. Then\the\tswayed\tfrom\tside\tto\tside,\tand\tfell\tdown\ton\tthe\tmattress,\tunconscious.","Seven It\t was\t nearly\t 2\t p.m.\t The\t sky\t had\t turned\t grey.\t There\t were\t very\t few\t people\t left\t at\t Dashashwamedh Ghat.\tThe\tthree\tof\tus\twere\tsitting\tnear\tthe\twater. It\t was\t almost\t an\t hour\t since\t our\t horrific\t experience\t in\t Maganlal\u2019s\t house.\t Two\t of\t his\t men\t had splashed\t cold\t water\t on\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t face\t to\t help\t him\t regain\t consciousness.\t Then\t Maganlal himself\thad\toffered\thim\ta\tglass\tof\tmilk\tand\tbrandy,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Uncle,\tyou\tare\ta\tbrave\tman.\u2019 We\t were\t allowed\t to\t leave\t shortly\t after\t this,\t but\t not\t before\t Maganlal\t had\t made\t it\t obvious\t that Feluda\u2019s\t life\t was\t in\t dang er \t if\t he\t insisted\t o n\t co ntinuing \t with\t his\t investig atio n.\t Feluda\t did\t no t\t ar g ue, but\tmanaged\tto\tget\ta\tsmall\tconcession.\t\u2018I\tmust\tgo\tback\tto\tMr\tGhoshal\u2019s\thouse\tat\tleast\tonce\tmore,\u2019\the said,\t\u2018if\tonly\tto\ttell\thim\tI\u2019m\topting\tout.\tIf\tI\tdisappear\twithout\ta\tword,\tit\u2019s\tnot\tgoing\tto\tdo\tmuch\tgood to\tmy\timage,\tis\tit?\u2019 To\tmy\tsurprise,\tMaganlal\tagreed.\t\u2018Just\tone\tmore\tvisit,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Remember,\tMr\tMitter,\tif\tyou\tstep out\tof\tline,\tyou\tdo\tso\tat\tyour\town\trisk.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tto\ttell\tyou\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tmeans\tto\tkeep\tan\teye\ton everything\tyou\tdo.\u2019 I\tfelt\tawful\tthinking\tMaganlal\thad\thad\tthe\tlast\tword.\tFeluda\thad,\tso\tfar,\tnever\tbeen\tdefeated\tby\tan adversary.\tBut\tthen,\tnone\thad\tbeen\tquite\tso\tcruel\tand\tpowerful\tas\tMaganlal. Lalmo han\t Babu\t had\t said\t ver y\t little\t after \t we\t came\t away.\t The\t o nly\t thing \t he\t asked\t was\t whether \t all his\thair\thad\tturned\tgrey,\tat\twhich\tboth\tFeluda\tand\tI\tassured\thim\tthat\tnot\ta\tsingle\tnew\tgrey\thair\tcould be\tseen\ton\this\thead. After\t a\t few\t minutes\t of\t silence,\t Feluda\t said\t with\t a\t sigh,\t \u2018The\t Ganesh\t hasn\u2019t\t left\t Mr\t Ghoshal\u2019s ho use.\t I\t am\t no w\t cer tain\t o f\t that.\t If\t Mag anlal\t had\t alr eady\t g o t\t it,\t he\t wo uld\t no t\t o ffer \t me\t mo ney\t to \t g et off\tthe\tcase.\tThe\tbig\tquestion\tis,\twhere\thas\tit\tgone?\tWhy\thasn\u2019t\tMaganlal\tbeen\table\tto\tlay\this\thands on\tit?\tBesides,\twho\ttook\tit\tout,\tand\twho\tin\tthat\thouse\tis\tacting\tfor\tMaganlal?\u2019 By\t the\t time\t we\t left\t the\t ghat,\t the\t sky\t had\t turned\t a\t darker\t shade\t of\t grey.\t Was\t it\t going\t to\t rain?\t I looked\tup,\tand\tsaw\tthe\tred\tand\twhite\tkite\tagain.\tFeluda,\ttoo,\thad\tseen\tit. I\trecognized\tthe\thouse\tover\twhich\tthe\tkite\thovered.\tIt\twas\tthe\tsame\tred\thouse\twhere\tShaitan\tSingh had\t had\t to\t surrender\t to\t Captain\t Spark.\t Who\t was\t standing\t on\t the\t roof?\t Wasn\u2019t\t it\t Shaitan\t Singh\t in person?\tYes,\tindeed.\tIt\twas\tRuku\u2019s\tfriend,\tSuraj.\tLike\tus,\the\twas\tstaring\tat\tthe\tkite. Whoever\twas\tflying\tthe\tkite\tnow\tpulled\tat\tthe\tthread.\tIt\tstarted\tto\tcome\tdown\trapidly.\tSuraj\tthrew up\this\tright\thand\tinto\tthe\tair,\taiming\tat\tthe\tkite.\tWe\tsaw\ta\tstone\tfly\tpast\tand\tdisappear\tbehind\tthe\tkite. The\t stone\t was\t tied\t to\t the\t end\t of\t a\t long\t thread.\t Suraj\t had\t captured\t the\t red\t kite.\t As\t he\t pulled\t at\t the thread,\tthe\tkite\tbegan\tto\tget\tcloser\tand\tcloser\tto\thim. We\t decided\t to\t pay\t our\t last\t visit\t to\t Mr\t Ghoshal\u2019s\t house\t the\t same\t afternoon.\t It\t was\t about\t 4\t p.m. when\twe\tarrived.Trilochan\tsaluted\tus\tagain\tand\topened\tthe\tgate. Once\tagain,\twe\tfound\tVikas\tSinha\tcoming\tout\tto\tgreet\tus.","\u2018Any\tnews?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tnot.\tWe\tjust\troamed\tall\tover\tthe\tcity.\u2019 \u2018Mr\tGhoshal\tand\tthe\tothers\thave\tgone\tout.\u2019 \u2018Where?\u2019 \u2018Sarnath.\t A\t few\t more\t guests\t arrived\t today.\t Quite\t a\t large\t party\t went\t out,\t only\t a\t little\t while\t ago. They\twon\u2019t\tbe\tback\tfor\tsome\ttime.\u2019 \u2018Has\tRuku\tgone\twith\tthem?\u2019 \u2018No,\tone\tof\this\tuncles\ttook\thim\tto\tsee\ta\tfilm,\tTarzan,\tthe\tApe\tMan.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tto\tsit\tin\tmy\troom?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tbefore\tthat\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tgo\tup\ton\tthe\troof\tonce\tmore,\tif\tI\tmay.\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019 As\t we\t went\t into\t the\t house,\t we\t found\t Shashi\t Babu\t still\t engrossed\t in\t his\t work.\t \u2018He\u2019ll\t finish tomorrow,\twon\u2019t\the?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tthe\tpoor\tman\u2019s\tstill\tgot\ta\thigh\ttemperature,\tbut\the\thasn\u2019t\tstopped\tworking\tfor\ta\tmoment.\u2019 We\tclimbed\tthe\tsteps\tto\tthe\troof.\tHere\twas\tRuku\u2019s\troom.\tI\thad\tguessed\tthat\tit\twas\treally\tthis\troom that\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tsee.\tWould\the\tsearch\tit\tthoroughly?\tSince\tRuku\twas\taway,\tthis\tappeared\tto\tbe just\tthe\tright\ttime\tto\tlook\tfor\t.\t.\t.\tThen\tI\tremembered\tMaganlal\u2019s\twarning.\tFeluda\tmust\tnot\tspend\ttoo long\tin\tthis\thouse. As\tit\tturned\tout,\the\tfound\twhat\the\twas\tlooking\tfor\tpractically\timmediately.\tThe\tred\tand\twhite\tkite was\tlying\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tWe\thad\tseen\tSuraj\ttake\tit\tonly\ta\tcouple\tof\thours\tago.\tIt\twas\tclear\tthat\tit\twas damaged\tin\tmany\tplaces.\tThis\tkite\twould\tnever\tfly\tagain. Feluda\t picked\t it\t up.\t No w\t we\t saw\t so mething \t no ne\t o f\t us\t had\t no ticed\t befo r e.\t T her e\t was\t a\t messag e written\ton\tthe\tkite.\tNo,\tthere\twere,\tin\tfact,\ttwo\tmessages\twritten\tin\tdifferent\tplaces.\tOne\tsaid,\t\u2018I\thave been\timprisoned.\tBut\tall\tis\twell,\tha\tha.\tAgain\tin\tthe\tevening.\tYours,\tCapt.\tSpark.\u2019 The\tother\twas\tmore\tbrief:\t\u2018Going\tto\tsee\tTarzan.\tTomorrow\tmorning.\tCapt.\tSpark.\u2019 \u2018Good\theavens!\u2019\texclaimed\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018What\tare\tthese\tboys\tup\tto?\u2019 Feluda\t r eplaced\t the\t kite\t just\t as\t he\t had\t fo und\t it,\t and\t said,\t \u2018This\t is\t a\t clear \t example\t o f\t what\t bo o ks from\tyour\tadventure\tseries\tcan\tdo\tto\ta\tyoung\tmind.\u2019 We\treturned\tto\tVikas\tBabu\u2019s\troom.\tBharadwaj,\tthe\told\tbearer,\tcame\tin\twith\tthe\ttea.\tIt\twas\ta\tfairly large\troom.\tThe\tbed\twas\ton\tone\tside,\tand\topposite\tit,\ta\ttable\tand\ta\tchair.\tBesides\tthese\twas\ta\tsofa\tfor visitors.\tFeluda\ttook\tthe\tchair,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tchose\tthe\tsofa.\tVikas\tBabu\tsat\ton\tthe\tbed. \u2018How\tis\tMr\tGhoshal\u2019s\tbusiness\tdoing?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked,\tsipping\this\ttea. \u2018Reasonably\twell,\tI\tshould\timagine,\u2019\tVikas\tBabu\treplied.\tIf\the\twas\tsurprised\tby\tthe\tquestion,\the\tdid not\t show\t it.\t \u2018The\t workers\t do\t occasionally\t go\t on\t strike,\t but\t that\t happens\t everywhere,\t in\t every business,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Hm.\u2019\tFeluda\tstood\tup\tsuddenly\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Can\tI\tsee\tthe\tliving\troom?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tcertainly.\tThis\tway,\tplease.\u2019 We\tput\tour\tcups\tdown\tand\tfollowed\tVikas\tBabu.\tThe\tliving\troom\twas\tacross\ta\tveranda.\t\u2018Can\tyou show\tme\twhere\tUmanath\tBabu\tand\tMaganlal\thad\tsat\tthe\tday\tMaganlal\tcame\tvisiting?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. Vikas\tBabu\tpointed\tat\ttwo\tchairs\tfacing\teach\tother."]
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- 156
- 157
- 158
- 159
- 160
- 161
- 162
- 163
- 164
- 165
- 166
- 167
- 168
- 169
- 170
- 171
- 172
- 173
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- 180
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- 191
- 192
- 193
- 194
- 195
- 196
- 197
- 198
- 199
- 200
- 201
- 202
- 203
- 204
- 205
- 206
- 207
- 208
- 209
- 210
- 211
- 212
- 213
- 214
- 215
- 216
- 217
- 218
- 219
- 220
- 221
- 222
- 223
- 224
- 225
- 226
- 227
- 228
- 229
- 230
- 231
- 232
- 233
- 234
- 235
- 236
- 237
- 238
- 239
- 240
- 241
- 242
- 243
- 244
- 245
- 246
- 247
- 248
- 249
- 250
- 251
- 252
- 253
- 254
- 255
- 256
- 257
- 258
- 259
- 260
- 261
- 262
- 263
- 264
- 265
- 266
- 267
- 268
- 269
- 270
- 271
- 272
- 273
- 274
- 275
- 276
- 277
- 278
- 279
- 280
- 281
- 282
- 283
- 284
- 285
- 286
- 287
- 288
- 289
- 290
- 291
- 292
- 293
- 294
- 295
- 296
- 297
- 298
- 299
- 300
- 301
- 302
- 303
- 304
- 305
- 306
- 307
- 308
- 309
- 310
- 311
- 312
- 313
- 314
- 315
- 316
- 317
- 318
- 319
- 320
- 321
- 322
- 323
- 324
- 325
- 326
- 327
- 328
- 329
- 330
- 331
- 332
- 333
- 334
- 335
- 336
- 337
- 338
- 339
- 340
- 341
- 342
- 343
- 344
- 345
- 346
- 347
- 348
- 349
- 350
- 351
- 352
- 353
- 354
- 355
- 356
- 357
- 358
- 359
- 360
- 361
- 362
- 363
- 364
- 365
- 366
- 367
- 368
- 369
- 370
- 371
- 372
- 373
- 374
- 375
- 376
- 377
- 378
- 379
- 380
- 381
- 382
- 383
- 384
- 385
- 386
- 387
- 388
- 389
- 390
- 391
- 392
- 393
- 394
- 395
- 396
- 397
- 398
- 399
- 400
- 401
- 402
- 403
- 404
- 405
- 406
- 407
- 408
- 409
- 410
- 411
- 412
- 413
- 414
- 415
- 416
- 417
- 418
- 419
- 420
- 421
- 422
- 423
- 424
- 425
- 426
- 427
- 428
- 429
- 430
- 431
- 432
- 433
- 434
- 435
- 436
- 437
- 438
- 439
- 440
- 441
- 442
- 443
- 444
- 445
- 446
- 447
- 448
- 449
- 450
- 451
- 452
- 453
- 454
- 455
- 456
- 457
- 458
- 459
- 460
- 461
- 462
- 463
- 464
- 465
- 466
- 467
- 468
- 469
- 470
- 471
- 472
- 473
- 474
- 475
- 476
- 477
- 478
- 479
- 480
- 481
- 482
- 483
- 484
- 485
- 486
- 487
- 488
- 489
- 490
- 491
- 492
- 493
- 494
- 495
- 496
- 497
- 498
- 499
- 500
- 501
- 502
- 503
- 504
- 505
- 506
- 507
- 508
- 509
- 510
- 511
- 512
- 513
- 514
- 515
- 516
- 517
- 518
- 519
- 520
- 521
- 522
- 523
- 524
- 525
- 526
- 527
- 528
- 529
- 530
- 531
- 532
- 533
- 534
- 535
- 536
- 537
- 538
- 539
- 540
- 541
- 542
- 543
- 544
- 545
- 546
- 547
- 548
- 549
- 550
- 551
- 552
- 553
- 554
- 555
- 556
- 557
- 558
- 559
- 560
- 561
- 562
- 563
- 564
- 565
- 566
- 567
- 568
- 569
- 570
- 571
- 572
- 573
- 574
- 575
- 576
- 577
- 578
- 579
- 580
- 581
- 582
- 583
- 584
- 585
- 586
- 587
- 588
- 589
- 590
- 591
- 592
- 593
- 594
- 595
- 596
- 597
- 598
- 599
- 600
- 601
- 602
- 603
- 604
- 605
- 606
- 607
- 608
- 609
- 610
- 611
- 612
- 613
- 614
- 615
- 616
- 617
- 618
- 619
- 620
- 621
- 622
- 623
- 624
- 625
- 626
- 627
- 628
- 629
- 630
- 631
- 632
- 633
- 634
- 635
- 636
- 637
- 638
- 639
- 640
- 641
- 642
- 643
- 644
- 645
- 646
- 647
- 648
- 649
- 650
- 651
