["Even\tFeluda\tcould\tonly\tgape.\t\u2018And\tlook,\u2019\tLalmohan\tbabu\twent\ton,\t\u2018the\tbinding\tis\tfaulty.\tAfter\tthe fir st\t thir ty\t pag es,\t the\t next\t few\t pag es\t ar e\t stuck\t to g ether.\t If\t so meo ne\t paid\t g o o d\t mo ney\t fo r \t this\t bo o k, every\tpenny\thas\tbeen\twasted.\tHow\tcould\ta\tbinder\tin\tPondicherry\tdo\tsuch\ta\tshoddy\tjob?\u2019 \u2018But\t.\t.\t.\tif\tthis\tis\tthe\toriginal\tpacket,\twhat\tdid\tyou\tpass\ton\tto\tMr\tRed\tShirt\tthe\tother\tday?\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\tnot\tgoing\tto\tbelieve\tthis.\tCan\tyou\timagine\twhat\tI\tdid?\tI\tpassed\ton\tone\tof\tmy\town\tbooks! Yes,\t The\t Bandits\t of\t Bombay\t !\t You\t see,\t what\t I\t had\t sent\t Pulak\t was\t a\t copy\t of\t my\t manuscript.\t So\t I thought\tI\u2019d\tnow\tgive\thim\ta\tcopy\tof\tthe\tbook,\twith\tmy\tblessings\tand\tautograph.\tIn\tfact,\tI\thave\tthree more\tcopies\tin\tmy\tbag,\teach\twrapped\twith\tbrown\tpaper.\tI\tknow\tI\thave\tfans\tall\tover\tthe\tcountry\t.\t.\t. thought\tI\tmight\tmeet\ta\tfew\tin\tBombay,\tso\tI\tbrought\textra\tcopies.\tAnd\tit\twas\tone\tof\tthose\tthat\tI\t.\t.\t.\tha ha\tha!\u2019 I\thad\tnot\tseen\tLalmohan\tbabu\tso\tcheerful\tin\ta\tlong\ttime.\tFeluda\ttook\tthe\tbook\tfrom\thim,\tlooked\tat it\t briefly\t and\t asked,\t \u2018But\t what\t about\t the\t threat\t from\t Sanyal?\t Didn\u2019t\t he\t threaten\t you\t on\t the\t phone? How\tdoes\tthat\tfit\tin\twith\tthis\tLife\tDivine\t?\u2019 Lalmohan\tbabu\trefused\tto\tbe\tdaunted.\t\u2018Well,\twho\tknows\tif\tit\twas\tSanyal\tin\tperson?\tIt\tisn\u2019t\talways possible\tto\tidentify\ta\tvoice\ton\tthe\ttelephone,\tis\tit?\tIt\tcould\twell\thave\tbeen\tsome\tcrackpot,\ttrying\tto\tbe funny.\t Anything\t is\t possible\t in\t Bombay.\t I\t mean,\t if\t a\t film\t like\t Teerandaj\t could\t run\t for\t more\t than twenty-five\tweeks\t.\t.\t.\tneed\tI\tsay\tmore?\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tbut\twhat\tabout\tthat\tperfume\tin\tthe\tcar?\u2019 \u2018That?\tI\tbet\tour\tdriver\twas\twearing\tit.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tfashionable\tyoung\tman.\tDidn\u2019t\tyou\tsee\this\thairstyle? But\twhen\twe\tbegan\tasking\tquestions,\the\twas\tembarrassed\tand\twouldn\u2019t\tadmit\tto\tusing\tthe\tscent.\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen,\tevery\tmystery\tis\tsolved.\tYou\tmay\trelax\tnow,\tand\thave\ta\tgood\tnight\u2019s\tsleep.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t cer tainly\t will.\t I\t had\t a\t headache\t when\t I\t went\t to \t bed,\t so \t I\t o pened\t my\t bag \t to \t take\t o ut\t a\t pain killer.\t That\u2019s\t how\t I\t made\t this\t amazing\t discovery.\t Anyway,\t now\t that\t everything\u2019s\t cleared\t up,\t I\t am g o ing \t to \t leave\t that\t bo o k\t with\t yo u.\t Per haps\t yo u\t sho uld\t r ead\t up\t o n\t spir itual\t matter s,\t it\t can\u2019t\t do \t yo u any\tharm.\tGood\tnight!\u2019 Lalmohan\tbabu\tleft,\tand\tI\twent\tback\tto\tmy\town\tbed. \u2018Imagine\tbeing\thanded\ta\tcopy\tof\ta\tbook\tby\tJatayu,\twhen\tone\twas\texpecting\tLife\t Divine.\t Feluda, how\tdo\tyou\tsuppose\tthe\tfellow\tfelt?\u2019 \u2018Fur io us,\u2019\t Feluda\t r eplied,\t r esting \t his\t head\t o n\t his\t pillo w.\t But\t he\t did\t no t\t switch\t the\t lig ht\t o ff.\t I\t felt quite\t amused\t to\t see\t that\t he\t put\t his\t blue\t notebook\t away,\t and\t began\t turning\t the\t pages\t of\t Sri Aurobindo\u2019s\tbook. It\twas\tat\tthis\tmoment,\tI\tthink,\tthat\tI\tfell\tasleep\tagain.","Nine The\t following\t day\t we\t were\t supposed\t to\t travel\t down\t the\t road\t to\t Pune\t to\t a\t level-crossing\t between Khandala\t and\t Lo navala.\t That\t was\t the\t spo t\t wher e\t the\t final\t climactic\t scene\t was\t g o ing \t to \t be\t sho t.\t All told,\tthere\twere\televen\t\u2018action\u2019\tscenes\tin\tthe\tfilm.\tPulak\tGhoshal\twas\tgoing\tto\tstart\twith\tthe\tlast\tone. The\tcomplete\tscene\tcould\tnot\tbe\tshot\tin\ta\tsingle\tday.\tThe\twhole\tthing\twould\ttake\tas\tmany\tas\tfive days.\t We\t had\t decided\t to\t watch\t the\t shooting\t every\t day\u2014that\t is,\t if\t we\t enjoyed\t the\t first\t day\u2019s experience.\tThe\ttrain\twould\tbe\tavailable\ton\tall\tfive\tdays,\tfor\tan\thour\tbetween\tone\tand\ttwo\to\u2019clock. But\tthe\thorses\tmeant\tfor\tthe\tgroup\tof\tbandits,\tand\ta\tLincoln\tConvertible\tmeant\tfor\tthe\thero,\tcould\tbe used\tany\ttime.\tThe\tscene\tin\tquestion\twent\tlike\tthis: The\t villain\t had\t replaced\t the\t real\t engine\t driver\t and\t was\t driving\t the\t train.\t In\t one\t of\t its compartments\t the\t heroine\t and\t her\t uncle\t were\t being\t held,\t their\t hands\t and\t feet\t tied.\t The\t hero\t was chasing\t the\t train\t in\t a\t motor\t car.\t At\t the\t same\t time,\t the\t hero\u2019s\t twin\u2014who\t had\t been\t kidnapped\t by bandits\twhen\the\twas\ta\tbaby,\tand\thad\tnow\tbecome\ta\tbandit\thimself\u2014was\triding\twith\this\tentire\tgang\tto attack\tthe\ttrain.\tHe\twould\tget\tclose\tenough\tto\tthe\ttrain\tto\tjump\tinto\tit\tstraight\tfrom\this\thorse.\tAbout the\tsame\ttime,\tthe\thero\tin\this\tcar\twould\talso\tcatch\tup\twith\tthe\ttrain,\tand\the\twould\tarrive\ton\tthe\tscene to\tsee\tthe\tbandit\tand\tthe\tvillain\t(pretending\tto\tbe\tthe\tengine\tdriver)\thaving\ta\tfight.\tThe\tvillain\twould be\tkilled.\tWhat\twould\thappen\tnext?\t.\t.\t.\tAll\twould\tbe\trevealed\ton\tthe\tsilver\tscreen! Apparently,\t three\t different\t versions\t of\t the\t final\t scene\t were\t going\t to\t be\t shot.\t Then\t the\t director would\tdecide\twhich\tappeared\tthe\tbest\ton\tthe\tscreen,\tand\tretain\tit,\tdiscarding\tthe\tother\ttwo. Mr\tGhoshal\tdropped\tin\tbriefly\tquite\tearly\tin\tthe\tmorning.\tWe\ttold\thim\twe\twere\tready\tto\tgo,\tand all\t arrangements\t were\t in\t hand.\t \u2018Laluda,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t can\t tell\t just\t by\t looking\t at\t you\t that\t you\t really enjoyed\twatching\tTeerandaj\t!\u2019 Lalmohan\t babu\t could\t be\t seen\t smiling\t to\t himself\t from\t time\t to\t time,\t as\t he\t recalled\t the\t previous night\u2019s\tevents.\tMr\tGhoshal\thad\tnoticed\tthat\tsmile\tand\tmisunderstood\tthe\treason\tfor\tit.\tLalmohan\tbabu laughed\t loudly\t and\t said,\t \u2018Bravo,\t my\t boy\u2014to\t think\t that\t a\t boy\t from\t our\t Gorpar\t in\t Calcutta\t could achieve\tso\tmuch!\tYou\thave\tshown\tthem\tall.\t.\t.\tha\tha!\u2019 Since\t we\t were\t going\t to\t be\t out\t all\t day,\t Feluda\t told\t me\t to\t take\t all\t the\t edible\t stuff\t in\t our\t hand lug g ag e.\t We\t packed\t the\t o r ang es,\t biscuits\t and\t sweets\t that\t Lalmo han\t babu\t had\t bo ug ht\t the\t day\t befo r e and\tput\tthem\tin\tthe\tcar.\tThen\tLalmohan\tbabu\tdeposited\tall\this\tcash\twith\tthe\thotel\tmanager\tand\ttook\ta receipt\tfrom\thim.\t\u2018Who\tknows,\u2019\the\ttold\tus,\t\u2018whether\ta\treal\tbandit\tor\ttwo\twon\u2019t\tget\tmixed\tup\twith\tthe actors?\u2019 Feluda\t went\t o ut\t fo r \t a\t while\u2014to \t buy\t cig ar ettes,\t he\t said.\t He\t had\t r un\t o ut\t co mpletely,\t and\t the\t place where\twe\twere\tgoing\tmight\tnot\thave\ta\tshop\twithin\tmiles.\tWe\tleft\tshortly\tafter\the\tgot\tback.\tThe\tcar was\tstill\tsmelling\tof\tGulbahar.","Thane\tstation\twas\tabout\ttwenty-five\tkilometers\tfrom\tBombay.\tThe\troad\tmade\ta\tright\tcurve\tthere, joined\tthe\tnational\thighway\tand\twent\ttowards\tPune.\tKhandala\twas\teighty\tkilometers\tdown\tthat\tsame road.\tThe\tweather\tthat\tmorning\twas\tquite\tgood.\tBroken\tclouds\twere\tflitting\tacross\tthe\tsky,\tdriven\tby a\tstrong\tbreeze\u2014and\tthe\tsun\twas\tpeering\tfrequently\tthrough\tthem,\tbathing\tthe\tcity\twith\tits\tlight.\tMr Ghoshal\t had\t already\t remarked\t on\t the\t weather.\t It\t was\t said\t to\t be\t \u2018ideal\u2019\t for\t shooting\t outdoors. Lalmohan\t babu\t was\t pleased,\t not\t just\t with\t the\t weather,\t but\t with\t everything\t he\t could\t see.\t \u2018Now\t I needn\u2019t\tworry\tabout\tgoing\tabroad!\u2019\the\tannounced.\t\u2018Bombay\tis\tsuch\ta\twonderful\tplace,\twho\twants\tto go\tto\tEngland?\tHave\tyou\tseen\tthe\tbuses?\tNot\tone\tis\tovercrowded,\tnot\tone\thas\tpeople\thanging\tout\tof it.\tOh,\twhat\ttremendous\tcivic\tsense\tthese\tpeople\thave!\u2019 It\ttook\tus\tnearly\tan\thour\tto\treach\tThane,\tat\taround\ta\tquarter\tpast\tnine.\tAs\twe\thad\tplenty\tof\ttime\ton our\thands\twe\tstopped\tat\ta\ttea\tstall\tand\thad\tmasala\ttea.\tOur\tdriver,\tSwaruplal,\tjoined\tus. Only\t a\t few\t minutes\t after\t we\t left\t Thane,\t I\t realized\t we\t were\t travelling\t alongside\t the\t hills\t of\t the Western\tGhats.\tThe\trailway\ttrack\tI\thad\tnoticed\tbefore\thad\tdisappeared.\tIt\thad\tgone\ttowards\tKalyan\tto the\t north.\t From\t Kalyan,\t it\t would\t turn\t back\t and\t go\t south\t again,\t passing\t through\t Matheran\t before going\tto\tPune.\tOur\tlevel\tcrossing\twas\tsituated\tsomewhere\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthat\tparticular\tstretch. Our\tjourney\twas\teventless,\texcept\tfor\tLalmohan\tbabu\tchoking\ton\tsome\torange\tpips\tat\tone\tpoint. Feluda\t r emained\t silent\t thr o ug ho ut\u2014\t it\t was\t impo ssible\t to \t tell\t fr o m\t his\t face\t what\t he\t was\t thinking .\t I knew\t fr o m\t exper ience\t that\t even\t when\t he\t lapsed\t into \t silence,\t it\t did\t no t\t necessar ily\t mean\t that\t he\t was worried\tabout\tanything. At\t around\t half\t past\t twelve,\t we\t passed\t through\t Khandala.\t Only\t a\t mile\t later,\t a\t large\t number\t of people\tcame\tinto\tview.\tIt\tseemed\tas\tif\ta\tfair\thad\tsprung\tup\tby\tthe\troadside.\tAs\twe\tgot\tcloser,\tI\twas struck\tby\tthe\tnumber\tof\tvehicles\tI\tcould\tsee.\tWhy\tshould\tthere\tbe\tso\tmany\tof\tthem\tat\ta\tfair?\tThen\tI noticed\tsomething\telse\u2014horses!\tNow\tI\trealized\tthat\tthe\t\u2018fair \u2019\twas\tMr\tGhoshal\u2019s\tunit,\tgathered\there to\tstart\tshooting\tJet\tBahadur.\tThere\twere\tat\tleast\ta\thundred\tpeople\tmilling\tabout;\tand\tthere\twas\ta\tlot of\tequipment\tand\tother\tmaterial\t.\t.\t.\tcameras,\treflectors,\tlights,\tlarge\tdurries\t.\t.\t.\tit\twas\ta\thuge\taffair. Our\t driver\t slipped\t into\t a\t gap\t between\t an\t Ambassador\t and\t a\t bus,\t and\t parked\t the\t car\t there.\t Mr Ghoshal\tcame\tforward\tto\tgreet\tus\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\temerged.\tHe\twas\twearing\ta\twhite\tcap,\tand\tfrom\this neck\thung\tan\tobject\tthat\tlooked\tlike\tbinoculars. \u2018Good\tmorning!\tEverything\tall\tright?\u2019\the\tasked. We\tnodded.\t\u2018Listen,\u2019\the\twent\ton,\t\u2018I\thave\ta\tmessage\tfrom\tMr\tGore.\tHe\u2019s\tgone\tto\tMatheran\u2014I\tthink to\ttalk\tto\tsome\trailway\tofficials,\tand\tperhaps\tmake\tsome\tpayments.\tHe\twill\tmake\this\town\tway\there, either\ton\tthe\tsame\ttrain\tthat\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tuse,\tor\tby\tcar.\tYou\twill\tbe\ttold\tthe\tminute\tthe\ttrain\tgets her e.\t In\t any\t case,\t whether \t o r \t no t\t Mr \t Go r e\t ar r ives\t o n\t time,\t yo u\t thr ee\t sho uld\t g et\t into \t the\t fir st-class compartment.\tIs\tthat\tclear?\u2019 \u2018Perfectly,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. We\t met\t some\t of\t the\t other\t workers\t as\t we\t waited.\t I\t had\t no\t idea\t so\t many\t Bengalis\t worked\t in\t the Bombay\t film\t industry.\t It\t was\t hardly\t surprising\t that\t one\t of\t them\t should\t recognize\t Feluda.\t The cameraman,\t Dashu\t Ghosh,\t wrinkled\t his\t brows\t upon\t hearing\t Feluda\u2019s\t name.\t \u2018Mitter?\t Are\t you\t the detec\u2014?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\thurriedly,\t\u2018but\tplease\tkeep\tit\tto\tyourself.\u2019 \u2018Why?\tYou\tare\tour\tpride.\tWhen\tthat\tstatue\tin\tEllora\u2014\u2019","Feluda\tplaced\ta\tfinger\ton\this\tlips.\tDashu\tGhosh\tlowered\this\tvoice,\t\u2018Are\tyou\there\ton\ta\tcase?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tI\tam\there\ton\tholiday,\twith\tthis\tfriend\tof\tmine.\u2019 Dashu\tGhosh\thad\tlived\tin\tBombay\tfor\ttwenty-one\tyears.\tEven\tso,\the\tread\tBengali\tbooks\tregularly, and\thad\tread\ttwo\tor\tthree\tbooks\tby\tJatayu.\tThere\twere\ttwo\tother\tcameramen\tworking\twith\thim\tthat day.\t They\t came\t fr o m\t o ther \t par ts\t o f\t India.\t Two \t o f\t the\t fo ur \t assistants\t who \t wo r ked\t with\t Mr \t Gho shal were\tBengalis.\tBut\tamong\tthe\tactors,\tnone\tcame\tfrom\tBengal.\tApart\tfrom\tArjun\tMehrotra,\tthere\twas Micky\tplaying\tthe\tvillain.\tHe\twas\tjust\tMicky,\twithout\ta\tsurname.\tHe\twas\tconsidered\tthe\tbest\tamongst villains\twho\twere\ton\ttheir\tway\tup\tin\tBombay\tat\tthe\tmoment.\tIt\twas\tsaid\tthat\the\thad\tsigned\tcontracts for\tthirty-seven\tfilms,\tbut\ttwenty-nine\tof\tthose\twere\tbeing\trewritten,\tsimply\tto\treduce\tthe\tnumber\tof fig hts.\t Thank\t g o o dness\t Jet\t Bahadur\t had\t o nly\t fo ur \t fig hts.\t If\t it\t had\t mo r e,\t Mr \t Gho shal\t and\t Mr \t Go r e would\thave\tbeen\tin\tbig\ttrouble. We\t lear nt\t all\t this\t fr o m\t the\t pr o ductio n\t manag er,\t Sudar shan\t Das.\t He\t was\t fr o m\t Or issa.\t Like\t Dashu Ghosh,\t he\t had\t been\t in\t Bombay\t for\t many\t years;\t but\t as\t soon\t as\t Jet\t Bahadur\t was\t completed,\t he planned\tto\treturn\tto\tCuttack\tand\tstart\tdirecting\tOriya\tfilms. Feluda\thad\twalked\tover\tto\tanother\tgroup.\tAll\tthe\tactors\twho\twere\tgoing\tto\tplay\tthe\tbandits\twere being\t made\t up\t and\t dressed\t for\t the\t big\t scene.\t Suddenly,\t I\t noticed\t one\t of\t those\t men\t chatting\t with Feluda.\t Curious,\t I\t went\t forward\t and\t realized,\t as\t I\t heard\t his\t voice,\t that\t it\t was\t none\t other\t than\t the kung-fu\tmaster,\tVictor\tPerumal.\tHe\twas\tmade\tup\tto\tlook\tlike\tthe\thero\u2019s\ttwin.\tIt\twould\tbe\this\tjob\tto jump\tfrom\ta\tgalloping\thorse\tand\tland\ton\tthe\troof\tof\tthe\ttrain.\tThen\the\twould\thave\tto\twalk\tover\tas many\tas\tsix\tcoaches\tand\tenter\tthe\tengine\tto\tfight\twith\tMicky,\tthe\tvillain,\tand\tkill\thim.\tThat\twould\tbe followed\tby\ta\tdramatic\tclash\twith\tthe\thero,\twho\thad\tbeen\tseparated\tfrom\this\ttwin\ttwenty\tyears\tago. Lalmohan\tbabu\tsaw\tthe\telaborate\tarrangements\tand\tsank\tinto\tsilence.\tHe\treally\tought\tto\thave\tbeen pleased\t since\t all\t that\t actio n\t was\t centr ed\t ar o und\t his\t sto r y.\t He\t to ld\t me\t o f\t his\t feeling s:\t \u2018I\t feel\t kind\t o f peculiar,\t Tapesh,\u2019\t he\t explained.\t \u2018At\t times,\t it\u2019s\t giving\t me\t a\t sense\t of\t power,\t you\t see,\t to\t think\t that\t I wrote\t the\t story\t that\u2019s\t led\t to\t so\t much\t work,\t such\t complex\t arrangements,\t so\t much\t expense!\t Yet, so metimes,\t I\t feel\t a\t little\t g uilty\t fo r \t causing \t a\t lo t\t o f\t headache\t to \t a\t lo t\t o f\t peo ple.\t And\t I\t canno t\t fo r g et that\tthe\twriter\tgets\tno\trecognition\there.\tHow\tmany\tpeople\tin\tthis\tunit\tknow\tJatayu\u2019s\tname,\ttell\tme?\u2019 I\ttried\tto\tcomfort\thim.\t\u2018If\tthe\tfilm\tis\ta\tsuccess,\teveryone\twill\tlearn\tyour\tname!\u2019 \u2018I\thope\tso!\u2019\tJatayu\tsighed. The\tbandits\twho\thad\tfinished\ttheir\tmake-up\twere\talready\ton\ttheir\thorses,\trunning\taround.\tAll\tthe horses\twere\tinitially\tgathered\tunder\ta\tlarge\tbanyan\ttree.\tThere\twere\tnine\tof\tthem. A\t minute\t later,\t a\t hug e\t white\t Linco ln\t Co nver tible\t tur ned\t up,\t its\t tinted\t g lass\t windo ws\t r o lled\t up.\t It contained\tthe\thero\tand\tthe\tvillain.\tThere\twas\tno\tneed\tfor\tthe\theroine\tthat\tday,\tas\tthe\tscenes\tin\twhich she\t wo uld\t appear,\t with\t her \t hands\t and\t feet\t tied,\t wo uld\t be\t sho t\t later \t in\t a\t studio .\t It\t was\t just\t as\t well,\t I thought.\tThe\ttwo\tmale\tstars\tcaused\tenough\tsensation\tin\tthe\tcrowd.\tThe\tpresence\tof\tthe\theroine\twould only\thave\tmade\tmatters\tworse. Sudar shan\t Das\t had\t g iven\t us\t so me\t tea.\t We\t wer e\t in\t the\t pr o cess\t o f\t r etur ning \t the\t empty\t cups,\t when suddenly\t a\t raucous\t voice\t could\t be\t heard\t on\t a\t loudspeaker:\t \u2018The\t train\t is\t coming!\t Train\u2019s\t here! Everybody\tready!\u2019","Ten An\t o ld-fashio ned\t eng ine\t came\t into \t view,\t huffing \t and\t puffing ,\t blo wing \t thick\t black\t smo ke.\t Behind\t it were\teight\tcoaches.\tIt\tstopped\tat\tthe\tlevel\tcrossing\tat\texactly\tfive\tminutes\tto\tone. Even\tfrom\ta\tdistance,\twe\tcould\tsee\tthat\tthere\twas\tonly\tone\tfirst-class\tcompartment.\tOther\tcoaches already\t had\t passengers\t in\t them\u2014\t they\t had\t been\t planted\t there\t when\t the\t train\t left\t Matheran.\t There were\tmen,\twomen\tand\tchildren,\tboth\tyoung\tand\told.\tMr\tGhoshal\tbecame\textremely\tbusy\tas\tsoon\tas the\ttrain\tarrived.\tWe\tcould\tsee\thim\trushing\tfrom\tone\tcamera\tto\tanother,\tfrom\tthe\thero\tto\tthe\tvillain, and\tfrom\tone\tassistant\there\tto\tanother\tassistant\tthere.\tEven\tLalmohan\tbabu\twas\tforced\tto\tadmit\tthat\tit wasn\u2019t\tsimply\tthe\tproducer \u2019s\tmoney\tthat\tmade\ta\tfilm. Arjun\tMehrotra\u2014the\thero\u2014was\tready.\tHe\twas\tat\tthe\twheel\tof\this\tcar,\twearing\tsunglasses.\tBeside him\tsat\this\tmake-up\tman,\tand\ttwo\tother\tmen,\tpossibly\thangers-on.\tA\tjeep\twith\tan\topen\ttop\twas\tready, too.\tIn\tit\tstood\ta\tcamera\ton\ta\ttripod.\tVictor\tand\this\tmen\thad\talready\tdeparted\twith\ttheir\thorses.\tThey would\twait\tfor\ta\tsignal\tfrom\tthe\tmoving\ttrain,\tand\tthen\tride\tdown\ta\tparticular\thill.\tThen\tthey\twould be\tseen\tgalloping\talongside\tthe\ttrain.\tI\tsaw\tMicky\tgo\ttowards\tthe\tengine,\taccompanied\tby\tone\tof\tMr Ghoshal\u2019s\tassistants. We\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tto\tdo.\tThere\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tMr\tGore.\tWas\the\ton\tthe\ttrain?\tThere\twas\tno\tway to\ttell. The\tcrowd\thad\tdispersed\tby\tnow,\tbut\tno\tone\thad\ttold\tus\twhat\tto\tdo.\tLalmohan\tbabu\tbegan\tto\tget restless.\t\u2018What\u2019s\tgoing\ton,\tFeluda\tbabu?\tHave\twe\tbeen\ttotally\tforgotten?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Well,\twe\twere\ttold\tto\tget\tinto\ta\tfirst-class\tcompartment,\tand\tthere\tis\tonly\tone\tsuch\tcoach.\tSo\twe should\tget\tinto\tit\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tlet\u2019s\twait\tfor\ttwo\tmore\tminutes.\u2019 Before\tthose\ttwo\tminutes\twere\tup,\tthe\tengine\tblew\tits\twhistle,\tand\twe\theard\tSudarshan\tDas\tcall\tout to\tus:\t\u2018I\tsay,\tgentlemen!\tThis\tway!\u2019 We\tran\ttowards\tthe\tfirst\tclass\tcarriage,\tclutching\tour\tbags.\tMr\tDas\twent\twith\tus\tup\tto\tthe\tdoor\tto the\t carriage.\t \u2018I\t knew\t nothing\t of\t the\t arrangements,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Someone\t just\t told\t me\t Mr\t Gore\t will arrive\tin\thalf\tan\thour.\tAfter\tthe\tfirst\tshot,\tthis\ttrain\tis\tgoing\tto\treturn\there.\u2019 We\tgot\tinto\tthe\tcompartment,\tto\tbe\tgreeted\tby\ta\tlarge\tflask\tstanding\ton\ta\tbench,\ttogether\twith\tfour white\tcardboard\tboxes.\tThe\tname\tof\tthe\tSafari\tRestaurant\twas\tprinted\ton\tevery\tbox.\tIn\tother\twords,\tit was\tour\tlunch.\tI\twas\tsurprised\tby\tMr\tGore\u2019s\tcare\tand\tattention,\tin\tspite\tof\this\tbeing\tso\tbusy. There\t was\t another\t whistle,\t then\t the\t train\t started\t with\t a\t jerk.\t All\t of\t us\t got\t ready\t to\t watch\t the activities\toutside.\tThis\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\ta\ttotally\tnew\texperience,\tso\tI\twas\tfeeling\tquite\texcited. The\ttrain\twas\tnow\tgathering\tspeed.\tA\troad\tran\tby\tthe\ttrack\ton\tthe\tright\thand\tside.\tOn\tour\tleft,\tvery soon,\twe\u2019d\tsee\thills.\tThe\tbandits\twould\tarrive\tfrom\tthe\tleft,\tand\tthe\thero\tfrom\tthe\tright. A\t little\t later,\t when\t the\t tr ain\t was\t r unning \t faster,\t the\t jeep\t with\t the\t camer a\t co uld\t be\t seen,\t tr avelling down\tthe\troad.\tIt\twas\tfollowed\tby\tthe\thero\u2019s\tcar.\tNow\tthe\thero\twas\talone,\this\tcompanions\thad\tgone.","The\tcamera\twas\tfacing\thim.\tApart\tfrom\tthe\tcameraman,\tthere\twere\tthree\tother\tmen\tin\tthe\tjeep.\tOne of\t them\t was\t Mr\t Ghoshal\u2019s\t assistant.\t He\t was\t speaking\t through\t a\t microphone,\t instructing\t the\t hero: \u2018Look\tto\tyour\tleft!\u2019\tand\t\u2018Now\tto\tyour\tright!\u2019 Mr\tGhoshal\thimself\twas\thandling\tthe\tsecond\tcamera,\twhich\twas\tplaced\tinside\tone\tof\tthe\tcarriages. The\tthird\tcamera\twas\ton\tthe\troof\tof\tthe\tlast\tcoach,\ttowards\tthe\trear\tof\tthe\ttrain. The\thero\twasn\u2019t\tdriving\tall\tthat\tfast,\twhich\tI\tfound\tsomewhat\tdisappointing.\tBut\tFeluda\tpointed\tout that,\tin\tthe\tfilm,\tit\twould\tappear\tfast\tenough\tas\tthe\tspeed\tof\tthe\tcamera\thad\tbeen\treduced\tto\tshoot\tthis particular\tscene. \u2018Besides,\u2019\the\tadded,\t\u2018that\tcar\tisn\u2019t\tmoving\tas\tslowly\tas\tyou\tseem\tto\tthink,\tbecause\tit\u2019s\trunning\tto keep\tpace\twith\tour\ttrain;\tand\tthe\ttrain\tis\tmoving\tpretty\tfast,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 True.\tI\thadn\u2019t\tthought\tabout\tthat. In\t a\t few\t minutes,\t the\t hero\u2019s\t car\t and\t the\t jeep\t passed\t our\t compartment\t and\t went\t further\t down\t the road.\tSince\tit\twas\tan\told-fashioned\tcarriage,\tthere\twere\tno\tbars\ton\tthe\twindows.\tI\twanted\tto\tlean\tout and\tsee\thow\tthe\tremaining\tscene\twas\tbeing\tshot,\tbut\tFeluda\tstopped\tme.\t\u2018How\tdo\tyou\tsuppose\tyou\u2019d feel\t if\t yo u\t went\t to \t see\t Jet\t Bahadur\t at\t a\t cinema,\t and\t fo und\t yo ur self\t o n\t the\t scr een,\t leaning \t o ut\t o f\t a train?\u2019 I\thad\tto\tresist\tthe\ttemptation\tto\tpoke\tmy\thead\tout.\tThen\tI\tdecided\tto\tget\tup\tand\tsit\tnear\ta\twindow\ton the\topposite\tside.\tThe\tscent\tof\tGulbahar\thit\tmy\tnostrils\tas\tsoon\tas\tI\tgot\tto\tmy\tfeet. Suddenly,\t I\t realized\t that\t Feluda\t was\t no\t longer\t by\t my\t side.\t He\t had\t sprung\t up\t and\t moved\t to\t the opposite\tend\tof\tthe\tcarriage.\tHis\teyes\twere\tfixed\ton\tthe\tdoor\tto\tthe\tbathroom,\tand\this\thand\twas\tin\this jacket\tpocket. \u2018It\u2019s\tno\tuse,\tMr\tMitter.\tDon\u2019t\ttake\tout\tyour\tgun\u2014a\trevolver\tis\talready\tpointed\tat\tyou!\u2019\tsaid\ta\tvoice. The\tdoor\ton\tour\tleft\topened.\tA\tman\tentered\tand\tstood\tblocking\tthe\texit.\tIn\this\thand\twas\ta\trevolver. Where\t had\t I\t seen\t him\t before?\t Oh,\t of\t course,\t this\t was\t Mr\t Red\t Shirt!\t But\t today\t he\t was\t wearing differ ent\t clo thes,\t and\t ther e\t was\t a\t vicio us\t expr essio n\t o n\t his\t face\t that\t had\t been\t absent\t that\t day\t when we\u2019d\t seen\t him\t at\t the\t airport.\t Looking\t at\t him\t now,\t I\t had\t no\t doubt\t in\t my\t mind\t that\t this\t man\t was\t a killer,\tand\the\twould\tkill\twithout\tthe\tslightest\tqualm.\tHis\trevolver\twas\taimed\tstraight\tat\tFeluda. The\tdoor\tto\tthe\tbathroom,\twhich\twas\tajar,\topened\tfully\tand\tthe\twhole\tcompartment\twas\tfilled\twith the\tscent\tof\tGulbahar. \u2018San\t.\t.\t.\tSan\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tmuttered\tLalmohan\tbabu,\tthen\this\tvoice\ttrailed\taway.\tHis\twhole\tbody\tseemed\tto have\tshrunk\twith\tfear. \u2018Yes,\t I\t am\t Sanyal,\u2019\t said\t the\t stranger,\t \u2018and\t my\t real\t business\t is\t with\t you,\t Mr\t Ganguli.\t You\t have brought\t that\t packet\t here,\t haven\u2019t\t you?\t Open\t your\t bag\t and\t give\t it\t to\t me.\t I\t needn\u2019t\t tell\t you\t what\u2019s going\tto\thappen\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t.\u2019 \u2018P-p-packet.\t.\t.?\u2019 \u2018Surely\t you\t know\t which\t packet\t I\t am\t talking\t about?\t I\t did\t not\t meet\t you\t at\t the\t airport\t that\t day\t in Calcutta\tjust\tto\thand\tyou\ta\tcopy\tof\tyour\town\tbook,\tdid\tI?\tCome\ton,\tgive\tme\tthe\treal\tpacket.\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tmistaken.\tThat\tpacket\tis\twith\tme,\tnot\tMr\tGanguli.\u2019 The\t train\t was\t making\t such\t a\t lot\t of\t noise\t that\t everyone\t had\t to\t raise\t his\t voice\t to\t be\t heard;\t but Feluda\tspoke\tslowly\tand\tsteadily.\tEven\tso,\this\twords\treached\tSanyal\u2019s\tears\tand\this\teyes\tlit\tup\tbehind his\tglasses.","\u2018You\tdestroyed\tso\tmany\tpages\tof\tLife\tDivine.\tDid\tthat\tbring\tyou\tany\tspecial\tgain?\u2019\tFeluda\twas\tstill speaking\tcalmly,\this\twords\twere\tmeasured. \u2018Nimmo,\u2019\tSanyal\tgave\ta\tsidelong\tglance\tat\tthe\thooligan\tand\tspoke\tharshly,\t\u2018finish\tthis\tman\toff\tif he\tcreates\tany\ttrouble.\tKeep\tyour\thands\traised,\tMr\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018Aren\u2019t\tyou\ttaking\ta\tvery\tbig\trisk?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked.\t\u2018You\twill\tnot\trelease\tus,\twill\tyou,\teven\tif\tyou\tget what\tyou\twant?\tYou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tfinish\tus\toff,\tanyway.\tBut\twhat\u2019s\tgoing\tto\thappen\tto\tyou,\t once\t the train\tcomes\tto\ta\tstop?\tHave\tyou\tthought\tabout\tthat?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\t easy,\u2019\t Sanyal\u2019s\t face\t broke\t into\t an\t evil\t grin,\t \u2018No\t one\t knows\t me\t here.\t There\t are\t so\t many passengers\t on\t this\t train\u2014you\t think\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t just\t disappear\t amongst\t them?\t Your\t corpses\t will\t lie here,\tand\tI\twill\tmove\tto\tanother\tcompartment.\tIt\u2019s\tthat\tsimple.\u2019 Feluda\t and\t I\t had\t faced\t many\t tr icky\t situatio ns\t befo r e\t and\t that\t had\t taug ht\t me\t no t\t to \t lo se\t my\t ner ve easily.\tBut,\tright\tat\tthis\tmoment,\talthough\tI\twas\ttrying\tvery\thard\tto\tstay\tcalm,\tone\tthing\tkept\tmaking me\t br eak\t into \t a\t co ld\t sweat.\t It\t was\t the\t fig ur e\t o f\t Nimmo .\t I\t had\t o nly\t r ead\t abo ut\t such\t char acter s.\t The lo o k\t in\t his\t eyes\t held\t pur e\t malice.\t He\t had\t clo sed\t the\t do o r \t and\t was\t no w\t leaning \t ag ainst\t it.\t The\t fine cotton\t embroidered\t shirt\t he\t was\t wearing\t was\t fluttering\t in\t the\t breeze;\t his\t right\t arm\t was\t shaking\t a little\tbecause\tof\tthe\ttrain\u2019s\tmovement,\tbut\tthe\trevolver\twas\tstill\tpointed\tstraight\tat\tFeluda. Sanyal\tadvanced\tslowly.\tMy\tnostrils\twere\tburning\twith\tthe\tscent.\tHis\teyes\twere\tfixed\ton\tFeluda\u2019s bag.\tIt\twas\tan\tAir\tIndia\tbag,\tplaced\ton\ta\tbench\tin\tfront\tof\tSanyal.\tLalmohan\tbabu\twas\tstanding\tbehind me,\tso\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tthe\tlook\ton\this\tface.\tBut,\tin\tspite\tof\tthe\tracket\tthe\ttrain\twas\tmaking,\tI\tcould\thear him\tbreathing\theavily,\twheezing\tlike\tan\tasthma\tpatient. The\ttrain\twas\tspeeding\ton\tits\tway.\tIt\tmeant\tthat\tthe\tshooting\twas\tgoing\tahead\tas\tplanned.\tDid\tMr Gore\thave\tany\tidea\tjust\thow\tbadly\the\thad\tmessed\tthings\tup? Sanyal\tsat\tdown,\tgrabbed\tthe\tbag\tand\tpressed\tits\tcatch.\tIt\tdid\tnot\topen.\tThe\tbag\twas\tlocked. \u2018Where\u2019s\tthe\tkey?\tWhere\tis\tit?\u2019\tSanyal\u2019s\tentire\tface\twas\tdistorted\twith\timpatient\trage.\t\u2018Where\tthe hell\tdid\tyou\tput\tit?\u2019 \u2018In\tmy\tpocket,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied\tcoolly. \u2018Which\tpocket?\u2019 \u2018The\tright\tone.\u2019 That\twas\twhere\tFeluda\tkept\this\trevolver.\tI\tknew\tit. Sanyal\trose\tto\this\tfeet,\tstill\tlooking\tlivid.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tuncertain\tmoments,\the\tsuddenly\tturned\tto\tme. \u2018Come\there!\u2019\the\troared. Feluda\tlooked\tat\tme.\tI\tcould\ttell\the\twanted\tme\tto\tdo\tas\tI\twas\ttold. As\tI\tbegan\tmoving\ttowards\tFeluda,\ta\tdifferent\tnoise\treached\tmy\tears.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tjust\tthe\tnoise\tof\tthe train.\t I\t could\t hear\t galloping\t horses.\t Unbeknown\t to\t me,\t the\t train\t had\t reached\t the\t hills,\t which\t were now\tstretched\ton\tthe\tleft.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tI\tcould\tslip\tmy\thand\tinto\tFeluda\u2019s\tpocket,\tthe\tgang\tof\tbandits was\tmoving\tswiftly\tdown\ta\thill,\tthrowing\tup\tclouds\tof\tdust. My\tfingers\tfirst\tfound\tthe\trevolver,\tthen\tbrushed\tagainst\tthe\tkey. \u2018Give\tit\tto\thim,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\tme. I\t passed\t the\t key\t to\t Sanyal.\t Feluda\u2019s\t hands\t were\t still\t raised.\t Sanyal\t unlocked\t the\t bag.\t Life\t Divine was\tresting\ton\ttop\tof\teverything\telse.\tSanyal\ttook\tit\tout.","There\t was\t the\t sound\t of\t hooves\t quite\t close\t to\t the\t window.\t Not\t one,\t but\t several\t horses\t had\t sped down\tthe\thill\tand\twere\tnow\tgalloping\tbeside\tthe\ttrack,\tkeeping\tpace\twith\tthe\ttrain. Sanyal\t leafed\t through\t the\t pages\t quickly\t until\t he\t got\t to\t the\t point\t where\t many\t of\t the\t pages\t were stuck\ttogether.\tThen\the\tdid\tsomething\tmost\tpeculiar.\tInstead\tof\tturning\tthe\tpages,\the\tbegan\tscratching and\tclawing\tat\tthem.\tAt\tonce,\tone\tof\tthe\tpages\ttore,\trevealing\ta\tsquare\t\u2018hollow\u2019.\tA\tcertain\tsection\thad been\tcut\tout\tfrom\tthe\tcentre\tof\tseveral\tpages\tto\tcreate\tthat\thollow. Sanyal\tpeered\tinto\tit\u2014and\tthe\texpression\ton\this\tface\tchanged\tat\tonce.\tIt\twas\treally\tworth\twatching. Go d\t kno ws\t what\t he\t was\t expecting \t to \t find,\t but\t what\t the\t ho llo w\t co ntained\t wer e\t abo ut\t eig ht\t cig ar ette stubs,\ta\tdozen\tused\tmatches\tand\ta\tsubstantial\tquantity\tof\tash. \u2018I\thope\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\t\u2018but\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tresist\tusing\tthat\tas\tan\tash-tray.\u2019 Now\tSanyal\tshouted\tso\tloudly\tthat\tI\twas\tsure\tthe\twhole\ttrain\tcould\thear\thim. \u2018You\tthink\tyou\tcan\tget\taway\twith\tthis?\tWhere\u2019s\tthe\treal\tstuff?\u2019 \u2018What\tstuff?\u2019 \u2018You\tscoundrel!\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tknow\twhat\tI\u2019m\ttalking\tabout?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tBut\tI\twant\tto\thear\tyou\tspell\tit\tout.\u2019 \u2018Where\tis\tit?\u2019\tSanyal\troared\tagain. \u2018In\tmy\tpocket.\u2019 \u2018Which\tpocket?\u2019 \u2018The\tleft\tone.\u2019 The\tbandits\twere\tnow\tjust\toutside\tthe\twindow.\tThe\thill\twas\tmuch\tcloser.\tA\tlot\tof\tdust\twas\tcoming in\tthrough\tthe\twindow. \u2018You\tthere!\u2019 I\tknew\tI\twould\tbe\tordered\tonce\tmore. \u2018Don\u2019t\tjust\tstand\tthere\u2014get\tit\tfrom\this\tpocket!\u2019 I\thad\tto\tslip\tmy\thand\tinto\tFeluda\u2019s\tleft\tpocket\tthis\ttime.\tThe\tobject\tthat\tI\tfound\twas\tsomething\tthe like\t of\t which\t I\t had\t never\t held\t in\t my\t hand\t before.\t It\t was\t a\t necklace\t strung\t with\t pearls\t and\t studded with\tdiamonds.\tSuch\tan\tamazing\tpiece\tof\tjewellery\twas\tfit\tto\tbe\thandled\tonly\tby\tkings\tand\temperors, I\tthought. \u2018Give\tit\tto\tme!\u2019\tSanyal\u2019s\teyes\twere\tglinting\tonce\tmore,\tnot\twith\trage,\tbut\twith\tgreed\tand\tglee. I\tstretched\tmy\thand\ttowards\thim.\tFeluda\tkept\this\thands\traised.\tLalmohan\tbabu\twas\tgroaning.\tThe bandits\twere\t.\t.\t. CRASH! Something\t heavy\t had\t made\t an\t impact\t against\t the\t carriage,\t making\t it\t shake\t a\t little.\t In\t the\t next instant,\tNimmo\twas\trolling\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tA\tpair\tof\tlegs\thad\tslipped\tin\tthrough\tthe\twindow\tand\tkicked him\t hard.\t The\t gun\t in\t his\t hand\t went\t off,\t hit\t a\t light\t fixed\t to\t the\t ceiling\t and\t shattered\t it.\t In\t a\t flash, Feluda\tlowered\this\thands\tand\ttook\tout\this\town\trevolver. Then\tthe\tdoor\ton\tthe\tleft\topened\tagain,\tand\ta\tman\tdressed\tas\ta\tbandit\tclimbed\tinto\tour\tcarriage.\tHe was\tknown\tto\tall\tthree\tof\tus. \u2018Thank\tyou,\tVictor!\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.","Eleven Sanyal\tflopped\tdown\ton\ta\tbench.\tHe\twas\ttrembling\tonce\tmore\u2014but\twith\tfear\tthis\ttime,\tnot\trage.\tHe knew\tthere\tcould\tbe\tno\tescape. In\tthe\tmeantime,\tsomeone\tmust\thave\trealized\tthere\twas\tsomething\twrong\tand\tpulled\tthe\tcord,\tfor the\ttrain\tcame\tto\tan\tunexpected\thalt.\tIt\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tstopped\tunless\tthe\tcord\thad\tbeen\tpulled. Within\t seconds,\t we\t could\t hear\t a\t confused\t babel.\t Several\t voices\t were\t shouting\t the\t same\t name: \u2018Victor!\tVictor!\tWhere\thave\tyou\tgone,\tVictor?\u2019 I\tcould\thear\tMr\tGhoshal\u2019s\tvoice.\tVictor\tPerumal\thad\tmessed\tthings\tup.\tHe\twas\tsupposed\tto\tjump on\tthe\troof\tof\tthe\ttrain.\tInstead\tof\tdoing\tthat,\the\thad\tjumped\tinto\tour\tcompartment. Feluda\t leant\t out\t of\t the\t door\t and\t called,\t \u2018Mr\t Ghoshal!\t Over\t here!\u2019\t Mr\t Ghoshal\t arrived,\t looking profoundly\t distressed\t and\t harassed.\t That\t was\t hardly\t surprising\t as\t any\t hold-up\t in\t shooting\t such\t a complex\tscene\twould\tbe\tliable\tto\tcause\theavy\tlosses,\tperhaps\tto\tthe\ttune\tof\tthirty\tthousand\trupees. \u2018What\u2019s\tthe\tmatter\twith\tyou,\tVictor?\tHave\tyou\tgone\tcompletely\tmad?\u2019\the\tdemanded. \u2018Mr \t Gho shal,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t \u2018if\t anyo ne\t in\t yo ur \t film\t deser ves\t to \t be\t called\t jet\t Bahadur,\t it\t is\t Victo r Perumal.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\tthat\tsupposed\tto\tmean?\u2019\tMr\tGhoshal\tasked.\tHe\twas\tnow\tlooking\tperplexed,\tbut\tperplexity was\tstill\toutweighed\tby\tannoyance. \u2018Besides,\u2019\tFeluda\twent\ton,\t\u2018the\trole\tof\tthat\tsmuggler\tshould\thave\tgone\tto\tthis\tman\there,\tnot\tyour actor\tcalled\tParamesh\tKapoor.\u2019 \u2018What\trubbish\tare\tyou\ttalking,\tMr\tMitter?\tWho\tis\tthis\tman?\u2019\tMr\tGhoshal\tglanced\tat\tSanyal. By\t this\t time,\t two\t vehicles\t had\t appeared\t on\t the\t road.\t One\t was\t a\t police\t jeep,\t and\t the\t other\t was\t a police\tvan.\tThe\tjeep\tpulled\tup\tnext\tto\tour\tcompartment.\tInspector\tPatwardhan\tclimbed\tout\tof\tit. In\t r eply\t to \t Mr \t Gho shal\u2019s\t questio n,\t Feluda\t walked\t up\t to \t Sanyal,\t g r abbed\t his\t bear d\t and\t mo ustache and\tyanked\tthem\toff,\tbefore\tpulling\toff\this\twig\tand\tglasses. \u2018I\twould\thave\tbeen\tdelighted,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked,\t\u2018if\tI\tcould\tremove\tthat\tscent\tfrom\tyour\tbody,\tMr Gore.\tSadly,\tthat\u2019s\tsomething\teven\tFelu\tMitter\tcannot\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Laluda,\twho\ttold\tyou\ta\tfilm\twould\tremain\tincomplete\tif\tits\tproducer\twas\tarrested?\u2019 The\tquestion\tcame\tfrom\tMr\tGhoshal.\tTo\ttell\tthe\ttruth,\tLalmohan\tbabu\thadn\u2019t\tspoken\tat\tall.\tHe\twas simply\tsitting\tthere,\tlooking\tpensive\tand\tmorose.\tAnyone\tcould\tguess\tthat\the\twas\tworried\tabout\tthe future\tof\tJet\tBahadur. \u2018No\t one,\u2019\t Mr\t Ghoshal\t continued,\t \u2018can\t stop\t our\t film.\t Gore\t might\t go\t to\t prison\u2014or\t hell\u2014or wherever\u2014but\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tsee,\the\twasn\u2019t\tthe\tonly\tproducer\tin\tBombay?\tThere\u2019s\tChuni\tPancholi;\the\u2019s been\tpestering\tme\tfor\tover\ta\tyear\tto\tmake\ta\tfilm\tfor\thim.\tI\u2019ll\tget\tthings\tgoing\tagain,\tyou\tmark\tmy words.\tEven\tbefore\tyou\tleave\tBombay,\tyou\u2019ll\tsee\tme\tshooting\tthe\tfilm\tunder\ta\tnew\tbanner.\u2019","That\t day,\t however,\t all\t shooting\t had\t ground\t to\t a\t halt\t at\t half\t past\t one.\t Gore\t and\t Nimmo\t were arrested\tand\thandcuffed.\tNanasaheb\u2019s\tnaulakha\tnecklace\twas\tin\tpolice\tcustody. Feluda\t had\t anticipated\t trouble\t during\t the\t first\t day\u2019s\t shooting.\t When\t he\u2019d\t told\t us\t in\t the\t morning that\t he\t was\t going\t out\t to\t buy\t cigarettes,\t he\t had\t actually\t gone\t to\t speak\t to\t Patwardhan.\t Gore, apparently,\t had\t spent\t twelve\t years\t in\t Calcutta.\t He\t had\t been\t not\t just\t to\t Don\t Bosco,\t but\t also\t to\t St. Xavier \u2019s.\tHence\the\tcould\tspeak\tBengali\tvery\twell,\talthough\tin\tBombay\the\twas\theard\tspeaking\tonly Hindi\tand\tMarathi\tbesides\tEnglish. We\t wer e\t sitting \t o n\t the\t ver anda\t o f\t a\t dak\t bung alo w\t in\t Khandala.\t It\t was\t a\t beautiful\t place\t and\t ther e was\t a\t decided\t nip\t in\t the\t air.\t Peo ple\t fr o m\t Bo mbay\t o ften\t went\t to \t Khandala\t fo r \t a\t chang e\t o f\t air,\t I\t had heard.\t We\t had\t already\t finished\t the\t food\t (naan\t and\t mutton\t do-pyaza)\t we\u2019d\t found\t in\t those\t boxes, provided\tby\tthe\tSafari\tRestaurant.\tIt\twas\tnow\tfour-thirty,\tso\twe\twere\thaving\ttea\tand\tpakoras. Mr\tGhoshal\thad\tjoined\tus\tfor\ta\twhile,\tthen\tmoved\tto\ta\tdifferent\ttable\twhere\tArjun\tMehrotra\twas seated.\tMehrotra\twas\tlooking\ta\tlittle\tcrestfallen,\tperhaps\tbecause\tmost\tundoubtedly,\tthe\treal\thero\tthat day\t was\t Pradosh\t Mitter.\t Plenty\t of\t people\t from\t the\t unit\u2014\t including\t Micky,\t the\t villain\u2014had\t asked Feluda\tfor\this\tautograph. There\twas\ta\tsecond\thero,\tand\tunquestionably\tthat\twas\tVictor\tPerumal.\tIt\tturned\tout\tthat\tFeluda\thad spoken\tto\thim\tbefore\tthe\tshooting\tstarted.\t\u2018When\tyou\tcome\triding\tdown\tthe\thill\tand\tget\tclose\tto\tthe train,\u2019\the\thad\tsaid,\t\u2018keep\tan\teye\ton\tthe\tfirst-class\tcompartment.\tIf\tyou\tsee\tanything\tsuspicious,\tcome in\tthrough\tthe\tdoor.\u2019\tVictor\thad\tseen\tFeluda\tstanding\twith\this\tarms\traised.\tThat\thad\ttold\thim\tinstantly that\thelp\twas\trequired,\tand\the\thad\tswung\tinto\taction. Strangely\tenough,\teven\tafter\ta\theroic\tact\tlike\tthat,\tVictor\twas\tquite\tunmoved.\tHe\twas\tback\twith\this men,\tpractising\tkung-fu,\tin\tthe\tlittle\tfield\topposite\tthe\tbungalow,\tas\tif\tnothing\thad\thappened. \u2018The\t thing \t is,\t yo u\t see\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t Lalmo han\t babu\t finally\t o pened\t his\t mo uth.\t But\t Feluda\t inter r upted\t him. \u2018The\tthing\tis\tthat\tyou\tare\tstill\ttotally\tin\tthe\tdark,\tis\tthat\tit?\u2019 Lalmohan\tbabu\tsmiled\tmeekly\tand\tnodded. \u2018It\tshouldn\u2019t\tbe\tdifficult\tto\tthrow\tlight\ton\teverything.\tBut,\tbefore\tI\tdo\tthat,\tyou\tmust\tbe\ttold\tabout Gore,\tand\tunderstand\thow\the\tfunctioned. \u2018The\tfirst\tthing\tto\tremember\tis\tthat\the\twas\treally\ta\tsmuggler,\tthough\the\twas\ttrying\tto\tpass\thimself off\tas\ta\trespectable\tfilm\tproducer.\tHe\tdecided\tto\tmake\ta\tfilm\tfrom\tyour\tstory.\tYou\twrote\tin\tthat\tstory that\t a\t smug g ler \t lived\t in\t a\t building \t called\t Shivaji\t Castle.\t Natur ally,\t that\t caused\t so me\t co ncer n.\t Go r e wanted\tto\tfind\tout\thow\tmuch\tyou\tknew\tabout\tthe\treal\toccupants\tof\tShivaji\tCastle,\tsince\the\twas\tone\tof them,\tand\the\twas\ta\tsmuggler.\tSo\the\tdressed\tas\tSanyal\tand\twent\tto\tyour\thouse.\tBut,\thaving\tspoken\tto you,\t he\t realized\t that\t you\t were\t completely\t innocent\t and\t harmless,\t and\t your\t entire\t story\t was\t purely imaginary.\tThe\treference\tto\tShivaji\tCastle\twas\tjust\ta\tcoincidence. \u2018Gore\t felt\t reassured,\t but\t then\t it\t occurred\t to\t him\t that\t he\t could\t use\t you\t to\t transfer\t the\t stolen necklace.\tSo\the\thid\tit\tin\ta\tbook,\tand\ttried\tto\tpass\tit\tto\tsomeone\tin\this\town\tgang\u2014possibly\tsomeone who\tlived\ton\tthe\tseventeenth\tfloor\tin\tShivaji\tCastle.\tIf\tyou\twere\tcaught,\tyou\twould\tblame\tSanyal,\tnot Gore.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tright?\tSo\tGore\tcould\tsafely\thide\tbehind\tthe\tfigure\tof\tSanyal. \u2018However,\tthings\twent\twrong.\tWhat\tyou\thanded\tover\tto\tGore\u2019s\tman\twas\tnot\ta\tnecklace\tworth\tfive million,\tbut\tone\tof\tyour\town\tbooks\tworth\tfive\trupees.\tMr\tRed\tShirt\u2014or\tNimmo,\tif\tyou\tlike\u2014\twent to\tShivaji\tCastle,\tand\twas\ttaking\tthat\tpacket\tto\ta\tflat\ton\tthe\tseventeenth\tfloor,\twhen\the\twas\tattacked\tin","the\t lift\t by\t a\t man\t fr o m\t a\t r ival\t g r o up.\t Nimmo \t killed\t him\t and\t to o k\t the\t packet\t up,\t as\t instr ucted.\t T hen, whoever\topened\tit\trealized\tthat\tthe\tnecklace\twasn\u2019t\tin\tit.\tGore\twas\tinformed,\tand\the\treturned\tat\tonce. He\t knew\t what\t had\t happened.\t So\t he\t had\t to\t accomplish\t two\t things\u2014one,\t he\t had\t to\t get\t the\t necklace back;\t and\t two,\t he\t had\t to\t get\t rid\t of\t us.\t Luckily\t for\t him,\t we\t hadn\u2019t\t handed\t the\t necklace\t over\t to\t the police.\t As\t soon\t as\t he\u2019d\t met\t us,\t Gore\t realized\t that,\t somehow,\t Sanyal\t must\t reappear.\t If\t Sanyal\t had given\tyou\tthat\tpacket,\tthen\tonly\tSanyal\tcould\trecover\tit\tfrom\tyou.\tNo\tone\twould\tthen\tsuspect\tGore.\u2019 \u2018But\tthat\tperfume\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 \u2018Wait,\t wait,\t I\t am\t co ming \t to \t that.\t Using \t Gulbahar \t was\t just\t an\t example\t o f\t Go r e\u2019s\t cunning .\t He\t had prepared\tthe\tground\tin\tCalcutta.\tWhenever\tyou\twould\tsmell\tthat\tperfume,\tyou\u2019d\tthink\tof\tSanyal,\tand automatically\t associate\t the\t two.\t You\t were\t convinced,\t weren\u2019t\t you,\t that\t Sanyal\t was\t following\t you everywhere\tin\tBombay?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Rig ht.\t No w,\t just\t think\t back\t a\t little.\t That\t day,\t when\t we\t went\t to \t his\t flat,\t Go r e\t left\t us\t in\t the\t living room\tand\tdisappeared\tfor\ta\tfew\tminutes.\tIt\tseemed\tas\tif\the\thad\tgone\tto\tfetch\tyour\tmoney.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat right?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018It\t couldn\u2019t\t have\t been\t difficult,\t could\t it,\t to\t slip\t out\t in\t that\t time\t and\t sprinkle\t a\t few\t drops\t of\t that perfume\t in\t the\t lift?\t When\t I\t went\t to\t every\t floor\t from\t top\t to\t bottom,\t sniffed\t everywhere\t and\t still found\tno\ttrace\tof\tthat\tscent\toutside\tthe\tlift,\tI\tknew\tat\tonce\tthat\tno\tone\twearing\tit\thad\tused\tthe\tlift.\tIt was\t planted\t there\t deliberately.\t Similarly,\t when\t our\t car\t was\t parked\t outside\t the\t Lotus\t cinema,\t Gore could\thave\tasked\tone\tof\this\tmen\tto\tslip\ta\thand\tthrough\ta\twindow\tand\tspray\ta\tfew\tdrops\ton\tthe\tseats. It\twas\teasy!\u2019 Yes,\teverything\tseemed\teasy\tonce\tFeluda\thad\texplained\tit.\tLalmohan\tbabu\thad\tclearly\tgrasped\tthe who le\t sto r y\t by\t no w,\t but\t even\t so ,\t he\t did\t no t\t lo o k\t ver y\t happy.\t That\t sur pr ised\t me.\t Why\t was\t ther e\t no smile\ton\this\tface?\tEventually,\ta\tquestion\tfrom\tMr\tGhoshal\tchanged\teverything. Tea\twas\tover,\tand\tthe\twhole\tunit\twas\tgetting\tready\tto\tgo\tback.\tThe\tsun\thad\tdisappeared\tbehind\tthe hills\t and\t no w\t it\t was\t r eally\t quite\t co ld.\t I\t felt\t myself\t shiver,\t and\t saw\t Mr \t Gho shal\t str iding \t to war ds\t us busily. \u2018Laluda,\t all\t the\t posters\t and\t hoardings\t for\t Jet\t Bahadur\t are\t going\t up\t on\t Friday.\t But\t there\u2019s something\tI\tneed\tto\tknow\tnow,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018What\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\twish\tto\tbe\tnamed?\tI\tmean,\tshould\twe\tuse\tyour\treal\tname,\tor\tyour\tpseudonym?\u2019 \u2018The\t \u201cpseudo\u201d\t is\t the\t real\t name,\t my\t friend!\u2019\t replied\t Lalmohan\t babu\t with\t a\t huge\t grin.\t \u2018And\t it should\tbe\tspelt\tJ-a-t-a-y-u!\u2019","","T HE\t MY S T ERY \t O F \t T HE\t WA LK I N G \t D EA D","One \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\tonce\ttell\tme\tyou\tknew\tsomeone\tin\tGosaipur?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu. We\u2014the\tThree\tMusketeers\u2014had\tjust\tvisited\tthe\tVictoria\tMemorial\tand\tcome\twalking\tto\tthe\triver. We\t were\t now\t sitting\t under\t the\t domes\t near\t Princep\t Ghat,\t enjoying\t the\t fresh\t breeze\t and\t munching daalmut.\tIt\twas\tfive\to\u2019clock\tin\tthe\tevening. \u2018Yes,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t replied,\t \u2018Tulsi\t Babu.\t Tulsicharan\t Dasgupta.\t He\t used\t to\t teach\t mathematics and\tgeography\tin\tmy\tschool.\tNow\the\u2019s\tretired\tand\tlives\tin\tGosaipur.\tHe\u2019s\tasked\tme\tto\tvisit\thim\tmore than\t once.\t He\t loves\t my\t books.\t In\t fact,\t he\t writes\t for\t children\t himself.\t A\t couple\t of\t his\t stories\t were published\tin\tSandesh.\tBut\twhy\tare\tyou\tsuddenly\tinterested\tin\tGosaipur?\u2019 \u2018Someone\tcalled\tJeevanlal\tMallik\twrote\tto\tme\tfrom\tthere.\tHis\tfather \u2019s\tcalled\tShyamlal\tMallik.\tI believe\tthe\tMalliks\twere\tonce\tthe\tzamindars\tof\tGosaipur.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\tJeevanlal\tMallik\twrite?\u2019 \u2018He\t is\t wo r r ied\t abo ut\t his\t father.\t He\t thinks\t so meo ne\t is\t planning \t to \t kill\t him.\t If\t I\t can\t g o \t and\t thr o w some\tlight\ton\tthe\tmatter,\the\u2019ll\tbe\tvery\tgrateful\tand\the\u2019ll\tpay\tme\tmy\tfee.\u2019 I\t knew\t the\t letter \t had\t ar r ived\t this\t mo r ning ,\t but\t had\t no \t idea\t abo ut\t its\t co ntents.\t No w\t I\t r emember ed seeing\tFeluda\tlooking\tthoughtful\tand\tsmoking\tquietly\tafter\the\thad\tfinished\treading\tit. \u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\twe\tall\tgo?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsounded\tquite\tenthusiastic.\t\u2018Look,\twe\tare\tboth\tfree\tat\tthis moment,\taren\u2019t\twe?\tBesides,\tI\tthink\twe\u2019ll\tenjoy\ta\tvisit\tto\ta\tsmall\tvillage\tafter\tall\tthe\thectic\ttravelling we\thave\tdone\tin\tthe\tpast.\u2019 \u2018To\tbe\thonest,\tI\twas\tthinking\tof\tgoing,\ttoo.\tMr\tMallik\tsaid\the\tcould\tnot\thave\tme\tstay\tin\this\thouse \u2014there\t is\t some\t problem,\t apparently.\t He\u2019s\t spoken\t to\t a\t relative\t who\t lives\t three\t miles\t away.\t I\t could stay\twith\thim,\tbut\tthen\tI\u2019d\thave\tto\ttravel\tin\ta\trickshaw\tevery\tday.\tIt\tstruck\tme\tthat\tit\tmight\tbe\tsimpler to\tstay\tsomewhere\twithin\twalking\tdistance.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\tI\tthought\tof\tyour\tfriend.\u2019 \u2018My\tfriend\twill\tbe\tdelighted,\tespecially\tif\the\thears\tyou\tare\tgoing\tto\tjoin\tme.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tgreat\tadmirer of\tyours.\u2019 Lalmo han\t Babu\t wr o te\t to \t his\t fr iend\t the\t next\t day,\t and\t Feluda\t answer ed\t Jeevanlal\u2019s\t letter.\t Tulsi\t Babu was\tso\tpleased\tthat\the\twrote\tback\tinstantly,\tsaying\tthat\tthe\tGosaipur\tLiterary\tSociety\twanted\tto\tgive\ta joint\treception\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tFeluda.\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tthrilled\tby\tthe\tidea,\tbut\tFeluda\tput his\tfoot\tdown.\t\u2018Leave\tme\tout\tof\treceptions,\tplease,\u2019\the\tsaid\tfirmly.\t\u2018No\tone\tmust\tknow\twho\tI\treally am\tand\twhy\tI\u2019m\tvisiting\tGosaipur.\tPlease\ttell\tyour\tfriend\tnot\tto\ttell\tanyone.\u2019 Rather\treluctantly,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tpassed\tthe\tmessage\ton,\tadding\tthat\the\twas\tperfectly\thappy\tabout the\treception.\tWith\tthis\tevent\tin\tmind,\the\teven\tpacked\ta\tblue\tembroidered\tkurta.","We\thad\tto\ttake\ta\ttrain\tto\tKatwa\tJunction,\tand\tthen\ta\tbus\tto\tget\tto\tGosaipur,\twhich\twas\tseven\tmiles from\tKatwa.\tTulsi\tBabu\twas\tgoing\tto\twait\tfor\tus\tat\ta\tprovision\tstore\tnear\tthe\tbus\tstop.\tHis\thouse\twas just\tten\tminutes\taway. On\tour\tway\tthere,\tI\tsaw\ta\tpalanquin\tfrom\tthe\tbus.\tThis\tsurprised\tme\tvery\tmuch\tfor\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow palanquins\twere\tstill\tin\tuse.\tFeluda\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\twere\tsimilarly\ttaken\taback. \u2018I\t wonder\t which\t century\t these\t people\t think\t they\t live\t in?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t exclaimed.\t \u2018I\t hope Gosaipur\thas\telectricity.\tI\thad\tno\tidea\tthe\tarea\twas\tso\tremote.\u2019 The\tconductor\tof\tthe\tbus\tknew\twhere\twe\twanted\tto\tget\toff.\tHe\tstopped\tthe\tbus\tbefore\tthe\tprovision store,\tshouting,\t\u2018Gosaipur!\tGo-o-sai-pu-u-r!\u2019\tWe\tthanked\thim\tand\tgot\tdown\tquickly. The\telderly\tgentleman\twho\tcame\tforward\tto\tgreet\tus\twith\ta\tsmile\thad\tthe\tword\t\u2018ex-schoolmaster \u2019 wr itten\t all\t o ver \t him.\t In\t his\t hand\t was\t an\t ancient\t patched-up\t black\t umbr ella,\t o n\t his\t feet\t wer e\t br o wn canvas\t shoes,\t on\t his\t nose\t were\t perched\t his\t glasses\t and\t under\t his\t arm\t was\t a\t very\t old\t copy\t of\t the National\t Geographic\t magazine.\t He\t was\t wearing\t a\t kurta\t and\t a\t short\t dhoti.\t On\t being\t introduced\t to Feluda,\the\twinked\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tdid\twhat\tyou\tsaid.\tI\tmean,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tanyone\tabout\tyou.\tYou\tare\tonly\ta tourist,\t you\u2019ve\t lived\t in\t Canada\t for\t years,\t now\t you\t want\t to\t see\t an\t Indian\t village.\t I\t thought\t of\t this because\t it\t o ccur r ed\t to \t me\t that\t yo u\t mig ht\t have\t to \t ask\t questio ns,\t o r \t visit\t places\t unseen.\t A\t to ur ist\t can claim\tto\tbe\tboth\tcurious\tand\tignorant.\tNo\tone\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\toffended\tby\twhat\tyou\tsay\tor\twhere\tyou go.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tI\thope\tyou\thave\tbooks\ton\tCanada\tI\tcan\tread?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\twith\ta\tsmile. \u2018Don\u2019t\tworry\tabout\tthat,\u2019\tTulsi\tBabu\tgrinned.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tJatayu.\t\u2018For\tyou,\tmy\tfriend,\tI\thave arranged\ta\tfunction\ton\tFriday.\tIt\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\ta\tsmall\tinformal\taffair\u2014a\tcouple\tof\tsongs\tand\tdances, then\tyou\u2019ll\tbe\tpresented\twith\ta\tcitation,\tand\tthere\u2019ll\tbe\tspeeches.\tThe\tbarrister,\tSuresh\tChakladar,\twill preside.\tThe\tcitation\tis\tbeing\twritten\tout\tby\ta\tyoung\tboy,\tbut\tits\tcontents\u2014I\tmean\tthe\tactual\twords\u2014 are\tmine,\theh\theh.\u2019 \u2018There\twas\tno\tneed\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tto\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttried\tto\tlook\tmodest. \u2018We\twanted\tto.\tIt\tisn\u2019t\tevery\tday\tthat\ta\tcelebrity\tdeigns\tto\tvisit\tus!\u2019 \u2018We\tsaw\ta\tpalanquin\ton\tthe\tway,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018Is\tthat\tstill\tused\there\tas\ta\tmode\tof\ttransport?\u2019 Tulsi\tBabu\tstopped\tto\tprod\ta\tyoung\tcalf\twith\this\tumbrella\tto\tget\tit\tout\tof\tthe\tway.\tThen\the\tlooked at\t Feluda\t and\t replied,\t \u2018Oh\t yes.\t If\t you\t want\t a\t palanquin,\t you\u2019ll\t get\t it\t here.\t But\t that\t isn\u2019t\t all.\t We specialize\t in\t providing\t all\t sorts\t of\t things\t from\t the\t past.\t Do\t you\t want\t guards\t in\t uniform,\t carrying spears\tand\tshields?\tYou\u2019ll\tfind\tthem\there.\tA\tman\twho\tspends\this\ttime\tgetting\thookahs\tready?\tYou\u2019ll find\thim\there.\tA\tpunkha-puller?\tOil\tlamps?\tYes,\twe\u2019ve\tgot\tthose,\ttoo!\u2019 \u2018But\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\telectric\tconnections,\thaven\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tEvery\thouse\thas\telectricity,\texcept\tthe\tone\twhere\tit\u2019s\tmost\tneeded.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018The\thouse\twhere\tMr\tMallik\tlives.\u2019 All\tof\tus\tstared\tat\thim\tin\tsurprise. \u2018Shyamlal\tMallik?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tother\tMallik\tin\tGosaipur.\tThey\tused\tto\tbe\tlocal\tzamindars.\tShyamlal\u2019s\tfather, Dur labh\t Sing h,\t was\t an\t utter ly\t r uthless\t man.\t Peo ple\t wer e\t ter r ified\t o f\t him.\t Shyamlal\t himself\t did\t no t stay\t a\t zamindar\t long,\t for\t by\t then\t the\t government\t had\t changed\t the\t laws\t regarding\t the\t zamindari","system.\tHowever,\the\twent\tto\tCalcutta,\tbuilt\ta\tplastic\tfactory\tand\tmade\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney.\tThen,\tone\tday, he\t came\t home\t in\t the\t dark\t and\t tried\t to\t switch\t on\t the\t light.\t He\t did\t not\t know\t that\t there\t was\t a\t loose, exposed\t wire\t in\t the\t switchboard.\t He\t nearly\t got\t electrocuted!\t After\t spending\t a\t few\t weeks\t in\t a hospital,\t he\t handed\t over\t his\t business\t to\t his\t son,\t returned\t to\t Gosaipur\t and\t removed\t the\t electric co nnectio n\t to \t his\t ho use.\t If\t he\t had\t sto pped\t ther e,\t it\t mig ht\t have\t made\t so me\t sense.\t But\t he\t decided\t to r emo ve\t ever ything \t that\t was\t mo der n,\t o r \t \u201cWester n\u201d.\t He\t g ave\t up\t smo king \t cher o o ts,\t and\t went\t back\t to hookahs.\tHe\tstopped\tusing\tfountain\tpens,\this\ttoothbrush\twas\treplaced\tby\tneem\ttwigs,\tevery\tbook\tin his\thouse\tthat\twas\twritten\tin\tEnglish\twas\tthrown\tout,\tas\twere\tall\tthe\tmedicines.\tNow\the\trelies\tpurely on\tayurvedic\tstuff.\tThe\tonly\tman\tto\tbenefit\tfrom\tall\tthis\twas\tthe\tlocal\tayurvedic\tdoctor,\tcalled\tTarak Kaviraj.\tAnd\tyes,\tShyamlal\u2019s\tcar\thas\tbeen\tsold\tas\twell.\tWhat\the\tuses\tis\ta\tpalanquin.\tThere\twas\tan\told palanquin\tin\this\thouse.\tHe\tsimply\thad\tit\trepaired\tand\tpainted.\tHe\u2019s\tappointed\tfour\tbearers\tto\tcarry\tit for\t him.\t There\t are\t many\t other\t things\t that\t he\u2019s\t started\t to\t do\t .\t .\t .\t you\u2019ll\t get\t to\t see\t everything\t for yourself,\tI\tam\tsure.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tprobably\tshall.\tI\tam\there\tbecause\this\tson\tasked\tme\tto\tcome.\u2019 \u2018I\tknow\this\tson\tis\tvisiting\thim,\tbut\twhy\tdid\the\twant\tyou\there?\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\taware\tthat\tsomeone\tis\tplanning\tto\tkill\tShyamlal\tMallik?\tHave\tyou\theard\tany\trumours\tor gossip?\u2019 Tulsi\t Babu\t appeared\t quite\t taken\t aback\t by\t this.\t \u2018Why,\t no!\t I\u2019ve\t certainly\t heard\t nothing.\t But\t if someone\twants\tto\tget\trid\tof\thim,\tyou\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tto\tlook\tvery\tfar\tto\tsee\twho\tit\tis.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018The\tsame\tman\twho\twrote\tto\tyou.\tHe\tand\this\tfather\tdon\u2019t\tget\talong\tat\tall.\tMind\tyou,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tblame Jeevanlal.\tIt\tcan\u2019t\tbe\teasy\tto\tdeal\twith\ta\tfather\twho\thas\tsuch\tperfectly\tweird\tideas.\tAfter\tall,\tJeevanlal has\tto\tstay\tin\tthe\tsame\thouse\twhen\the\tvisits.\tIt\u2019s\tenough\tto\tdrive\tone\tmad.\u2019 We\treached\tTulsi\tBabu\u2019s\thouse\tjust\tbefore\tfour\to\u2019clock.\tHis\twife\thad\tdied\ta\tfew\tyears\tago,\tand\this so ns\t wo r ked\t in\t Calcutta.\t He\t had\t o nly\t o ne\t daug hter,\t who \t was\t mar r ied.\t She\t lived\t in\t Azimg anj.\t Tulsi Babu\tlived\there\talone,\twith\ta\tservant\tcalled\tGanga.\t\u2018In\ta\tplace\tlike\tthis,\u2019\the\ttold\tus\twith\ta\tsmile,\t\u2018one may\tlive\talone,\tbut\tthere\u2019s\tno\tchance\tof\tbeing\tlonely.\tMy\tneighbours\tand\tother\tfriends\tin\tthe\tvillage drop\tin\tat\tall\ttimes.\tWe\tlook\tafter\tone\tanother\tvery\twell.\u2019 Ganga\twas\ttold\tto\tmake\ttea\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\tarrived.\tFeluda\thad\tbrought\ta\tpacket\tof\tgood\tquality\ttea. That\t was\t the\t only\t thing\t he\t was\t really\t fussy\t about.\t A\t few\t minutes\t later,\t Ganga\t served\t us\t tea\t on\t the front\tveranda,\twith\tplates\tof\tbeaten-rice\tand\tcoconut,\ta\ttypical\tevening\tsnack\tin\trural\tBengal. T her e\t wer e\t two \t bedr o o ms\t o n\t the\t g r o und\t flo o r,\t o ne\t o f\t which\t was\t Tulsi\t Babu\u2019s.\t We\t wer e\t g iven\t a much\tbigger\troom\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor.\tThree\tbeds\thad\tbeen\tplaced\tin\tit.\tOne\tof\tits\tdoors\topened\ton\tto a\tterrace. \u2018I\ttold\tJeevanlal\tI\u2019d\tcall\ton\thim\tat\tfive-thirty,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\tsipping\this\ttea,\t\u2018so\tI\u2019ll\thave\tto\tfind\this dark\tand\tdingy\thouse.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\t take\t you\t there\t myself,\t don\u2019t\t worry.\t Shyamlal\u2019s\t house\t is\t only\t five\t minutes\t from\t here.\t But\t I ho pe\t yo u\u2019ll\t co me\t back\t so o n?\t I\t am\t expecting \t a\t few\t peo ple\t later \t in\t the\t evening .\t T hey\t want\t to \t talk\t to Lalmohan\tBabu,\tand\tthen\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\ttake\tyou\tto\tsee\tAtmaram\tBabu.\u2019 \u2018Atmaram\tBabu?\tWho\u2019s\the?\u2019","\u2018That\u2019s\t what\t so me\t peo ple\t call\t him.\t His\t r eal\t name\t is\t Mr ig anka\t Bhattachar ya.\t He\t can\t speak\t to \t the dead,\t g et\t so uls\t and\t spir its\t to \t visit\t him\t in\t seances\t .\t .\t .\t yo u\t kno w,\t that\t kind\t o f\t thing .\t He\u2019s\t o ne\t o f\t o ur local\tattractions.\tBut\tI\tthink\the\u2019s\treally\tgot\ta\tcertain\tpower.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlaugh\tthe\twhole\tthing\toff.\u2019 I\twanted\tto\task\twhat\thad\tmade\thim\tthink\tso,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t,\tfor\tat\tthis\tmoment\twe\tsaw\tthe\tpalanquin again.\t Tulsi\t Babu\u2019s\t veranda\t overlooked\t the\t main\t road.\t The\t palanquin\t was\t making\t its\t way\t to\t the village.\tAs\tit\tgot\tcloser,\tTulsi\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018Why,\tJeevanlal\tappears\tto\tbe\tin\tit!\u2019 A\tman\twas\tpeering\tout\tof\tthe\twindow.\tThe\tbearers\twere\tcarrying\tthe\tpalanquin\tin\texactly\tthe\tsame style\t that\t one\t reads\t about,\t making\t a\t strange\t rhythmic\t noise.\t The\t noise\t stopped\t as\t they\t put\t the palanquin\tdown.\tThe\tman\tinside\tgot\tout\twith\tsome\tdifficulty.\tClad\tin\ttrousers\tand\ta\tshirt,\the\tlooked terribly\tincongruous\tas\the\temerged. \u2018Mr\tMitter?\u2019\the\tasked,\tlooking\tat\tFeluda\twith\ta\tsmile. \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018I\tam\tJeevanlal\tMallik.\u2019 \u2018Namaskar.\t This\t is\t my\t fr iend,\t Lalmo han\t Gang uli,\t and\t that\u2019s\t my\t co usin,\t Tapesh.\t Yo u\t kno w\t Tulsi Babu,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tNamaskar.\tEr\t.\t.\t.\tdo\tyou\tthink\tyou\tcould\tcome\tto\tmy\thouse?\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tstayed\tback\tto\twait\tfor\this\tvisitors.\tFeluda\tand\tI\twent\twith\tJeevanlal\tMallik.\tHe\tleft the\troad\tand\tbegan\twalking\tthrough\ta\tbamboo\tgrove,\tpossibly\tto\ttake\ta\tshort\tcut. \u2018I\thad\tto\tgo\tto\tthe\tstation\tto\tmake\ta\tphone\tcall,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Is\tthat\twhy\tyou\thad\tto\ttake\tthe\tpalanquin?\u2019 Jeevanlal\tgave\tFeluda\ta\tsidelong\tglance.\t\u2018Did\tTulsi\tBabu\ttell\tyou\teverything\tabout\tmy\tfather?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\twe\tlearnt\twhat\tan\telectric\tshock\tdid\tto\thim.\u2019 \u2018Things\t were\t not\t so\t bad\t in\t the\t beginning.\t He\t simply\t did\t not\t want\t to\t have\t anything\t to\t do\t with electricity.\tThat\twas\tunderstandable.\tBut\tnow\t.\t.\t.\the\u2019s\tbecome\tabsolutely\timpossible.\tYou\u2019ll\tsoon\tsee what\tI\tmean.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tcome\there\toften?\u2019 \u2018Once\tevery\ttwo\tmonths,\tto\ttalk\tabout\tbusiness\tmatters.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tyour\tfather\tstill\ttakes\tan\tinterest\tin\this\tbusiness?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tno.\tBut\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tgive\tup.\tI\tkeep\ttrying\tto\tbring\thim\tback\tto\tnormal.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\thad\tany\tluck?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tso\tfar.\u2019","Two Mr\t Mallik\u2019s\t house\t was\t clearly\t quite\t old,\t but\t had\t been\t well\t maintained.\t It\t was\t large\t enough\t to\t be called\t a\t mansio n,\t if\t no t\t a\t palace.\t As\t we\t passed\t thr o ug h\t the\t fr o nt\t g ate,\t I\t saw\t a\t po nd\t to \t o ur \t r ig ht.\t A number\tof\ttrees\tbehind\tthe\thouse\tsuggested\ta\tgarden.\tOnly\tthe\tcompound\twall\tdid\tnot\tappear\tto\thave been\t repaired\t for\t some\t time.\t It\t was\t broken\t in\t many\t places,\t showing\t gaps.\t Seedlings\t had\t grown through\tlarge\tcracks\tin\tit. A\tguard\tstood\tat\tthe\tgate,\tclutching\ta\tshield\tand\ta\tspear,\tlooking\tas\tif\the\twas\tdressed\tfor\ta\tpart\tin\ta historical\t play.\t A\t bearer,\t wearing\t an\t old-fashioned\t uniform\t and\t looking\t just\t as\t peculiar,\t gave\t us\t a smart\tsalute\tat\tthe\tfront\tdoor.\tIt\twas\tall\tdone\tseriously,\tand\tcertainly\tthe\tatmosphere\tinside\tthe\thouse was\tfar\tfrom\tlighthearted,\tbut\tboth\tmen\tlooked\tso\tcomical\tthat\tI\talmost\tburst\tout\tlaughing. We\twere\ttaken\tinto\tthe\tliving\troom.\tIt\thad\tno\tfurniture.\tA\tmattress,\tcovered\twith\ta\tspotless\tsheet, was\tspread\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tWe\twent\tand\tsat\ton\tit.\tThere\twere\ta\tfew\tpictures\ton\tthe\twall,\tof\tHindu\tgods and\t g o ddesses\t and\t scenes\t fr o m\t the\t Ramayana.\t Ther e\t wer e\t bo o kshelves\t o n\t the\t wall,\t but\t apar t\t fr o m half-a-dozen\tbooks\tin\tBengali,\tthey\twere\tempty. \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tthe\tfan?\tIf\tso,\tI\tcan\task\tDashu\tto\tpull\tit\tfor\tyou,\u2019\tJeevanlal\tsaid. I\thad\tnot\tnoticed\tit\tat\tfirst,\tbut\tnow\tI\tglanced\tup\tand\tsaw\tthe\tfan\u2014two\tmats\tedged\twith\tlarge\tfrills \u2014hanging\tfrom\tan\tiron\trod.\tThe\trod\thung\tfrom\ttwo\thooks\tfixed\tto\tthe\tceiling.\tA\trope\ttied\tto\tthe\trod went\t outside\t to\t the\t veranda,\t through\t the\t wall\t over\t the\t door\t to\t our\t left.\t I\t had\t only\t read\t about\t such fans.\t The\t servant\t called\t Dashu\t presumably\t sat\t on\t the\t veranda\t and\t pulled\t the\t rope,\t so\t that\t the\t fan swung\tfrom\tside\tto\tside,\tcreating\ta\tbreeze.\tBut\tit\twas\tan\tOctober\tevening.\tNone\tof\tus\tneeded\ta\tfan. \u2018Let\tme\tshow\tyou\tsomething.\tCan\tyou\ttell\tme\twhat\tthis\tis?\u2019\tsaid\tJeevanlal,\topening\ta\tcupboard\tand taking\t out\t a\t square\t piece\t of\t cloth.\t What\t made\t it\t special\t was\t that\t one\t corner\t was\t knotted\t around\t a small\tstone. Feluda\tfrowned,\tthen\tswung\tthe\tcloth\ta\tfew\ttimes\tin\tthe\tair.\t\u2018Topshe,\tstand\tup\tfor\ta\tminute.\u2019 I\trose.\tFeluda\tstood\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway\tfrom\tme\tswinging\tthe\tcloth\tonce\tmore.\tThen\the\tthrew\tit\tat\tme as\tthough\tit\twas\ta\tfishing\tnet.\tThe\tend\tthat\twas\tknotted\taround\tthe\tstone\twound\titself\tround\tmy\tneck instantly. \u2018Thugee!\u2019\tI\tcried. Feluda\t had\t to ld\t me\t abo ut\t thug ees.\t They\t wer e\t bandits\t who \t used\t to \t attack\t tr aveller s\t in\t this\t fashio n and\tthen\tloot\ttheir\tpossessions.\tOne\tswift\tpull\twas\tusually\tenough\tto\ttighten\tthe\tnoose\tand\tkill\ttheir innocent\tvictims. Feluda\tnodded,\ttook\tthe\tcloth\taway\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tget\tsomething\tlike\tthis?\u2019 \u2018Someone\tthrew\tit\tinto\tmy\tfather \u2019s\troom\tthrough\tan\topen\twindow,\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight.\u2019 \u2018When?\u2019 \u2018A\tfew\tdays\tbefore\tI\tgot\there.\u2019","\u2018What\twere\tthe\tguards\tdoing?\u2019 \u2018Guards?\u2019\t Jeevanlal\t laughed.\t \u2018They\t like\t dressing\t up\t to\t please\t their\t master,\t but\t that\u2019s\t as\t far\t as\t it goes.\tThey\tare\tbone\tidle,\teach\tone\tof\tthem.\tBesides,\tthey\tknow\ttheir\tmaster\thas\tbecome\tquite\tsenile, and\tthere\u2019s\treally\tno\tone\tto\tcontrol\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Who\telse\tlives\there?\u2019 \u2018My\t grandmother.\t She\t is\t perfectly\t happy\t with\t these\t old-fashioned\t arrangements.\t Then\t there\u2019s Bholanath\t Babu.\t He\t is\t a\t sort\t of\t manager\u2014in\t fact,\t he\t takes\t care\t of\t everything\t from\t shopping\t to running\terrands\tfor\tmy\tfather,\tfetching\tthe\tdoctor\tif\tneed\tbe,\tgoing\tto\tthe\tnext\ttown\tto\tget\tthings\twe can\u2019t\t g et\t in\t the\t villag e\t .\t .\t .\t ever ything .\t T her e\t is\t no \t o ne\t else\t except\t a\t co o k,\t two \t g uar ds\t and\t a\t bear er. They\tlive\there.\tThe\tfour\tbearers\tfor\tthe\tpalanquin\tand\tthe\tpunkha-puller\tcome\tfrom\tthe\tvillage.\u2019 \u2018Where\tdid\tBholanath\tBabu\toriginally\tcome\tfrom?\u2019 \u2018He\tis\tfrom\tthis\tvillage.\tHis\tfamily\twere\tour\ttenants.\tHis\tforefathers\twere\tfarmers.\tBut\the\twent\tto school,\tand\tI\tbelieve\twas\tquite\tbright\tas\ta\tstudent.\tNow\the\u2019s\tnearly\tsixty.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthat\tyour\tgrandfather?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked,\tpointing\tat\ta\tpainting\ton\tthe\twall.\tIt\twas\tthe\tportrait\tof\ta man\t with\t an\t impressive\t moustache.\t I\t had\t not\t noticed\t it\t so\t far.\t He\t was\t sitting\t on\t a\t chair,\t holding\t a walking \t stick\t with\t a\t silver \t handle\t in\t o ne\t hand,\t the\t o ther \t r esting \t o n\t a\t mar ble\t table.\t The\t lo o k\t in\t his eyes\twas\tcold\tand\thard. \u2018Yes,\tthat\tis\tDurlabh\tSingh\tMallik.\u2019 \u2018The\tzamindar\teveryone\twas\tterrified\tof?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tam\tafraid\tso.\tHe\twas\tdevoid\tof\tcompassion\tor\tmercy.\u2019 A\tbearer\tbrought\ttwo\tglasses\tand\ta\tcup\ton\ta\tsaucer\ton\ta\ttray\tand\tplaced\tthe\ttray\tbefore\tus.\tFeluda glanced\tat\tthe\thot\tdrink\tthey\tcontained\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Does\tthis\tmean\tyour\tfather\tstill\tdrinks\ttea?\u2019 \u2018No ,\t no .\t That\u2019s\t co ffee,\t and\t it\u2019s\t mine.\t I\t always\t br ing \t a\t cup\t and\t a\t tin\t o f\t Nescaf\u00e9.\t He\t co uldn\u2019t\t find other\tcups\tand\tsaucers,\tso\tyou\u2019ve\tbeen\tgiven\tglasses.\tI\thope\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind.\u2019 \u2018No,\tof\tcourse\tnot.\tI\thave\tdrunk\tcoffee\tout\tof\tbronze\tglasses\tin\tsouth\tIndia.\u2019 A\tloud\ttapping\tnoise\tcoming\tfrom\tupstairs\tmade\tFeluda\tglance\tup.\t\u2018Does\tyour\tfather\twear\tclogs?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tfar\tmore\tnatural\tthan\twearing\tshoes?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t suppose\t so.\t Tell\t me,\t was\t it\t just\t this\t piece\t of\t cloth\t that\t made\t you\t think\t someone\t was planning\tto\tkill\tyour\tfather,\tor\twas\tthere\tsomething\telse?\u2019 In\t reply,\t Jeevanlal\t simply\t took\t out\t a\t piece\t of\t paper\t from\t his\t pocket\t and\t offered\t it\t to\t Feluda. Written\ton\tit\tin\tpencil\twith\tlarge,\tdistinct\tletters,\twere\tthe\tfollowing\twords: You\thave\tbeen\tgiven\ta\tdeath\tsentence\tto\tatone\tfor\tyour\tancestor\u2019s\tsins.\tBe\tprepared\tto\tdie. \u2018This\t came\t on\t 5\t October,\t the\t day\t before\t I\t got\t here.\t It\t had\t been\t posted\t in\t Katwa,\t which\t doesn\u2019t really\ttell\tus\tanything,\tfor\tanyone\tfrom\tGosaipur\tcould\thave\tgone\tthere\tand\tposted\tit.\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind,\tcan\tyou\ttell\tus\twhat\t\u201cancestor \u2019s\tsins\u201d\tmight\tmean?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tas\tI\ttold\tyou\tbefore,\tMr\tMitter,\tmy\tgrandfather\ttreated\this\ttenants\tvery\tbadly.\tI\thave\tno\tidea which\tparticular\tcrime\thas\tbeen\treferred\tto.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tgo\tto\tthe\tpolice?\u2019 \u2018There\t were\t two\t reasons,\u2019\t Jeevanlal\t said.\t \u2018One,\t people\t here\t would\t not\t recognize\t you.\t So, hopefully,\twhoever\twrote\tthat\tnote\twould\tfeel\tno\tneed\tto\tbe\ton\this\tguard.\tTwo,\tif\tI\tcalled\tthe\tpolice,\tI","would\thave\tbeen\ttheir\tprime\tsuspect.\u2019 Feluda\t and\t I\t bo th\t lo o ked\t at\t him\t in\t sur pr ise.\t Jeevanlal\t explained\t quickly,\t \u2018Ever yo ne\t kno ws\t I\t have not\tbeen\table\tto\tget\ton\twith\tmy\tfather\tever\tsince\tthis\tchange\tcame\tover\thim.\tI\tstill\tlive\tin\tthe\tcity,\tI find\t it\t impo ssible\t to \t do \t witho ut\t cer tain\t mo der n\t amenities.\t I\t admit\t what\t happened\t to \t my\t father \t g ave him\t mo r e\t than\t just\t a\t physical\t sho ck.\t It\t also \t caused\t him\t g r eat\t mental\t tr auma.\t What\t r eally\t happened was\t that\t he\t and\t I\t r etur ned\t to g ether \t o ne\t evening ,\t and\t stepped\t into \t o ur \t living \t r o o m,\t which\t was\t dar k. My\tfather\tgroped\tfor\tthe\tswitchboard\tand\treceived\ta\tshock\tfrom\ta\tlive\twire.\tI\tran\tout\tand\tswitched the\t mains\t o ff\t in\t five\t seco nds.\t But,\t fo r \t so me\t r easo n,\t he\t g o t\t the\t impr essio n\t that\t I\t did\t no t\t act\t quickly enough.\t This\t happened\t five\t years\t ago.\t But\t since\t that\t incident,\t he\t has\t stopped\t trusting\t me.\t We\t have violent\t arguments\t sometimes.\t Once\t I\t lost\t my\t temper\t and\t threw\t a\t burning\t kerosene\t lamp\t on\t a mattress,\t which\t naturally\t caught\t fire\t .\t .\t .\t and\t then\t there\t was\t hell\t to\t pay.\t The\t news\t spread,\t and everyone\tstarted\tto\tthink\tI\tdisliked\tmy\tfather\tintensely.\tThat\u2019s\tthe\treason\twhy\tI\tdid\tnot\tcall\tthe\tpolice. Besides,\tI\tknew\tof\tyour\treputation,\tand\thow\twell\tyou\thad\thandled\tyour\tprevious\tcases.\tSo\tI\tthought you\twere\tthe\tbest\tperson\tto\tturn\tto.\u2019 We\tfinished\tour\tcoffee.\tThe\tsame\tbearer\tbrought\tan\toil\tlamp\tand\tput\tit\tdown\tin\ta\tcorner.\t\u2018Would you\tlike\tto\tmeet\tmy\tfather?\u2019\tJeevanlal\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tI\tought\tto.\u2019 We\t rose\t and\t made\t our\t way\t upstairs.\t The\t few\t lamps\t and\t lanterns\t the\t servants\t had\t lit\t had\t done nothing\t to\t illuminate\t the\t staircase.\t In\t fact,\t most\t of\t the\t house\t was\t in\t darkness.\t Jeevanlal\t took\t out\t a small\ttorch\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Even\tthis\thad\tto\tbe\tsmuggled\tin\tsecretly.\tHe\thates\ttorches.\u2019 We\t found\t Shyamlal\t Mallik\t seated\t on\t a\t mattress,\t clutching\t the\t pipe\t of\t his\t hookah\t and\t leaning against\t a\t bolster.\t His\t face\t bore\t a\t marked\t resemblance\t to\t that\t of\t his\t father.\t If\t he\t grew\t a\t thick mo ustache,\t he\t wo uld\t pr o bably\t lo o k\t ster n\t like\t Dur labh\t Sing h.\t When\t he\t spo ke,\t I\t co uld\t tell\t that\t if\t he ever\tgot\tangry\tand\traised\this\tvoice,\tone\tmight\tdo\twell\tto\tstay\taway\tfrom\thim. \u2018You\tmay\tgo\tnow,\u2019\the\tsaid\tin\this\tdeep\tvoice.\tThe\tperson\the\taddressed\twas\tsitting\ton\tone\tcorner\tof the\tmattress.\tJeevanlal\tintroduced\thim\tas\tTarak\tKaviraj,\tthe\tayurvedic\tdoctor.\tHe\tgot\tto\this\tfeet\tand greeted\tus,\tbut\tleft\timmediately. \u2018What\t the\t hell\t is\t a\t detective\t going\t to\t do?\u2019\t asked\t Shyamlal\t Mallik\t as\t soon\t as\t Feluda\t had\t been introduced.\tHe\tsounded\textremely\tannoyed.\t\u2018Durlabh\tSingh\u2019s\tsoul\thas\talready\ttold\tme\tmy\tenemy\tis in\tmy\town\thouse.\tI\thave\tthat\twritten\ton\ta\tpiece\tof\tpaper.\tA\tdeparted\tsoul\tcan\tsee\tit\tall\t.\t.\t.\tno\tone\tcan hide\tthe\ttruth\tfrom\tit.\tWhat\tmore\tcan\ta\tdetective\tfrom\tthe\tcity\tdo\tfor\tme?\u2019 Jeevanlal\t lo o ked\t pr o fo undly\t star tled.\t He\t o bvio usly\t did\t no t\t kno w\t anything \t abo ut\t Dur labh\t Sing h\u2019s soul. \u2018Did\tyou\tgo\tto\tMriganka\tBhattacharya\u2019s\thouse?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018No,\twhy\tshould\tI\thave\tgone\tto\thim?\u2019\this\tfather\tbarked.\t\u2018He\tcame\tto\tme.\tI\tcalled\thim.\tI\thad\tto\tknow who\twas\ttrying\tto\tcause\tme\tsuch\tdistress.\tNow\tI\tdo.\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\the\tvisit\tyou?\u2019 \u2018The\tday\tbefore\tyou\tcame.\u2019 \u2018You\tdid\tnot\ttell\tme.\u2019 Shyamlal\tMallik\tmade\tno\treply.\tHe\tbegan\tsmoking.","\u2018May\t we\t see\t what\t Durlabh\t Singh\t told\t you?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked\t politely.\t Shyamlal\t Mallik\t stopped smoking\tand\tglared\tat\thim. \u2018How\told\tare\tyou?\u2019\the\tasked\tabruptly.\tFeluda\ttold\thim. \u2018I\t am\t amazed,\u2019\t the\t old\t man\t announced,\t \u2018by\t your\t impertinence.\t Do\t you\t really\t think\t you\u2019d understand\t the\t spiritual\t significance\t of\t a\t departed\t soul\t writing\t a\t message?\t Is\t that\t something\t to\t be shown\tto\tall\tand\tsundry?\u2019 \u2018Please\t fo r g ive\t me,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t g ently.\t \u2018All\t I\t want\t to \t kno w\t is\t whether \t yo ur \t dead\t father \t to ld\t yo u how\tyou\tmight\tget\tout\tof\tyour\tpresent\tdifficulties.\u2019 \u2018I\tcould\ttell\tyou\twhat\the\tsaid.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tneed\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\twriting.\tHe\tsimply\tsaid\tthere\twas\tonly one\tthing\tto\tbe\tdone:\tget\trid\tof\tthe\tenemy.\u2019 For\ta\tfew\tminutes,\tnone\tof\tus\tcould\tspeak.\tThen\tJeevanlal\tsaid\tslowly,\t\u2018You\tare\tasking\tme\tto\tgo away?\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\tI\tever\task\tyou\tto\tcome\there?\u2019 Jeevanlal\trefused\tto\tgive\tup.\t\u2018Baba,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018you\thave\tbegun\tto\ttrust\tBholanath\tBabu\tmuch\tmore than\tyou\ttrust\tme.\tHave\tyou\tforgotten\this\tfamily\thistory?\tDurlabh\tSingh\u2019s\tmen\thad\tgone\tand\tset\tfire to\this\thouse\tbecause\this\tfather\thad\tfailed\tto\tpay\tthe\trent\ton\ttime.\tAnd\u2014\u2019 \u2018Fool!\u2019\tShyamlal\tMallik\tshouted.\t\u2018Bholanath\twas\tonly\ta\tsmall\tchild\tat\tthe\ttime.\tAre\tyou\tsuggesting that\the\thas\twaited\talmost\tsixty\tyears\tto\tplan\this\trevenge?\tHow\tabsurd\tcan\tyou\tget?\u2019 At\tthis\tpoint,\twe\tdecided\tto\tleave.\t\u2018Let\tme\ttake\tyou\tback,\u2019\tJeevanlal\toffered.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\tcan manage\t the\t short\t cut\t in\t the\t dark.\u2019\t As\t we\t came\t out\t of\t the\t house,\t he\t added,\t \u2018I\t had\t no\t idea\t he\t would insult\tyou\tlike\tthat.\tI\tam\tterribly\tsorry.\u2019 \u2018Do n\u2019t\t be,\u2019\t Feluda\t r eplied.\t \u2018T he\t fir st\t thing \t a\t detective\t lear ns\t to \t g r o w\t is\t a\t thick\t skin.\t I\t am\t used\t to handling\tslights\tand\tinsults.\tIt\tis\tyou\tI\tam\tmore\tconcerned\tabout.\tYou\tmust\trealize\tone\tthing,\tJeevan Babu.\tSuspicion\tis\tmore\tlikely\tto\tfall\ton\tyou\tbecause\tthat\tanonymous\tletter\tpoints\tat\tBholanath.\u2019 \u2018But\twhen\tthat\tcloth\tand\tthe\tnote\tarrived,\tI\twas\tin\tCalcutta,\tMr\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\tHow\tdo\tI\tknow\tyou\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tan\taccomplice\there\tin\tGosaipur?\u2019 \u2018Even\tyou\tare\tturning\tagainst\tme?\u2019\tJeevanlal\tsounded\tdeeply\tdistressed. \u2018No.\t Right\t now,\t Jeevan\t Babu,\t I\t am\t not\t flinging\t accusations\t at\t anyone;\t nor\t am\t I\t making assumptions\t about\t anyone\u2019s\t innocence.\t But\t I\t must\t ask\t you\t something.\t What\t kind\t of\t a\t man\t is Bholanath\tBabu?\u2019 After\ta\tmoment\u2019s\tsilence,\tJeevanlal\treplied,\t\u2018Very\treliable\tand\ttrustworthy.\tI\thave\tto\tadmit\tthat.\tBut that\u2019s\tno\treason\tto\tsuspect\tme,\tsurely?\u2019\tHe\tsounded\ta\tlittle\tdesperate. Feluda\traised\ta\thand.\t\u2018Jeevan\tBabu,\u2019\the\tsaid\tsoothingly,\t\u2018you\tmust\tappreciate\tmy\tposition.\tI\thave\tto assess\tthe\twhole\tsituation\tobjectively\tand\timpartially.\tYou\twill\tsimply\thave\tto\tbe\tpatient.\tNeither\tyou nor\tI\thave\ta\tchoice\tin\tthe\tmatter.\tWe\tmust\twait\tuntil\tI\tlearn\tthe\ttruth.\tThe\tonly\tthing\tI\tcan\tpromise\tyou is\tthat\tI\twill\tdefinitely\tprotect\twhoever\tis\tinnocent.\u2019 Jeevanlal\tdid\tnot\treply.\tIt\twas\timpossible\tto\tsee\this\tface\tin\tthe\tdark\tand\ttell\twhether\tFeluda\u2019s\twords had\treassured\thim.\tFeluda\tasked\thim\tsomething\telse\tas\twe\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tbamboo\tgrove.\t\u2018Does your\tfather\tever\twalk\tbarefoot\toutside\tthe\thouse?\u2019 \u2018Outside\t the\t ho use?\t Never.\t Why,\t he\t do esn\u2019t\t take\t o ff\t his\t clo g s\t even\t inside\t the\t ho use.\t Why\t do \t yo u ask?\u2019","\u2018I\tthought\tI\tsaw\ttraces\tof\tmud\ton\this\tfeet.\tAnd\t.\t.\t.\tdoesn\u2019t\the\tuse\ta\tmosquito\tnet?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tEveryone\there\tuses\tmosquito\tnets.\tThey\thave\tto.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\tyou\thave\tnot\tnoticed\tit,\tbut\this\tface,\tneck\tand\tarms\twere\tcovered\twith\tmosquito\tbites.\u2019 \u2018Really?\tNo,\tI\thadn\u2019t\tnoticed.\tIt\u2019s\tstrange,\tbecause\the\tcertainly\tuses\ta\tnet.\u2019 \u2018Then\tperhaps\tthe\tnet\tis\ttorn.\tCould\tyou\tplease\tcheck?\u2019","Three Tulsi\t Babu\t and\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t wer e\t waiting \t fo r \t us.\t I\t felt\t immensely\t r elieved\t to \t see\t electr ic\t lig hts again. \u2018Can\t you\t imagine,\u2019\t said\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t \u2018even\t in\t this\t tiny\t village,\t I\t found\t as\t many\t as\t twenty people\twho\thad\tread\tmore\tthan\tfifty\tper\tcent\tof\tmy\tbooks?\tOf\tcourse,\tmany\tof\tthem\tgot\tthem\tfrom the\tschool\tlibrary,\tbut\tthose\twho\thad\tbought\ta\tfew\tcopies\thad\tthem\tsigned\tby\tme.\u2019 \u2018Very\tgood.\tI\tam\tvery\tpleased\tto\thear\tthat,\tLalmohan\tBabu.\u2019\tTulsi\tBabu\tturned\tto\tFeluda,\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tgo and\tcall\ton\tAtmaram.\tWe\tcan\tsee\tthe\tBat-kali\ttemple\ttomorrow.\u2019 \u2018Bat-kali\ttemple?\tWhat\ton\tearth\tis\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Yet\tanother\tlocal\tattraction.\tThere\tis\tan\told\tand\tabandoned\tKali\ttemple\tin\tthe\tbamboo\tgrove\tyou just\tcame\tthrough.\tIt\u2019s\ttwo\thundred\tyears\told.\tIt\tmust\thave\tonce\thad\ta\tstatue\tof\tKali,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tgone\tnow. Dozens\tof\tbats\tlive\tin\tit,\twhich\tis\twhy\tpeople\tcall\tit\tthe\tBat-kali\ttemple.\tWhen\tit\twas\tin\tuse,\tit\tmust have\tseen\ta\tlot\tof\tactivity.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tBy\tthe\tway,\tdoes\tyour\tAtmaram\tcome\tfrom\tthis\tvillage?\u2019 \u2018No ,\t but\t he\t has\t been\t living \t her e\t fo r \t so me\t time.\t Two \t year s\t ag o ,\t his\t special\t po wer \t came\t to \t lig ht. Besides,\the\tknows\tastrology\tand\tpalmistry\tas\twell.\tPeople\tfrom\tCalcutta\toften\tcome\there\tto\tconsult him.\u2019 \u2018Does\the\tcharge\ta\tfee?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t he\t pr o bably\t do es.\t But\t I\u2019ve\t never \t hear d\t o f\t him\t char g ing \t any\t o f\t the\t lo cals.\t He\t ho lds\t seances on\tMondays\tand\tFridays.\tToday,\twe\u2019ll\tjust\tgo\tand\tmeet\thim.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tlet\u2019s\tgo.\u2019 I\tcould\tsee\tthat,\tsomehow,\tMriganka\tBhattacharya\thad\tbecome\ta\tpart\tof\tFeluda\u2019s\tinvestigation.\tWe left\tthe\thouse\tonce\tmore. Although\tlights\twere\ton\tin\tevery\thouse\tin\tthe\tvicinity,\tit\twas\tvery\tdark\toutside,\tpossibly\tbecause\tof the\t large\t number\t of\t big\t trees.\t The\t moon\t had\t not\t yet\t risen.\t Crickets\t and\t owls\t and\t jackals\t in\t the distance\thad\tstarted\ta\tregular\tconcert,\twhich\tmade\tme\tthink\tthat,\tin\ta\tplace\tlike\tthis,\tit\twas\tShyamlal Mallik\u2019s\t palanquin\t and\t the\t flickering\t light\t from\t his\t oil\t lamps\t that\t fitted\t the\t atmosphere\t far\t better. Lalmo han\t Babu\t whisper ed\t into \t my\t ear,\t declar ing \t that\t he\t had\t never \t seen\t a\t place\t so \t full\t o f\t myster y and\t excitement.\t \u2018Yo u\t kno w,\t Tapesh,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t had\t tho ug ht\t o f\t Guatemala\t as\t the\t place\t o f\t actio n\t fo r my\tnext\tnovel;\tbut\tnow\tI\tthink\tI\twill\tchange\tit\tto\tGosaipur.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019\t Feluda\t laughed,\t having\t overheard\t this\t remark.\t \u2018But\t you\t haven\u2019t\t even\t seen\t the\t thugee\u2019s noose.\tCan\tyou\tthink\tof\tanything\tmore\texciting?\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout,\tFelu\tBabu?\u2019 Feluda\texplained\tquickly.\tHe\talso\tmentioned\tthe\tanonymous\tnote.","\u2018If\tMr\tBhattacharya\tgot\tDurlabh\tSingh\u2019s\tspirit\tto\tcome\tand\treveal\tthe\ttruth,\tyou\tneed\tnot\tlook\tany further,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\tTulsi\tBabu\tremarked\t\u2018Shyamlal\tMallik\u2019s\tenemy\tmust\tbe\tin\this\thouse.\u2019 No \t o ne\t said\t anything \t after \t this,\t fo r \t we\t had\t r eached\t Mr \t Bhattachar ya\u2019s\t ho use.\t This\t ho use\t did\t no t appear\tto\thave\tan\telectric\tconnection,\teither.\tPerhaps\tsouls\tfound\tit\teasier\tto\tre-enter\tthe\tearth\tif\tthey could\tmove\tin\tthe\tfaint\tand\thazy\tlight\tof\tlanterns. Mriganka\tBhattacharya\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\ta\tman\twith\tan\timpressive\tappearance.\tIt\twas\timpossible\tto guess\t his\t age.\t His\t hair\t had\t thinned,\t but\t not\t turned\t grey.\t His\t features\t were\t sharp,\t his\t skin\t smooth, except\taround\this\teyes\tand\tmouth.\tHe\twas\tseated\ton\ta\tdivan,\tfacing\tthree\tchairs\tand\ttwo\tbenches.\tHe clearly\tdid\tnot\tshare\tShyamlal\tMallik\u2019s\taversion\tto\tfurniture.\tA\tyoung\tman\tof\tabout\ttwenty-five\twas sitting \t o n\t o ne\t o f\t the\t benches,\t leafing \t thr o ug h\t an\t astr o lo g ical\t mag azine.\t We\t lear nt\t later \t that\t he\t was Mr\tBhattacharya\u2019s\tnephew,\tNityanand.\tHe\thelped\this\tuncle\tin\thailing\tspirits. Tulsi\tBabu\ttouched\tMr\tBhattacharya\u2019s\tfeet\tquickly\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018These\tare\tmy\tfriends\tfrom\tCalcutta.\tI brought\tthem\there\tso\tthat\tthey\tcould\tmeet\tthe\tman\tGosaipur\tis\tso\tproud\tof.\u2019 Mr\tBhattacharya\traised\this\teyes\tand\tlooked\tat\tus.\tThen\the\tglanced\tat\tthe\tchairs.\tThe\tthree\tof\tus\tsat down.\tTulsi\tBabu\tremained\tstanding. Mr \t Bhattachar ya\t clo sed\t his\t eyes,\t sat\t er ect,\t his\t leg s\t cr o ssed\t in\t the\t lo tus\t po sitio n.\t A\t few\t mo ments later,\t he\t suddenly\t opened\t his\t eyes\t and\t said,\t \u2018Sixteen,\t three,\t thirteen.\t Which\t one\t of\t you\t has\t those initials?\u2019 We\tstared\tat\thim,\tperfectly\ttaken\taback.\tFeluda\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tspeak,\tafter\ta\tshort\tpause.\t\u2018I\tdo,\u2019\the said.\t\u2018My\tfull\tname\tis\tPradosh\tChandra\tMitter,\tand\tyou\tare\tquite\tright.\tP,\tC,\tM,\tare\tthe\tsixteenth,\tthird and\tthirteenth\tletters\tfrom\tthe\talphabet.\u2019 I\t felt\t co nsider ably\t sur pr ised\t by\t this.\t Tulsi\t Babu\t had\t cer tainly\t no t\t mentio ned\t o ur \t names.\t Ho w\t did Mr\tBhattacharya\tguess\tFeluda\u2019s\tinitials?\tI\tsaw\tTulsi\tBabu\tcast\tan\tadmiring\tglance\tat\tMr\tBhattacharya. Then\the\tasked,\t\u2018Can\tyou\tguess\this\tprofession?\u2019 By\tthis\ttime,\tanother\tman\u2014possibly\ta\tclient\u2014had\tentered\tthe\troom.\tFeluda\tnaturally\tdid\tnot\twant his\tprofession\tdisclosed\tbefore\ta\tstranger.\tSo\the\tsaid\thurriedly,\t\u2018Oh,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tneed\tto\tdo\tthat.\u2019\tTulsi Babu\trealized\this\tmistake\tand\tbegan\tto\tlook\tembarrassed. \u2018I\u2019ll\tbring\tthem\tback\ton\tFriday,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tchanging\tthe\tsubject.\t\u2018We\tcame\ttoday\tonly\tto\tmeet\tyou.\u2019 Mr \t Bhattachar ya\t lo o ked\t steadily\t at\t Feluda.\t \u2018Yo u\t simply\t seek\t the\t tr uth,\t do n\u2019t\t yo u?\t Sto p\t wo r r ying , sir,\tnobody\twill\tunderstand\tmy\tmeaning\tif\tI\tsay\tthat.\u2019 We\t took\t our\t leave\t and\t left\t soon\t after\t this.\t \u2018He\t must\t have\t a\t very\t strong\t sixth\t sense,\u2019\t Lalmohan Babu\tremarked\tas\twe\tbegan\twalking,\t\u2018and\the\tcan\tspeak\tin\triddles.\tRemarkable!\u2019 So meo ne\t was\t co ming \t fr o m\t the\t o ppo site\t dir ectio n,\t car r ying \t a\t lanter n\t in\t o ne\t hand.\t It\t swung \t as\t he moved,\tmaking\this\tshadow\tsweep\tthe\tground.\tTulsi\tBabu\traised\tthe\ttorch\tin\this\thand,\tshone\tit\ton\tthe man\u2019s\tface\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Off,\tto\tsee\tBhattacharya?\tYou\u2019ve\tstarted\tvisiting\thim\tpretty\tfrequently,\thaven\u2019t you?\u2019 The\tman\tsmiled,\thesitated\tfor\ta\tsecond,\tthen\twent\ton\this\tway\twithout\tsaying\tanything. \u2018That\t was\t Bholanath\t Babu,\u2019\t Tulsi\t Babu\t informed\t us,\t \u2018Bhattacharya\u2019s\t latest\t devotee.\t I\t believe Bhattacharya\twent\tto\this\thouse\tonce\tand\tspoke\tto\ta\tspirit.\tWhose,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsay.\u2019 Tulsi\tBabu\u2019s\tcook,\tGanga,\tproduced\tan\texcellent\tmeal\tthat\tnight,\tincluding\tmoong\tdaal,\tthree\ttypes of\t vegetables\t and\t egg\t curry.\t After\t dinner,\t our\t host\t regaled\t us\t with\t stories\t of\t his\t life\t as\t a","schoolteacher.\tWhen\twe\tsaid\tgood\tnight\tto\thim\tand\twent\tto\tbed,\tit\twas\tonly\thalf\tpast\tnine,\tthough\tit seemed\t like\t midnight.\t We\t had\t brought\t our\t own\t bedding\t and\t mosquito\t nets.\t Feluda\t said\t he\u2019d\t use Odomos\tand\tnot\tbother\twith\ta\tnet.\tI\thad\tnoticed\tthat\the\thad\tplunged\tinto\tsilence\tsince\tour\treturn\tfrom Mr\tBhattacharya\u2019s\thouse.\tIn\tthe\tlast\tcouple\tof\thours,\the\thad\topened\this\tmouth\tonly\tto\tpraise\tGanga\u2019s cooking.\tWhat\twas\the\tthinking? Lalmo han\t Babu\t lit\t a\t lanter n\t and\t placed\t it\t by\t his\t bed.\t He\t needed\t the\t lig ht,\t he\t said,\t to \t wo r k\t o n\t his speech\tfor\this\treception.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tdisturb\tus\tby\tkeeping\tthe\tmain\tlight\ton. I\tcouldn\u2019t\tgo\tto\tsleep\twithout\tasking\tFeluda\tsomething\tthat\twas\tpuzzling\tme\tvery\tmuch. \u2018How\tdid\tthat\tman\tguess\tyour\tinitials,\tFeluda?\tAnd\the\tknew\tabout\tyour\tprofession,\ttoo!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t those\t are\t questions\t I\t have\t been\t asking\t myself.\t I\t haven\u2019t\t got\t an\t answer\t yet,\t Topshe. Sometimes\t .\t .\t .\t some\t people\t do\t turn\t out\t to\t have\t extraordinary\t powers\t that\t cannot\t be\t rationally explained.\u2019","Four The\tnext\tmorning,\twe\twent\tfor\ta\tlong\twalk\tand\texplored\tthe\twhole\tvillage.\tThe\tlocal\tclub,\tJagarani, was\trehearsing\tfor\ta\tplay.\tWe\twere\tinvited\tto\twatch\tthe\trehearsal.\tA\tlot\tof\tpeople\twere\tcurious\tabout life\tin\tCanada,\tso\tFeluda\tended\tup\tgiving\ta\tshort\tlecture\ton\tthe\tsubject.\tThen\twe\tmet\tthe\tonly\tmime artist\tof\tGosaipur,\tcalled\tBenimadhav.\tHe\toffered\tto\tvisit\tus\ton\tFriday\tand\tshow\tus\twhat\the\tcould\tdo. \u2018I\tcan\tclimb\tstairs\twithout\tany\tprops\t.\t.\t.\tI\tcan\tshow\tyou\twhat\thappens\tto\ta\tman\tcaught\tin\ta\tstorm\t.\t.\t. change\tthe\texpression\ton\tmy\tface\u2014\tthrough\tsix\tdifferent\tsteps\u2014from\tsad\tto\thappy!\u2019 In\t the\t evening,\t Tulsi\t Babu\t took\t us\t to\t a\t fair\t in\t the\t next\t village.\t By\t the\t time\t we\t returned,\t having enjoyed\t ourselves\t hugely,\t it\t was\t nearly\t six\t o\u2019clock.\t The\t sun\t had\t set,\t but\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t dark\t yet.\t Feluda said\the\u2019d\tlike\tto\tvisit\tJeevanlal\tMallik.\tTulsi\tBabu\twent\thome\tto\twait\tfor\tus. Jeevanlal\tcame\tout\tof\this\thouse\teven\tbefore\twe\tcould\treach\tthe\tfront\tdoor. \u2018I\t saw\t you\t coming\t from\t my\t bedroom\t window,\u2019\t he\t explained.\t \u2018Has\t there\t been\t any\t new development?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018May\tI\tlook\tat\tyour\tgarden?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019 The\t \u2018garden\u2019\t was\t not\t really\t a\t garden:\t that\t is\t to\t say,\t there\t were\t no\t flower\t beds\t or\t a\t lawn.\t It\t was simply\ta\tlarge,\topen\tarea\tin\twhich\tstood\ta\tnumber\tof\ttall\ttrees.\tFeluda\tbegan\tinspecting\tit\tcarefully.\tI had\t no \t idea\t what\t he\t was\t lo o king \t fo r.\t I\t saw\t him\t sto p\t at\t o ne\t po int\t and\t star e\t at\t the\t g r o und\t fo r \t a\t few minutes.\t After \t a\t while,\t a\t vo ice\t cr ied\t o ut\t fr o m\t a\t balco ny\t o n\t the\t fir st\t flo o r :\t \u2018Who \u2019s\t ther e?\t What\t ar e you\tdoing\tamong\tthe\ttrees?\u2019 It\t was\t Jeevanlal\u2019s\t grandmother.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t all\t right,\t Grandma!\u2019\t he\t shouted\t back.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t only\t me,\t and\t my friends.\u2019 \u2018Oh.\tI\tkeep\tseeing\tpeople\troaming\tabout\tin\tthe\tgarden.\tGod\tknows\twhat\tthey\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Can\tshe\tsee\twell?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No,\tnot\tvery\twell;\tnor\tcan\tshe\thear\tunless\tone\tshouts.\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tsuppose\tanyone\tlooks\tafter\tthe\tgarden?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\treally.\tBholanath\tBabu\tdoes\twhat\the\tcan,\tbut\tobviously\tthat\u2019s\tnot\tenough.\u2019 \u2018Do\tthe\tguards\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\tit\tat\tnight?\u2019 \u2018At\tnight?\tYou\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tbe\tjoking.\tNo\tguard\there\twould\tdream\tof\tstaying\tawake\tto\tdo\ttheir\tduty.\u2019 \u2018The\tfront\tdoor\tis\tlocked,\tsurely?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t yes.\t T hat\u2019s\t Bho lanath\t Babu\u2019s\t jo b.\t But\t when\t I\t am\t her e,\t I\t lo ck\t the\t fr o nt\t do o r \t and\t keep\t the\t key with\tme.\u2019 \u2018I\thaven\u2019t\tyet\tmet\tBholanath\tBabu.\tCould\tyou\tcall\thim,\tplease?\u2019\tJeevanlal\tasked\tone\tof\this\tbearers to\tcall\tBholanath\tBabu,\tand\tbring\tus\tsome\tlemonade.\tWe\twere\tsitting\toutside\tby\tthe\tpond.\tThe\trecent","monsoon\trains\thad\tfilled\tit\tto\tits\tbrim.\tIt\twas\tnow\tcovered\twith\tshaluk\tflowers. Bholanath\t Babu\t arrived\t in\t a\t couple\t of\t minutes.\t He\t was\t wearing\t a\t dhoti\t and\t a\t shirt,\t but\t his appearance\twas\treally\tno\tdifferent\tfrom\tan\tordinary\tfarmer.\tI\tcould\teasily\tpicture\thim\tworking\tin\ta field,\ttilling\tthe\tland. Feluda\tbegan\ttalking\twith\thim.\tThere\twas\tno\tnoise\tanywhere\texcept\tthe\tfaint\tstrains\tof\tmusic\tfrom a\tdistant\ttransistor.\tHad\tthat\tnot\tbeen\tthere,\tit\twould\thave\tbeen\tquite\teasy\tto\tpretend\twe\thad\ttravelled back\tin\ttime\tby\tmore\tthan\ta\thundred\tyears. \u2018Has\tMriganka\tBhattacharya\tvisited\tthis\thouse\tjust\tonce?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Recently,\tyes.\tJust\tonce.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\the\thas\tvisited\tMr\tMallik\tbefore?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\ta\tfew\ttimes.\tI\tthink\tthe\tmaster\thad\tasked\thim\tto\tdraw\tup\this\thoroscope.\u2019 \u2018And\tdid\the?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018What\tmade\thim\tpay\ta\tvisit\trecently?\tWho\tasked\thim\tto\tcome?\u2019 \u2018The\tmaster\tdid.\tEr\t.\t.\t.\tthe\tdoctor\tand\tI\thad\tboth\ttold\thim\tit\tmight\thelp.\u2019 \u2018You\tvisit\tMr\tBhattacharya\tregularly,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tbelieve\tin\this\tpowers?\u2019 Bholanath\t Babu\t bent\t his\t head.\t \u2018What\t can\t I\t say,\t sir?\t I\t had\t a\t daughter\u2014Lakshmi,\t she\t was\t called. Beautiful\tlike\tthe\tgoddess,\tand\tshe\thad\tmanners\tto\tmatch.\tBut.\t.\t.\twhen\tshe\twas\tonly\televen,\tshe\tgot cholera\tand\t.\t.\t.\tshe\tdied.\tI\twas\tdevastated.\tThen\tMr\tBhattacharya\tcame\tto\tme\tand\tsaid,\t\u201cDo\tyou\twant to\thear\tfrom\ther\thow\tshe\tis?\u201d\u2019 Bholanath\tBabu\tstopped,\tand\twiped\this\teyes\twith\tone\tcorner\tof\this\tdhoti.\tThen,\twith\tan\teffort,\the pulled\t himself\t together\t and\t went\t on,\t \u2018He\t then\t spoke\t to\t her.\t She\t came\t and\t she\t said\t she\t had\t found peace\tand\twas\tvery\thappy\twhere\tshe\twas,\tso\tI\tmust\tstop\tfeeling\tsad.\tI\tmean,\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tactually\tsay\tall this,\tbut\tthe\twords\twere\twritten\ton\tpaper.\tI\t.\t.\t.\tfrom\tthat\tday\t.\t.\t.\tI\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tHe\tchoked\tagain. Feluda\t did\t no t\t pr ess\t him\t any\t mo r e.\t \u2018Wer e\t yo u\t pr esent\t when\t Mr \t Bhattachar ya\t co ntacted\t the\t dead Durlabh\tSingh?\u2019\the\tasked,\tchanging\tthe\tsubject. \u2018Yes,\t but\t I\t was\t no t\t in\t the\t r o o m.\t The\t master \t did\t no t\t want\t his\t mo ther \t to \t find\t o ut,\t so \t he\t to ld\t me\t to stand\tat\tthe\tdoor\tand\twatch\tout\tfor\ther.\tIn\tthe\troom\twere\tMr\tBhattacharya,\this\tnephew\tNityanand\tand the\tmaster.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\thear\tanything\tat\tall?\u2019 \u2018I\theard\tvery\tlittle,\tsir,\tThey\twere\ttotally\tsilent\tfor\tthe\tfirst\tten\tminutes.\tThen,\ta\tjackal\tcalled\tin\tthe distance,\tand\tI\tremember\thearing\tthe\tmaster \u2019s\tvoice\tthe\tsame\tinstant.\tHe\tsaid,\t\u201cAre\tyou\tthere?\tHas anyone\tcome?\u201d\tBut\tI\theard\tnothing\telse\tafter\tthat.\tWhen\tit\twas\tover,\tI\ttook\tMr\tBhattacharya\thome.\u2019 Feluda\tfinished\this\tlemonade\tand\tlit\ta\tCharminar.\t\u2018Durlabh\tSingh\tMallik\u2019s\tmen\thad\tset\tfire\tto\tyour house.\tDo\tyou\tremember\tthat?\u2019 After\ta\tbrief\tpause,\tBholanath\tBabu\tuttered\ttwo\twords:\t\u2018I\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\twish\tto\ttake\trevenge?\tHave\tyou\tnever\tthought\tof\tsettling\told\tscores?\u2019 I\thad\theard\tFeluda\task\tsuch\thard-hitting\tquestions\tbefore.\tA\tlot\tdepended,\the\thad\ttold\tme\tonce,\ton how\ta\tperson\treacted\tto\tsuch\tquestions.","Bholanath\tBabu\tshook\this\thead\tmutely.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Never.\tThe\tmaster\tmay\thave\tchanged\tin\tthe last\tfew\tyears,\tbut\tcertainly\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanyone\tmore\tkind,\tor\tmore\tgenerous.\u2019 Feluda\thad\tno\tfurther\tquestions\tfor\thim. \u2018May\tI\tgo\tnow,\tsir?\u2019\tBholanath\tBabu\tasked\tafter\ta\tfew\tseconds.\t\u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tgo\tto\tMr\tBhattacharya\u2019s house\tagain,\tsir,\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tno,\tplease\tgo\tahead.\tThank\tyou\tfor\tyour\thelp.\u2019\tBholanath\tBabu\tleft.\tJeevanlal\tstarted\tfidgeting. \u2018What\tis\tit,\tJeevan\tBabu?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Nothing.\tIt\u2019s\tjust\tthat\tI\u2019m\tcurious\tabout\twhether\tyou\thave\tmade\tany\tprogress.\u2019\tHe\twas\tobviously worried\tabout\thimself. \u2018Bholanath\t Babu\t struck\t me\t as\t a\t very\t good\t man,\u2019\t Feluda\t replied.\t This\t seemed\t to\t upset\t Jeevanlal even\tmore. \u2018You\tmean\tthat\tI\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019\the\tbegan. \u2018No ,\t no .\t I\t liked\t Bho lanath\t Babu.\t That\t do es\t no t\t auto matically\t mean\t that\t I\t dislike\t yo u.\t Lo o k,\t to \t be honest,\t I\t still\t haven\u2019t\t reached\t any\t conclusions.\t I\t have\t a\t few\t doubts\t about\t certain\t things,\t but\t those aren\u2019t\t enough\t to\t build\t a\t case,\t particularly\t when\t I\t can\u2019t\t see\t how\t they\t can\t be\t linked\t to\t the\t main problem.\tI\thave\tto\twait\tuntil\tsomething\thappens,\tsomething\tthat\tmight\u2014\u2019\tHe\twas\tinterrupted. \u2018Who\u2019s\tthere?\tJeevan,\tis\tthat\tyou?\u2019\tshouted\tJeevanlal\u2019s\tgrandmother\tagain.\tWe\tcould\thear\ther\tonly because\tit\twas\tso\tquiet. Feluda\t rose\t instantly\t and\t began\t running\t towards\t the\t back\t of\t the\t garden.\t We\t followed\t him. Lalmohan\tBabu\thad\tbeen\tstaring\tat\tthe\twater\tand\thumming\tunder\this\tbreath.\tHe,\ttoo,\tbroke\toff\tand joined\tus. We\tfound\tFeluda\tstanding\tby\ta\tgap\tin\tthe\tcompound\twall.\tA\tportion\tof\tit\thad\tcrumbled\taway. He\twas\tshining\this\ttorch\ton\tthe\twall. \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tanyone?\u2019\tJeevanlal\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tbut\tnot\tclosely\tenough\tto\trecognize\thim.\tHe\tslipped\tout\tthrough\tthat\tgap.\u2019 We\tspent\tthe\tnext\tthirty\tminutes\tsearching\tthe\tgrounds.\tThousands\tof\tmosquitoes\tkept\tus\tcompany, as\t did\t as\t many\t cr ickets\t who \t kept\t up\t an\t incessant\t cho r us.\t What\t we\t eventually\t fo und\t was\t immensely mystifying.\tAt\tthe\tfar\tend,\tunder\twhat\tmust\thave\tbeen\tthe\tlast\ttree,\twas\ta\tbig\thole\tin\tthe\tground.\tIt\thad obviously\t been\t dug\t recently.\t Jeevanlal,\t who\t appeared\t as\t surprised\t as\t us,\t could\t not\t offer\t any explanation.\t\u2018Hidden\ttreasure!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tdeclared.\t\u2018Someone\tjust\tremoved\tit.\u2019 But\tJeevanlal\tshook\this\thead.\t\u2018No,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Nobody\tin\tour\tfamily\tever\thid\tany\ttreasure.\tI\twould have\tknown\tif\tthey\thad.\tI\tmean,\tthere\twould\thave\tbeen\tstories\tand\tgossip.\u2019 The\tcomment\tFeluda\tmade\tsounded\tjust\tas\tmysterious.\t\u2018Jeevan\tBabu,\tdidn\u2019t\tI\tsay\tI\twas\twaiting\tfor something\tto\thappen?\tI\tthink\tit\tnow\thas.\u2019 We\t returned\t home\t after\t this.\t After\t dinner,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I\t wanted\t an\t early\t night.\t He\t had ended\t up\t with\t cuts\t and\t bruises,\t for\t some\t of\t the\t plants\t in\t Jeevanlal\u2019s\t garden\t were\t thorny.\t After dabbing\thimself\twith\tDettol,\the\tdeclared\the\twas\tready\tfor\tbed.\tSo\twas\tI. Feluda\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\ttired\tat\tall.\tHe\topened\this\tnotebook,\tapplied\tOdomos\tall over\t his\t hands\t and\t feet\t and\t face,\t and\t settled\t down\t on\t his\t bed,\t leaning\t against\t a\t pillow.\t Tulsi\t Babu came\tin\twith\ta\tplate\tof\tpaan.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstarted\tto\tyawn,\tbut\tbroke\toff\tas\tFeluda\tglanced\tat\tour host\tto\task\thim\ta\tquestion.","\u2018Tell\t me,\t Tulsi\t Babu,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018if\t yo u\t to ld\t a\t g o o d\t and\t ho nest\t man\t a\t way\t o f\t cheating \t o ther s,\t and that\tman\tthen\tactually\tput\tthat\tinto\tpractice,\twould\tyou\tstill\tcall\thim\tgood\tand\thonest?\u2019 Tulsi\tBabu\tlooked\tflustered.\t\u2018Good\theavens,\tMr\tMitter,\tI\tam\thopeless\twith\tpuzzles\tand\triddles.\tBut since\t you\t ask,\t if\t the\t man\t is\t really\t good,\t surely\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t stoop\t so\t low?\t And\t if\t he\t did\t .\t .\t .\t no,\t I would\tnot\tcall\thim\tgood\tany\tmore.\u2019 \u2018Ah.\tI\tam\tglad\tto\tsee\tyou\tand\tI\tagree\ton\tthis.\u2019 I\twas\ttoo\ttired\tto\tworry\tabout\twhy\tFeluda\twas\tmaking\tcryptic\tremarks.\tSo\tI\tgot\tinto\tbed,\tbut\tcould not\tgo\tto\tsleep.\tMy\tmind\twas\tstill\tbuzzing\twith\tquestions:\tWhy\tdid\tShyamlal\tMallik\thave\tmud\ton\this feet?\t Who\t sent\t the\t anonymous\t note\t and\t that\t noose?\t Who\t did\t his\t mother\t see\t this\t evening\t in\t the garden?\tWho\tdug\tthat\thole\tand\twhat\tdid\tit\tcontain?\tWhy\tdidn\u2019t\tShyamlal\twant\tus\tto\tsee\tthe\tpaper\ton which\ta\tspirit\twas\tsupposed\tto\thave\twritten? God\tknows\twhen\tI\tdropped\toff.\tWhen\tI\topened\tmy\teyes,\tit\twas\tstill\tdark.\tThen\tI\trealized\tI\thad\tbeen woken\t by\t a\t scream.\t It\t had\t probably\t come\t from\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t for\t he\t was\t sitting\t up\t on\t his\t bed, having\tflung\taside\tthe\tmosquito\tnet. \u2018What\thappened?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018A\tdream\t.\t.\t.\ta\tnightmare!\tOh\tGod,\tit\twas\tterrible.\tDo\tyou\tknow\twhat\tI\tsaw?\tI\twas\tbeing\tgiven\ta reception\tand\tmy\town\tgrandfather\twas\tthere,\tputting\ta\tgarland\tround\tmy\tneck.\t\u201cSee,\twhat\tan\texciting g ar land\t I\t have\t g iven\t yo u!\u201d\t he\t said.\t I\t lo o ked\t and\t .\t .\t .\t and\t .\t .\t .\t saw\t that\t they\t wer en\u2019t\t flo wer s,\t but\t tiny human\theads,\tdripping\twith\tblood!\tCan\tyou\timagine\tit?\u2019 \u2018Why,\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t why\t must\t you\t have\t such\t an\t awful\t dream\t at\t this\t beautiful\t moment\t when dawn\tis\tjust\tbreaking?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda. With\ta\tstart,\tI\trealized\tFeluda\twas\talready\tup.\tI\tsaw\thim\tcoming\tin\tthrough\tthe\tdoor\tthat\tled\tto\tthe terrace.\tHe\thad\tobviously\tbeen\tdoing\this\tyoga. \u2018What\tam\tI\tto\tdo,\tFelu\tBabu?\tIt\u2019s\tall\tthis\ttalk\tof\ta\treception\tand\tspeaking\tto\tdead\tancestors,\tand\told Kali\ttemples\t.\t.\t.\tall\tof\tthose\tthings\tgot\tmixed\tup\tin\tmy\tmind!\u2019 There\t was\t no\t point\t in\t going\t back\t to\t bed.\t I\t rose\t and\t went\t out\t on\t the\t terrace\t quietly.\t Tulsi\t Babu mig ht\t still\t be\t asleep.\t The\t mo o n\t was\t still\t shining ,\t but\t its\t lig ht\t had\t tur ned\t pale.\t I\t no ticed\t a\t few\t star s, winking\tbravely,\tbut\tthey\tcouldn\u2019t\tpossibly\tlast\tlong.\tThe\teastern\tsky\thad\tjust\tstarted\tto\tturn\tpink. This\tmorning\tI\thad\tdecided\tto\tchew\ton\ta\tneem\ttwig\tinstead\tof\tusing\ta\ttoothbrush.\tIt\twas\tfar\tmore healthy,\tFeluda\thad\tsaid.\tSo\tI\tpicked\tone\tfrom\tthe\tpieces\tI\thad\tkept\tready\tthe\tprevious\tnight,\tand\thad just\tput\tit\tinto\tmy\tmouth,\twhen\tsomeone\tarrived\tat\tthe\tfront\tdoor\tand\tbegan\tscreaming\tloudly: \u2018Mr\tMitter!\tCome\tquickly.\tPlease,\tsir\t.\t.\t.\tMr\tMitter!\u2019 We\trushed\tdown\tthe\tstairs.\tIt\twas\tBholanath\tBabu.\t\u2018Last\tnight.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tgasped\tas\the\tsaw\tus,\t\u2018we\twere attacked\tby\tburglars.\tThey\ttied\tme\tup,\tand\tthey\ttied\tand\tgagged\tthe\tmaster.\tThere\twere\ttwo\tof\tthem. Everything\t the\t big\t chest\t contained\t .\t .\t .\t all\t the\t money\t .\t .\t .\t has\t gone.\t Only\t Jeevan\t Babu\t was\t spared somehow.\tHe\tcame\tand\tuntied\tme,\tand\ttold\tme\tto\tcall\tyou.\tPlease,\tsir,\tyou\tmust\tcome\tat\tonce!\u2019","Five Shyamlal\t Mallik\t was\t no t\t injur ed,\t but\t the\t two \t ho ur s\t he\t had\t had\t to \t spend\t with\t his\t hands\t and\t feet\t tied had\tshaken\thim\tvery\tdeeply.\tHe\twas\tsitting\ton\tthe\tmattress\tin\this\troom,\tstaring\tblankly\tinto\tspace.\t\u2018If they\thad\tto\ttie\tme\tup\tlike\tthat,\twhy\tdidn\u2019t\tthey\tkill\tme?\u2019\tI\theard\thim\tmutter.\tI\twondered\tif\the\tknew\tall his\tmoney\twas\tgone. Feluda\tsearched\tShyamlal\u2019s\troom\tvery\tthoroughly.\tOnly\tthe\tbig\tchest\thad\tbeen\topened.\tEverything else\thad\tbeen\tleft\tundisturbed.\tThe\tkey\tto\tthe\tchest\tused\tto\tbe\tkept\tunder\this\tpillow.\tBholanath\tBabu, who\talso\tslept\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor,\twas\tattacked\tin\this\tsleep.\tNaturally,\the\thad\tnot\tbeen\table\tto\toffer\tany resistance\tat\tall.\tThe\tbearer\thad\tslept\tthrough\tit\tall,\tno\tone\thad\tgone\tanywhere\tnear\this\troom.\tOne\tof the\t g uar ds\t was\t away,\t and\t the\t o ther \t had\t been\t str uck\t o n\t his\t head\t by\t a\t heavy\t r o d,\t which\t had\t left\t him unconscious\t for\t several\t hours.\t Jeevanlal\u2019s\t grandmother\t lived\t in\t the\t rear\t portion\t of\t the\t house. Fortunately,\tshe\tknew\tnothing\tof\twhat\thad\thappened. We\t spent\t fifteen\t minutes\t talking\t to\t Bholanath\t Babu\t and\t the\t servants,\t but\t there\t was\t no\t sign\t of Jeevanlal.\t\u2018Did\the\tgo\toff\tto\tcall\tthe\tpolice?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\tsir,\u2019\tBholanath\tBabu\tfaltered\t\u2018He\tsent\tme\tto\tyour\thouse\tand\tI\tsaw\thim\tgo\tout,\tbut\tI haven\u2019t\tseen\thim\tsince.\u2019 Without\t a\t word,\t Feluda\t ran\t towards\t the\t stairs,\t with\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t me\t behind\t him.\t We climbed\t down\t to\t the\t ground\t floor,\t crossed\t a\t courtyard\t and\t went\t into\t the\t garden\t through\t the\t back door.\t The\t sun\t had\t just\t risen,\t and\t there\t was\t a\t thin\t mist.\t The\t grass\t and\t the\t leaves\t were\t wet\t with\t the early\tmorning\tdew.\tCrows\tand\tmynahs\tand\tsome\tother\tbirds\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\trecognize\thad\tstarted\tgoing about\ttheir\tbusiness. We\tmade\tour\tway\tthrough\tthe\tgarden,\tbut\thad\tto\tstop\tin\tjust\ta\tfew\tminutes.\tUnder\ta\tjackfruit\ttree lay\t the\t figure\t of\t a\t man.\t I\t recognized\t the\t blue\t shirt\t he\t was\t wearing,\t the\t white\t pyjamas\t and\t the chappals.\tIt\twas\tJeevanlal\tMallik.\tFeluda\tstrode\tforward\tquickly\tand\tlooked\tdown\tat\thim. \u2018My\tGod!\u2019\the\texclaimed\tin\thorror,\tstepping\tback. \u2018Felu\tBabu!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcalled,\tpointing\tat\tan\tobject\tlying\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway\tfrom\tthe\tbody. \u2018I\tknow,\tI\thave\tseen\tit.\tPlease\tdon\u2019t\ttouch\tit.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\twas\tused\tto\tkill\tJeevanlal.\u2019 It\twas\ta\tsquare\tpiece\tof\tcloth,\twith\ta\tstone\ttied\tround\tone\tcorner.\tBholanath\tBabu\thad\tfollowed\tus out\tand\trealized\twhat\thad\thappened. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tthis!\u2019\the\tcried\tand\tlooked\tas\tif\the\twas\tabout\tto\tfaint. \u2018Please\t pull\t yo ur self\t to g ether,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t to \t him,\t laying \t a\t hand\t o n\t his\t sho ulder.\t \u2018T his\t is\t no t\t the time\tto\tgive\tway\tto\tdespair.\tYou\tmust\tinform\tthe\tpolice.\tIf\tyou\tlike,\tLalmohan\tBabu\twill\tgo\twith\tyou. Nobody\tmust\ttouch\teither\tthe\tbody\tor\tthe\tweapon.\tThis\tmust\thave\thappened\tpretty\trecently.\tPerhaps the\t killer\t is\t still\t in\t the\t area.\t Go\t at\t once,\t but\t please\t make\t sure\t your\t master\t is\t not\t told\t about\t the murder.\u2019","Feluda\tran\ttowards\tthe\tcompound\twall,\tand\tstopped\tbefore\tthe\tgap\tin\tit.\tThen\twe\tboth\tslipped\tout o f\t it\t and\t fo und\t o ur selves\t facing \t the\t bambo o \t g r o ve\t thr o ug h\t which\t we\t had\t walked\t o n\t o ur \t fir st\t nig ht here.\tThere\twere\tno\thouses\twithin\ta\thundred\tyards.\tWe\tstepped\tinto\tthe\tbamboo\tgrove.\tWhat\twas\tthat structure,\ttucked\taway\tin\ta\tcorner?\tOh,\tit\twas\tprobably\tthe\told\tKali\ttemple\tTulsi\tBabu\thad\tmentioned. A\t man\t was\t standing\t by\t the\t temple,\t looking\t at\t us.\t \u2018Why\t are\t you\t up\t so\t early?\u2019\t he\t asked,\t coming forward.\tIt\twas\tTarak\tKaviraj,\tthe\tayurvedic\tdoctor. \u2018Haven\u2019t\tyou\theard?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Heard\twhat?\u2019 \u2018The\told\tMr\tMallik\u2014\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tit\u2019s\tnot\twhat\tyou\tthink.\tMr\tMallik\tis\tfine,\tbut\this\thouse\twas\tburgled\tlast\tnight\tand\t.\t.\t.\this son\thas\tbeen\tkilled.\tBut\tthe\told\tman\tdoes\tnot\tknow\tthat,\tso\tplease\tdon\u2019t\ttell\thim.\u2019 Tarak\t Kaviraj\t hurried\t on.\t After\t a\t few\t moments,\t we\t decided\t to\t return.\t The\t culprit\t had\t clearly escaped. We\t slipped\t back\t into \t the\t g ar den.\t What\t I\t saw\t next\u2014o r,\t r ather,\t what\t I\t did\t no t\t see\u2014made\t me\t blink and\twonder\tif\tI\twas\tdreaming.\tCould\tthis\treally\tbe\ttrue? The\tground\tunder\tthe\tjackfruit\ttree\twas\tempty.\tJeevanlal\u2019s\tdead\tbody\thad\tvanished,\tand\tso\thad\tthe piece\tof\tcloth. Lalmohan\tBabu\twas\tstanding\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway,\ttrembling\tvisibly.\tHe\thad\tto\tmake\tan\teffort\tto\tspeak: \u2018Bh-bholanath\tBabu\tand\tI\twent\tback\tto\tthe\thouse,\tbut\the\ts-said\the\u2019d\tgo\tto\tthe\tpolice\tstation\tal-alone.\tI let\thim\tg-go,\tand\tthen\tI\twalked\tthis\tway\tto\tlook\tfor\tyou,\tb-but\tth-then\tI\ts-saw\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018\t.\t.\t.\tThat\tthe\tcorpse\thad\tgone?\u2019 \u2018Y-yes.\u2019 Feluda\tran\tagain,\tbut\tin\ta\tdifferent\tdirection.\tThis\ttime,\twe\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tthe\tfar\tend,\twhere\twe had\tfound\tthe\thole\tin\tthe\tground.\tBehind\tthe\tgarden,\twe\tnow\trealized,\twas\tanother\tlarge\tpond\tas\twell as\ta\tbigger\tgap\tin\tthe\twall.\tNo\tdoubt\tthe\tbody\thad\tbeen\tdragged\tout\tthrough\tthe\tgap\tand\tthrown\tinto the\tpond.\tThe\ttree\tunder\twhich\tthe\thole\thad\tbeen\tdug,\tI\tnoticed,\twas\ta\tmango\ttree. We\tretraced\tour\tsteps\tand\twent\tback\tinto\tthe\thouse,\tusing\tthe\tstaircase\tat\tthe\tback\tto\tgo\tup\tto\tthe first\tfloor. \u2018Jeevan!\tJeevan!\u2019\twe\theard\this\tgrandmother\tcall.\t\u2018Where\u2019s\the\tgot\tto,\tnow?\tDidn\u2019t\tI\tjust\tsee\thim?\u2019 We\tsaw\tthe\told\tlady\u2014clad\tin\ta\twhite\tsaree\u2014come\tout\tof\ther\troom.\tHer\theavily\tlined\tface\tlooked sunken,\ther\thair\twas\tcut\tvery\tshort\tand\ther\teyes\twere\thidden\tbehind\tthick\tlenses.\tShe\tmust\tbe\tat\tleast eighty,\tI\tthought. Feluda\tstepped\tforward\tto\tspeak\tto\ther.\t\u2018Jeevanlal\thad\tto\tgo\tout.\tDo\tyou\tneed\tanything?\tPerhaps\tI can\tget\tit\tfor\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Who\tare\tyou?\u2019 \u2018I\tam\ta\tfriend\tof\this.\tMy\tname\tis\tPradosh.\u2019 \u2018I\thaven\u2019t\tseen\tyou\tbefore,\thave\tI?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tarrived\tfrom\tthe\tcity\tonly\ttwo\tdays\tago.\u2019 \u2018From\tCalcutta?\u2019","\u2018Yes.\t Can\t I\t get\t you\t anything?\t What\t did\t you\t want\t Jeevanlal\t for?\u2019\t The\t old\t lady\t suddenly\t seemed uncertain.\tShe\traised\ther\tface,\tlooked\taround\tand\tsaid\ta\tlittle\thelplessly,\t\u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tremember.\tWhat\tdid\tI want\thim\tfor?\tI\tcan\u2019t\tremember\tanything\tany\tmore.\u2019 We\tleft\ther\tmumbling\tto\therself\tand\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tShyamlal\u2019s\troom.\tThe\tdoctor\twas\twith\thim, feeling\this\tpulse.\t\u2018Where\u2019s\tJeevan\tgone?\u2019\tShyamlal\tasked,\this\ttone\tas\thelpless\tas\this\tmother \u2019s.\tThe doctor\thad\tobviously\trefrained\tfrom\tsaying\tanything\tabout\tthe\tmurder. \u2018Didn\u2019t\t yo u\t want\t him\t to \t g o \t back\t to \t Calcutta?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked.\t \u2018Back\t to \t Calcutta?\t Yo u\t mean\t he\t left without\ttelling\tme?\tHow\tdid\the\tgo?\tIn\ta\tpalanquin?\u2019 \u2018No.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tway\tanyone\tcan\tgo\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tCalcutta\tin\ta\tpalanquin.\tYou\tknow\tthat\tvery\twell.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tmocking\tme?\u2019\tShyamlal\tsounded\thurt. \u2018I\t am\t no t\t the\t o nly\t o ne,\t Mr \t Mallik,\u2019\t Feluda\t r eplied.\t \u2018The\t who le\t villag e\t makes\t fun\t o f\t yo u.\t Sur ely you\trealize\tyour\tpresent\tlifestyle\tis\tnot\tdoing\tany\tgood\tto\tanyone,\tleast\tof\tall\tyourself?\tIf\tyou\thad\ta guard\twith\ta\tgun,\tthat\twould\thave\tbeen\tfar\tmore\teffective\tthan\tone\twith\tan\told\tand\tblunt\tspear.\tTell me,\tisn\u2019t\tthis\tkind\tof\ta\tshock\tas\tbad\tas\tthe\telectric\tshock\tyou\treceived\tyears\tago?\tTrying\tto\tput\tthe clo ck\t back\t do esn\u2019t\t achieve\t anything ,\t Mr \t Mallik.\t Yo u\t canno t\t br ing \t back\t the\t times\t that\t have\t g o ne\t by. It\u2019s\tjust\tnot\tpossible.\u2019 I\texpected\tShyamlal\tMallik\tto\tflare\tup\tand\torder\tFeluda\tto\tget\tout\tat\tonce.\tTo\tmy\tamazement,\the didn\u2019t.\tIn\tfact,\the\tdid\tnot\tspeak\tat\tall.\tAll\the\tdid\twas\tsigh,\tand\tstare\tat\tthe\topposite\twall.","Six \u2018Go d,\t just\t lo o k\t at\t my\t face!\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t exclaimed,\t peer ing \t into \t his\t shaving \t mir r o r.\t Our \t faces looked\tjust\tthe\tsame.\tWe\twere\tall\tcovered\twith\tmosquito\tbites. \u2018I\tshould\thave\twarned\tyou,\u2019\tTulsi\tBabu\tremarked.\t\u2018Mosquitoes\tare\ta\tbig\tmenace\there.\tIn\tfact,\tthey are\tthe\tonly\tdrawback\tof\tGosaipur.\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t said,\t \u2018not\t the\t whole\t village,\t surely?\t I\t would\t say\t it\u2019s\t just\t that\t garden\t the Malliks\town.\tThat\u2019s\twhere\tmost\tof\tthe\tmosquitoes\tbreed,\tthat\u2019s\twhere\tthey\tare\tthe\tmost\tvicious.\u2019 We\t were\t back\t in\t our\t room\t after\t lunch.\t The\t police\t had\t arrived\t and\t started\t their\t investigation. Feluda\thad\tlapsed\tinto\tsilence\tonce\tmore.\tPerhaps\tJeevanlal\u2019s\tmurder\twas\tso\ttotally\tunexpected\tthat\tit had\tthrown\tall\this\tcalculations\thaywire.\tIf\tJeevanlal\thad\tbeen\tkilled\tby\tburglars,\tthe\tpolice\twere\tin\ta far\tbetter\tposition\tto\ttrack\tthem\tdown.\tFeluda\tcould\thardly\tdo\tanything\ton\this\town. The\t inspector\t in\t charge\u2014a\t man\t called\t Sudhakar\t Pramanik\u2014had\t already\t talked\t to\t him.\t He\t had hear d\t o f\t Feluda,\t but\t did\t no t\t seem\t to \t have\t a\t g r eat\t deal\t o f\t r eg ar d\t fo r \t him.\t He\t was\t par ticular ly\t cr o ss about\tthe\tdisappearance\tof\tthe\tbody. \u2018You\tamateur\tdetectives\tsimply\tdo\tnot\tbelieve\tin\tsystems\tand\tmethods,\tdo\tyou?\u2019\the\tsaid\tirritably\t\u2018I know\tyour\tsort,\tI\thave\thad\tto\twork\twith\tprivate\tdetectives\tbefore.\tIf\tyou\thad\tto\tleave\tthe\tbody,\twhy didn\u2019t\tyou\tget\tsomeone\tto\tguard\tit?\tNow\twe\thave\tto\tdredge\tthe\tpond\tat\tthe\tback.\tIf\tthat\tdoesn\u2019t\twork, then\twe\thave\tto\tdo\tthe\tsame\tto\tall\tthe\tother\tponds\tand\tlakes\there\t.\t.\t.\tand\tthere\tare\televen\tof\tthem.\tIt\u2019s all\tyour\tfault,\tMr\tMitter.\tYou\treally\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\trushed\toff,\tleaving\tthe\tbody\tunattended.\u2019 Feluda\theard\thim\tin\tsilence,\twithout\tsaying\ta\tword\tto\tdefend\thimself.\tWhat\the\tdid\tsay\tafter\ta\twhile irritated\t the\t inspector\t even\t more.\t \u2018Do\t you\t believe\t in\t ghosts?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked.\t Inspector\t Pramanik stared\t at\t him,\t then\t shook\t his\t head\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t had\t heard\t you\t took\t your\t work\t seriously.\t Now\t it\u2019s obvious\tthat\tis\tnot\tthe\tcase.\u2019 \u2018I\t had\t to \t ask\t yo u,\u2019\t Feluda\t explained,\t \u2018because\t if\t yo u\t canno t\t catch\t the\t killer,\t I\t have\t to \t tur n\t to \t Mr Bhattacharya.\tPerhaps\the\tcan\tcontact\tJeevanlal\tMallik\u2019s\tspirit?\tSurely\tthe\tspirit\tof\tthe\tdead\tman\twill be\table\tto\treveal\tthe\ttruth?\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tadmit\tdefeat,\tMr\tMitter?\tAre\tyou\tgiving\tup?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tcannot\tcontinue\twith\tmy\tinvestigation\t.\t.\t.\tyes,\tI\tadmit\tthat\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tif\tMr\tBhattacharya\thelps me,\tI\tcan\tbring\tthe\tculprit\tto\tjustice.\tOf\tthat\tI\tam\tcertain.\u2019 \u2018Can\tyou\ttell\tthe\tdifference\tbetween\ta\tdead\tman\tand\ta\tlive\tone?\u2019 \u2018Mr\tPramanik,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\tneed\tanswer\tall\tyour\tquestions,\tespecially\tsince\tI\thave\tno\twish\tto\tjoin the\tpolice\tforce.\tIf\tI\tam\ttalking\tof\tghosts\tand\tspirits,\tit\u2019s\tonly\tbecause\tmy\tmethods\tare\tquite\tdifferent from\tyours.\u2019 \u2018Oh?\tHave\tyou\tno\treason\tto\tsuspect\tBholanath?\u2019","\u2018My\t only\t suspicion\u2014no,\t my\t fear\u2014is\t that\t you\t will\t arrest\t him\t immediately\t simply\t because\t you have\t heard\t his\t family\t history\t and\t you\t think\t he\t had\t a\t motive.\t If\t you\t do\t that,\t Inspector,\t you\t will\t be making\ta\tbig\tmistake.\u2019 The\t inspector\t laughed\t and\t stood\t up.\t \u2018Do\t you\t know\t what\t your\t problem\t is?\u2019\t he\t said,\t clicking\t his tongue\twith\tannoyance.\t\u2018You\tsee\tcomplications\twhen\tthere\tare\tnone.\tThis\tis\ta\tvery\tsimple\tcase.\tJust think\tfor\ta\tmoment.\tIsn\u2019t\tit\tobvious\twhoever\topened\tthat\tchest\tknew\twhere\tthe\tkey\twas\tkept?\tHad\tit been\t an\t ordinary\t burglar,\t surely\t he\u2019d\t have\t broken\t it\t open?\t Bholanath\t took\t the\t money\t and\t was r unning \t away\t with\t it,\t when\t Jeevanlal\t caug ht\t up\t with\t him.\t Bho lanath\t mig ht\t no t\t have\t planned\t to \t kill him,\tbut\twas\tobliged\tto.\tThen\the\twent\toff\tto\tcall\tyou,\tso\tthat\tsuspicion\tdid\tnot\tfall\ton\thim.\tHe\tsays he,\ttoo,\twas\ttied\tup,\tand\tJeevanlal\tcame\tand\tuntied\thim.\tBut\tcan\the\tprove\tit?\tHow\tdo\twe\tknow\the\tis not\tlying\tthrough\this\tteeth?\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tBut\twhere\tdid\tall\tthat\tmoney\tgo?\tWhat\tdid\tBholanath\tdo\twith\tit?\u2019 \u2018We\thave\tto\tlook\tfor\tit,\tMr\tMitter.\tOnce\twe\tfind\tthe\tbody,\twe\u2019ll\tarrest\tBholanath.\tHe\u2019ll\ttalk\t.\t.\t.\toh yes,\the\u2019ll\ttell\tus\teverything,\tnever\tfear.\u2019 I\t did\t no t\t like\t to \t think\t o f\t Bho lanath\t Babu\t as\t the\t culpr it,\t but\t what\t the\t inspecto r \t said\t made\t sense\t to me.\t What\t I\t could\t not\t understand\t was\t why\t Feluda\t was\t brushing\t it\t off.\t Just\t as\t the\t inspector\t began climbing\tdown\tthe\tstairs,\the\tcalled\tafter\thim,\t\u2018Jeevanlal\u2019s\tspirit\twill\ttalk\ttonight\tin\tMr\tBhattacharya\u2019s house.\tYou\tmay\tlearn\ta\tthing\tor\ttwo,\tif\tyou\tcome!\u2019 Tulsi\t Babu\t was\t the\t only\t one\t who\t appeared\t more\t concerned\t with\t the\t reception\t the\t next\t day\t than with\tJeevanlal\u2019s\tspirit.\tIf\tthe\tkiller\twas\tnot\tcaught\tby\tthen,\tthe\treception\twould\thave\tto\tbe\tcancelled. Natur ally,\t no \t o ne\t wo uld\t be\t in\t the\t r ig ht\t mo o d\t fo r \t so ng s\t and\t speeches.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t had\t accepted this,\tand\twas\theard\tsaying,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tat\tall.\tAfter\tall,\tI\tsell\tmurder\tmysteries,\tdon\u2019t\tI?\tHere\tI\u2019ve got\ta\treal\tmurder,\tand\ta\treal\tmystery.\tIf\tI\tcan\u2019t\thave\ta\treception,\twho\tcares?\u2019 He\tsaid\tthis,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t\tget\tthe\tidea\tof\ta\treception\tout\tof\this\tmind.\tI\tcaught\thim,\tmore\tthan\tonce, muttering\tlines\tfrom\this\tspeech\tand\tthen\tquickly\tchecking\thimself. \u2018Co uld\t yo u\t please\t tell\t Mr \t Bhattachar ya\t that\t we\u2019d\t be\t calling \t o n\t him\t this\t evening ?\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t to Tulsi\tBabu.\t\u2018Tell\thim\twe\tcannot\twait\tin\ta\tqueue\twith\this\tother\tclients.\tHe\tmust\tgive\tus\ttop\tpriority.\u2019 This\t time,\t Tulsi\t Babu\t realized\t that\t Feluda\t was\t absolutely\t serious\t about\t consulting\t Mr Bhattacharya.\tHe\tlooked\tvery\tsurprised. \u2018I\thave\tdone\tall\tI\tcould,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim.\t\u2018Now\tI\tcannot\tproceed\twithout\tMr\tBhattacharya\u2019s\thelp.\u2019 I\t thought\t again\t about\t what\t he\t had\t told\t me\t about\t keeping\t an\t open\t mind.\t There\t were\t dozens\t of occurrences\t every\t day,\t all\t over\t the\t world,\t that\t could\t not\t be\t explained\t by\t scientists.\t That\t did\t not necessarily\tmean\tthey\twere\tall\thoaxes.\tOnly\trecently,\tI\thad\tread\tabout\ta\tman\tcalled\tUri\tGeller\twho could\t stare\t at\t steel\t forks\t and\t spoons\t and\t bend\t them\t simply\t through\t his\t will\t power.\t Well-known scientists\thad\twatched\thim,\tyet\tno\tone\tknew\thow\the\thad\tdone\tit.\tPerhaps\tMriganka\tBhattacharya\twas a\tman\tlike\tGeller? Tulsi\t Babu\t looked\t at\t his\t watch.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t half\t past\t five\t now,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018I\t think\t you\t and\t I\t should\t go together\tand\tmake\tour\trequest.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\tgetting\tto\this\tfeet.\t\u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\ttwo\tgo\tfor\ta\twalk?\u2019 This\t struck\t me\t as\t a\t very\t good\t idea.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t mentioned\t how\t pleasant\t an\t October evening\tin\tGosaipur\tcould\tbe,\tand\tI\twanted\tto\tstretch\tmy\tlegs.\tSo\twe\tleft\tas\tsoon\tas\tFeluda\tand\tTulsi","Babu\twent\toff\tto\tspeak\tto\tMr\tBhattacharya.","Seven Two\t days\t ago,\t the\t village\t had\t seemed\t a\t totally\t different\t place.\t Today,\t I\t felt\t strangely\t tense\t as\t we began\twalking\taway\tfrom\tthe\thouse.\tI\tsimply\tcould\tnot\tstop\tthinking\tof\tthe\tmissing\tcorpse.\tIt\tcould well\tbe\tlying\tbehind\tany\tof\tthe\tbushes\tand\tshrubs\twe\tpassed\t.\t.\t.\tno,\tno,\tI\tmust\tnot\tdwell\ton\tit,\tI\ttold myself\tfirmly. We\t found\t the\t bamboo\t grove\t and\t turned\t into\t it.\t It\t was\t appreciably\t darker\t here,\t and\t the\t creepy feeling\t I\t was\t trying\t to\t overcome\t grew\t stronger.\t But\t at\t this\t moment,\t I\t saw\t the\t mime\t artist, Benimadhav,\t walking \t to war ds\t us.\t The\t sig ht\t o f\t a\t thir d\t per so n\t helped\t me\t pull\t myself\t to g ether.\t \u2018Hey, where\tare\tyou\toff\tto?\u2019\the\tasked\tgenially.\t\u2018I\twas\tgoing\tto\tyour\thouse.\tDidn\u2019t\tI\ttell\tyou\tI\u2019d\tcome\tand show\tyou\tmy\tacting\ton\tFriday?\u2019 \u2018I\tknow,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\treplied,\t\u2018but\tafter\twhat\thappened,\tnone\tof\tus\tare\tin\tthe\tmood\tto\twatch\ta performance.\t I\t mean,\t who\t knew\t such\t an\t awful\t thing\t was\t going\t to\t happen?\t We\u2019re\t all\t worried\t and upset.\tYou\tdo\tunderstand,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse,\tof\tcourse.\tYou\u2019re\tnot\tgoing\tback\tto\tCalcutta\timmediately,\tare\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\twe\tshould\tbe\there\tfor\tanother\tthree\tdays.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tSo\twhere\tare\tyou\tgoing\tnow?\u2019 \u2018Nowhere\tin\tparticular.\tIs\tthere\tsomething\twe\tshould\tsee?\tYou\tshould\tbe\table\tto\ttell\tus!\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tseen\tthe\tBat-kali\ttemple?\tIt\twas\tbuilt\tin\tthe\tseventeenth\tcentury.\tIt\u2019s\tfull\tof\tbats,\tbut\tthe outside\twalls\tstill\thave\tsome\tcarvings\tleft.\tCome\twith\tme,\tI\u2019ll\tshow\tyou.\u2019 I\tdid\tnot\ttell\thim\tI\thad\tseen\tthe\ttemple\tthis\tmorning.\tAt\tthat\tmoment,\tof\tcourse,\tI\thad\tnot\thad\tthe time\tto\tlook\tat\twall\tcarvings. We\treached\tit\tin\tthree\tminutes.\tI\tbegan\tto\tget\tgoose\tpimples\tagain.\tIt\twould\thave\tbeen\tfar\tbetter\tto have\tcome\there\tduring\tthe\tday.\tThere\twas\ta\tbanyan\ttree\tnext\tto\tthe\ttemple.\tIts\troots\thad\tgrasped\tthe roof,\tmaking\tit\tcrack\tand\tcrumble. \u2018This\tis\twhere\tthey\tused\tto\thave\tsacrifices,\tsir,\u2019\tBenimadhav\tsaid,\tpointing\tat\ta\tspot\tnear\tthe\ttrunk of\tthe\tbanyan\ttree. \u2018S-sacrifice?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked,\this\tvoice\thushed. \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tHuman\tsacrifices.\tHaven\u2019t\tyou\theard\tof\tNedo\tdakaat,\tthe\tfamous\tbandit\tof\tGosaipur?\tHe used\t to\t worship\t Kali\t and\t hold\t sacrifices\t here.\t Why,\t you\t could\t write\t a\t whole\t book\t on\t him!\t Would you\tlike\tto\tgo\tinside?\tHave\tyou\tgot\ta\ttorch?\u2019 \u2018In-inside?\tNo,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso.\tDidn\u2019t\tyou\tsay\tit\twas\tfull\tof\tbats?\tBesides,\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tbring\ta\ttorch.\u2019 \u2018No ,\t the\t bats\t will\t have\t g o ne\t o ut\t no w,\t o n\t their \t evening \t excur sio n\t .\t .\t .\t heh\t heh.\t If\t yo u\t wish\t to \t see them\tyou\u2019ll\thave\tto\tcome\tback\u2014\u2019 \u2018No!\tWe\thave\tno\twish\tto\tsee\tthem,\tthank\tyou.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tLook,\tI\u2019ve\tlit\ta\tmatch.\tMay\tI\tsmoke\ta\tbeedi?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tcertainly.\tSmoke\tas\tmany\tas\tyou\tlike.\u2019 Benimadhav\t lit\t his\t beedi,\t then\t held\t the\t match\t near\t the\t broken\t door.\t What\t I\t saw\t in\t its\t flickering light\tmade\tmy\theart\tskip\ta\tbeat.\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad\tseen\tit,\ttoo. \u2018J-j-jee-jee-jee\u2014\u2019\the\tstammered. It\t was\t Jeevanlal\u2019s\t dead\t body.\t There\t could\t be\t no\t mistake.\t His\t blue\t shirt\t and\t white\t pyjamas\t were peeping \t o ut\t fr o m\t behind\t a\t pillar \t inside\t the\t temple.\t I\t even\t caug ht\t a\t g limpse\t o f\t his\t left\t ar m.\t He\t had been\twearing\ta\twatch\tthis\tmorning.\tNow\tthe\twatch\twas\tgone. \u2018Look,\t someone\t left\t their\t clothes\t here!\u2019\t exclaimed\t Benimadhav,\t and\t began\t to\t stride\t forward\t to retrieve\tthe\tclothes,\tpossibly\twith\ta\tview\tto\treturning\tthem\tto\ttheir\towner. \u2018D-don\u2019t!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tpulled\thim\tback\turgently.\t\u2018Th-that\u2019s\ta\tdead\tbody.\tWe\tsh-should\ttell\tthe p-police!\u2019 At\tthese\twords,\tthe\tmime\tartist\tturned\ttotally\tmute.\tThen\the\tshowed\tus\tjust\thow\tgifted\the\twas.\tWe saw,\tin\ta\tflash,\tthe\texpression\ton\this\tface\tchange\tfrom\tamazement\tto\thorror,\tin\tone\tsingle\tstep;\tthen he\t turned\t around\t and\t legged\t it,\t in\t absolute\t silence.\t We,\t too,\t decided\t not\t to\t spend\t another\t moment there,\tand\tcame\tback\thome\timmediately,\twalking\tas\tfast\tas\twe\tcould. Feluda\t had\t already\t returned.\t He\t glanced\t at\t me\t briefly\t and\t said,\t \u2018Why\t do\t you\t look\t so\t pale?\t Get ready\tquickly.\tWe\thave\tto\tbe\tback\tin\tMr\tBhattacharya\u2019s\thouse\tin\tfifteen\tminutes.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu,\tI\tnoticed,\thad\tregained\this\tcomposure\ton\tseeing\tFeluda. \u2018Felu\t Babu,\u2019\t he\t announced\t calmly,\t \u2018we\t made\t an\t important\t discovery.\t Jeevanlal\u2019s\t body\t is\t lying inside\t that\t o ld\t Kali\t temple.\t Ar e\t yo u\t g o ing \t to \t tell\t the\t po lice,\t o r \t will\t yo u\t let\t them\t g o \t o n\t lo o king \t fo r it?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t taken\t an\t instant\t dislike\t to\t the\t inspector.\t So\t he\t seemed\t all\t in\t favour\t of\t not doing\tanything\tto\tmake\tit\teasier\tfor\thim. \u2018Did\tyou\tactually\tgo\tinto\tthe\ttemple?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No;\tnor\tdid\twe\ttouch\tthe\tbody.\tBut\tthere\tcan\tbe\tno\tdoubt\tabout\twhat\twe\tsaw.\u2019 \u2018OK.\t I\t met\t the\t inspecto r \t just\t no w.\t He\u2019ll\t pr o bably\t be\t co ming \t to \t Mr \t Bhattachar ya\u2019s\t ho use.\t We\t can tell\thim\twhen\twe\tsee\thim.\u2019 We\tleft\tin\tten\tminutes.\tTulsi\tBabu\tsaid\the\u2019d\thave\tto\tgo\tand\tsee\tMr\tChakladar,\tjust\tto\twarn\thim\tthat the\tfunction\the\twas\tsupposed\tto\tpreside\tover\tthe\tnext\tday\tmight\twell\tbe\tcancelled. \u2018You\tcarry\ton,\tI\u2019ll\tjoin\tyou\tlater,\u2019\the\tsaid. On\t o ur \t way\t to \t Mr \t Bhattachar ya\u2019s\t ho use,\t Feluda\t to ld\t us\t ho w\t eag er \t he\t had\t seemed\t to \t g et\t in\t to uch with\tJeevanlal\u2019s\tspirit.\tHe\thad\toffered\tto\tdo\tthis\tfirst,\teven\tthough\tit\tmeant\tmaking\tthree\tother\tclients wait\toutside. This\t evening ,\t his\t r o o m\t had\t a\t table\t instead\t o f\t the\t divan.\t Five\t chair s\t had\t been\t ar r ang ed\t ar o und\t it. On\t the\t table\t was\t an\t oil\t lamp.\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\t was\t sitting\t on\t one\t of\t the\t chairs.\t On\t his\t right\t was\t a writing\tpad\tand\ta\tpencil.\tBehind\tthe\ttable\twere\ttwo\tsmall\tstools\tand\ta\tbench.\tNityanand\twas\tseated\ton the\tbench. We\ttook\tthree\tchairs.\tThe\tfourth\tremained\tempty\tfor\tTulsi\tBabu. \u2018Should\twe\twait\tfor\tTulsicharan?\u2019\tMr\tBhattacharya\tasked. \u2018Let\u2019s\tgive\thim\tfive\tminutes,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.","\u2018Very\t well.\t I\t knew\t .\t .\t .\t you\u2019d\t have\t to\t come\t to\t me,\u2019\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\u2019s\t deep\t voice\t boomed\t out.\t \u2018I realized\t it\t that\t day,\t when\t I\t first\t set\t my\t eyes\t on\t you.\t I\t could\t tell\t you\t would\t not\t scoff\t at\t this\t highly specialized\t br anch\t o f\t science,\t fo r \t that\u2019s\t what\t it\t is.\t Only\t the\t ig no r ant,\t o nly\t tho se\t who \t kno w\t no thing about\tthe\tdifferent\tways\tthrough\twhich\tone\tmay\tarrive\tat\tthe\ttruth,\tmock\tand\tlaugh\tat\tmy\tmethods.\tA true\tbeliever\tin\tscience\u2014such\tas\tyourself\u2014keeps\tan\topen\tmind.\tHe\tdoes\tnot\tridicule.\u2019 I\tbegan\tto\tfeel\ta\tbit\tbored\twith\tall\tthis\ttalk\tof\tscience\tand\ttruth.\tWhy\tdidn\u2019t\the\tstart? \u2018You\thave\tall\tmet\tJeevanlal,\tand\the\thas\tonly\tjust\tdied,\u2019\the\twent\ton.\t\u2018For\tthese\ttwo\treasons,\tI\texpect today\u2019s\t session\t to\t be\t a\t success.\t His\t soul\t has\t not\t yet\t had\t the\t time\t to\t lose\t all\t its\t earthly\t bonds\t and escape\tinto\tthe\tother\tworld.\tIt\tis\tstill\tlingering\tnear\tus,\twaiting\tfor\tour\tcall.\tIt\tknows\tit\tcannot\trefuse our\tinvitation.\tI\tknow\twe\tsimply\thave\tto\tsay\tthe\tword,\tand\tit\twill\tbe\twith\tus.\tIt\tis\timmortal,\tand\tit\tis aware\tof\tnot\tjust\tthe\tpast\tand\tthe\tpresent,\tbut\talso\tthe\tfuture.\tIt\twill\tspeak\tthrough\tme,\tit\twill\treveal the\ttruth\ton\tthis\tsheet\tof\tpaper,\tjust\tas\twe\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Feluda\t inter r upted\t him.\t I\t failed\t to \t see\t ho w\t he\t co uld\t speak,\t fo r \t my\t o wn\t thr o at\t had\t star ted\t to \t feel parched,\t and\t I\t suspect\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t was\t feeling\t the\t same.\t There\t was\t a\t hypnotic\t quality\t in\t Mr Bhattacharya\u2019s\tvoice\tthat\tinspired\tawe. \u2018Everyone\t will\t want\t to\t see\t what\t you\t write,\u2019\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018but\t with\t the\t exception\t of\t myself, everybody\tis\tsitting\topposite\tyou.\tWill\tyou\tmind\tif\tI\tread\tout\twhat\tyou\twrite?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tat\tall.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\task\tthe\tspirit?\u2019 \u2018Three\tthings\u2014who\tburgled\tthe\thouse,\twho\tkilled\tJeevanlal,\tand\twhen\the\twas\tkilled.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tYou\tshall\tsoon\thave\tthe\tanswers,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tBhattacharya.","Eight Five\tminutes\tpassed,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tTulsi\tBabu.\tMr\tBhattacharya\tdecided\tto\tget\tto\twork. \u2018Please\tplace\tyour\thands\u2014palm\tdownward\u2014on\tthe\ttable.\tYour\tlittle\tfingers\tshould\ttouch\tthose\tof your\tneighbour \u2019s.\u2019 We\t placed\t our\t hands\t as\t instructed.\t A\t tapping\t noise\t started\t at\t once,\t caused\t by\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s trembling\tfingers.\tHe\tmight\thave\tbeen\tplaying\ta\ttabla.\tI\tsaw\thim\tgrit\this\tteeth\tto\tsteady\this\thands. Mr\t Bhattacharya\u2019s\t eyes\t were\t closed,\t but\t his\t lips\t moved.\t He\t was\t reciting\t a\t Sanskrit\t shloka.\t A minute\t later,\t he\t stopped.\t There\t was\t a\t deathly\t silence\t in\t the\t room.\t The\t lamp\t flickered.\t Around\t its flame\tthree\tinsects\thovered.\tOur\tshadows,\tlarge\tand\ttrembling,\tfell\ton\tthe\twalls,\tnearly\ttouching\tthe ceiling.\t I\t gave\t Feluda\t a\t sidelong\t glance.\t His\t jaw\t was\t set,\t and\t he\t was\t staring\t steadily\t at\t Mr Bhattachar ya\t with\t a\t to tally\t expr essio nless\t face.\t Mr \t Bhattachar ya\t himself\t was\t sitting \t still\t as\t a\t statue. He\thad\tpicked\tup\tthe\tpencil,\twhich\twas\tnow\tpoised\tover\tthe\tblank\tsheet\tof\tpaper. Then\this\tlips\tstarted\tto\ttremble.\tBeads\tof\tperspiration\tbroke\tout\ton\this\tforehead.\tLalmohan\tBabu beg an\t playing \t the\t tabla\t ag ain,\t per fectly\t invo luntar ily.\t I\t co uld\t see\t why.\t The\t atmo spher e\t in\t the\t r o o m was\tdecidedly\teerie.\tMy\theart\tbeat\tas\tfast\tas\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tfingers\tshook. \u2018Jeevanlal\t.\t.\t.\tJeevanlal\t.\t.\t.\tJeevanlal!\u2019\tMr\tBhattacharya\tcalled\tsoftly.\tHis\tlips\tbarely\tmoved. \u2018Are\tyou\tthere?\tHave\tyou\tcome?\u2019 This\t time,\t to\t our\t amazement,\t the\t questions\t were\t spoken\t by\t a\t voice\t behind\t us.\t It\t was\t Nityanand. Now\tI\trealized\twhat\this\trole\twas.\tHe\tspoke\ton\tbehalf\tof\this\tuncle.\tPerhaps\tMr\tBhattacharya\tfound\tit impossible\tto\tspeak\tat\ta\ttime\tlike\tthis. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\tThe\tword\thad\tbeen\tscribbled\ton\tthe\tpad\tby\tMr\tBhattacharya.\tHis\teyes\twere\tstill closed.\tI\twatched\this\thands\tcarefully. \u2018Where\tare\tyou?\u2019\tasked\tNityanand. \u2018Here,\tvery\tclose,\u2019\twrote\tMr\tBhattacharya.\tFeluda\tread\tthe\twords\tout. \u2018We\u2019d\tlike\tto\task\tyou\ta\tfew\tquestions.\tCan\tyou\tanswer\tthem?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Who\tstole\tthe\tmoney\tfrom\tyour\tfather \u2019s\tchest?\u2019 \u2018I\tdid.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tyour\tmurderer?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\trecognize\thim?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Who\twas\tit?\u2019 \u2018My\tfather.\u2019","But\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tto\thear\twhen\tthe\tmurder\twas\tcommitted,\tfor\tFeluda\tstood\tup\tabruptly\tand\tsaid, \u2018That\u2019ll\tdo.\u2019\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tme\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Topshe,\tgo\tand\tget\tthat\tlantern\tfrom\tthe\tpassage\toutside. I\tcan\thardly\tsee\tanything.\u2019\tConsiderably\tstartled,\tI\tgot\tup\tand\tfetched\tthe\tlantern. Feluda\t picked\t up\t the\t piece\t o f\t paper \t Mr \t Bhattachar ya\t had\t scr ibbled\t o n,\t r an\t his\t eyes\t o ver \t the\t few wo r ds\t wr itten\t and\t said,\t \u2018Mr \t Bhattachar ya,\t yo ur \t spir it\t may\t have\t left\t the\t ear th,\t but\t it\t hasn\u2019t\t yet\t lear nt the\ttruth.\tThere\tare\tdiscrepancies\tin\this\tanswers.\u2019 Mr \t Bhattachar ya\t g lar ed\t at\t Feluda,\t lo o king \t as\t if\t he\t wanted\t to \t r educe\t him\t to \t a\t handful\t o f\t dust,\t but Feluda\tremained\tquite\tunmoved.\t\u2018For\tinstance,\u2019\the\tcontinued,\t\u2018he\tis\tbeing\tasked\twho\topened\tthe\tchest and\ttook\tthe\tmoney.\tHe\tsays,\t\u201cI\tdid\u201d,\tmeaning\tJeevanlal.\tBut\tthat\tchest\twas\tempty,\tMr\tBhattacharya. There\twas\tno\tmoney\tin\tit.\u2019 As\t if\t by\t magic,\t the\t fury\t faded\t from\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\u2019s\t face.\t He\t began\t to\t look\t rather\t uncertain. Feluda\twent\ton,\t\u2018I\tcan\tsay\tthis\twith\tsome\tconfidence\tbecause\tit\twas\tnot\tJeevanlal\tMallik\twho\topened that\tchest,\tbut\tPradosh\tChander\tMitter.\tJeevanlal\thelped\tme\tdo\tit\tby\topening\tthe\tfront\tdoor\tfor\tme\tin the\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight\tand\ttelling\tme\twhere\tthe\tkey\twas\tkept.\tHe\talso\thelped\tme\tto\ttie\tup\this\tfather and\tBholanath\tBabu.\tAnyway,\tinstead\tof\tany\tmoney,\twhat\twe\tfound\tin\tthe\tchest\twas\tthis.\u2019\tHe\tslipped\ta hand\tinto\this\tpocket\tand\tbrought\tout\tanother\tpiece\tof\tpaper. \u2018T he\t o ld\t Mr \t Mallik\t had\t r efused\t to \t sho w\t it\t to \t me.\t But\t I\t needed\t it\t ur g ently\t as\t I\t had\t ser io us\t do ubts about\t Mriganka\t Bhattacharya\u2019s\t intentions.\t My\t suspicions\t were\t aroused\t the\t minute\t I\t met\t him.\t He pretended\t to\t have\t guessed\t my\t name\t and\t profession\t by\t some\t supernatural\t means.\t The\t truth\t is\t that Tulsi\tBabu\thad\talready\ttold\thim\twho\tI\twas\tand\twhat\tI\tdid.\tAm\tI\tright,\tTulsi\tBabu?\u2019 I\t r ealized\t with\t a\t star t\t that\t Tulsi\t Babu\t had\t jo ined\t us,\t tho ug h\t I\t had\t no t\t seen\t him\t ar r ive.\t He\t lo o ked profoundly\tembarrassed\tand\ttried\tto\texplain:\t\u2018Y-yes,\tI\tam\tafraid\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tsee\t.\t.\t.\tI\twanted\tyou\tto\tget\ta good\timpression,\tso\tI\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Feluda\t raised\t a\t hand\t to\t stop\t him.\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t blame\t you,\t Tulsi\t Babu.\t You\t don\u2019t\t pretend\t to\t be something\t you\t are\t not.\t But\t this\t man\t does.\t Anyway,\t when\t I\t realized\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\t was\t simply putting\t on\t an\t act\t to\t impress\t me,\t I\t was\t determined\t to\t get\t hold\t of\t the\t paper\t that\t Shyamlal\t Mallik wanted\tno\tone\tto\tsee.\tThere\twere\ta\tfew\tdoubts\tin\tmy\tmind\tabout\tShyamlal,\ttoo,\twhich\tI\tthought\tthis piece\tof\tpaper\twould\thelp\tclarify.\u2019 Mr\t Bhattacharya\t was\t now\t sweating\t profusely.\t Feluda\t held\t the\t paper\t closer\t to\t the\t lamp\t and\t said, \u2018Dur labh\t Sing h\u2019s\t depar ted\t so ul\t was\t suppo sed\t to \t have\t answer ed\t so me\t questio ns.\t T he\t questio ns\t wer e spoken,\tbut\tit\tisn\u2019t\tdifficult\tto\tguess\twhat\twas\tasked.\tThe\twritten\tanswers\tare\tgood\tindicators.\tI\tshall now\t read\t out\t to\t you\t all\t the\t questions\t and\t the\t answers\t given.\t If\t I\t get\t any\t of\t it\t wrong,\t I\t hope\t Mr Bhattacharya\twill\tcorrect\tme.\u2019 Mr\tBhattacharya\twas\tbreathing\tso\tfast\tthat\tthe\tflame\tflickered\tstrongly.\tFeluda\tbegan\treading,\t\u2018The fir st\t questio n\t was:\t \u201cWho \t is\t my\t enemy?\u201d\t Answer :\t \u201cHe\t is\t in\t yo ur \t ho use.\u201d\t \u201cDo es\t he\t want\t me\t dead?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\t\u201cThen\twhat\tdoes\the\twant?\u201d\t\u201cMoney.\u201d\t\u201cHow\tcan\tI\tsave\tmy\tmoney\tfrom\thim?\u201d\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tkeep\tit\tin your\t chest.\u201d\t \u201cWhere\t should\t I\t kept\t it?\u201d\t \u201cBury\t it\t under\t the\t ground.\u201d\t Where?\u201d\t \u201cIn\t your\t garden.\u201d \u201cWhere\tin\tthe\tgarden?\u201d\t\u201cAt\tthe\tfar\tend\u2014under\tthe\tlast\tmango\ttree\u2014by\tthe\tgap\tin\tthe\twall.\u201d\u2019 Feluda\tput\tthe\tpaper\tback\tinto\this\tpocket.\t\u2018The\ttraces\tof\tmud\ton\this\tfeet\tand\tthe\tmosquito\tbites\ton his\tface\thad\tsuggested\tthat\tShyamlal\tMallik\thad\tspent\tsome\ttime\tout\tin\tthe\tgarden.\tNow\tI\tknow\twhy he\t had\t done\t that.\t He\t simply\t followed\t the\t instructions\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\t gave\t him,\t except\t that\t he","thought\t they\t were\t given\t by\t his\t dead\t father.\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\t knew\t about\t the\t money\t Shyamlal possessed\tand\thad\tbeen\tplanning\tto\tsteal\tit\tfor\tquite\tsome\ttime.\tBut\the\tknew\tit\twas\timpossible\tas\tlong as\tthe\told\tand\ttrusted\tBholanath\tremained\twith\this\tmaster.\tAt\tfirst\the\ttried\tto\tpoison\tShyamlal\u2019s\tmind against\t Bholanath.\t Sadly,\t that\t did\t not\t work.\t Then,\t miraculously,\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\t found\t a\t new opportunity.\t Shyamlal\t himself\t called\t him\t to\t his\t house\t and\t asked\t him\t to\t contact\t a\t spirit.\t Mr Bhattacharya\t seized\t this\t chance\t to\t kill\t two\t birds\t with\t one\t stone.\t He\t got\t Shyamlal\t to\t believe\t that someone\tin\this\town\thouse\thad\tbecome\this\tenemy,\tand\the\tmanaged\tto\tget\tthe\tmoney\tremoved\tfrom the\t chest\t and\t placed\t at\t a\t spot\t which\t would\t be\t accessible\t to\t him.\t Shyamlal\t raised\t no\t objection\t to bur ying \t his\t mo ney\t in\t the\t g ar den,\t fo r \t this\t was\t an\t ancient\t metho d\t o f\t keeping \t thing s\t safe,\t which\t was perfectly\tacceptable\tto\thim,\tas\tMr\tBhattacharya\tknew\tit\twould\tbe.\tSo\the\tput\teverything\tin\ta\tseparate box\tand\tburied\tit\tunder\tthe\tlast\tmango\ttree.\tYesterday\u2014 A\tsudden\tnoise\tmade\thim\tstop.\tNityanand\thad\tsuddenly\tsprung\tto\this\tfeet\tand\tleapt\tout\tof\tthe\tdoor. But\the\tcould\tnot\tget\tvery\tfar.\tA\tpair\tof\tstrong\tarms\tcaught\thim\tneatly\tand\tpushed\thim\tback\tinto\tthe room.\tThen\ttheir\towner\tstepped\tin\thimself.\tIt\twas\tInspector\tPramanik. \u2018We\tfound\tthe\tbox,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018with\teverything\tintact.\tHe\thad\thidden\tit\tunder\tsome\tclothes in\tan\told\ttrunk.\tConstable!\u2019 A\tconstable\tstepped\tforward\tand\tplaced\ta\tfairly\tlarge\tsteel\tbox\ton\tthe\ttable. \u2018Why,\t the\t lid\u2019s\t been\t broken!\u2019\t Feluda\t exclaimed.\t Then\t he\t lifted\t it.\t The\t box\t was\t crammed\t with bundles\tof\thundred-rupee\tnotes.\tNever\tin\tmy\tlife\thad\tI\tseen\tso\tmuch\tcash. \u2018But\t .\t .\t .\t but\t .\t .\t .\t what\t about\t the\t murder?\u2019\t Mr\t Bhattacharya\t cried\t desperately.\t \u2018I\t did\t not\t kill Jeevanlal!\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tknow\tyou\tdidn\u2019t,\u2019\tFeluda\tspoke\tscathingly.\t\u2018I\tdid.\tThe\tmurder\twas\talso\tmy\tidea.\tWhat\tI\tdid manage\tto\tkill\tand\tdestroy,\tMr\tBhattacharya,\twas\tyour\tgreed,\tyour\tdeception\tand\tyour\tcunning.\tYour career\tin\tfraud\tis\tover,\tfor\teveryone\tin\tthis\tvillage\twill\tsoon\tlearn\twhat\tyou\tachieved\ttoday.\tTell\tme, have\tyou\tever\theard\tof\tanyone\tspeaking\tto\tthe\tsoul\tof\tthe\tliving?\tCome\tin,\tJeevan\tBabu!\u2019 As\ta\tcollective\tgasp\twent\tup,\tJeevanlal\tentered\tthe\troom\tthrough\tthe\tfront\tdoor.\tA\tpiercing\tscream tore\tthrough\tMr\tBhattacharya\u2019s\tlips,\tand\the\tscrambled\tto\this\tfeet.\tThe\tconstable\tquickly\tput\thandcuffs on\thim. Inspector\t Pramanik\t had\t only\t one\t complaint\t to\t make.\t \u2018Why\t did\t you\t make\t us\t dredge\t two\t lakes,\t Mr Mitter?\tWe\twasted\tsuch\ta\tlot\tof\ttime!\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tplease\tdon\u2019t\tsay\tthat.\tIt\twas\tnecessary\tto\tpretend\tthat\tJeevanlal\thad\treally\tbeen\tkilled,\tand that\twe\twere\tlooking\tfor\this\tbody.\tHow\telse\tcould\twe\thave\texposed\tBhattacharya\tso\tcompletely?\u2019 It\tturned\tout\tthat\tFeluda\thad\tplanned\tthe\twhole\tthing\tto\tthe\tlast\tdetail.\tWhen\the\tand\tI\tleft\tthe\t\u2018body\u2019 and\t Bho lanath\t and\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t went\t back\t to \t the\t ho use,\t Jeevanlal\t had\t g o t\t up\t and\t slipped\t into \t an o ld\t sto r e\t r o o m\t in\t the\t ho use.\t His\t g r andmo ther \t had\t seen\t him,\t but\t Feluda\t had\t manag ed\t to \t co ver \t it\t up quickly.\tIn\tthe\tevening,\the\thad\tstolen\tout\tto\tmake\this\tway\tto\tMr\tBhattacharya\u2019s\thouse,\tso\tthat\the\tcould hide\t among\t the\t bushes\t and\t come\t out\t at\t the\t right\t time;\t but,\t rather\t unfortunately,\t we\t were\t walking through\tthe\tbamboo\tgrove\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime,\twhich\tmade\thim\tdive\tinto\tthe\told\ttemple\tand\tpretend\tto be\ta\tcorpse\tonce\tagain. After\tdinner\tthat\tnight,\tTulsi\tBabu\tcame\tup\tto\tFeluda\tand\tsaid\ta\tlittle\truefully,\t\u2018Are\tyou\tcross\twith me,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019","\u2018Cr o ss?\t Of\t co ur se\t no t.\t If\t anything ,\t Tulsi\t Babu,\t I\t am\t mo st\t g r ateful\t to \t yo u.\t If\t yo u\t hadn\u2019t\t to ld\t that man\tmy\tname,\the\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tdared\tto\tmake\tup\ta\tpuzzle\tabout\tmy\tinitials,\tand\tI\twould\thave\thad\tno reason\tto\twonder\tif\this\tpowers\twere\tgenuine.\tYou\thelped\tme\ta\tgreat\tdeal.\u2019 Jeevanlal\t Mallik\t turned\t up\t a\t few\t minutes\t later.\t \u2018My\t father\t is\t speaking\t to\t me\t again!\u2019\t he\t said, beaming. \u2018What\tdid\the\tsay?\u2019 \u2018When\tI\twent\tand\ttouched\this\tfeet\tthis\tevening,\the\tspoke\tto\tme\twith\tan\taffection\the\thasn\u2019t\tshown for\t years.\t He\t even\t asked\t me\t how\t our\t business\t was\t doing,\t and\t seemed\t really\t interested.\t I\t could scarcely\tbelieve\tit!\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\twas\tbusy\tdealing\twith\tthe\thead\tof\ta\tfish.\tNow\the\tfinished\tchewing\tand\topened\this mouth. \u2018Then\t.\t.\t.\ter\t.\t.\t.\ttomorrow?\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tasked\ttentatively,\tlooking\tat\tTulsi\tBabu. \u2018Oh\tyes.\tIt\u2019s\tdefinitely\tgoing\tahead.\tEverything\u2019s\tready.\u2019 \u2018Very\tgood.\tMy\tspeech\tis\tready,\ttoo.\tFelu\tBabu,\twill\tyou\tplease\tcast\tan\teye\tover\tit?\u2019","","T HE\t S EC R ET \t O F \t T HE\t C EMET ERY","One Three\t days\t after\t Pulak\t Ghoshal\u2019s\t film\t completed\t twenty-five\t weeks\t in\t the\t Paradise\t cinema\t in Calcutta,\ta\tsecond-hand\tMark\t2\tAmbassador\tdrove\tup\tto\tour\tfront\tdoor,\tblowing\tits\thorn\tand\tmaking a\t terrible\t racket.\t It\t was\t no\t ordinary\t horn.\t What\t it\t played,\t very\t loudly,\t was\t an\t entire\t set\t of\t musical notes. Pulak\tGhoshal\twas\ta\tfilm\tdirector\tin\tBombay,\tand\this\tfilm\trunning\tat\tthe\tParadise\twas\tbased\ton\ta story\twritten\tby\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tWe\tknew\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tthinking\tof\tbuying\ta\tcar\tto\tmark\tthe occasion,\tbut\tdid\tnot\trealize\tthat\tit\twould\thappen\tso\tsoon.\tActually,\the\thad\tdone\tmore\tthan\tbuy\ta\tcar. He\thad\talso\tappointed\ta\tdriver\tas\the\tcould\tnot\tdrive\thimself.\tHe\thad\tno\twish\tto\tlearn\tto\tdrive,\teither. In\t fact,\t he\t made\t that\t co mment\t r epeatedly,\t so \t much\t so \t that\t o ne\t day,\t Feluda\t was\t o blig ed\t to \t ask\t him, \u2018Why\t not?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t then\t offered\t an\t explanation.\t Apparently,\t five\t years\t ago,\t he\t had started\t taking\t lessons,\t using\t a\t friend\u2019s\t car.\t After\t only\t two\t days,\t he\t had\t got\t into\t the\t car\t with\t a wonderful\t plot\t in\t his\t head.\t But,\t as\t he\t was\t switching\t to\t the\t second\t gear\t from\t the\t first,\t the\t car\t had given\t such\t an\t awful\t jerk\t that\t the\t plot\t for\t a\t new\t novel\t had\t flown\t straight\t out\t of\t his\t head,\t never\t to return. \u2018I\tstill\tregret\tits\tloss,\tI\ttell\tyou!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsighed. His\t dr iver \u2014clad\t in\t a\t white\t shir t\t and\t khaki\t tr o user s\u2014g o t\t o ut\t and\t o pened\t the\t do o r \t fo r \t Lalmo han Babu,\t who\t tried\t to\t hop\t out\t onto\t the\t pavement,\t caught\t his\t feet\t in\t the\t trailing\t end\t of\t his\t dhoti\t and nearly\t lost\t his\t balance,\t but\t the\t smile\t on\t his\t face\t remained\t in\t place.\t Feluda,\t however,\t was\t looking serious.\tHe\topened\this\tmouth\tonly\twhen\tall\tthree\tof\tus\twere\tseated\tinside. \u2018Until\t yo u\t chang e\t that\t ho r r ible\t ho r n\t to \t so mething \t mo r e\t simple\t and\t civilized,\t yo ur \t car \t canno t\t be allowed\tto\tenter\tour\tRajani\tSen\tRoad,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim. Lalmohan\tBabu\tlooked\ta\tbit\trueful.\t\u2018Yes,\tI\tknew\tI\twas\ttaking\ta\trisk.\tBut\twhen\tthe\tfellow\tin\tthe\tshop gave\ta\tdemo\t.\t.\t.\twell,\tit\twas\tjust\ttoo\ttempting.\tIt\u2019s\tJapanese,\tyou\tknow.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\t ear -splitting \t and\t ner ve-r acking ,\u2019\t Feluda\t declar ed.\t \u2018I\t had\t no \t idea\t Hindi\t films\t wo uld\t influence you\tso\tquickly.\tAnd\tthe\tcolour\tof\tyour\tcar\tis\tequally\tpainful.\tReminds\tme\tof\tsouth\tIndian\tfilms!\u2019 \u2018Please,\tMr\tMitter!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tpleaded,\tfolding\this\thands,\t\u2018I\twill\tchange\tthat\thorn\ttomorrow, but\tallow\tme\tto\tkeep\tthe\tcolour.\tI\tfind\tthat\tgreen\tmost\tsoothing.\u2019 Feluda\t g ave\t up\t and\t was\t abo ut\t to \t o r der \t so me\t tea,\t when\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t inter r upted\t him.\t \u2018We\t can have\ttea\tlater.\tLet\u2019s\tfirst\tgo\tfor\ta\tdrive.\tI\twon\u2019t\tfeel\tsatisfied\tuntil\tI\u2019ve\tgiven\tyou\tand\tMaster\tTapesh\ta ride\tin\tmy\tcar.\tWhere\twould\tyou\tlike\tto\tgo?\u2019 Feluda\t raised\t no\t objection.\t He\t thought\t for\t a\t moment\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t would\t like\t Topshe\t to\t see Charnock\u2019s\tgrave.\u2019 \u2018Charnock?\tJob\tCharnock?\u2019\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tpronouncing\tthe\tfirst\tname\tas\t\u2018job\u2019.","\u2018No,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. \u2018No?\tAre\tthere\tother\tCharnocks?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\u2019m\tsure\tthere\tare,\tbut\tonly\tone\tCharnock\tfounded\tthe\tcity\tof\tCalcutta.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThat\u2019s\twho\tI\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018His\tname\twas\tJob\u2014pronounced\tJobe.\tA\tjob\tis\twork\tfor\twhich\tyou\tare\tpaid.\tJobe\tis\ta\tman\u2019s\tname. Most\tpeople\tmispronounce\tthe\tname.\tYou\tshould\tknow\tbetter.\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\tlatest\tpassion\twas\told\tCalcutta.\tIt\tstarted\twith\ta\tvisit\tto\tFancy\tLane,\twhere\the\thad\tto\tgo\tto investigate\ta\tmurder.\tWhen\the\tlearnt\tthat\tthe\tword\t\u2018fancy\u2019\thad\tcome\tfrom\tthe\tIndian\tword\t\u2018phansi\u2019, meaning\tdeath\tby\thanging,\tand\tthat\ttwo\thundred\tyears\tago,\tNanda\tKumar\thad\tbeen\thung\tin\tthe\tsame area,\tFeluda\tbecame\tdeeply\tinterested\tin\tthe\thistory\tof\tCalcutta.\tIn\tthe\tlast\tthree\tmonths,\the\thad\tread endless\t books\t on\t the\t subject,\t looked\t at\t scores\t of\t pictures\t and\t studied\t dozens\t of\t maps.\t As\t a\t result, even\tI\thad\tgained\tsome\tknowledge,\tchiefly\tby\tspending\ttwo\tafternoons\tat\tthe\tVictoria\tMemorial. According\t to\t Feluda,\t although\t Calcutta\t was\t a\t \u2018young\u2019\t city\t compared\t to\t Delhi\t and\t Agra,\t its impo r tance\t co uld\t no t\t be\t under mined.\t It\t was\t tr ue\t that\t Calcutta\t did\t no t\t have\t a\t Taj\t Mahal,\t o r \t a\t Qutab Minar,\t or\t the\t kind\t of\t forts\t one\t might\t see\t in\t Jodhpur\t and\t Jaisalmer,\t or\t even\t a\t famous\t alley\t like Vishwanath\tki\tgali\tin\tBenaras. \u2018But\tjust\tthink,\tTopshe,\u2019\tFeluda\thad\tsaid\tto\tme,\t\u2018one\tday,\tan\tEnglishman\twas\tsitting\tby\tthe\tGanges in\t a\t place\t that\t was\t really\t a\t jungle,\t packed\t with\t flies,\t mosquitoes\t and\t snakes,\t and\t this\t man\t thought he\u2019d\tbuild\ta\tcity\tin\tthe\tsame\tplace.\tAnd\tthen,\tin\tno\ttime,\tthe\tjungle\twas\tcleared,\tbuildings\twere\tbuilt, roads\twere\tmade,\trows\tof\tgas\tlights\tappeared,\thorses\tgalloped\tdown\tthose\troads,\tpalkis\tran,\tand\tin\ta hundr ed\t year s,\t the\t new\t place\t came\t to \t be\t kno wn\t as\t the\t city\t o f\t palaces.\t What\t that\t same\t city\t has\t no w been\treduced\tto\tdoes\tnot\tmatter.\tI\tam\ttalking\tsimply\tof\thistory.\tNow,\tsome\tpeople\twant\tto\tchange\tthe street\tsigns,\trename\tthem\tand\twipe\tout\thistory.\tBut\tis\tthat\tright?\tOr,\tfor\tthat\tmatter,\tis\tit\tpossible?\tAll right,\tadmittedly,\twhat\tthe\tBritish\tdid\twas\tpurely\tfor\ttheir\town\tconvenience.\tBut\tif\tthey\thadn\u2019t,\twhat would\tyour\tFelu\tMitter\thave\tdone\ttoday?\tTry\tto\tpicture\tthe\tscene\t.\t.\t.\tyour\tFeluda,\tPradosh\tChandra Mitter,\t private\t investigator\t .\t .\t .\t bent\t over\t a\t ledger,\t pushing\t a\t pen\t and\t working\t as\t a\t clerk\t in\t some zamindar \u2019s\toffice,\twhere\tthe\tterm\t\u201cfingerprint\u201d\twould\tsimply\tmean\ta\tman\u2019s\tthumb\timpression\ton\ta document!\u2019 We\t went\t to \t BBD\t Bag h,\t which\t was\t kno wn\t as\t Dalho usie\t Squar e\t at\t o ne\t time,\t named\t after \t the\t same Lord\tDalhousie\twho\twas\tonce\tthe\tGovernor-General\tof\tIndia,\twell\tknown\tfor\tannexing\tIndian\tstates and\t introducing\t the\t railways\t and\t the\t telegraph.\t Job\t Charnock\u2019s\t tomb\u2014said\t to\t be\t the\t first\t brick structure\t built\t in\t Calcutta\u2014was\t in\t the\t compound\t of\t the\t two-hundred-year-old\t St\t John\u2019s\t Church\t in BBD\tBagh.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaw\tit\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Thrilling!\u2019\tBut\tthat\tmight\thave\tbeen\tpartly\tbecause\tof\tthe dark,\tominous\tclouds\tin\tthe\tsky\tand\tthe\trumble\tof\tthunder.\tHe\tstared\tat\ta\tmarble\tplaque\ton\tthe\ttomb and\tsaid,\t\u2018Look,\tit\u2019s\tnot\teven\t\u201cJob\u201d,\tit\tsays\t\u201cJobus\u201d.\tWhy\tis\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Jobus\tis\tthe\tLatin\tversion\tof\tJob,\u2019\tFeluda\texplained,\t\u2018can\u2019t\tyou\tsee\twhatever \u2019s\tinscribed\ton\tthat plaque\tis\tin\tLatin?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tAll\tI\tcan\tsee\tis\tthat\tit\u2019s\tnot\tEnglish\tand\tit\tmakes\tno\tsense\tto\tme.\tWhy\tdoes\tit\tsay\tD-O-M above\this\tname?\u2019 \u2018It\t stands\t for\t Dominus\t Omnium\t Magister.\t It\t means\t God\t is\t the\t master\t of\t all\t things.\t Look\t at\t the words\tbeneath.\tMay\tI\tdraw\tyour\tattention\tto\tone\tin\tparticular?\tMarmore.\tYou\tknow\tthe\tBengali\tword","marmar,\t don\u2019t\t you?\t That\t and\t this\t \u201cmarmore\u201d\t mean\t the\t same\t thing\u2014\t marble.\t What\t is\t more interesting\tis\tthat\tthe\tword\tmarmar\thasn\u2019t\tcome\tfrom\tSanskrit.\tIt\tis\ta\tPersian\tword.\tHowever,\tif\tyou say\t marmarsaudh\u2014meaning\t a\t marble\t column\u2014that\u2019s\t really\t funny\t because\t \u201csaudh\u201d\t is\t a\t Sanskrit word.\t So\t we\t mix\t Persian\t and\t Sanskrit\t words\t quite\t happily\t in\t our\t own\t language\t without\t even realizing\tit.\tTake,\tfor\tinstance\u2014\u2019 Feluda\t could\t not\t complete\t his\t lecture\t for,\t even\t as\t he\t was\t speaking,\t a\t fierce\t dust\t storm\t started without\tthe\tslightest\twarning.\t(Lalmohan\tBabu\tcalled\tit\t\u2018apocalyptic\u2019.)\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tanything\tlike it\t before.\t All\t of\t us\t ran\t blindly\t towards\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t green\t Ambassador\t and\t scrambled\t into\t it. The\t dr iver,\t Har i,\t star ted\t it\t instantly\t and\t beg an\t speeding \t to war ds\t the\t Esplanade.\t Fo r \t the\t fir st\t time,\t I saw\tShaheed\tMinar\ttotally\tobliterated\tby\ta\tsheet\tof\tdust.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tguess\tthe\twind\tspeed\tbecause\tall the\twindows\twere\tfirmly\tshut.\tBut\tI\tdid\tsee\ta\tlong,\tthin\twicker\tstand\u2014the\tkind\tthat\tchanachur-walas use\u2014come\t spinning\t in\t the\t air\t from\t the\t direction\t of\t the\t maidan,\t strike\t against\t the\t top\t deck\t of\t a double-decker\tbus\tin\tfront\tof\tus,\tand\tfly\taway\tthe\tnext\tinstant\ttowards\tCurzon\tPark. As\twe\tapproached\tPark\tStreet,\twe\trealized\tthat\tthe\ttrams\tweren\u2019t\trunning\tbecause\ta\ttree\thad\tfallen across\tthe\ttramline.\tFeluda\thad\twanted\tto\tshow\tus\tthe\told\tcemetery\tin\tPark\tStreet,\tbut\tthe\tstorm\tmade him\tdrop\tthe\tidea.\tIf\twe\thad\tgone,\twe\tmight\thave\twitnessed\ta\tparticular\tevent\twhich\twas\treported\tin the\t press\t the\t following\t morning.\t During\t this\t catastrophic\t storm\t on\t 24\t June\t (wind\t velocity\t 145 kilometres\t per\t hour),\t a\t tree\t was\t uprooted\t in\t the\t South\t Park\t Street\t cemetery.\t It\t seriously\t injured\t a middle-aged\tman\tcalled\tNarendra\tNath\tBiswas.\tWhat\twas\tnot\texplained\tin\tthe\tpress\treport\twas\twhat Mr\tBiswas\twas\tdoing\tin\tthat\tancient\tcemetery,\tso\tlate\tin\tthe\tevening.","Two The\t fo llo wing \t mo r ning \t was\t wet.\t It\t sto pped\t r aining \t o nly\t in\t the\t middle\t o f\t the\t after no o n.\t Feluda\t had managed\t to\t get\t hold\t of\t an\t old\t map\t of\t Calcutta\t and\t Howrah,\t going\t back\t to\t 1932.\t After\t a\t meal\t of khichuri\t and\t omelettes,\t he\t stuffed\t a\t paan\t into\t his\t mouth,\t lit\t a\t Charminar,\t and\t unfolded\t the\t map.\t In o r der \t to \t lo o k\t at\t it\t pr o per ly\t in\t o ur \t living \t r o o m.\t we\t had\t to \t push\t all\t the\t fur nitur e\t o ut\t o f\t the\t way,\t and create\tenough\tspace\ton\tthe\tfloor\tto\tfit\tthe\tmap.\tIt\tmeasured\t6\u2019x6\u2019. Lalmohan\t Babu\t turned\t up\t as\t we\t were\t crawling\t all\t over\t it,\t inspecting\t old\t roads\t and\t streets,\t and Feluda\twas\tsaying,\t\u2018Don\u2019t\ttry\tlooking\tfor\tRajani\tSen\tRoad.\tThis\twhole\tarea\twas\ta\tveritable\tjungle\tin those\t days!\u2019\t I\t noticed\t that\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t was\t smartly\t dressed\t in\t dark\t blue\t trousers\t and\t a\t yellow bush\tshirt.\t\u2018Seventy-six\ttrees\tcame\tdown\tyesterday\tduring\tthe\tstorm,\u2019\the\tannounced.\t\u2018And\tI\u2019ve\tdone what\t yo u\t to ld\t me\t to \t do .\t My\t car \t has\t a\t new\t ho r n\t which\t will\t no t\t r emind\t yo u\t o f\t Hindi\t films,\t I\t assur e you.\u2019 We\t were\t not\t in\t a\t hurry\t to\t go\t out,\t so\t we\t waited\t until\t we\u2019d\t had\t some\t tea.\t Then\t we\t set\t off\t in Lalmo han\t Babu\u2019s\t car \t and\t I\t co uld\t see\t fo r \t myself\t the\t devastatio n\t caused\t by\t the\t sto r m.\t I\t had\t seen\t the press\t report\t that\t mentioned\t the\t number\t of\t uprooted\t trees,\t but\t had\t been\t unable\t to\t believe\t it.\t Now\t I counted\tnineteen\ttrees\u2014in\tsome\tplaces,\ta\tnumber\tof\tbranches\u2014lying\ton\tthe\tground\tby\tthe\ttime\twe reached\tPark\tStreet.\tThree\tof\tthem\twere\tin\tSouthern\tAvenue\talone.\tIt\twas\tstaggering,\talthough\tmany of\tthe\tfallen\tbranches\thad\tbeen\tcleared\taway. As\twe\treached\tthe\tentrance\tto\tthe\tPark\tStreet\tcemetery\t(Feluda\ttold\tus\twhere\twe\twere\tgoing\tonly when\twe\treached\tCamac\tStreet),\tI\thappened\tto\tglance\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tHe\tappeared\ta\tbit\tsubdued. Feluda\tlooked\tenquiringly\tat\thim.\t\u2018In\t1941,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\texplained,\t\u2018I\twas\tin\tRanchi.\tThere\tI\tsaw an\t Englishman\t being\t buried.\t When\t the\t coffin\t was\t lowered\t into\t the\t grave,\t and\t they\t threw\t clods\t of earth\t.\t.\t.\tugh,\tthe\tsound\tthey\tmade\twas\tterrible!\u2019 \u2018You\twon\u2019t\thave\tto\thear\tthat\tsound\there,\u2019\tFeluda\tassured\thim.\t\u2018There\tis\tno\tchance.\tIn\tthe\tlast\tone hundred\tand\ttwenty-five\tyears,\tno\tone\thas\tbeen\tburied\tin\tthis\tcemetery.\u2019 The\t chowkidar \u2019s\t room\t was\t to\t the\t right\t of\t the\t entrance.\t Anyone\t was\t free\t to\t enter\t the\t cemetery during\tthe\tday,\tso\tpresumably\tthe\tchowkidar\thad\tlittle\tto\tdo.\t\u2018The\tonly\tthing\the\tmust\tensure,\u2019\tFeluda said,\t\u2018is\tthat\tno\tone\tmakes\toff\twith\ta\tmarble\tplaque.\tGenuine\tItalian\tmarble\twould\tfetch\ta\tgood\tprice. Chowkidar!\u2019 The\tman\tcame\tout\tof\this\troom.\tHis\tappearance\ttold\tus\tinstantly\tthat\the\thailed\tfrom\tBihar.\tHe\twas chewing\ttobacco;\tperhaps\the\thad\tjust\tput\tit\tin\this\tmouth. \u2018Was\ta\tBengali\tBabu\tinjured\there\tyesterday?\tHit\tby\ta\tfalling\ttree?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Can\twe\tsee\tthat\tspot?\u2019","\u2018Go\tdown\tthat\tpath\t.\t.\t.\tright\tup\tto\tthe\tend.\tThen\tif\tyou\tturn\tleft,\tyou\u2019ll\tsee\tit.\tThe\ttree\tis\tstill\tlying there.\u2019 We\t went\t do wn\t the\t paved\t path\t he\t indicated\u2014o ver g r o wn\t with\t g r ass\u2014and\t walked\t thr o ug h\t r o ws\t o f tombs.\tThey\twere\tall\ttwelve\tor\tfourteen\tfeet\thigh.\tAt\tsome\tdistance,\tto\tour\tright,\twas\ta\ttomb\tas\thigh as\ta\tthree-storeyed\thouse.\tFeluda\tsaid\tit\twas\tprobably\tthe\ttomb\tof\tthe\tscholar,\tWilliam\tJones.\tIt\twas the\ttallest\ttomb\tin\tCalcutta. Each\ttomb\thad\teither\ta\twhite\tor\ta\tblack\tmarble\tplaque,\twith\tthe\tdead\tperson\u2019s\tdate\tof\tbirth,\tthe\tdate on\t which\t he\t died\t and\t some\t other\t facts.\t Some\t large\t plaques\t had\t brief\t details\t of\t the\t person\u2019s\t entire life.\t Most\t tombstones\t rose\t like\t columns.\t Their\t bases\t were\t broad,\t but\t they\t tapered\t off\t as\t they\t rose higher.\t\u2018These\tare\tspooks\tin\tburkhas!\u2019\tproclaimed\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tHe\twas\tright\tin\ta\tway,\texcept\tthat these\tspooks\twere\tquite\timmobile.\tThey\twere\tmore\tlike\tspooky\tguards,\tprotecting\tthe\tbeing\tthat\twas buried\tunderground,\tencased\tin\ta\tcoffin. \u2018Do\t you\t know\t what\t these\t columns\t are\t called\t in\t English?\t Each\t is\t an\t obelisk,\u2019\t Feluda\t told\t me. Lalmohan\tBabu\trepeated\tthe\tword\tto\thimself\tabout\tfive\ttimes.\tI\twas\tdarting\tquick\tlooks\tat\tthe\tplaques as\tI\tpassed\tthem\tby,\treading\taloud\tthe\tnames\twritten\ton\tthem:\tJackson,\tWatts,\tWells,\tLarkin,\tGibbons, Oldham\t .\t .\t .!\t So me\t to mbs\t bo r e\t the\t same\t family\t name\u2014o bvio usly\t the\t peo ple\t wer e\t all\t r elated\t to \t o ne another.\t The\t earliest\t date\t I\t had\t noticed\t so\t far\t was\t 28\t July\t 1779,\t twelve\t years\t before\t the\t French Revolution. When\t we\t reached\t the\t far\t end\t of\t the\t path,\t I\t realized\t how\t large\t the\t cemetery\t was.\t The\t sound\t of traffic\tgoing\tdown\tPark\tStreet\thad\tbecome\tquite\tfaint.\tFeluda\ttold\tme\tlater\tthat\tthere\twere\tmore\tthan two\t thousand\t graves\t in\t that\t cemetery.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t pointed\t at\t a\t block\t of\t apartments\t on\t Lower Cir cular \t Ro ad,\t clo se\t to \t the\t cemeter y,\t and\t declar ed\t that\t he\t wo uld\t never \t live\t ther e,\t even\t if\t so meo ne paid\thim\ta\thundred\tthousand\trupees\tto\tdo\tso. The\tuprooted\t\u2018tree\u2019\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\ta\tlarge,\tleafy\tbranch\tfrom\ta\thuge\tmango\ttree.\tIt\thad\tcrashed\tto the\t ground,\t destroying\t a\t large\t part\t of\t a\t tomb\t in\t the\t process.\t Several\t smaller\t branches\t were\t also strewn\tabout. We\twalked\ttowards\tthe\tdamaged\ttomb. The\t column\t rising\t from\t it\t was\t shorter\t than\t the\t others,\t barely\t reaching\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s shoulders.\tIt\twas\tobvious\tthat\teven\tbefore\tit\twas\thit\tby\tthe\ttree,\tit\thad\tbeen\tin\ta\tstate\tof\tdisrepair.\tThe portion\tthat\thad\tescaped\tbeing\tstruck\tby\tthe\tfalling\tbranch\twas\tcracked\tin\tseveral\tplaces.\tThe\tplaster had\tworn\toff\tto\texpose\tthe\tbricks\twithin.\tThe\tbranch\thad\talso\tbroken\tcertain\tportions\tof\tthe\tmarble plaque.\tThe\tbroken\tpieces\twere\tscattered\ton\tthe\tgrass.\tThe\trecent\trains\thad\tturned\tthe\twhole\tarea\twet and\t muddy,\t but\t the\t slush\t near\t this\t particular\t grave\t seemed\t worse\t than\t elsewhere\t in\t the\t cemetery. \u2018That\u2019s\t remarkable!\u2019\t exclaimed\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t \u2018The\t word\t \u201cGod\u201d\t is\t still\t there\t on\t the\t plaque\u2014I mean\tthe\tportion\tthat\u2019s\tstill\tintact.\tLook!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tand\tyou\tcan\tsee\tthe\tyear\tunder\tthat\tline,\tcan\u2019t\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. \u2018Oh\tyes.\t185\u2014the\tlast\tdigit\tis\tbroken.\tThat\t\u201cGod\u201d\tmust\tbe\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tmaster\tof\tall\tthings.\u2019 \u2018Yo u\t think\t so ?\u2019\t Feluda\u2019s\t questio n\t made\t me\t g lance\t at\t him.\t He\t was\t fr o wning .\t \u2018Yo u\t haven\u2019t\t lo o ked carefully\tat\tthe\tother\tplaques.\tLook\tat\tthe\tnext\tone.\u2019 There\twas\ta\tlarge\tplaque\ton\tthe\tnext\ttomb.\tIt\tsaid:","To\tthe\tmemory\tof Capt\tP.\tO\u2019Reilly,\tH.\tM.\t44th\tRegt. who\tdied\t25th\tMay,\t1823\taged\t38\tyears \u2018The\tdate\tappears\tjust\tbelow\tthe\tname,\tsee?\tMost\tof\tthe\tplaques\tfollow\tthe\tsame\tpattern.\tBesides, did\tyou\tsee\tthe\tword\t\u201cGod\u201d\ton\tany\tother\tplaque?\u2019 Feluda\twas\tright.\tI\thad\talready\tread\tthe\tinscription\ton\tat\tleast\tthirty\tdifferent\tplaques,\tbut\tnot\tone mentioned\tGod. \u2018You\tmean\tto\tsay\t\u201cGod\u201d\twas\tthe\tdead\tman\u2019s\tname?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018No,\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t anyone\t is\t ever\t called\t \u201cGod\u201d,\t although\t some\t Hindus\t may\t be\t called\t Ishwar\t or Bhagwan.\t Look\t at\t the\t plaque\t more\t closely.\t There\t is\t a\t sizeable\t gap\t to\t the\t left\t of\t the\t \u201cG\u201d.\t That\t can o nly\t mean\t that\t ther e\t was\t no \t wo r d\t o r \t letter \t o n\t that\t side.\t But\t ther e\u2019s\t no \t way\t o f\t telling \t what\t fo llo wed the\t\u201cd\u201d\tbecause\tthat\tportion\tis\tnow\tlying\ton\tthe\tgrass.\tI\tthink\tthe\tfirst\tthree\tletters\tof\tthe\tdead\tman\u2019s surname\twere\tg,\to\tand\td,\tas\tin\tGodfrey\tor\tGoddard.\u2019 \u2018In\t that\t case,\t why\t don\u2019t\t we\t gather\t those\t pieces\t and\t arrange\t .\t .\t .\t \u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t started walking\tover\tto\tthe\tbroken\tbranches\tand\tleaves\tthat\twere\tlying\ton\tthe\tground.\tJust\tas\the\treached\tthe tomb,\t he\t suddenly\t slipped\t and\t slid\t forward,\t as\t if\t he\t had\t stepped\t into\t a\t hole.\t Before\t he\t could\t fall, however,\t Feluda\t stretched\t out\t his\t long\t arms,\t caught\t him\t and\t put\t him\t back\t on\t solid\t ground.\t I\t was puzzled.\tHow\tcould\tthere\tbe\ta\thole\tin\tthat\tarea?\t\u2018It\tdoes\tseem\tstrange,\u2019\tFeluda\tcommented.\t\u2018I\tmean, what\tcame\tdown\tin\tthe\tstorm\twas\ta\tbranch\tfrom\ta\tmango\ttree,\tright?\tSo\twhat\tare\tthese\tother\tleaves doing\there?\tThey\u2019re\tnot\tall\tmango\tleaves!\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t was\t already\t feeling\t a\t bit\t unhappy\t about\t being\t in\t a\t cemetery.\t And\t now\t this!\t He dusted\t himself\t do wn,\t mutter ed\t \u2018T his\t is\t to o \t much!\u2019\t and\t sto o d\t with\t his\t back\t to \t us,\t po ssibly\t to \t r eg ain his\tcomposure. \u2018Topshe,\thelp\tme\tremove\tthese\tleaves\tand\tsmaller\tbranches.\tBe\tcareful!\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. We\t cleared\t the\t area,\t taking\t great\t care\t to\t avoid\t the\t gaping\t hole\t in\t the\t ground.\t It\t became\t clear\t at once\tthat,\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\tgrave,\tthere\twas\ta\tditch\tabout\ttwo\tfeet\tdeep.\tFeluda\tmight\thave\tguessed the\t truth,\t but\t I\t certainly\t could\t not\t figure\t out\t whether\t the\t ditch\t had\t always\t been\t there,\t or\t whether someone\thad\tdug\tit\trecently. Feluda\t now\t turned\t his\t attention\t to\t the\t marble\t pieces\t lying\t on\t the\t ground.\t We\t collected\t twelve pieces\tand\tput\tthem\ttogether,\texactly\tas\tif\twe\twere\tassembling\ta\tjigsaw\tpuzzle\ton\tthe\tgrass.\tThe\tfinal picture\tlooked\tlike\tthis: Sacred\tto\tthe\tmemory\tof THOMAS\u2014WIN Obt.\t24th\tApril\u20148,\tAET.\t70\u2014 \u2018Godwin!\u2019\tcried\tFeluda.\t\u2018The\tman\twas\tcalled\tGodwin.\t\u201cObt\u201d\tis\t\u201cobitus\u201d,\tmeaning\tdeath.\t\u201cAET\u201d\tis \u201caetatis\u201d,\tmeaning\tage.\tNow,\tthe\tquestion\tis\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018I\tsay!\u2019 A\tsudden\tshout\tfrom\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstartled\tme.\tAs\twe\tturned\ttowards\thim,\the\theld\tup\ta\tdark,\tflat and\tsquare\tobject.\t\u2018Do\tyou\tthink\tthirty-seven\trupees\twill\tpay\tfor\tdinner\tfor\tthree\tat\tthe\tBlue\tFox?\u2019"]
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