["\u2018Yes.\t The\t Doon\t Express\t was\t about\t to\t arrive.\t There\t were\t a\t lot\t of\t people\t here.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t leave\t the room\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\tnotice\thim\tagain.\u2019 \u2018Well\u2014all\tright,\tperhaps\tI\tdidn\u2019t.\u2019 But\tthe\tman\tlooked\tas\tthough\twhat\the\treally\twanted\tto\tsay\twas\tthat\tif\tthe\tsadhubaba\thad\tcome\tout of\tthe\tbathroom,\the\twould\tcertainly\thave\tseen\thim. If\tthat\twas\tthe\tcase,\twhere\thad\tthe\tsadhu\tdisappeared? We\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\tstation.\tHere,\ttoo,\tstood\ta\trow\tof\ttongas.\tWe\tgot\tinto\tone.\tI\twas\tbeginning\tto look\t upon\t these\t contraptions\t with\t a\t new\t respect.\t The\t last\t one\t had\t taken\t exactly\t seven\t minutes\t and fifty-seven\tseconds\tto\treach\tthe\tstation. I\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t asking\t another\t question\t as\t we\t set\t off.\t \u2018Did\t the\t sadhubaba\t simply\t vanish\t in\t the bathroom?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\the\tmight\thave\tdone,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018Sadhus\tand\tsannyasis\tin\tthe\tolden\tdays\tcould\tdisappear\tat will\u2014or\tso\tI\u2019ve\theard.\u2019 I\tknew\the\twasn\u2019t\tserious,\tbut\the\tspoke\twith\tsuch\ta\tperfectly\tstraight\tface\tthat\tit\twas\timpossible\tto tell. A\t funny\t no ise\t g r eeted\t us\t as\t we\t r eached\t the\t main\t r o ad.\t It\t so unded\t like\t a\t band,\t and\t it\t was\t co ming closer.\tBang,\tbang,\ttwiddle-dee-dum! Then\twe\tsaw\tit\twas\ta\ttonga\tlike\tours,\twith\tthe\tdifference\tthat\tthis\tone\twas\tdecorated\twith\tartificial flowers,\tballoons\tand\tcolourful\tflags.\tThe\tmusic\twas\tcoming\tfrom\ta\tloudspeaker,\tand\ta\tman\twearing a\tfool\u2019s\tcap\twas\tthrowing\tgreat\tfistfuls\tof\tprinted\tpaper\tat\tpeople. \u2018Advertisement\tfor\ta\tHindi\tfilm,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. He\twas\tright.\tI\tcould\tsee,\tas\tthe\tother\ttonga\twent\tpast\tus,\tthat\ta\tbrightly\tpainted\tposter\twas\tpasted o n\t its\t side.\t The\t film\t was\t called\t Daku\t Mansoor.\t A\t co uple\t o f\t handbills\t landed\t in\t o ur \t to ng a,\t and\t with them,\t came\t a\t white\t sheet\t of\t paper,\t screwed\t into\t a\t ball.\t It\t hit\t against\t Feluda\u2019s\t chest\t and\t fell\t on\t the floor. \u2018I\tsaw\tthe\tman\twho\tthrew\tit,\tFeluda,\u2019\tI\tyelled,\t\u2018he\twas\tdressed\tlike\tan\tAfghan.\tBut\u2014\u2019 Before\t I\t could\t finish\t speaking,\t Feluda\t had\t picked\t up\t the\t piece\t of\t paper,\t clambered\t down\t and started\t to\t run\t in\t the\t man\u2019s\t direction.\t I\t simply\t watched\t with\t amazement\t the\t speed\t at\t which\t he\t ran, despite\tjostling\tcrowds,\twithout\tcolliding\tinto\tanyone. The\t driver,\t by\t this\t time,\t had\t stopped\t the\t tonga.\t I\t could\t do\t nothing\t but\t wait.\t The\t music\t from\t the lo udspeaker \t had\t g r o wn\t faint,\t altho ug h\t a\t few\t ur chins\t wer e\t still\t busy\t co llecting \t the\t handbills.\t Feluda r etur ned\t a\t few\t mo ments\t later,\t panting .\t He\t jumped\t into \t the\t to ng a,\t g estur ed\t to \t the\t dr iver \t to \t star t,\t and said,\t\u2018He\tmanaged\tto\tescape\tonly\tbecause\tI\twasn\u2019t\tfamiliar\twith\tthe\tlittle\talleyways\tof\tthis\tplace!\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tactually\tsee\thim?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018How\tcould\tI\thave\tmissed\thim\twhen\teven\tyou\tsaw\thim?\u2019 I\tsaid\tnothing\tmore.\tIf\tFeluda\thadn\u2019t\talready\tseen\tthe\tman,\tI\twould\thave\tsaid\tthat\talthough\the\twas dressed\tlike\tone,\tthe\tman\twas\tremarkably\tshort\tfor\tan\tAfghan. Feluda\tnow\ttook\tout\tthe\tscrewed-up\tpiece\tof\tpaper,\tsmoothed\tit\tout\tand\tread\tits\tcontents.\tThen\the folded\tit\tthree\ttimes\tand\tput\tit\tin\this\twallet.\tI\tdid\tnot\tdare\task\twhat\twas\twritten\ton\tit.","We\t r etur ned\t ho me\t to \t disco ver \t that\t Dhir u\t Kaka\t had\t co me\t back,\t and\t with\t him\t was\t Sr ivastava.\t T he latter\tdid\tnot\tappear\tto\tbe\ttoo\tupset\tby\tthe\tloss\tof\this\tring.\t\u2018That\tring\thad\ta\tjinx\ton\tit,\tI\ttell\tyou,\u2019\the said,\t \u2018it\t caused\t trouble\t everywhere\t it\t went.\t You\t were\t lucky\t it\t was\t stolen\t in\t your\t absence.\t Suppose they\thad\tbroken\tinto\tyour\thouse\tat\tnight?\tSuppose\tthey\thad\tturned\tviolent?\u2019 Dhiru\tKaka\tsmiled\tat\tthis. \u2018That\twould\thave\tmade\tmore\tsense,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018This\tman\tsimply\tmade\ta\tfool\tof\tme.\tIt\tis\tthis\tthat\tI find\tso\thard\tto\taccept!\u2019 \u2018Stop\tworrying,\tDhiru\tBabu.\tThat\tring\twould\thave\tgone,\tanyway,\teven\tif\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tpart\twith\tit.\tAnd please\tdon\u2019t\tgo\tto\tthe\tpolice.\tThat\twould\tmake\tmatters\tworse.\tWhoever\tit\twas\tmight\ttry\tto\tattack\tyou again!\u2019 All\tthis\twhile,\tFeluda\twas\tleafing\tthrough\ta\tcopy\tof\tLife\tmagazine.\tHe\tnow\tlaid\tit\taside,\tleant\tback in\tthe\tsofa\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Does\tMahabir\tknow\tabout\tthis\tring?\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tPyarelal\u2019s\tson?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tfor\tsure.\tHe\tused\tto\tbe\tin\tDoon\tSchool.\tThen\the\tjoined\tthe\tmilitary\tacademy, but\tleft\tit\teventually\tand\twent\toff\tto\tBombay.\tNow\the\u2019s\tbecome\tan\tactor,\tI\tbelieve.\u2019 \u2018Did\tPyarelal\tapprove\tof\this\tson\tacting\tin\tfilms?\u2019 \u2018He\tnever\tmentioned\tanything\tto\tme.\tBut\tI\tknow\the\twas\tvery\tfond\tof\this\tson.\u2019 \u2018Was\tMahabir\tin\tLucknow\twhen\tPyarelal\tdied?\u2019 \u2018No,\the\twas\tin\tBombay.\tHe\tarrived\tas\tsoon\tas\the\theard\tthe\tnews.\u2019\tDhiru\tKaka\tsaid,\t\u2018Good\theavens, Felu,\tyou\tare\tasking\tquestions\tlike\tthe\tpolice!\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\t an\t amateur\t detective,\t you\t see,\u2019\t Baba\t explained.\t \u2018He\t has\t a\t positive\t .\t .\t .\t er.\t .\t .\t knack\t in\t these matters.\u2019 Dr\t Srivastava\t looked\t at\t Feluda\t with\t undisguised\t surprise.\t \u2018That\u2019s\t good,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018very\t good indeed.\u2019 Only\t Dhir u\t Kaka\t r emar ked,\t a\t little\t dr yly,\t I\t tho ug ht:\t \u2018And\t the\t thief\t to o k\t so mething \t fr o m\t the\t ver y house\twhere\twe\thave\ta\tdetective\tstaying!\tThat\tis\tregrettable,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 Feluda\tmade\tno\tcomment.\tInstead,\the\tturned\tto\tSrivastava\tand\tasked\tanother\tquestion. \u2018Is\tMahabir\tearning\tenough\tfrom\tfilms?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tabout\tthat.\tHe\twent\tto\tBombay\tonly\ttwo\tyears\tago.\u2019 \u2018He\tdoes\thave\tplenty\tof\tmoney,\tdoesn\u2019t\the?\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tPyarelal\tleft\thim\tall\this\tproperty.\tActing\tin\tfilms\tis\tmore\tor\tless\tjust\ta\tpastime\tfor\thim.\u2019 \u2018Hm,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tand\tpicked\tup\tthe\tLife\tagain. Srivastava\tsuddenly\tlooked\tat\this\twatch\tand\texclaimed,\t\u2018My\tGod,\tis\tthat\tthe\ttime?\tI\tforgot\tall\tabout my\tpatient!\tSorry,\tyou\u2019ll\thave\tto\texcuse\tme.\u2019 Dhiru\t Kaka\t and\t Baba\t went\t out\t with\t him.\t Feluda\t dropped\t the\t magazine\t on\t a\t table\t and\t asked, \u2018Where\twould\tyou\tlike\tto\tgo\u2014the\tmoon\tor\tMars?\u2019 \u2018At\tthis\tmoment,\u2019\tI\treplied,\t\u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tdo\tjust\tone\tthing.\u2019\tFeluda\tpaid\tno\tattention\tto\tme.\t\u2018I\u2019ve\tjust seen\t a\t picture\t of\t the\t surface\t of\t the\t moon\t in\t that\t magazine.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t very\t interesting.\t I\t feel curious\tabout\tMars.\u2019","I\t rose\t from\t my\t chair.\t \u2018Feluda,\u2019\t I\t said,\t \u2018what\t I\t am\t curious\t about\t is\t that\t piece\t of\t paper\t in\t your wallet.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tthat!\tHere,\tlook!\u2019 He\t flicked\t the\t neatly\t fo lded\t paper \t to war ds\t me\t as\t tho ug h\t he\t was\t playing \t car r o m.\t I\t o pened\t it\t and found\tjust\ttwo\twords:\tWatch\tOut! The\t wr iter \t had\t used\t a\t r ed\t liquid\t o f\t so me\t kind.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t ink.\t What\t co uld\t it\t be?\t Feluda\t must\t have guessed\twhat\tI\twas\tthinking,\tfor\the\tsaid:\t\u2018Sometimes,\tafter\ta\tpaan\thas\tbeen\tstuffed\twith\tmasala,\tsome of\tits\tjuice\toverflows\ton\tto\tthe\tstalk.\tThose\twords\twere\twritten\twith\tthe\tred\tjuice\tfrom\ta\tpaan.\u2019 I\tbrought\tthe\tpaper\tclose\tto\tmy\tnose.\tIt\tsmelt\tdistinctly\tof\tpaan.\t\u2018But\twho\tcould\thave\twritten\tit?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Why\tshould\tanyone\ttell\tyou\tto\twatch\tout?\tYou\tdidn\u2019t\tsteal\tthe\tring!\u2019 Feluda\tburst\tout\tlaughing. \u2018The\t culpr it\t do esn\u2019t\t g et\t war ning s\t and\t thr eats,\t silly!\t They\t ar e\t g iven\t to \t the\t culpr it\u2019s\t enemy.\t And\t a detective\tis\talways\tan\tenemy.\tSo\twhoever\tchases\ta\tcriminal\thas\tto\trisk\this\tlife!\u2019 My\t hear t\t beat\t faster \t and\t my\t thr o at\t star ted\t to \t g o \t dr y.\t I\t swallo wed\t har d\t and\t said,\t \u2018In\t that\t case,\t we should\tperhaps\ttake\tsome\tsteps\tto\tprotect\tourselves.\u2019 \u2018And\twho\ttold\tyou\tI\thaven\u2019t\ttaken\tthose\tsteps\talready?\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tand\ttook\tout\ta\tsmall\tround\ttin from\this\tpocket. \u2018Denticare,\u2019\tit\tsaid. Why,\t it\t was\t only\t a\t tin\t of\t toothpowder.\t I\t had\t seen\t my\t grandfather\t use\t it\t years\t ago.\t Surprised,\t I asked,\t\u2018What\twould\tyou\tdo\twith\ttooth-powder,\tFeluda?\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tbe\tsilly!\tIt\u2019s\tnot\ttoothpowder.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tit\tthen?\u2019 Feluda\twidened\this\teyes,\tstretched\this\tneck\tand\tproclaimed\tproudly,\t\u2018It\u2019s\tPowdered\tThunder!\u2019","Five That\tnight,\tafter\tdinner,\tFeluda\tsaid\tsuddenly,\t\u2018Topshe,\twhat\tdo\tyou\tmake\tof\tall\tthis?\u2019 \u2018All\twhat?\u2019 \u2018Everything\tthat\u2019s\thappened\tso\tfar.\u2019 \u2018Why,\t you\t should\t know!\t You\u2019re\t the\t detective!\t Besides,\t how\t can\t I\t draw\t any\t conclusions\t until\t we find\tout\twho\tthat\tsannyasi\twas?\u2019 \u2018But\t surely\t certain\t things\t are\t quite\t clear?\t For\t instance,\t the\t fact\t that\t the\t sannyasi\t went\t into\t the bathroom\tand\tdidn\u2019t\tcome\tout.\tNow\tthat\tis\tpretty\trevealing,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tit\treveal?\u2019 \u2018Can\u2019t\tyou\tfigure\tthat\tout?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tall\tit\tcan\tmean\tis\tthat\tthe\tchowkidar\twasn\u2019t\tpaying\tenough\tattention.\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tyou\tass!\u2019 \u2018What,\tthen?\u2019 \u2018If\tthe\tsannyasi\thad\tindeed\tcome\tout,\tthat\tchowkidar\twould\tdefinitely\thave\tseen\thim.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\the\tnever\tdid?\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tremember\twhat\the\twas\tcarrying?\u2019 \u2018Look,\tI\twasn\u2019t\t.\t.\t.\toh\tyes,\the\thad\ta\tsmall\tattach\u00e9\tcase.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tever\tseen\ta\tsannyasi\twith\tan\tattach\u00e9\tcase?\u2019 \u2018No,\tcan\u2019t\tsay\tI\thave.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\tthink\tthat\u2019s\tdistinctly\tsuspicious.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tsuspect?\u2019 \u2018That\tsannyasi\twas\tno\tmore\tthan\ta\tnon-sannyasi\tjust\tlike\tyou\tand\tme.\tAnd\this\tnormal\tclothes\twere in\tthat\tattach\u00e9\tcase.\tThe\tsaffron\trobe\twas\ta\tdisguise.\tPossibly\tthe\tbeard\twas\tfalse,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tYou\tmean\the\tchanged\tinto\tdifferent\tclothes,\tstuffed\this\trobe\tinto\tthe\tcase\tand\tcame\tout looking\ttotally\tdifferent.\tNo\twonder\tthe\tchowkidar\tcouldn\u2019t\trecognize\thim!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tnow\tyou\u2019re\ttalking!\u2019 \u2018But\twho\tthrew\tthat\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tat\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Either\tthe\tfake\tsannyasi\thimself,\tor\tone\tof\this\tmen.\tHe\tmust\thave\theard\tus\tmaking\tenquiries\tat\tthe station,\tso\the\tdecided\tto\tgive\tus\ta\twarning.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tBut\tare\tthere\tany\tmore\tmysteries?\u2019 \u2018There\t is\t no\t end\t to\t them,\t my\t boy!\t Who\t followed\t Dr\t Srivastava\t in\t that\t black\t car?\t Who\t was watching \t us\t fr o m\t the\t g ate,\t smo king \t a\t Char minar \t and\t chewing \t a\t paan?\t Was\t it\t the\t same\t sannyasi,\t o r was\t it\t someone\t else?\t What\t \u201cspy\u201d\t did\t Pyarelal\t talk\t about?\t Why\t does\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t keep\t wild animals\t in\t his\t ho use?\t Wher e\t had\t Mahabir \t seen\t Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t befo r e?\t Ho w\t much\t do es\t he\t kno w about\tthe\tring?\u2019","I\tlay\tawake\tthat\tnight,\tthinking\tthese\tthings\tover.\tFeluda\twas\tscribbling\tsomething\tin\ta\tblue\tnotebook. Then\the\tput\tit\taway\tand\twent\tto\tbed\tat\thalf\tpast\tten.\tSoon,\the\twas\tfast\tasleep. Drums\tbeat\tin\tthe\tdistance.\tOh\tyes,\tRam\tLila.\tI\theard\tan\tanimal\tat\tsome\tstage\u2014it\tmight\thave\tbeen a\tdog\tor\ta\tjackal,\tbut\tit\tsounded\tlike\ta\thyena. Why\twas\tFeluda\tpuzzled\tby\tBonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\twild\tanimals?\tOne\tdidn\u2019t\talways\thave\tto\tdo\tthings for\ta\tspecific\treason,\tdid\tone?\tPeople\thad\tstrange\thobbies.\tSo\tperhaps\tkeeping\twild\tanimals\twas\tjust a\thobby\tfor\thim? It\u2019s\tdifficult\tto\ttell\twhen\tI\tfell\tasleep;\tnor\tcan\tI\ttell\twhat\twoke\tme.\tIt\twas\tstill\tdark.\tAnd\teverything was\t very\t quiet.\t The\t drums\t were\t silent,\t as\t were\t the\t animals.\t All\t I\t could\t hear\t was\t Feluda\t breathing heavily\tin\this\tsleep\tnext\tto\tme\tand\tthe\talarm\tclock\tticking\tbehind\tmy\thead.\tThen\tmy\teyes\tfell\ton\tthe window. Normally,\t I\t could\t see\t a\t fair\t bit\t of\t the\t starry\t sky\t through\t the\t open\t window.\t Tonight,\t something blocked\tmost\tof\tit. As\tthe\tlast\tremnants\tof\tsleep\tcleared\tfrom\tmy\teyes,\tI\trealized\twith\ta\tshock\twhat\tit\twas.\tA\tman\twas standing\toutside\tat\tthe\twindow,\tholding\tits\tbars,\tand\tstaring\tinto\tour\troom. My\theart\tstood\tstill.\tYet,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\ttake\tmy\teyes\toff\tthat\tfigure.\tThe\troom\twas\tutterly\tdark\tand\tthe starlight\toutside\twas\tnot\tgood\tenough\tto\tsee\tthe\tman\u2019s\tface.\tBut\tI\tcould\tmake\tout\tthat\tthe\tlower\thalf of\this\tface\twas\tcovered\tby\ta\tdark\tcloth. Now\the\tput\ta\thand\tthrough\tthe\tbars\tin\tthe\twindow.\tBut\tno,\tit\twasn\u2019t\tjust\this\thand.\tHe\twas\tholding\ta rod. A\tsweet,\tyet\tstrong\tsmell\thit\tmy\tnostrils.\tI\twas\talready\tbreathless\twith\tfear.\tNow\tmy\tlimbs\tbegan\tto go\tnumb. I\ttried\tto\tmuster\tall\tmy\twill\tpower.\tThen\tslowly,\twithout\tmoving\tmy\tbody,\tI\tstretched\tout\tmy\tleft arm\ttowards\tFeluda.\tHe\twas\tstill\tasleep. My\t eyes\t hadn\u2019t\t moved\t from\t the\t window.\t The\t man\t was\t still\t holding\t the\t rod\t and\t that\t smell\t was getting\tstronger.\tI\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tgiddy. At\tthis\tmoment,\tmy\thand\tbrushed\tagainst\tFeluda\u2019s\twaist.\tI\tgave\thim\ta\tnudge.\tFeluda\tmoved\tslightly and\this\tbed\tcreaked\tnoisily\twith\tthe\tmovement.\tIn\tthat\tinstant,\tthe\tman\tvanished\tfrom\tthe\twindow. \u2018Why\tare\tyou\tpoking\tat\tme?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda\tsleepily.\tI\tswallowed\tand\ttried\tto\tspeak. \u2018Window,\u2019\tI\tmanaged. \u2018What\t abo ut\t the\t windo w?\t Who \u2019s\t .\t .\t .\t Go d,\t what\u2019s\t that\t smell?\u2019\t Fully\t awake,\t Feluda\t jumped\t up\t and ran\tto\tthe\twindow.\tHe\tstared\tout\tof\tit\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tthen\tturned\tback\tto\tme. \u2018Tell\tme\texactly\twhat\tyou\tsaw.\u2019 I\twas\tstill\tfinding\tit\tdifficult\tto\ttalk.\t\u2018A\tman\t.\t.\u2019\tI\tcroaked,\t\u2018with\ta\trod\t.\t.\t.\tinside\t.\t.\t. \u2018Did\the\tstretch\tthe\trod\tout\tinto\tour\troom?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tHe\tmust\thave\thad\tchloroform\tdabbed\ton\tthat\trod.\tHe\twanted\tus\tto\tfaint.\u2019 \u2018But\twhy?\u2019 \u2018It\t could\t be\t a\t different\t thief.\t May\t be\t he\t thought\t the\t ring\t was\t still\t in\t our\t house.\t Never\t mind.\t Go back\tto\tsleep\tnow,\tand\tplease\tdon\u2019t\ttell\tyou\tfather\tor\tDhiru\tKaka\tabout\tthis.\tThey\u2019ll\tonly\tget\tnervous and\tspoil\tall\tmy\twork.\u2019","The\tnext\tmorning,\tboth\tBaba\tand\tDhiru\tKaka\tappeared\tmore\trelaxed.\tThe\tpolice\thad\tbeen\tinformed and\tInspector\tGargari\thad\talready\tstarted\tworking\ton\tthe\tcase.\tSo\tit\twasn\u2019t\tlikely\tthat\tthere\twould\tbe any\tfurther\tproblem. I\tsent\tup\ta\tsilent\tprayer\tfor\tFeluda.\tDear\tGod,\tdon\u2019t\tlet\tthe\tpolice\twin.\tLet\tit\tbe\tFeluda\twho\tfinds the\tring.\tMay\tthe\tfull\tcredit\tgo\tto\thim,\tnot\tthe\tpolice. Baba\tsaid,\t\u2018I\u2019m\tthinking\tof\ttaking\tyou\tout\ttoday\tto\ta\tfew\tother\tplaces.\u2019 We\tdecided\tto\tleave\tafter\tlunch.\tBut\tbefore\ta\tfinal\tdecision\tcould\tbe\ttaken\ton\twhere\twe\tshould\tgo, Bonobihari\tBabu\tturned\tup\tat\tthe\thouse.\tIt\twas\the\twho\teventually\tsettled\tthe\tmatter. \u2018I\thad\tto\tcome\twhen\tI\theard\tof\tthe\tdaylight\trobbery,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018If\tonly\tyou\thad\ta\thound,\tDhiru\tBabu, this\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t happened.\t A\t well-trained\t pedigree\t hound\t would\t have\t taken\t just\t five\t seconds\t to figure\t out\t what\t the\t sadhu\u2019s\t intentions\t were.\t But\t what\u2019s\t the\t use\t of\t offering\t you\t advice\t now?\t The damage\t is\t done!\t Never\t mind.\t Have\t one\t of\t these,\u2019\t he\t added,\t unwrapping\t the\t small\t packet\t he\t was carrying,\t\u2018these\tare\tthe\tbest\tpaan\tin\tLucknow.\tBanaras\tis\tthe\tonly\tother\tplace\twhere\tyou\tcan\tfind\tsuch good\tquality\tpaan.\u2019 I\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tslightly\tuneasy.\tIf\tBonobihari\tBabu\tstayed\tfor\ttoo\tlong,\tour\tplans\tfor\tthe\tafternoon would\tbe\tspoilt.\tBut\the\tasked\tat\tthis\tpoint,\t\u2018Are\tyou\tplanning\tto\tgo\tout\tor\twill\tyou\tstay\tin?\u2019 Baba\t said,\t \u2018Well,\t these\t fellows\t haven\u2019t\t seen\t anything\t except\t the\t Imambara.\t So\t I\t was\t thinking\t of taking\tthem\tsomewhere\telse.\u2019 \u2018Haven\u2019t\tyou\tseen\tthe\tResidency?\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tasked\tme.\tI\tshook\tmy\thead. \u2018Then\tallow\tme\tto\tshow\tit\tto\tyou.\tYou\twon\u2019t\tfind\ta\tguide\tlike\tme.\tI\thave\ta\tthorough\tknowledge\tof the\tMutiny.\u2019 Then\the\tturned\tto\tDhiru\tKaka\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018There\tis\tonly\tone\tthing\tI\u2019m\tfeeling\tcurious\tabout.\tWhere did\tyou\tkeep\tthe\tring?\tIn\ta\tchest?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tone\tin\tmy\thouse.\tThe\tthief\ttook\tit\tfrom\tmy\tGodrej\talmirah.\tThe\tkey,\tof\tcourse, was\tin\tmy\tpocket.\tHe\tmust\thave\tused\ta\tduplicate.\u2019 \u2018I\tbelieve\the\tleft\tthe\tbox\tbehind?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Very\tstrange!\tWas\tthe\tbox\tin\ta\tdrawer?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018And\tyou\tsearched\tthe\tdrawer\tthoroughly,\tI\tpresume?\u2019 \u2018Every\tinch\tof\tit.\u2019 \u2018You\tcould\tcheck\tfor\tfingerprints,\tcouldn\u2019t\tyou?\tI\tmean,\ton\tthe\thandle\tof\tthe\talmirah\tand\tthat\tlittle box\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018That\twouldn\u2019t\thelp.\tBoth\tare\tfull\tof\tmy\town\tfingerprints.\u2019 Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t sho o k\t his\t head\t and\t said,\t \u2018Pyar elal\t was\t a\t str ang e\t man.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t even\t bo ther \t to have\t the\t ring\t insured.\t And\t the\t person\t he\t gave\t it\t to\t was\t just\t as\t foolish.\t However,\t I\t hope\t he\u2019s\t now learnt\ta\tlesson.\u2019 We\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tthe\tchance\tto\ttake\ta\ttonga\tthis\ttime.\tAll\tof\tus\tgot\tinto\tBonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\tcar.\tFeluda\tand I\tsat\tin\tthe\tfront. As\twe\twere\tpassing\tthrough\tClive\tRoad,\tBonobihari\tBabu\tasked\tus,\t\u2018Did\tyou\tever\tthink\tyou\u2019d\tget involved\tin\tsuch\ta\tmysterious\tevent\tin\tLucknow?\u2019","I\tshook\tmy\thead.\tFeluda\tchuckled. Baba\t spoke\t for\t him.\t \u2018Felu\t is\t thrilled\t to\t be\t here,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018because\t he\u2019s\t very\t interested\t in\t such things.\tHe\u2019s\tan\tamateur\tsleuth,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 \u2018Indeed?\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tsounded\tboth\tsurprised\tand\tpleased,\t\u2018It\u2019s\tan\texcellent\tway\tof\texercising the\tbrain.\tWell,\tFelu\tBabu,\thow\tfar\thave\tyou\tgot?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ve\tonly\tjust\tstarted.\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tyou\u2019d\tcall\ta\tmystery.\tBut\tcertainly\tI\tam\tmystified\tby\tmany\tthings.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019\tasked\tDhiru\tKaka. \u2018Well,\t ho w\t do \t yo u\t suppo se\t that\t sannyasi\t g o t\t ho ld\t o f\t a\t duplicate\t key?\t Besides,\t yo ur \t ho use\t wasn\u2019t totally\tempty.\tHow\tcould\the\tgo\tinto\tyour\tbedroom\tknowing\tthat\tthe\tbearer\tand\tthe\tcook\twere\tin\tthe house?\tIn\tany\tcase,\tone\tlittle\tthing\thas\talways\tworried\tme.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Did\tPyarelal\treally\tgive\tthat\tring\tto\tDr\tSrivastava,\tor\tdid\tSri\u2014?\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tyou\tsaying,\tBonobihari\tBabu?\tSurely\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tsuspect\tpoor\tDr\tSrivastava!\u2019 \u2018Why\tnot?\tEveryone\tis\tunder\tsuspicion\tuntil\tthis\tmatter\tgets\tcleared\tup.\tAnd\tthat\tincludes\tyou\tand me.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tright,\tFelu\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\t We\t mustn\u2019t\t forget\t that\t Dr\t Srivastava\t and\t that\t sadhu\t had\t both\t gone\t to\t our\t house\t that evening,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018Exactly!\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tseemed\tto\tgrow\tpositively\texcited.\tBaba\tspoke\ta\tlittle\thaltingly.\t\u2018But\t.\t. .\tif\tSrivastava\thad\tindeed\tused\tunfair\tmeans\tto\tget\thold\tof\tthat\tring,\twhy\tshould\the\tgive\tit\tto\tus\tfor safe\tkeeping?\tAnd\tthen\twhy\tshould\the\tsteal\tit\tagain?\u2019 Bonobihari\t Babu\t laughed\t out\t loud.\t \u2018That\u2019s\t simple!\t His\t house\t was\t burgled.\t So\t he\t got\t frightened and\tpassed\tthe\tring\ton\tto\tyou.\tBut\ttemptation\tdidn\u2019t\tleave\thim,\tso\the\tstole\tit\tback,\tfooled\tthe\treal\tthief and\tkilled\ttwo\tbirds\twith\tone\tstone!\u2019 I\t began\t to\t feel\t quite\t confused.\t How\t could\t an\t amiable\t gentleman\t like\t Srivastava\t be\t a\t thief?\t Was Feluda\tin\tagreement\twith\twhat\thad\tjust\tbeen\tsaid?\tOr\thad\this\tsuspicion\tfallen\ton\tDr\tSrivastava\tonly after\tBonobihari\tBabu\tbegan\tspeaking? In\t fact,\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t finished.\t \u2018Srivastava\t is\t a\t nice\t enough\t man,\t I\t agree,\u2019\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t went\t on. \u2018But\t just\t think\t for\t a\t minute\u2014he\u2019s\t built\t his\t own\t house,\t stuffed\t it\t with\t expensive\t furniture\t and\t he certainly\t lives\t in\t style.\t Now,\t how\t could\t he\t have\t done\t that?\t I\t mean,\t how\t much\t does\t he\t earn\t as\t an osteopath\tin\ta\tsmall\ttown\tlike\tLucknow?\u2019 Dhiru\tKaka\tsaid,\t\u2018Who\tknows,\tperhaps\this\tfather\tleft\thim\tsome\tmoney?\u2019 \u2018No.\tHis\tfather\twas\tjust\ta\tclerk\tin\ta\tpost\toffice\tin\tAllahabad.\u2019 At\tthis\tpoint,\tFeluda\tsuddenly\tasked\tsomething\tcompletely\tirrelevant. \u2018Have\tyou\tever\tbeen\tbitten\tby\tany\tof\tyour\tanimals?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnever.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tthat\tmark\ton\tyour\tright\twrist?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tho\tho\u2014you\tdo\thave\tsharp\teyes,\tI\tmust\tsay!\tThat\tmark\tnormally\tstays\thidden\tunder\tmy\tsleeve. It\u2019s\tthe\tresult\tof\tfencing.\tMy\topponent\u2019s\tsword\tscratched\tmy\twrist.\u2019 The\t Residency\t was\t really\t worth\t seeing.\t It\t was\t a\t beautiful\t place\u2014there\t were\t trees\t everywhere\t and, amidst\tthem,\ta\tfew\tbroken\told\tBritish\thouses,\tall\tbuilt\tin\tthe\tmid-nineteenth\tcentury.\tOn\tthe\ttrees\tsat","lar g e\t g r o ups\t o f\t mo nkeys.\t Luckno w,\t I\t had\t hear d,\t was\t well\t kno wn\t fo r \t its\t mo nkeys.\t No w\t I\t co uld\t see for\tmyself\twhat\tthese\tcreatures\tcould\tget\tup\tto. A\tfew\tstreet-urchins\twere\tfiring\tstones\tat\tthe\tmonkeys\tfrom\ttheir\tcatapults.\tBonobihari\tBabu\twent across\t and\t gave\t them\t a\t nasty\t earful.\t Then\t he\t returned\t to\t us\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t cannot\t stand\t cruelty\t to animals.\tUnfortunately,\tthere\u2019s\tplenty\tof\tit\tto\tbe\tseen\tin\tour\tcountry.\u2019 I\t had\t r ead\t abo ut\t the\t Sepo y\t Mutiny.\t Go ing \t thr o ug h\t the\t Residency\t made\t tho se\t events\t pass\t thr o ug h my\tmind\tlike\tpictures\ton\ta\tscreen.\tBonobihari\tBabu,\tin\tthe\tmeantime,\thad\tbegun\this\tcommentary. \u2018During\t the\t time\t of\t the\t Mutiny,\t Lucknow\t was\t ruled\t by\t the\t Nawab.\t The\t British\t forces\t were\t all stationed\t in\t the\t Residency\t here.\t Henry\t Lawrence\t was\t their\t Commander-in-Chief.\t When\t trouble started,\tmost\tof\tthe\tother\tBritish\tmen\tand\twomen\tin\tLucknow\twent\tand\ttook\trefuge\tin\ta\thospital.\tSir Henry\tfought\tbravely,\tbut\twas\teventually\tkilled\tby\tthe\tsepoys.\tWhat\thappened\tto\tthe\tBritish\tafter\tthat is\tobvious\tfrom\tthe\tstate\tof\tthis\tbuilding.\tIf\tSir\tColin\tCampbell\thadn\u2019t\tarrived\twith\treinforcements, heaven\t kno ws\t what\t g r eater \t ho r r o r s\t the\t Br itish\t in\t Luckno w\t wo uld\t have\t had\t to \t endur e\t .\t .\t .\t This\t was their\tbilliard\troom.\tJust\tlook\twhat\tthose\tcannon\tballs\tdid\tto\tit!\u2019 Baba\t and\t Dhiru\t Kaka\t had\t gone\t for\t a\t walk\t since\t they\t had\t both\t seen\t the\t Residency\t before.\t Only Feluda\t and\t I\t wer e\t inside,\t to tally\t eng r o ssed\t in\t what\t Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t was\t saying ,\t and\t lo o king \t at\t the remains\t of\t the\t broken\t buildings,\t all\t built\t two\t hundred\t years\t ago.\t Suddenly,\t through\t a\t hole\t in\t the wall,\tsomething\tcame\tflying\tin.\tIt\tshot\tpast\tFeluda\u2019s\tear,\tbumped\tagainst\tthe\topposite\twall\tand\tfell\ton the\tground\twith\ta\tthud.\tIt\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\ta\tstone. In\t the\t next\t instant,\t I\t saw\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t pull\t Feluda\t sharply\t to\t one\t side,\t just\t as\t another\t stone came\tin\tand\tfell\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tThere\twas\tno\tdoubt\tthat\tboth\thad\tbeen\tthrown\twith\ta\tcatapult. Bonobihari\tBabu,\tdespite\this\tage,\tmoved\twith\tremarkable\tagility.\tHe\tjumped\tthrough\ta\tbigger\tgap in\tthe\twall\tand\tlanded\ton\tthe\tgrass\toutside.\tFeluda\tand\tI\tjoined\thim\talmost\timmediately.\tWe\tall\tsaw\ta bearded\t man\t running\t away.\t He\t was\t wearing\t a\t black\t coat\t and\t a\t red\t fez\t cap.\t Feluda\t rose\t to\t his\t feet without\ta\tword\tand\tran\tafter\thim.\tI\twas\tabout\tto\tfollow,\tbut\tBonobihari\tBabu\tpulled\tme\tback,\tsaying: \u2018You\tare\tstill\tonly\ta\tschoolboy,\tTapesh.\tIt\u2019s\tbetter\tthat\tyou\tstay\tout\tof\tthis.\u2019 Feluda\treturned\tin\ta\tfew\tminutes. \u2018Did\tyou\tcatch\thim?\u2019\tasked\tBonobihari\tBabu. \u2018No,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\t\u2018I\twas\ttoo\tfar\tbehind.\tHe\tgot\tinto\ta\tblack\tStandard\tcar\tand\tfled.\u2019 \u2018Scoundrel!\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tmuttered.\t\u2018Come\ton\tnow,\twe\u2019d\tbetter\tget\tout\tof\there.\u2019 A\tlittle\tlater,\twe\tmet\tBaba\tand\tDhiru\tKaka.\t\u2018Why\tare\tyou\tpanting,\tFelu?\u2019\tBaba\tasked. \u2018Perhaps\the\tshould\tgive\tup\tbeing\ta\tsleuth,\u2019\tsaid\tBonobihari\tBabu,\t\u2018I\tthink\ta\tgoonda\u2019s\tafter\thim!\u2019 Both\tBaba\tand\tDhiru\tKaka\tbegan\tto\tlook\trather\talarmed\twhen\tthey\theard\tour\tstory.\tBut,\tin\tthe\tend, Bonobihari\t Babu\t laughed.\t \u2018Don\u2019t\t look\t so\t worried,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t was\t only\t joking.\t Those\t stones\t were actually\t meant\t for\t me,\t not\t Felu.\t Didn\u2019t\t you\t see\t me\t yell\t at\t those\t boys?\t It\t was\t simply\t their\t way\t of paying\tme\tback.\u2019\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tFeluda\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Even\tso,\tFelu\tBabu,\tI\twould\tsay\tthat\tyou\treally must\tbe\tmore\tcareful.\tAfter\tall,\tyou\tare\tyoung\tand\tnew\tto\tthis\tplace.\tWhy\tget\tinvolved\tin\tsomething that\tdoesn\u2019t\tconcern\tyou?\u2019 Feluda\tremained\tsilent.\tWe\tbegan\twalking\tback\tto\tthe\tcar. \u2018Was\tit\treally\thim\tthey\twere\ttrying\tto\thit?\tOr\twas\tit\tyou?\u2019\tI\twhispered\tto\tFeluda.","\u2018Do \t yo u\t think\t he\u2019d\t have\t taken\t it\t so \t quietly\t if\t he\t was\t their \t tar g et?\t Wo uldn\u2019t\t he\t have\t scr eamed\t the roof\tdown\u2014or\twhat\u2019s\tleft\tof\tit?\u2019 \u2018I\tagree\twith\tyou.\u2019 \u2018But\t I\u2019ve\t got\t hold\t of\t one\t little\t thing.\t That\t man\t dropped\t it.\u2019\t Feluda\t took\t out\t a\t small\t black\t object from\this\tpocket.\tIt\twas\ta\tfalse\tmoustache.\tOne\tside\tstill\tshowed\ttraces\tof\tgum.\tHe\tput\tit\tback\tin\this pocket\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Bonobihari\tBabu\tknows\tvery\twell\tthose\tstones\thad\tbeen\tthrown\tat\tme.\u2019 \u2018Then\twhy\tdidn\u2019t\the\tsay\tso?\u2019 \u2018Well,\teither\tbecause\the\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tus\tto\tget\tworried,\tor\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Or\twhat?\u2019 Feluda\t didn\u2019t\t reply.\t Instead,\t he\t inclined\t his\t head,\t snapped\t his\t fingers\t and\t said,\t \u2018The\t plot\t gets thicker\tand\tthicker,\tTopshe!\tYou\u2019re\tnot\tto\tdisturb\tme\tat\tall!\u2019 He\tdid\tnot\tspeak\tto\tme\tagain\tthat\tday.\tOn\treturning\thome,\the\tspent\tmost\tof\this\ttime\teither\tpacing up\tand\tdown\tin\tthe\tgarden\tor\tscribbling\tin\this\tblue\tnotebook.\tI\ttook\ta\tquick\tlook\tat\twhat\the\u2019d\twritten when\the\twent\tout\tinto\tthe\tgarden;\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tread\ta\tsingle\tword,\tfor\tthe\tscript\tused\twas\tsomething I\thad\tnever\tseen\tbefore.","Six Feluda\tgot\tinto\tthe\ttonga\tand\tsaid\tto\tthe\tdriver:\t\u2018Hazratganj.\u2019 \u2018Where\tis\tthat?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018It\tis\tthe\tChowringhee\tof\tLucknow.\tThere\u2019s\tlots\tto\tsee\tin\tthis\ttown,\tbeside\troyal\tpalaces.\tI\twant\tto look\tat\tthe\tshops\ttoday.\u2019 Yesterday,\t from\t the\t Residency,\t we\t had\t gone\t to\t Bonobihari\t Babu\u2019s\t house\t for\t coffee,\t and\t taken\t a look\t at\t all\t the\t animals\t once\t more\u2014the\t hyena,\t the\t rattle-snake,\t the\t spider,\t the\t wild\t cat\t and\t the scorpion. While\thaving\tcoffee\tin\tthe\tliving-room,\tFeluda\thad\tlooked\tat\ta\tlocked\tdoor\tand\tsaid\tto\tBonobihari Babu,\t\u2018I\thad\tnoticed\tit\twas\tlocked\tthe\tlast\ttime\twe\twere\there.\tWhere\tdoes\tit\tlead\tto?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t yes\u2014it\u2019s\t just\t a\t spar e\t r o o m.\t I\u2019ve\t kept\t it\t lo cked\t ever \t since\t I\t mo ved\t in.\t Didn\u2019t\t want\t to \t take\t the trouble\tof\thaving\tit\tcleaned,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\tthe\tpadlock\ton\tit\tmust\thave\tbeen\trecently\tchanged\u2014for\tit\tisn\u2019t\trusted\tat\tall.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\tsmile\tdid\tnot\tfalter,\tbut\the\tgave\tFeluda\ta\tvery\tsharp\tlook. \u2018Yes,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018the\told\tone\tgot\tso\trusty\tthat\tI\twas\tobliged\tto\tchange\tit.\u2019 Baba\tchanged\tthe\tsubject.\t\u2018We\twere\tthinking\tof\tgoing\tto\tHaridwar\tand\tLaxmanjhoola,\u2019\the\tsaid. Bonobihari\tBabu\tlit\this\tpipe\tand\tblew\tout\ta\tpungent-smelling\tsmoke. \u2018When\twould\tyou\tlike\tto\tgo?\u2019\the\tasked.\t\u2018If\tyou\tleave\tthe\tday\tafter\ttomorrow,\tI\tcan\tcome\twith\tyou. I\ttold\tyou\tabout\tthat\ttwelve-foot\tpython,\tdidn\u2019t\tI?\tI\treally\tmust\ttake\ta\tlook\tat\tit.\tBesides,\tour\tsleuth\thas turned\tso\tactive\tthat\tit\tmight\tbe\ta\tgood\tidea\tfor\tall\tof\tus\tto\tgo\tout\tof\ttown\tfor\ta\twhile.\u2019 Dhiru\tKaka\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tcannot\tdo\tthat\tquite\tso\teasily.\tBut\tthere\u2019s\tno\treason\twhy\tthe\tthree\tof\tyou\tcan\u2019t go.\tFelu\tand\tTapesh\tmustn\u2019t\tgo\tback\twithout\thaving\tseen\tLaxmanjhoola.\u2019 \u2018If\t you\t come\t with\t me,\u2019\t said\t Bonobihari\t Babu,\t \u2018I\t can\t arrange\t for\t you\t to\t stay\t at\t a\t dharamshala\t I know;\tand\tget\ta\tcar\tto\ttake\tyou\tto\tLaxmanjhoola\tfrom\tHaridwar.\tI\tknow\ta\tlot\tof\tpeople\tthere.\tNow you\tmust\tdecide\twhat\tyou\twant\tto\tdo.\u2019 We\t decided\t to\t go\t with\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t on\t Friday,\t which\t was\t the\t day\t after\t tomorrow.\t Even\t a couple\tof\tdays\tago,\tI\twould\thave\tbeen\tquite\tpleased\tto\thave\tBonobihari\tBabu\taccompany\tus.\tBut\tthe incident\tat\tthe\tResidency\thad\tmade\tme\tfeel\tdoubtful\tabout\tthe\tman.\tBut\tFeluda\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tmind, so\tI\ttold\tmyself\tnot\tto\tworry. This\tmorning,\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018I\u2019ve\trun\tout\tof\trazor\tblades.\tLet\u2019s\tgo\tand\tget\tsome.\u2019\tAnd\tso\twe\twere out\tin\ta\ttonga,\tgoing\tto\tHazratganj.\tApparently,\tyou\tcould\tget\tanything\tyou\twanted\tin\tHazratganj. Feluda\thad\tbeen\ttotally\tsilent\tsince\tyesterday\tregarding\tthe\tmatter\tof\tthe\tring.\tWhen\the\thad\tgone fo r \t his\t bath\t this\t mo r ning ,\t I\t had\t tr ied\t to \t r ead\t his\t scr ibbles\t o nce\t mo r e,\t but\t they\t still\t didn\u2019t\t make\t any sense.\tOne\tor\ttwo\tletters\tappeared\tto\tbe\tEnglish,\tbut\tthe\trest\twere\tall\ttotally\tstrange.","Sitting \t beside\t him\t in\t the\t to ng a,\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t co ntain\t my\t cur io sity\t any\t lo ng er,\t and\t to ld\t him\t what\t I\u2019d done.\tHe\twas\tfurious\tat\tfirst.\t\u2018What\tyou\u2019ve\tdone\tis\tdespicable!\u2019\the\tsaid\tsternly.\t\u2018Why,\tone\tcould\tcall you\ta\tcriminal!\u2019 Then\the\trelented\ta\tlittle. \u2018You\tcould\tnever\tread\tthose\twords,\u2019\the\tsaid\tmore\tamiably,\t\u2018because\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthe\tscript.\u2019 \u2018What\tscript\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018Greek.\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tlanguage?\tIs\tthat\tGreek,\ttoo?\u2019 \u2018No,\tit\u2019s\tEnglish.\u2019 \u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tlearn\tto\twrite\tin\tGreek?\u2019 \u2018A\t lo ng \t time\t ag o ,\t when\t I\t had\t just\t jo ined\t co lleg e.\t So me\t o f\t tho se\t letter s,\t o f\t co ur se,\t I\t had\t lear nt\t in my\t maths\t class.\t Yo u\t kno w,\t thing s\t like\t alpha,\t beta,\t g amma,\t delta,\t mu,\t pi,\t upsilo n.\t I\t lear nt\t the\t o ther s fr o m\t the\t Encyclo paedia\t Br itannica.\t If\t yo u\t wr ite\t so mething \t in\t Eng lish\t using \t Gr eek\t letter s,\t it\t so unds like\ta\tcode.\tNo\tone\tcould\tpossibly\tmake\tany\tsense\tof\tit!\u2019 \u2018How\twould\tyou\tspell\tLucknow\tin\tGreek?\u2019 \u2018Lambda\tupsilon\tkappa\tnu\tomicron\tupsilon.\tThe\tletters\t\u201cc\u201d\tand\t\u201cw\u201d\tdo\tnot\texist\tin\tGreek,\tso\tthe spelling\twould\tbe\tLUKNOU.\u2019 \u2018And\thow\twould\tyou\tspell\tCalcutta?\u2019 \u2018Kappa\talpha\tlambda\tkappa\tupsilon\ttau\ttau\talpha.\u2019 \u2018Good\theavens\u2014it\twould\ttake\tan\thour\tto\tspell\tjust\tthree\twords!\u2019 Hazratganj\twasn\u2019t\texactly\tChowringhee,\tbut\tit\thad\tsome\tnice\tshops.\tWe\tpaid\tthe\ttonga\toff\tand\tbegan walking. \u2018Look,\tFeluda,\tthere\u2019s\ta\tstationery\tshop.\tThey\u2019ll\thave\tblades.\u2019 \u2018Wait.\tThere\u2019s\tsomething\telse\tI\tneed\tto\tdo.\u2019 Feluda\t suddenly\t sto pped\t befo r e\t a\t sho p.\t \u2018Malkani\t &\t Co .,\t Antique\t &\t Cur io \t Dealer s\u2019,\t its\t sig nbo ar d proclaimed\tin\tlarge\tletters. One\t lo o k\t at\t the\t sho wcase\t o utside\t to ld\t me\t it\t was\t a\t sho p\t that\t so ld\t o ld\t thing s.\t Inside,\t it\t was\t packed with\tancient\tjewellery,\tcarpets,\tclocks,\tfurniture,\tchandeliers,\tframed\tphotographs\tand\theaven\tknows what\telse. A\tsilver-haired\tgentleman\tin\tgold-framed\tglasses\tcame\tforward\tto\tgreet\tus. \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tany\tjewellery\tdating\tback\tto\tthe\tMughal\ttimes?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tnot.\tBut\tI\tcould\tshow\tyou\tshields\tand\tarmours\tof\tthat\tperiod.\tWill\tthat\tdo?\u2019 Feluda\tpicked\tup\tan\tattardaan\t(perfume\tcontainer)\tand\tturned\tit\tin\this\thand.\t\u2018I\thad\tseen\tsome\told jewellery\tin\tPyarela\u2019s\thouse,\u2019\the\tremarked\tcasually.\t\u2018He\twas\ta\tregular\tcustomer\there,\twasn\u2019t\the?\u2019 The\tman\tseemed\ttaken\taback. \u2018Who?\tWhich\tPyarelal\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout?\u2019 \u2018Pyarelal\tSeth.\tThe\tone\twho\tdied\ta\tfew\tmonths\tago?\u2019 Mr\tMalkani\tshook\this\thead\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018No,\the\tnever\tbought\tanything\tfrom\tus,\talthough\tours\tis\tthe biggest\tshop\tof\tthis\tkind\tin\tLucknow.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tIn\tthat\tcase\the\tmust\thave\tbought\tthose\tthings\tin\tCalcutta.\u2019 \u2018Probably.\u2019","\u2018Who\tare\tyour\tbiggest\tbuyers\there?\u2019 It\twas\tobvious\tfrom\tMr\tMalkani\u2019s\texpression\tthat\the\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ttoo\tmany\tbig\tbuyers. \u2018Well,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018to ur ists\t fr o m\t abr o ad\t so metimes\t buy\t thing s\t fr o m\t us\t at\t a\t g o o d\t pr ice.\t Amo ng \t the locals\t is\t Mr\t Mehta\t who\t buys\t a\t few\t things\t occasionally;\t and\t there\u2019s\t Mr\t Pestonji,\t who\u2019s\t one\t of\t my oldest\tcustomers.\tHe\tbought\ta\treal\tPersian\tcarpet\tonly\tthe\tother\tday\tfor\tthree\tthousand\trupees.\u2019 Feluda\tsuddenly\tpointed\tat\ta\tbarge\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Isn\u2019t\tthat\tfrom\tBengal?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tMurshidabad.\u2019 \u2018Just\tlook\tat\tit,\tTopshe.\tIsn\u2019t\tit\tbeautiful?\u2019 It\t was.\t Made\t of\t ivory,\t it\t was\t perfect\t in\t every\t detail.\t A\t nawab\t sat\t on\t its\t roof\t under\t a\t canopy, smoking\tfrom\ta\thubble-bubble,\tcourtiers\tsat\tby\this\tside\tand,\tbefore\thim,\tstood\ta\tgroup\tof\tmusicians and\t dancer s.\t Sixteen\t o ar smen\t wer e\t r o wing \t and\t o ne\t man\t sat\t at\t the\t r udder.\t Besides\t these,\t ther e\t wer e guards\tand\tmessengers\tand\tevery\tother\tpersonage\tnecessary\tin\ta\troyal\tentourage.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\ttake\tmy eyes\taway. \u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tget\tthat?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Mr\tSarkar\tsold\tit\tto\tme.\u2019 \u2018Which\tMr\tSarkar?\u2019 \u2018Mr\tB.\tSarkar\twho\tlives\tin\tBadshah\tNagar.\tHe,\ttoo,\thas\toccasionally\tbought\ta\tfew\tthings\tfrom\tme. He\u2019s\tgot\ta\tgood\tcollection.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWell,\tall\tright\tthen.\tYou\u2019ve\tgot\ta\tnice\tlittle\tshop\there.\tI\u2019m\tglad\tto\thave\tseen\tit.\tThank\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Good\tday,\tsir.\u2019 We\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\tshop. \u2018That\t means\t Bonobihari\t Sarkar\t frequents\t these\t shops,\u2019\t said\t Feluda.\t \u2018I\t had\t had\t my\t suspicions\t all along.\u2019 \u2018But\the\tsaid\the\twasn\u2019t\tinterested\tin\tsuch\tthings!\u2019 \u2018If\the\twasn\u2019t,\thow\tcould\the\ttell\tat\tone\tglance\twhether\ta\tstone\twas\treal\tor\tfake?\u2019 A\tshop\tcalled\tThe\tEmpire\tBook\tStall\twas\tnext\tdoor\tto\tMalkani\t&\tCo.\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tbuy\ta\tbook on\tHaridwar\tand\tLaxmanjhoola.\tSo\twe\twent\tin,\tand\tfound\tPyarelal\u2019s\tson,\tMahabir. Feluda\twhispered\tsoftly,\t\u2018I\tcan\tsee\the\u2019s\tbuying\ta\tbook\ton\tcricket.\tVery\tgood.\u2019 Mahabir \t was\t standing \t with\t his\t back\t to \t us.\t Feluda\t went\t up\t to \t the\t man\t behind\t the\t co unter \t and\t said, \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tanything\tby\tNeville\tCardus?\u2019 Mahabir\tspun\tround\timmediately.\tI\tknew\tCardus\thad\twritten\tsome\tvery\tgood\tbooks\ton\tcricket. \u2018Are\tyou\tlooking\tfor\ta\tparticular\tbook?\u2019\tasked\tthe\tbookseller.\t\u2018Yes,\tthe\tone\tcalled\tCenturies.\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\twe\tdon\u2019t\thave\tthat\tone.\tShall\tI\tshow\tyou\tsome\tother\tbook?\u2019 Mahabir\tcame\tforward\twith\ta\tsmile.\t\u2018Are\tyou\ta\tcricket\tenthusiast?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes.\tSo,\tapparently,\tare\tyou!\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. Mahabir\tlooked\tat\tthe\tbook\the\twas\tholding. \u2018Yes,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018I\thad\tordered\tthis\tone.\tIt\u2019s\tBradman\u2019s\tautobiography.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tI\u2019ve\tread\tthat\tone.\tA\tbrilliant\tbook!\u2019 \u2018Who \t do \t yo u\t think\t was\t a\t g r eater \t cr icketer \u2014Ranji\t o r \t Br adman?\u2019\t So o n,\t bo th\t wer e\t invo lved\t in\t an animated\tdiscussion.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tminutes,\tMahabir\tsaid,\t\u2018The\tKwality\trestaurant\tisn\u2019t\tfar\tfrom\there. Why\tdon\u2019t\twe\tsit\tdown\tand\thave\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019","Feluda\t agreed.\t The\t three\t of\t us\t trooped\t into\t the\t restaurant.\t I\t ordered\t a\t Coca-Cola\t and\t the\t others asked\tfor\ttea. \u2018Do\tyou\tplay\tyourself?\u2019\tMahabir\tasked. \u2018I\tused\tto,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018I\thave\tplayed\there\tin\tLucknow.\tHow\tabout\tyou?\u2019 \u2018I\twas\tin\tthe\tfirst\televen\tat\tthe\tDoon\tSchool.\tMy\tfather,\ttoo,\twas\ta\tgood\tplayer\tin\tschool.\u2019 A\tshadow\tpassed\tover\this\tface.\tFeluda\tbegan\tpouring\tthe\ttea.\t\u2018You\tmust\thave\theard\tabout\tthe\tring,\u2019 he\tsaid. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tMahabir\treplied.\t\u2018I\twent\tto\tvisit\tDr\tSrivastava.\tHe\ttold\tme.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tknow\tyour\tfather\thad\tthat\tring\tand\tthat\the\twanted\tto\tgive\tit\tto\tDr\tSrivastava?\u2019 \u2018My\tfather\thad\ttold\tme\ta\tlong\ttime\tago\tthat\the\twanted\tto\tgive\tsomething\tof\tvalue\tto\tSrivastava\tfor making\tme\twell.\tI\tdid\tnot\tcome\tto\tknow\twhat\tit\twas\tuntil\tafter\this\tdeath.\tDr\tSrivastava\thimself\ttold me.\u2019 Then\the\tlooked\tstraight\tat\tFeluda.\t\u2018Why\tare\tyou\ttaking\tsuch\tan\tinterest?\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018It\u2019s\t.\t.\t.\tjust\ta\tsort\tof\thobby.\u2019 Mahabir\tsipped\this\ttea\tand\tsaid\tnothing. \u2018Who\telse\tis\tthere\tin\tyour\thouse?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tquietly. \u2018An\told\taunt\tand\tsome\tservants.\u2019 \u2018Have\tthey\tbeen\twith\tyou\tfor\tsome\ttime?\u2019 \u2018All\tfrom\teven\tbefore\tI\twas\tborn.\tPritam\tSingh,\tour\tbearer,\twas\twith\tmy\tfather\tin\tCalcutta,\tthirty- five\tyears\tago.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyour\tfather\thave\tany\tother\tarticles\tlike\tthat\tring?\u2019 \u2018I\t do n\u2019t\t kno w.\t In\t fact,\t I\t had\t quite\t fo r g o tten\t abo ut\t this\t inter est\t my\t father \t had.\t He\t beg an\t co llecting antiques\t when\t I\t was\t very\t small.\t I\t opened\t an\t old\t chest\t only\t the\t other\t day.\t There\t were\t some\t other things\tof\tthat\tperiod,\tbut\tnone\tas\tvaluable\tas\tthe\tring.\u2019 I\tsipped\tmy\tCoca-Cola\tthrough\ta\tstraw.\tMahabir\tpaused,\tthen\tlowered\this\tvoice.\t\u2018Pritam\tSingh\ttold me\tsomething\trather\tstrange.\u2019 Feluda\t waited\t for\t him\t to\t continue.\t Mahabir\t looked\t around\t carefully\t and\t leant\t forward,\t still speaking\tsoftly. \u2018He\tsaid\the\thad\theard\tmy\tfather\tscream\tthat\tmorning\tbefore\the\thad\this\tsecond\tattack.\u2019 \u2018Oh?\u2019 \u2018Pritam\tSingh\tdidn\u2019t,\tat\tfirst,\tpay\tmuch\tattention\tsince\tmy\tfather\tused\tto\tsuffer\tfrom\tbackache,\tand often\tcried\tout\tin\tpain\twhile\trising\tfrom\ta\tchair\tor\this\tbed.\tYet,\the\twould\tnever\tallow\tanyone\tto\thelp him\tup.\tPritam\tSingh\tthought\tit\twas\this\tbackache\tthat\twas\tbothering\thim\tagain\tthat\tmorning.\tBut\tnow he\tsays\the\tmight\thave\tbeen\tmistaken\tbecause\tapparently\tmy\tfather\thad\tscreamed\tvery\tloudly.\u2019 \u2018Do \t yo u\t happen\t to \t kno w\t if\t anyo ne\t had\t visited\t yo ur \t father \t that\t day?\t Can\t Pr itam\t Sing h\t r emember anything?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\t something\t I\u2019ve\t already\t asked\t him,\t but\t he\t cannot\t say\t anything\t definitely.\t Father\t did o ccasio nally\t have\t visito r s\t in\t the\t mo r ning ,\t but\t Pr itam\t can\u2019t\t no w\t r ecall\t whether \t anyo ne\t in\t par ticular had\tvisited\thim\tthat\tday.\tWhen\the\teventually\twent\tinto\tmy\tfather \u2019s\troom,\the\tfound\thim\tin\tpretty\tbad shape;\tbut\the\twas\talone.\tPritam\tthen\trang\tDr\tSrivastava\tas\tthe\tdoctor\twho\tnormally\ttreated\tFather\u2014 Dr\tGraham\u2014was\taway\tin\tAllahabad,\tattending\ta\tconference.\u2019","\u2018And\twhat\tabout\tthe\tspy?\u2019 \u2018Spy?\tWhat\tspy?\u2019\tMahabir\tsounded\tprofoundly\tstartled. \u2018Oh,\tclearly\tyou\thaven\u2019t\theard\tthis\tone.\tYour\tfather\thad\tstarted\tto\ttell\tDr\tSrivastava\tabout\ta\tspy,\tbut died\tbefore\the\tcould\tfinish\tspeaking.\u2019 Mahabir\tshook\this\thead,\t\u2018I\thad\tno\tidea.\tAnd\tI\tcannot\timagine\twhat\tmy\tfather\tcould\tpossibly\thave had\tto\tdo\twith\ta\tspy!\u2019 I\thad\tjust\tfinished\tmy\tdrink\tand\ttwisted\tthe\tstraw\twhen\tI\tnoticed\ta\ttall\tand\thefty\tman\thaving\ttea\tat the\tnext\ttable,\tstaring\tat\tus.\tHe\trose\tand\tcame\tforward\tas\the\tcaught\tmy\teye. \u2018Namaskaar,\u2019\the\tsaid\tto\tFeluda,\t\u2018hope\tyou\tremember\tme?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\u2019 I\thadn\u2019t\trecognized\thim\tat\tfirst,\tbut\tnow\tI\tcould.\tWe\thad\tseen\tthis\tman\tin\tBonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\thouse. He\twas\tsupposed\tto\tbe\tin\tcharge\tof\tthe\tzoo.\tToday,\the\thad\ta\tpiece\tof\tcotton\tstuck\ton\this\tchin,\theld\tin place\tby\ttwo\tstrips\tof\tsticking\tplaster.\tPerhaps\the\thad\tcut\thimself\twhile\tshaving. \u2018Do\tsit\tdown,\u2019\tFeluda\tinvited.\t\u2018Meet\tMahabir\tSeth.\tThis\tis\tGanesh\tGuha.\u2019 Now\tI\tnoticed\ta\tscratch\ton\this\tneck,\talthough\tit\twas\tclearly\tan\told\tone. \u2018What\thappened\tto\tyour\tchin?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda. Ganesh\t Babu\t picked\t up\t his\t cup\t fr o m\t the\t next\t table\t and\t jo ined\t us.\t \u2018Do n\u2019t\t r emind\t me!\u2019\t he\t winced. \u2018I\u2019m\tsurprised\tmy\twhole\tbody\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\ttorn\tapart.\tYou\tknow\tabout\tmy\tjob,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tBut\tI\tthought\tit\twas\ta\tjob\tyou\u2019d\ttaken\ton\twillingly.\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\tjoking!\tI\tdo\tit\tbecause\tI\thave\tto\u2014simply\tfor\tthe\tmoney.\tI\twas\tonce\tthe\tkeeper\tof\ta\ttiger\tin a\tcircus.\tBut\tthat\ttiger\twas\tdrugged\tmost\tof\tthe\ttime.\tI\ttell\tyou,\tcompared\tto\tthe\tanimals\tI\thandle\tin Bonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\tzoo,\tthat\ttiger\twas\tlittle\tmore\tthan\ta\tbaby!\tThe\twild\tcat\tclawed\tme\tthe\tother\tday, and\tnow\tthe\thyena\tslaps\tme\ton\tthe\tchin!\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\ttake\tit\tany\tmore.\tSo\tI\ttold\tMr\tSarkar\tthis\tmorning I\thad\tmade\tup\tmy\tmind.\tI\twant\tto\tgo\tback\tto\tthat\tcircus.\tHe\tagreed\tto\tlet\tme\tgo.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019\t Feluda\t sounded\t surprised.\t \u2018You\u2019ve\t given\t up\t your\t job?\t Why,\t we\t were\t at\t your\t zoo\t only yesterday!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tknow.\tAnd\tno\tdoubt\tmany\tother\tpeople\twould\tlike\tto\tgo\tand\tvisit\tmy\tzoo.\tBut\tI\tam\tclearing out!\t I\u2019ll\t go\t straight\t to\t the\t station\t from\t here\t and\t buy\t myself\t a\t ticket\t to\t Howrah.\t Then\t I\u2019ll\t soon\t be home,\taway\tfrom\tit\tall.\tThe\tthing\tis\u2014\u2019\the\tstooped\tand\tspoke\tinto\tFeluda\u2019s\tear,\t\u2018That\tman\tis\tnot\t.\t.\t.\tas straightforward\tas\the\tmight\tseem.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tBonobihari\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018He\twas\tall\tright,\tI\tguess,\tuntil\the\tlaid\this\thands\ton\tsomething.\tThen\the\tlost\this\thead.\u2019 \u2018What\tthing?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019ve\talready\tsaid\ttoo\tmuch!\u2019 Ganesh\tGuha\tdropped\ta\tfew\tcoins\ton\tthe\tnext\ttable\tand\tdisappeared. Feluda\tturned\tto\tMahabir\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Have\tyou\tever\tseen\tBonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\tzoo?\u2019 \u2018No.\t I\u2019d\t have\t liked\t to\t have\t seen\t it,\t but\t my\t father\t was\t dead\t against\t the\t idea.\t He\t hated\t the\t kind\t of animals\tthat\tzoo\tis\treported\tto\tbe\tfilled\twith.\tIn\tfact,\tthe\tsight\tof\ta\tcockroach\twould\thave\tgiven\thim palpitations!\tBut\tnow\t.\t.\t.\tyes,\tI\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tgo\tand\tsee\tit.\u2019 Mahabir\tsnapped\this\tfingers\tat\ta\twaiter.\tFeluda\thad\talready\toffered\tto\tpay,\tbut\tMahabir\twould\tnot let\thim.\tWell,\tI\tthought\tto\tmyself,\ta\tfilm\tactor\twas\tsupposed\tto\tmake\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney.\tSo\tpaying\tfor\ta","cup\tof\ttea\tand\ta\tcold\tdrink\tcouldn\u2019t\thurt\thim\tmuch. After\tpaying\tthe\tbill,\the\ttook\tout\ta\tpacket\tof\tcigarettes\tand\toffered\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tI\tnoticed\tthey\twere Charminars. \u2018How\tlong\tare\tyou\there\tfor?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Tomorrow\t we\u2019re\t going\t to\t Haridwar\t for\t a\t couple\t of\t days,\t but\t after\t that\t we\u2019re\t here\t until\t next month.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tall\tgoing\tto\tHaridwar?\u2019 \u2018No,\t Dhiru\t Kaka\t cannot\t get\t away.\t So\t we\t three\t are\t going,\t and\t possibly\t Bonobihari\t Babu.\t He\u2019s going\tto\tlook\tfor\ta\tpython\tin\tLaxmanjhoola.\u2019 We\twent\tout\tof\tthe\trestaurant. \u2018I\thave\ta\tcar,\u2019\tMahabir\toffered,\t\u2018I\tcould\tgive\tyou\ta\tlift.\u2019 \u2018No,\t thanks,\u2019\t said\t Feluda.\t \u2018We\t can\t ride\t in\t a\t motor\t car\t any\t time\t in\t Calcutta.\t A\t tonga\t is\t a\t new experience,\tand\tan\tenjoyable\tone!\u2019 Mahabir\ttook\tFeluda\u2019s\thand\tand\tclasped\tit\twarmly.\t\u2018It\treally\twas\ta\tpleasure\tto\tmeet\tyou,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Let\t me\t tell\t yo u\t just\t o ne\t thing \u2014if\t I\t g et\t evidence\t that\t my\t father \t did\t no t\t die\t a\t natur al\t death\t and\t that someone\t was\t responsible\t for\t it,\t I\t will\t not\t rest\t until\t I\t have\t tracked\t down\t the\t criminal\t and\t settled scores\twith\thim.\tI\tmay\tbe\tyoung,\tbut\tI\tdid\tspend\tfour\tyears\tin\tthe\tMilitary\tAcademy.\tI\thave\ta\tlicensed revolver,\tand\tI\tam\ta\tcrack\tshot\t.\t.\t.\tgood-bye!\u2019 He\tcrossed\tthe\troad,\tgot\tinto\this\tblack\tStandard\tand\tdrove\toff.\tFeluda\tsimply\tsaid,\t\u2018Bravo!\u2019 Yes,\tthe\tplot\thad\tcertainly\tthickened.\tThere\tappeared\tto\tbe\ta\tpuzzle\twithin\ta\tpuzzle,\ta\tmaze\twithin\ta maze. We\tbegan\twalking\tin\tsearch\tof\ta\ttonga.\tFeluda\tdidn\u2019t\treally\tneed\tblades,\tI\trealized.","Seven We\t had\t to\t take\t the\t Doon\t Express\t to\t get\t to\t Haridwar.\t It\t left\t Lucknow\t in\t the\t evening\t and\t reached Haridwar\tat\t4.30\ta.m. When\tBaba\thad\tmentioned\ta\tpossible\tvisit\tto\tHaridwar\tbefore\twe\tleft\tCalcutta,\tI\thad\tbeen\tpleased. Puri\twas\tthe\tonly\tholy\tplace\tI\thad\tseen.\tSo\tthe\tthought\tof\tseeing\tanother\twas\tquite\texciting.\tBut\tnow, after\tall\tthis\thullabaloo\tover\tthe\tstolen\tring,\tI\tdid\tnot\tfeel\tlike\tleaving\tLucknow. Feluda,\thowever,\thad\tnot\tlost\this\tenthusiasm.\t\u2018You\u2019ll\tsee\thow\tinteresting\tit\tis\tto\tgo\tfrom\tHaridwar to \t Hr ishikesh\t and\t then\t to \t Laxmanjho o la.\t The\t r iver \t is\t differ ent\t in\t each\t place.\t The\t fur ther \t no r th\t yo u go,\tthe\tstronger\tit\tgets.\tIn\tLaxmanjhoola,\tit\tgushes\twith\tsuch\tpowerful\tturbulence\tthat\tit\u2019s\tpractically impossible\tto\thave\ta\tconversation\tby\tits\tside.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tbeen\tto\tall\tthese\tplaces?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\twent\tto\tall\tthree\tafter\tmy\tlast\tvisit\tto\tLucknow.\u2019 Dhiru\tKaka\thimself\tdrove\tus\tto\tthe\tstation.\tAlmost\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\thad\tmoved\tinto\tour\tcoach\twith our\tbaggage,\tDr\tSrivastava\tturned\tup.\tNice\tof\thim\tto\thave\tcome\tto\tsee\tus\toff.\tBut\tno,\ta\tcoolie\twas carrying\this\tsuitcase!\tWe\tstared\tat\thim.\t\u2018I\thad\tasked\tDhiru\tBabu\tnot\tto\ttell,\u2019\tDr\tSrivastava\tlaughed,\tas the\tcoolie\tput\tthe\tsuitcase\tdown.\t\u2018He\tknew\tI\twanted\tto\tgo\twith\tyou.\tGave\tyou\ta\tsurprise,\tdidn\u2019t\tI?\u2019 Baba\tseemed\tvery\tpleased. \u2018Good,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tyou\u2019d\tbe\table\tto\tcome\taway,\tor\tI\u2019d\thave\tasked\tyou\tmyself.\u2019 Srivastava\tdusted\tone\tcorner\tof\ta\tseat\tand\tsat\tdown.\t\u2018To\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018I\u2019ve\ttried\tnot\tto show\t it,\t but\t I\t have\t been\t upset\t by\t the\t loss\t of\t Pyarelal\u2019s\t gift.\t So\t I\t thought,\t getting\t away\t from\t it\t all might\tdo\tme\tsome\tgood.\u2019 Bonobihari\t Babu\t arrived\t within\t five\t minutes,\t with\t rather\t a\t lot\t of\t luggage.\t He\t greeted\t everyone with\ta\tsmile\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Stand\tby\tnow\tfor\ta\tspectacular\tevent.\tPavitrananda\tSwami\tis\ttravelling\tin\tthis train.\tHis\tfollowers\tare\tcoming\tto\tbid\thim\tfarewell.\tWitness\ttheir\tdevotion!\u2019 A\t plump,\t saffr o n-clad\t fig ur e\t ar r ived\t a\t little\t later,\t lo ng \t hair \t flo wing \t do wn\t his\t sho ulder s.\t He\t was accompanied\tby\tdozens\tof\tpeople\twith\tgarlands\tin\ttheir\thands.\tHe\tgot\tinto\tthe\tfirst-class\tcoach\tnext to\tours.\tA\tfew\tothers\tcrowded\tround\tthe\tdoorway.\tPresumably,\tall\tthese\twere\this\tdevotees. There\t were\t just\t five\t minutes\t left\t before\t the\t train\u2019s\t departure.\t We\t had\t all\t climbed\t into\t our\t own carriage.\t Dhiru\t Kaka\t was\t standing\t on\t the\t platform,\t chatting\t with\t Baba\t through\t an\t open\t window, when\t o ne\t o f\t the\t men\t in\t saffr o n\t detached\t himself\t fr o m\t the\t g r o up\t and\t came\t walking \t to war ds\t Dhir u Kaka,\ta\tbig\tsmile\ton\this\tface,\this\tarm\toutstretched. \u2018Dhiru?\tDo\tyou\tremember\tme?\u2019 Dhir u\t Kaka\t star ed\t dumbly\t fo r \t a\t few\t seco nds,\t then\t with\t a\t sho ut\t o f\t jo y\t str o de\t fo r war d\t and\t near ly hugged\tthe\tother\tman. \u2018Ambika!\tIs\tit\treally\tyou?\tGoodness\u2014why\tare\tyou\twearing\tthese\tclothes?\u2019","\u2018Why,\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tin\tsaffron\tnow\tfor\tseven\tyears!\u2019 Dhiru\tKaka\tintroduced\thim. \u2018Ambika\tand\tI\twere\tclassmates\tin\tschool.\tWe\tlast\tmet\teach\tother\tabout\tfifteen\tyears\tago.\u2019 The\t guard\t blew\t his\t whistle.\t The\t wheels\t creaked\t into\t motion\t and\t we\t heard\t Ambika\t Babu\t tell\t his friend,\t\u2018I\twent\tto\tyour\thouse\tthe\tother\tday.\tYou\tweren\u2019t\tin,\tso\tI\twaited\tfor\tnearly\thalf-an-hour.\tDidn\u2019t your\tbearer\ttell\tyou?\u2019 We\tcouldn\u2019t\thear\twhat\tDhiru\tKaka\tsaid\tin\treply,\tfor\tthe\ttrain\thad\tgathered\tspeed. Amazed,\tI\tlooked\tfirst\tat\tFeluda,\tand\tthen\tat\tBaba.\tFeluda\u2019s\tbrows\twere\tknitted\tin\ta\tdeep\tfrown. \u2018Very\tstrange!\u2019\tBaba\tsaid. \u2018Had\tyou\tbeen\tsuspecting\tthat\tgentleman\tof\thaving\tstolen\tthe\tring?\u2019\tasked\tBonobihari\tBabu. \u2018Yes,\tbut\tobviously\tthat\tmust\tnow\tbe\truled\tout.\tBut\tthen\twho\ttook\tthe\tring?\tWhere\tdid\tit\tgo?\u2019 The\t train\t clanked\t out\t of\t the\t platform.\t I\t stared\t with\t unseeing\t eyes\t at\t the\t minarets\t on\t top\t of\t the statio n.\t They\t wer e\t beautiful,\t but\t I\t was\t in\t no \t mo o d\t to \t admir e\t them.\t All\t my\t tho ug hts\t wer e\t co nfused. What\twas\tFeluda\tthinking?\tWas\the\tfeeling\ta\tlittle\tembarrassed?\tAfter\tall,\the\thad\trun\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tthe station\tto\ttrace\tthe\tsadhubaba. But\tif\tthe\tman\twe\tjust\tsaw\ttalking\twith\tDhiru\tKaka\twas\ta\tperfectly\tgenuine\tsannyasi,\twho\twas\tthat other\tman\twith\tan\tattach\u00e9\tcase?\tHad\the\tbeen\tloitering\toutside\tDhiru\tKaka\u2019s\thouse\tthe\tsame\tevening? If\tso,\twas\tit\tbecause\the\tknew\tabout\tthe\tring,\tor\twas\tthere\ta\tdifferent\treason?\tAnd\twho\thad\tthrown\tthat piece\tof\tpaper\tat\tFeluda\twith\t\u2018Watch\tOut!\u2019\twritten\ton\tit? Was\t Feluda\t asking\t himself\t the\t same\t questions?\t I\t looked\t at\t him\t again\t and\t found\t him\t deeply engrossed\t in\t reading\t his\t blue\t notebook\t with\t the\t Greek\t scribbles\t and,\t occasionally,\t making\t further notes. Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t suddenly\t tur ned\t to \t Dr \t Sr ivastava\t and\t asked,\t \u2018Tell\t me,\t Do cto r,\t wer e\t yo u\t the\t last person\tto\tsee\tPyarelal\talive?\u2019 Dr\tSrivastava\twas\tin\tthe\tprocess\tof\ttaking\tout\toranges\tfrom\ta\tbag.\t\u2018Yes,\u2019\the\treplied,\toffering\tthem to\teveryone,\t\u2018I\twas\tcertainly\tby\this\tbedside\twhen\the\tdied.\tSo\twere\this\twidowed\tsister,\this\tbearer\tand another\tservant.\u2019 \u2018Hm,\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tsaid\tgravely.\t\u2018Were\tyou\tinformed\tafter\the\tsuffered\tthe\tattack?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\ttreat\tailments\tof\tthe\theart\tas\twell?\u2019 \u2018Ther e\t is\t no \t r easo n\t why\t an\t o steo path\t canno t\t lo o k\t at\t a\t hear t\t patient,\t if\t need\t be.\t Besides,\t his\t o wn doctor\u2014Dr\tGraham\u2014was\tout\tof\ttown\tthat\tday.\tSo\tthey\tcalled\tme.\u2019 \u2018Who\tdid?\u2019 \u2018His\tbearer.\u2019 \u2018Bearer?\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\traised\this\teyebrows. \u2018Yes.\tPritam\tSingh.\tHe\u2019s\tbeen\twith\tthe\tfamily\tfor\tyears.\tA\tvery\tsensible\tand\ttrustworthy\tman.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\ttook\tthe\tpipe\tout\tof\this\tmouth\tand\tpopped\ta\tpiece\tof\torange\tinto\tit. \u2018Yo u\t to ld\t us\t Pyar elal\t g ave\t yo u\t that\t r ing \t after \t his\t fir st\t attack.\t When\t he\t had\t his\t seco nd,\t yo u\t wer e called,\tbut\the\tdied.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\u2019 \u2018Was\tanyone\telse\tpresent\tin\tthe\troom\twhen\tyou\twere\tgiven\tthat\tring?\u2019","\u2018How\tcould\tthat\tbe,\tBonobihari\tBabu?\tOne\tdoesn\u2019t\tgive\taway\tprecious\tand\tvaluable\tthings\tin\tfront of\tan\taudience.\tBesides,\tyou\tknow\twhat\tkind\tof\ta\tman\tPyarelal\twas.\tHe\twould\tnever\thave\twanted\t to publicize\t a\t noble\t deed.\t Do\t you\t know\t how\t many\t charities\t he\t supported\t secretly?\t He\t donated\t very heavily\tto\thospitals\tand\torphanages,\tyet\tit\twas\tnever\treported\tin\tthe\tpress.\tHe\twouldn\u2019t\tallow\tit!\u2019 \u2018Hm.\u2019 Srivastava\tstared\tat\tBonobihari\tBabu. \u2018Do\t you\t have\t .\t .\t .\t reservations\t about\t what\t I\u2019ve\t just\t said?\u2019\t he\t asked.\t \u2018The\t thing\t is,\t you\t see,\u2019\t said Bonobihari\tBabu,\t\u2018I\tdo\tthink\tit\twould\u2019ve\tbeen\tsensible\tif\tyou\thad\tgot\tsomeone\tto\twitness\tthe\tevent. Such\ta\tvaluable\tobject\tchanged\thands,\tand\tyet\tno\tone\tcan\ttestify\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Srivastava\twas\tstill\tstaring,\tspeechless.\tThen\the\tburst\tout\tlaughing. \u2018Tr emendo us!\u2019\t he\t exclaimed.\t \u2018This\t r eally\t takes\t the\t cake.\t What\t yo u\u2019r e\t implying \t is\t that\t I\t sto le\t the ring\tfrom\tPyarelal,\tthen\tI\tgave\tit\tto\tDhiru\tBabu,\tand\tthen\tI\twent\talong\tand\tstole\tin\tback!\tWonderful!\u2019 The\texpression\ton\tBonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\tface\tdid\tnot\tchange.\t\u2018You\tacted\tsensibly,\u2019\the\tsaid\tcoolly,\t\u2018I would\u2019ve\tdone\tthe\tsame.\tYou\ttook\tthe\tring\tover\tto\tDhiru\tBabu\tto\tkeep\tit\tsafe\tfrom\tthe\tburglar\twho had\t broken\t into\t your\t house.\t Then\t you\t took\t it\t back\t and\t thought\t the\t burglars\t wouldn\u2019t\t attack\t your house\tagain.\tTell\tme,\tFelu\tBabu,\tI\tam\tnot\ttoo\tbad\tat\tdetection,\tam\tI?\u2019 Feluda\tshut\this\tnotebook\tand\tbegan\tpeeling\tan\torange. \u2018Surely,\u2019\t he\t asked,\t \u2018there\t are\t plenty\t of\t witnesses\t to\t testify\t that\t Dr\t Srivastava\t did\t indeed\t save Mahabir \u2019s\tlife?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthere\tprobably\tare,\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\thad\tto\tadmit. \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\tit\tis\tmy\tbelief\tthat\tno\tmatter\thow\tvaluable\tthat\tring\twas,\tits\tvalue\tcould\tnot\thave\tbeen more\t than\t that\t of\t a\t child\u2019s\t life.\t If\t Dr\t Srivastava\t did\t steal\t that\t ring,\t he\t is\t certainly\t an\t offender.\t But those\twho\tare\tnow\tafter\tit\tare\treal\tcriminals;\tand\tdangerous\tones,\tat\tthat.\u2019 \u2018I\t see,\u2019\t Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t said\t g r avely,\t \u2018yo u\t do n\u2019t\t believe\t that\t Sr ivastava\t has\t still\t g o t\t the\t r ing ,\t do you?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t,\tbecause\tI\thave\tevidence\tto\tthe\tcontrary.\u2019 Everyone\tin\tthe\tcoach\twas\tsilent.\tI\tstared\tat\tFeluda.\tBonobihari\tBabu\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tspeak. \u2018May\tI\task\twhat\tevidence\tit\tis?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t you\t certainly\t may,\t but\t you\t won\u2019t\t get\t an\t answer,\t for\t the\t right\t time\t to\t discuss\t it\t hasn\u2019t\t yet come.\u2019 I\t had\t never\t heard\t Feluda\t speak\t with\t such\t authority.\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t spoke\t again,\t with\t a\t hint\t of sarcasm\tin\this\tvoice,\t\u2018Let\u2019s\thope\tI\tlive\tto\tsee\tthe\tday!\u2019 \u2018It\tshouldn\u2019t\ttake\tlong,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018There\tis\tonly\tthat\tmatter\tof\tthe\tspy\tto\tbe\tcleared\tup.\u2019 \u2018Spy?\u2019\tasked\tBonobihari\tBabu,\tsurprised.\t\u2018What\tspy?\u2019 Dr\tSrivastava\tspoke\tthis\ttime. \u2018I\t think\t Felu\t Babu\t is\t referring\t to\t Pyarelal\u2019s\t last\t words.\t Just\t before\t he\t died,\t he\t did\t say\t the\t word \u201cspy\u201d.\tIn\tfact,\the\tsaid\tit\ttwice.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\tfrown\twent\tdeeper. \u2018Strange!\tA\tspy\tin\tLucknow?\u2019\tThen,\tpipe\tin\thand,\the\tstared\tat\tthe\tfloor.\t\u2018Yes,\tit\tcould\tbe\t.\t.\t.\tI\tdid suspect\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tmuttered. \u2018What?\u2019","\u2018No,\tnever\tmind.\tI\tmay\tbe\twrong.\u2019 Clear ly\t he\t did\t no t\t wish\t to \t talk\t abo ut\t it.\t In\t any\t case,\t we\t had\t r eached\t Har do i,\t so \t o ur \t co nver satio n came\tto\ta\thalt. \u2018A\tcup\tof\ttea\tmight\tbe\ta\tgood\tidea,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tand\twent\tdown\ton\tto\tthe\tplatform.\tI\tjoined\thim\tfor I\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tthe\tpoint\tin\tsitting\tinside\ta\ttrain\twhen\tit\twas\tstanding\tat\ta\tstation. Just\tas\tI\tclimbed\tdown\tfrom\tour\tcoach,\tanother\tman\tin\tsaffron\tclothes\tturned\tup\tfrom\tsomewhere and\tgot\tin. \u2018This\tis\treserved,\u2019\tsaid\tBonobihari\tBabu\tquickly,\t\u2018there\u2019s\tno\troom.\u2019 \u2018Please,\t sir,\u2019\t pleaded\t the\t man,\t \u2018allo w\t me\t to \t tr avel\t up\t to \t Bar eilly.\t Then\t I\u2019ll\t g o \t elsewher e.\t I\t wo n\u2019t disturb\tyou\tat\tnight.\u2019 Rather\t reluctantly,\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t made\t room\t for\t him\t to\t sit.\t \u2018These\t sannyasis\t will\t drive\t me mad,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\twaving\tat\tthe\tchaiwalla. The\tman\twith\tthe\ttea\tcame\trunning.\t\u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tsome?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\twhy\tnot?\u2019 Feluda\tasked\tthe\tothers,\tbut\tthey\tall\tdeclined. I\t was\t soon\t handed\t an\t earthen\t pot,\t filled\t with\t hot,\t steaming\t tea.\t I\t shifted\t it\t from\t one\t hand\t to\t the other,\twaiting\tfor\tit\tto\tcool,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018If\tDr\tSrivastava\tturns\tout\tto\tbe\tthe\tthief,\tI\tshall\tbe\tvery\tupset.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked,\tcasually\tsipping\tthe\thot\ttea. \u2018Because\tI\tlike\thim\u2014he\tseems\tsuch\ta\tnice\tman!\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\ta\tfathead!\tHaven\u2019t\tyou\tread\twhodunits?\tThe\tperson\twho\tappears\tto\tbe\tthe\tleast\tsuspicious always\tturns\tout\tto\tbe\tthe\tculprit.\u2019 \u2018But\tthis\tis\tnot\ta\tstory.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\tDon\u2019t\twriters\tbase\ttheir\tstories\ton\twhat\tthey\tsee\tin\treal\tlife?\u2019 This\tannoyed\tme\tvery\tmuch. \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\u2019\tI\tasked,\t\u2018when\tDr\tSrivastava\tcame\tto\tour\thouse\twith\tthe\tring,\twho\twas\twatching\thim from\tthe\tgate\tand\tsmoking\ta\tCharminar?\u2019 \u2018That\tmight\thave\tbeen\tthe\tburglar\u2014or\this\taccomplice.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tto\tsay,\tSrivastava\tis\ta\tcriminal\tand\tso\tare\tthe\tburglars,\twhich\twould\tmake\teveryone\ta villain\tbecause\tGanesh\tGuha\tsaid\tBonobihari\tBabu\twasn\u2019t\tsimple,\teither!\u2019 Feluda\ttook\tanother\tsip.\tBut\tbefore\the\tcould\treply,\tanother\tscrewed\tup\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tcame\tflying, hit\thim\ton\tthe\tforehead\tand\tfell\tinto\this\tearthen\tpot. Feluda\tretrieved\tit\tinstantly,\tscanned\tit\tand\tglanced\tat\tthe\tcrowd\ton\tthe\tplatform.\tThen\twe\theard\tthe guard\u2019s\twhistle.\tThere\twas\tno\ttime\tnow\tto\tlook\tfor\tthe\tperson\twho\tthrew\tit. Before\tgetting\tback\tto\tour\tcompartment,\tFeluda\tlooked\tonce\tmore\tat\twhat\twas\twritten\ton\tthe\tpaper and\tshowed\tit\tto\tme\tbefore\tscrewing\tit\tup\tagain\tand\tthrowing\tit\taway\ton\tthe\ttrack. It\tsaid:\t\u2018Watch\tOut!\u2019\tand\tthe\twords\twere\twritten\twith\tthe\tsame\tred\tjuice\tof\ta\tpaan. The\tthrilling\tand\tmysterious\taffair\tof\tthe\tEmperor \u2019s\tring\thad\tnot\tbeen\tleft\tbehind\tin\tLucknow\tat all.\tIt\twas\ttravelling\twith\tus.","Eight It\twas\tgetting\tdark.\tThe\tlights\tin\tthe\ttrain\thad\tjust\tcome\ton.\tWe\twere\tspeeding\ton\tour\tway\tto\tBareilly. There\twere\tseven\tpeople\tin\tall.\tFeluda\tand\tI\thad\tone\tberth,\tBaba\tand\tSrivastava\thad\tanother\tand\ton the\t third\t sat\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t and\t the\t sannyasi.\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t had\t placed\t a\t large\t trunk\t and\t a wo o den\t packing \t cr ate\t o n\t the\t bunk\t o ver \t the\t ber th\t Baba\t and\t Sr ivastava\t wer e\t shar ing .\t A\t str ang er \t was sleeping\tin\tthe\tberth\tover\tmine.\tHe\twas\tall\twrapped\tup\tin\ta\tsheet.\tAll\tI\tcould\tsee\twere\this\ttoes.\tHe\thad not\tstirred\tsince\twe\tleft\tLucknow. I\t looked\t around.\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t was\t sitting\t crosslegged,\t smoking\t his\t pipe,\t Srivastava\t was reading\t the\t Gitanjali,\t and\t Baba\t looked\t as\t though\t he\t was\t trying\t very\t hard\t to\t keep\t awake.\t He\t kept rubbing\this\teyes\tas\the\ttried\tto\tsit\tup\tstraight. The\t sannyasi\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t interested\t in\t us\t at\t all.\t He\t was\t turning\t the\t pages\t of\t a\t Hindi\t newspaper. Feluda\twas\tsinging\ta\tsong\tin\tUrdu,\ttapping\this\tfeet\tto\tthe\trhythm\tof\tthe\twheels: Jab\tchhor\tchaley\tLucknow\tnagari Kahen\thaal\tke\thum\tpar\tkya\tguzri. He\thummed\tthe\trest\tof\tit.\tI\tcould\ttell\the\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tthe\twords\tbeyond\tthe\tfirst\ttwo\tlines. Bonobihari\tBabu\tspoke\tunexpectedly. \u2018How\tdo\tyou\thappen\tto\tknow\tthis\tsong\tof\tWajid\tAli\tShah?\u2019 \u2018An\tuncle\tof\tmine\tused\tto\tsing\tit,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\t\u2018He\twas\ta\tvery\ttalented\tthumri\tsinger.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tinhaled\tdeeply,\tstared\tout\tat\tthe\tred\twestern\tsky\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Nawab\tWajid\tAli\tShah was\t an\t amazing\t man.\t He\t was\t both\t a\t singer\t and\t a\t composer.\t He\t composed\t the\t first\t Indian\t opera\u2014 very\tmuch\tin\tthe\tstyle\tof\tWestern\toperas.\tBut\the\twas\tnot\ta\twarrior.\tSo\tthe\tBritish\ttook\tLucknow,\tand the\t Nawab\t left\t for\t Bengal.\t His\t last\t days\t were\t spent\t in\t Matiaburuz,\t where\t all\t the\t Muslim\t tailors\t of Calcutta\tnow\tlive.\tWhat\twas\tmost\tinteresting\twas\tthat\tWajid\tAli\tgot\ttogether\twith\tRajen\tMullik,\twho was\twell\tknown\tfor\this\twealth,\tand\tplanned\tthe\tfirst\tzoo\tin\tCalcutta.\u2019 He\trose\tto\this\tfeet\tand\topened\this\ttrunk.\tThen\the\ttook\tout\ta\ttape-recorder. \u2018Allow\t me\t to\t play\t some\t of\t my\t favourite\t music,\u2019\t he\t said.\t He\t lifted\t the\t top\t and\t pressed\t a\t key. Something\tinside\tthe\trecorder\tbegan\twhirring. \u2018If\tyou\treally\twish\tto\tenjoy\tthis\tmusic,\tlook\tout\tof\tthe\twindow.\u2019\tI\tdid.\tIn\tthe\tquickly\tgathering\tdusk, I\tsaw\ta\twhole\tjungle\trush\tpast\tour\twindow,\tand\tfrom\tits\tdepths\tcame\tthe\tharsh\tcry\tof\ta\twild\tcat.\tOr so\tit\tseemed. \u2018I\t have\t kept\t the\t volume\t low,\u2019\t said\t Bonobihari\t Babu,\t \u2018so\t it\t would\t seem\t as\t though\t the\t sound\t was coming\tfrom\tafar.\u2019 The\tcat\twas\tfollowed\tby\tthe\thyena.\tIt\twas\tfascinating.\tThe\ttrain\twas\ttearing\tthrough\ta\tjungle,\tand\tit seemed\tas\tthough\tthe\thyena\u2019s\tlaugh\twas\tcoming\tfrom\toutside,\techoing\tthrough\tthe\ttrees.\tThen\tcame","a\tdifferent\tsound. \u2018Kir-r-r-r-r-r-r\tkit\tkit!\tKir-r-r-r-r-r-r\tkit\tkit!\u2019 My\theart\tbeat\tfaster.\tEven\tthe\tsannyasi\thad\tsat\tup\tand\twas\tlistening\tintently. \u2018Rattle-snake,\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\texplained.\t\u2018That\tnoise\tmight\tfrighten\tyou,\tbut\tthe\tsnake\tmakes\tit simply\tto\tlet\tthe\tother\tanimals\tknow\tof\tits\texistence,\tso\tthat\tit\tdoesn\u2019t\tget\ttrampled\ton.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tit\twouldn\u2019t\tnormally\tattack\tman?\u2019\tBaba\tasked. \u2018No,\tnot\tnormally.\tBut\tthen,\tnor\twould\tany\tother\tsnake.\tBut\tif\tit\twas\tcornered\tor\tprovoked,\tmost certainly\t it\t would\t turn\t aggressive.\t For\t instance,\t if\t it\t was\t held\t captive\t in\t a\t small\t room\t and\t you happened\tto\tbe\tin\tit,\tI\u2019d\tsay\tyour\tchances\tof\tbeing\tattacked\twould\tbe\tpretty\tstrong.\tThere\tis\tone\tother thing.\tThese\tsnakes\tcan\tsee\tin\tthe\tdark.\u2019 He\t switched\t the\t recorder\t off,\t and\t said,\t \u2018Unfortunately,\t the\t other\t inmates\t of\t my\t zoo\t are\t not r epr esented\t her e.\t Two \t o f\t them\u2014the\t spider \t and\t the\t sco r pio n\u2014ar e,\t o f\t co ur se,\t to tally\t silent.\t No w\t if\t I get\tthat\tpython,\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\trecord\tits\thiss.\u2019 \u2018It\tfelt\tweird\tto\thear\tthose\tsounds,\u2019\tsaid\tBaba. \u2018Yes,\t it\t must\t have\t done.\t But\t it\t is\t different\t for\t me,\t you\t see.\t What\t you\t just\t heard,\t to\t my\t ears,\t is sweeter\tthan\tmusic.\tSince\tI\tcannot\ttake\tmy\tanimals\twith\tme\twhen\tI\ttravel,\tI\tcarry\ttheir\tvoices\u2014so\tto speak.\u2019 The\ttrain\tpulled\tin\tat\tBareilly.\tA\twaiter\tcame\tin\twith\tour\tdinner,\tand\tthe\tsannyasi\tleft. Having\tfinished\twhat\twas\ton\this\town\tplate,\tFeluda\tcoolly\thelped\thimself\tto\ta\tleg\tof\tchicken\tfrom mine. \u2018Chicken\tis\tgood\tfor\tthe\tbrain\twhen\tit\u2019s\tbeing\texercised\tso\tmuch,\u2019\the\tsaid\tby\tway\tof\texplanation. \u2018I\tsee.\tAnd\tam\tI\tnot\texercising\tmy\tbrain?\u2019 \u2018No.\tFor\tyou\tthe\twhole\tthing\u2019s\tno\tmore\tthan\ta\tgame.\u2019 \u2018So\twhere\thave\tyou\tgot\tto,\twith\tall\tyour\tbrain\tpower?\u2019 Feluda\t lowered\t his\t voice,\t so\t that\t only\t I\t could\t hear\t what\t he\t said.\t \u2018I\t have\t got\t an\t idea\t which\t spy Pyarelal\thad\ttried\tto\ttalk\tabout.\u2019\tHe\trefused\tto\tsay\tany\tmore. The\ttrain\tleft\tBareilly. \u2018We\thave\tto\tget\tup\tat\tfour\tin\tthe\tmorning,\u2019\tsaid\tBaba.\t\u2018It\u2019s\ttime\tfor\tbed,\tI\tthink.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tswitched\tthe\tlights\toff. \u2018I\tshan\u2019t\tsleep,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018But\trest\tassured,\tI\u2019ll\twake\tyou\tbefore\twe\tget\tto\tHaridwar.\u2019 I\tstretched\tout\ton\tone\thalf\tof\tour\tberth,\tleaving\tthe\tother\tfor\tFeluda.\tLooking\tout\tof\tthe\twindow,\tI could\tsee\tthe\tmoon.\tIt\tseemed\tto\tbe\ttravelling\twith\tus. What\t wer e\t we\t g o ing \t to \t do \t in\t Har idwar ?\t The\t mo o n,\t fo r \t so me\t o dd\t r easo n,\t made\t me\t think.\t Ther e was\tplenty\tto\tsee\tin\tHaridwar,\tI\tknew.\tBut\tif\twe\tcame\taway\tsimply\tafter\ta\tlook\tat\tthe\tGanges\tand\tthe temples,\tit\twould\tall\tbe\trather\ttame.\tSomething\thad\tto\thappen.\tI\twanted\tsomething\texciting\tto\thappen. The\ttrain\twas\tmaking\tsuch\ta\tracket.\tHow\tcould\tanyone\tsleep\tin\tthis?\tBut,\tof\tcourse,\tpeople\tdid.\tIt was\t strange.\t If,\t at\t home,\t there\t was\t a\t constant\t clanking\t noise\t and\t someone\t kept\t shaking\t my\t bed, would\tI\tever\tbe\table\tto\tsleep\ta\twink?\tI\thad\tto\task\tFeluda. \u2018If\ta\tparticular\tnoise\tgoes\ton\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime,\u2019\the\treplied,\t\u2018the\tears\tget\tused\tto\tit;\tso\tafter\ta\tpoint,\tit doesn\u2019t\tdisturb.\tAnd\tthe\trocking\tactually\thelps\tone\tto\tsleep.\tHaven\u2019t\tyou\tseen\tbabies\tbeing\trocked\tto","sleep?\tAs\ta\tmatter\tof\tfact,\tif\tthe\tnoise\tor\tthe\tmovement\tstopped,\tyou\u2019d\twake\tinstantly,\twhich\tis\twhy, very\toften,\tone\twakes\twhen\ta\ttrain\tstops\tat\ta\tstation.\u2019 Feluda\t was\t r ig ht.\t So o n,\t my\t eyes\t g r ew\t heavy\t with\t sleep\t and\t I\t beg an\t to \t see\t thing s.\t Fo r \t a\t minute,\t I thought\t the\t man\t who\t was\t sleeping\t on\t the\t upper\t berth\t climbed\t down\t and\t moved\t around\t in\t the co mpar tment.\t Then\t I\t hear d\t a\t laug h\u2014it\t co uld\t have\t been\t a\t man\t o r \t a\t hyena.\t But\t ther e\t was\t no \t time\t to think\tfor\tI\twas\tlost\tin\tthe\tBhoolbhulaia,\tgoing\tcrazy\ttrying\tto\tfind\tmy\tway\tout.\tEach\ttime\tI\tturned\ta corner,\tthere\twas\ta\thuge\tspider\tblocking\tmy\tway\tand\tstaring\tat\tme\tthrough\tgreen,\tluminescent\teyes. Then\tit\tlifted\tone\tof\tits\tlarge\thairy\tlegs\tand\tlaid\tit\ton\tmy\tshoulder.\tAt\tthat\tmoment,\tI\topened\tmy\teyes and\tfound\tFeluda\tshaking\tme\tby\tthe\tshoulder. \u2018Get\tup,\tTopshe.\tHere\u2019s\tHaridwar!\u2019","Nine \u2018Panda?\tWould\tyou\tlike\ta\tpanda?\u2019 \u2018May\tI\thave\tyour\tname,\tbabu?\tWhere\tare\tyou\tfrom?\u2019 \u2018This\tway,\tbabu.\tWhich\tdharamshala\tare\tyou\tbooked\tat?\u2019 \u2018You\twill\tgo\tto\tthe\ttemple\tof\tBaba\tDaksheshwar,\twon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 I\thad\tno\tidea\tthe\tgroup\tof\tpandas\twaiting\ton\tthe\tplatform\twould\tsurround\tus\tlike\tthis,\teven\tthough Feluda\thad\twarned\tme\tof\tthe\tpossibility.\tThese\tpandas\tapparently\tkept\thuge\tledgers\tthat\theld\trecords of\tone\u2019s\tancestors\u2014those\twho\thad\tvisited\tHaridwar,\tthat\tis\u2014going\tback\tseveral\thundred\tyears.\tMy g r eat-g r eat-g r andfather \t was\t suppo sed\t to \t have\t left\t ho me\t to \t beco me\t a\t sannyasi.\t He\t had\t spent\t a\t lo ng time\t in\t Har idwar.\t Per haps\t o ne\t o f\t tho se\t ledg er s\t co ntained\t his\t name\t and\t addr ess,\t o r \t maybe\t even\t his handwriting?\tWho\tcould\ttell? \u2018There\tis\tno\tneed\tfor\ta\tpanda,\u2019\tsaid\tBonobihari\tBabu,\t\u2018that\twould\tonly\tadd\tto\tthe\tconfusion.\tLet\u2019s go\tto\tSheetal\tDas\u2019s\tdharamshala.\tI\tknow\tthe\tplace.\tWe\tcould\tbe\ttogether,\tand\tthe\tfood\u2019s\tnot\ttoo\tbad. It\u2019s\tjust\ta\tmatter\tof\tone\tnight,\tanyway.\tTomorrow\twe\tleave\tfor\tHrishikesh\tand\tLaxmanjhoola.\u2019 A\tcoolie\tpicked\tup\tour\tluggage.\tWe\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\tstation\tand\thired\tthree\ttongas.\tFeluda\tand\tI\tgot into\t one,\t Baba\t and\t Dr\t Srivastava\t got\t into\t another\t and\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t took\t the\t third.\t It\t was\t still dark. \u2018A\tholy\tplace,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\t\u2018is\talways\tdirty.\tBut\tonce\tyou\u2019re\tby\tthe\triver,\tit\tfeels\tquite\tpleasant.\u2019 Our\t tonga\t rattled\t along\t the\t lanes\t of\t Haridwar.\t Not\t a\t single\t shop\t was\t open\t yet.\t There\t were\t men sleeping\ton\tstring\tbeds\tby\tthe\troadside\twrapped\tin\tblankets.\tKerosene\tlamps\tflickered\there\tand\tthere. A\t few\t o ld\t men\t went\t past,\t metal\t po ts\t in\t hand.\t They\t wer e\t g o ing \t to \t the\t r iver,\t Feluda\t explained.\t They wo uld\t stand\t immer sed\t in\t waist-deep\t water \t and\t wait\t fo r \t sunr ise,\t chanting \t hymns\t to \t welco me\t a\t new day.\tThe\trest\tof\tthe\ttown\twas\tstill\tasleep. Bonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\ttonga\twas\tleading\tus.\tIt\tstopped\tin\tfront\tof\ta\twhite\tsingle-storeyed\thouse,\twith large\tpillars.\tThis\tclearly,\twas\tSheetal\tDas\u2019s\tdharamshala. There\twas\ta\tcourtyard\tas\twe\twent\tin\tthrough\tthe\tgate.\tCorridors\tran\tround\tits\tsides\tand\tthe\trooms stood\tin\tneat\trows. A\t man\t from\t the\t dharamshala\t came\t out\t and\t took\t our\t luggage\t in.\t We\t were\t about\t to\t follow\t him through\ta\tdoor\twhen\tanother\ttonga\tcame\tand\tstopped\tat\tthe\tfront\tgate.\tThe\tsadhu\twho\thad\ttravelled with\tus\tup\tto\tBareilly\tclimbed\tdown\tfrom\tit. I\ttugged\tat\tFeluda\u2019s\tsleeve. \u2018Look,\tit\u2019s\tthe\tsame\tman!\tThe\tone\tin\tthe\ttrain\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Feluda\tgave\tthe\tman\ta\tsidelong\tglance\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Do\tyou\tmean\tto\tsay\teven\tthis\tman\tis\ta\tsuspect?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tthis\tis\tthe\tsecond\ttime\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Sh-h-h.\tNot\ta\tword.\tLet\u2019s\tgo\tin.\u2019","Baba,\t Feluda\t and\t I\t wer e\t g iven\t o ne\t r o o m.\t Ther e\t wer e\t fo ur \t beds\t in\t it.\t The\t o ccupant\t o f\t the\t fo ur th bed\twas\tfast\tasleep. Bonobihari\tBabu\tand\tDr\tSrivastava\twere\tgiven\tthe\troom\tnext\tto\tours.\tThe\tsadhu\tjoined\tthem. By\t the\t time\t all\t o f\t us\t had\t had\t a\t wash\t and\t tea\t had\t been\t o r der ed,\t it\t was\t fair ly\t br ig ht.\t A\t number \t o f people\t were\t now\t awake\t and\t the\t whole\t place\t had\t become\t quite\t noisy.\t I\t now\t realized\t what\t a\t wide variety\tof\tpeople\twere\tstaying\tat\tthe\tdharamshala.\tThere\twere\tBengalis,\tMarwaris,\tpeople\tfrom\tUttar Pradesh,\tGujaratis,\tMaharashtrians\u2014all\tcontributing\tequally\tto\tthe\tgeneral\tcacophony. \u2018Are\tyou\tthinking\tof\tgoing\tout?\u2019\tasked\tBaba. \u2018Yes,\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tgo\tto\tthe\triver,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. \u2018All\t right.\t I\u2019m\t going\t with\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t to\t arrange\t two\t taxis\t for\t tomorrow.\t And\t if\t you\u2019re g o ing \t anywher e\t near \t a\t mar ket,\t g et\t an\t Ever eady\t to r ch.\t After \t all,\t this\t is\t no t\t a\t place\t like\t Luckno w.\t A torch\tmay\tcome\tin\thandy.\u2019 We\tleft.\tFeluda\tsaid\tthe\tplace\twas\ttoo\tsmall\tfor\ta\ttonga\tride.\tIt\twas\tbetter\tto\twalk. I\t so o n\t beg an\t to \t feel\t the\t differ ence\t in\t temper atur e.\t Har idwar \t was\t definitely\t co o ler \t than\t Luckno w and,\tpossibly\tbecause\tit\twas\tso\tclose\tto\ta\triver,\tcovered\tby\ta\tmisty\thaze.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tmore\tsmoke\tthan\tmist,\u2019 Feluda\tsaid,\t\u2018the\tsmoke\tcomes\tfrom\tangeethees.\u2019 We\tstopped\tto\task\tour\tway\ta\tlittle\tlater.\t\u2018Half\ta\tmile\tfrom\there,\u2019\twe\twere\ttold. A\tdifferent\tcacophony\tgreeted\tus\tfrom\ta\tdistance\teven\tbefore\twe\treached\tthe\triver.\tIt\tturned\tout\tto be\tgroups\tof\tbathers.\tBesides,\thawkers\tand\tbeggars\tlined\tthe\tpath\trunning\tto\tthe\triver\tbank,\tand\tthey were\tno\tless\tnoisy. We\tpushed\tthrough\tthe\tcrowd\tand\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tthe\tsteps\tthat\tled\tto\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\twater.\tThe scene\t that\t met\t my\t eyes\t was\t o ne\t I\t have\t never \t witnessed\t since.\t It\t was\t as\t tho ug h\t a\t car nival\t was\t being held\t by\t the\t riverside.\t Bells\t pealed\t within\t a\t temple\t that\t stood\t by\t the\t steps.\t A\t Vaishnav\t sat\t singing\t a bhajan\t near \t the\t temple,\t sur r o unded\t by\t a\t g r o up\t o f\t o ld\t men\t and\t wo men.\t Co ws,\t g o ats,\t do g s\t and\t cats moved\tabout\tfreely,\tin\thappy\tconjuction\twith\tthe\thumans. Feluda\tfound\ta\trelatively\tquiet\tspot\ton\tthe\tsteps\tand\twe\tsat\tdown.\t\u2018If\tyou\twant\ta\tglimpse\tof\tancient India,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018just\twatch\tthe\tscene\tbelow.\u2019 The\twhole\tthing\twas\tso\tdifferent\tfrom\tLucknow\tthat\tI\tnearly\tforgot\tthe\tstolen\tring.\tDid\tFeluda\tfeel the\tsame\tway,\tor\twas\this\tmind\tstill\tworking\ton\tthe\tcase?\tI\tlooked\tat\tFeluda,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\task\thim. He\twas\ttaking\tout\this\tcigarettes\tand\ta\tmatchbox\tfrom\this\tpocket\twith\ta\tcontented\tair.\tThis\twas\tclearly good\topportunity\tto\thave\ta\tsmoke\tsince\the\tcouldn\u2019t\twhen\tBaba\twas\tpresent. He\tput\ta\tcigarette\tbetween\this\tlips\tand\tpushed\topen\tthe\tmatchbox.\tSomething\tflashed\tbrightly. Startled,\tI\tasked,\t\u2018What\twas\tthat,\tFeluda?\u2019\tBy\tthen,\the\thad\tshut\tthe\tbox\tagain. \u2018What\twas\twhat?\u2019\the\tasked,\tapparently\ttaken\taback. \u2018That\t.\t.\t.\tobject\tthat\u2019s\tin\tyour\tmatchbox.\tI\tsaw\tit\tflash.\u2019 Feluda\tcupped\this\tmouth\twith\tboth\thands\tto\tlight\this\tcigarette\tand\tinhaled.\tThen\the\tblew\tthe\tsmoke out\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Matchsticks\thave\tphosphorus\tin\tthem,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tknow?\tThat\u2019s\twhat\tflashed\tin\tthe\tsun.\u2019 I\t co uldn\u2019t\t ask\t anything \t fur ther,\t but\t that\t seemed\t an\t unlikely\t sto r y.\t Matchsticks\t didn\u2019t\t g litter \t in\t the sun! We\tstayed\tby\tthe\triver\ta\tlittle\tlonger\tand\tthen\twent\tto\tsee\tthe\ttemple\tof\tDaksheshwar.\tBy\tthe\ttime we\twere\tout\tof\tthe\ttemple,\tbuying\ta\ttorch\tin\ta\tstationery\tshop,\tit\twas\tnearly\tten-thirty.\tBut\tno\tmatter","what\twe\tdid\tor\tsaw,\tI\tsimply\tcould\tnot\tget\tthe\tmatchbox\tout\tof\tmy\tmind. Somehow,\tI\tfelt\tconvinced\twhat\tI\thad\tseen\tshining\tin\tthe\tsun\twas\tthe\tdiamond\tin\tAurangzeb\u2019s\tring. If\tFeluda\thad\tsaid\tit\twas\ta\tcoin,\tI\tmight\thave\tbelieved\thim.\tBut\this\ttale\tof\tphosphorus\tin\tmatchsticks was\tpure\tnonsense,\tand\tI\tknew\tit. But\twhat\tif\tit\twas\tthe\tring?\tDid\tthe\tburglars\tknow\tFeluda\thad\tit\twith\thim?\tWas\tthat\twhy\tthey\twere threatening\thim\tand\ttrying\tto\thurt\thim?\tWhy,\tthey\thad\teven\ttried\tto\tchloroform\tus! Feluda,\t however,\t appeared\t quite\t unperturbed.\t He\t was\t humming,\t quietly.\t \u2018There\t is\t a\t raga\t called Khat,\u2019\the\tstopped\tat\tone\tpoint\tto\texplain,\t\u2018it\thas\tto\tbe\tsung\tin\tthe\tmorning.\tWhat\tI\tam\thumming\tis\tthe same\traga.\u2019 I\twanted\tto\tsay,\t\u2018Keep\tyour\tragas\tto\tyourself.\tI\tam\tnot\tinterested\tand,\tin\tfact,\tI\tam\tvery\tcross\twith you.\tWhy\tdid\tyou\ttell\tme\ta\tlie?\u2019\tBut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tutter\tthese\twords\tfor\twe\thad\treached\tthe\tdharamshala. I\tdecided\tto\ttackle\tFeluda\ton\tthe\tsubject\tin\tthe\tevening. Baba,\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t and\t Dr\t Srivastava\t were\t sitting\t on\t the\t veranda,\t talking\t to\t another gentleman,\twho\twas\twearing\ta\tdhoti\tand\tkurta\tand\tappeared\tto\tbe\tanother\tBengali. \u2018We\u2019ve\t arranged\t a\t couple\t of\t taxis,\u2019\t Baba\t said\t upon\t our\t arrival,\t \u2018and\t we\u2019re\t leaving\t tomorrow morning\tat\tsix.\tBonobihari\tBabu\tknew\tthose\tfellows,\tso\twe\u2019ve\tbeen\tgiven\ta\tconcession.\u2019 The\t Bengali\t gentleman,\t called\t Bilash\t Babu,\t was\t from\t Allahabad.\t He\t turned\t out\t to\t be\t a\t palmist. Bonobihari\tBabu\toffered\this\tpalm\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Is\tthere\tany\tchance\tof\tmy\tbeing\tbitten\tto\tdeath\tby\tan animal?\u2019 Bilash\tBabu\tran\ta\tclove\ton\tthe\tlines\tof\tBonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\thand\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Why,\tno!\tIt\tlooks\tlike\ta natural\tdeath\tto\tme!\u2019 My\t eyes\t fell\t o n\t the\t palmist\u2019s\t feet.\t They\t wer e\t distinctly\t o dd.\t The\t big \t to e\t o n\t each\t fo o t\t was\t lo ng er than\tthe\tothers\tby\tat\tleast\thalf-an-inch.\tI\tcould\thave\tsworn\tI\thad\tseen\tthese\tfeet\u2014or\tfeet\tlike\tthese\u2014 quite\trecently.\tBut\twhere\tmight\tthat\thave\tbeen?\tI\tsimply\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember. Bonobihari\tBabu\tgave\ta\tsigh\tof\trelief. \u2018Thank\tgoodness!\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\tAre\tyou\ta\tshikari?\tDo\tyou\tgo\ttiger\thunting,\tor\twhat?\u2019\tBilash\tBabu\tseemed puzzled. \u2018No ,\t no ,\u2019\t Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t r eplied,\t \u2018but\t it\u2019s\t just\t as\t well\t to \t make\t sur e.\t A\t co usin\t o f\t mine\t o nce\t g o t bitten\t by\t a\t mad\t dog.\t You\t know,\t purely\t out\t of\t the\t blue.\t The\t poor\t chap\t died\t of\t hydrophobia.\t So\t I thought\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tuse\tto\tlive\tin\tCalcutta?\u2019 \u2018Good\theavens,\tis\teven\tthat\twritten\tin\tmy\thand?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tso\tit\twould\tseem.\tAnd\t.\t.\t.\tare\tyou\tinterested\tin\tcollecting\tantiques?\u2019 \u2018Antiques?\tWho,\tme?\tOh\tno.\tIt\twas\tPyarelal\twho\tdid\tthat.\tI\tam\tinterested\tin\tanimals.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou?\tIs\tthat\twhy\tyou\twere\ttalking\tabout\tgetting\tbitten?\tBut\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat?\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tasked\teagerly. \u2018Have\tyou\trecently\tbeen\tunder\tstress?\u2019 \u2018How\trecently?\u2019 \u2018Say\tin\tthe\tlast\tthirty\tdays?\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tlaughed.","\u2018No,\t sir.\t I\t have\t not\t a\t care\t in\t the\t world,\t and\t I\t haven\u2019t\t been\t worried.\t My\t only\t anxiety\t is\t about whether\tI\tshall\tfind\tthat\tpython\ttomorrow\tin\tLaxmanjhoola.\u2019 Bilash\t Babu\t lo o ked\t as\t tho ug h\t he\t wo uld\t have\t liked\t to \t have\t peer ed\t at\t his\t palms\t a\t little\t lo ng er,\t but Bonobihari\tBabu\twithdrew\tthem\tabruptly\tand\tyawned. \u2018The\ttruth\tis,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\treally\tbelieve\tin\tpalmistry.\tPlease\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tmy\tsaying\tthis,\tbut\tI don\u2019t\tthink\twhat\twe\tmake\tof\tourselves\thas\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tlines\ton\tour\thands.\tThe\tonly\tthing I\tbelieve\tin\tis\tman\u2019s\town\tstrength\tand\this\tability\tto\tsucceed.\u2019 So\tsaying,\the\trose\tand\twent\tinto\this\troom. My\teyes\twent\tonce\tmore\tto\tBilash\tBabu\u2019s\tfeet. But\tno,\tI\tstill\tcould\tnot\trecall\twhere\tI\thad\tseen\tthem.","Ten I\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tthe\tchance\tat\tall\tthat\tday\tto\tspeak\tto\tFeluda\tabout\this\tdazzling\tmatchbox. Baba\t wanted\t us\t to\t go\t to\t bed\t early\t since\t we\t had\t to\t be\t up\t at\t the\t crack\t of\t dawn\t the\t following morning;\tbut\tby\tthe\ttime\twe\tfinished\tdinner\tand\twere\table\tto\tgo\tto\tbed,\tit\twas\tpast\t10\tp.m. As\t I\t got\t into\t bed,\t I\t could\t hear\t someone\t snore\t very\t loudly\t through\t the\t communicating\t door between\tour\troom\tand\tthe\tnext. \u2018Bilash\tBabu,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tbriefly. \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow?\u2019 \u2018Why,\the\twas\tsnoring\tin\tthe\ttrain\tyesterday.\tDidn\u2019t\tyou\thear\thim?\u2019\tIn\tthe\ttrain?\tWas\tBilash\tBabu\tin the\ttrain\twith\tus?\tOf\tcourse!\tOne\tlittle\tpiece\tof\tthe\tjigsaw\tpuzzle\tfell\tinto\tplace. \u2018Those\tbig\ttoes!\u2019 Feluda\tgently\tpatted\tmy\tshoulder. \u2018Good!\u2019\the\tsaid. Yes,\t that\t was\t r ig ht.\t Bilash\t Babu\t was\t the\t man\t who \t had\t lain\t o n\t the\t upper \t ber th,\t wr apped\t in\t a\t sheet from\thead\tto\ttoe.\tBut\tI\thad\tseen\this\ttoes. It\twas\tnow\ttime\tto\task\tFeluda\tthe\tquestion\tthat\thad\tbeen\tbothering\tme\tall\tday.\tBut\tI\thad\tto\twait\tuntil Baba\twas\tasleep.\tI\tcould\ttell\tby\this\tmovements\tthat\the\twas\tstill\tawake. The\t dharamshala\t was\t gradually\t falling\t silent,\t as\t was\t the\t whole\t town.\t It\t was\t the\t beginning\t of winter,\t so \t peo ple\t wo uld,\t in\t any\t case,\t r etir e\t ear ly.\t It\t was\t dar k\t inside\t o ur \t r o o m,\t but\t a\t lig ht\t fr o m\t the courtyard\t outside\t fell\t on\t the\t threshold.\t What\t was\t that\t noise\t under\t the\t bed?\t A\t rat\t or\t a\t mouse, probably. Baba\twas\tnow\tasleep.\tI\tcould\thear\this\tdeep,\tregular\tbreathing.\tTurning\tto\tFeluda,\tI\twhispered,\t\u2018It was\tthe\tring,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 Feluda\tsaid\tnothing\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tThen\the\tsighed\tand\twhispered\tback,\t\u2018All\tright.\tSince\tyou have\tguessed\tit\talready,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tpoint\tin\thiding\tthings\tfrom\tyou.\tI\thave\thad\tthe\tring\tfrom\tthe\tvery first\t day.\t When\t all\t of\t you\u2014including\t Dhiru\t Kaka\u2014had\t gone\t to\t sleep,\t I\t saw\t that\t his\t trousers\t were hang ing \t fr o m\t a\t r ack.\t I\t knew\t the\t keys\t o f\t his\t almir ah\t wer e\t in\t o ne\t o f\t its\t po ckets.\t So \t I\t to o k\t them\t o ut, opened\tthe\talmirah\tand\tremoved\tthe\tring.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\ttake\tthe\tbox\tdeliberately,\tso\tthat\tthere\twould\tbe\tno doubt\tthat\tonly\tthe\tring\thad\tgone.\u2019 \u2018But\twhy?\u2019 \u2018Because\tI\tknew\tthat\twould\tonly\tprovoke\tthe\treal\tthief.\tAnd\tthen\tit\twould\tbe\teasier\tto\tcatch\thim.\u2019 \u2018Does\tit\tmean\tthat\tthe\tsannyasi\thad\tturned\tup\tsimply\tto\tsteal\tthe\tring?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tit\twasn\u2019t\tAmbika\tBabu.\tIt\twas\tthe\tother\tfake\tone,\twho\thad\tan\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tin\this\thand.\tHe must\thave\thad\tthe\tshock\tof\this\tlife\twhen\the\tsaw\tanother\tsannyasi\tin\tthe\tliving-room!\tI\tbet\tthat\u2019s\twhen he\twent\tto\tthe\tstation\tand\tchanged\this\tclothes.\u2019","\u2018Who\tis\tthis\tfake\tsannyasi?\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tmy\tsuspicions,\tbut\tnot\tenough\tevidence\u2014yet.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tyou\u2019ve\tbeen\tcarrying\tthat\tring\tin\tyour\tpocket\tall\tthese\tdays?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tdo\tthen?\u2019 \u2018I\tkept\tit\tin\ta\tsafe\tplace.\u2019 \u2018Where?\u2019 \u2018In\tthe\tBhoolbhulaia.\tIn\tone\tof\tthose\tlittle\tniches.\u2019 Go o d\t Go d!\t What\t a\t clever \t mind!\t No w\t I\t co uld\t see\t why\t he\t had\t disappear ed\t in\t that\t maze\t fo r \t a\t few minutes. \u2018But\t how\t could\t you\t have\t gone\t back\t to\t find\t it?\t You\t didn\u2019t\t know\t how\t the\t maze\t had\t been\t built?\t I mean,\tits\tplan\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018I\thad\tmade\tan\tarrangement\tfor\tthat.\tYou\tmay\thave\tnoticed\tthat\tthe\tlittle\tfinger\ton\tmy\tleft\thand\thas a\tlong\tnail.\tI\thad\tscratched\tnumbers\twith\tit\ton\tthe\twalls\tof\tthose\tpassages.\tThe\tring\twas\tin\tthe\tseventh passag e.\t I\t went\t back\t befo r e\t leaving \t Luckno w\t and\t to o k\t it\t o ut.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t like\t the\t idea\t o f\t the\t r ing \t lying there\twhile\tI\twent\tout\tof\ttown.\u2019 My\theartbeat\tgrew\tfaster\tagain. \u2018What\tif\tthose\tburglars\tsuspect\tthat\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tring?\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\tThey\tcouldn\u2019t\tprove\tit.\tAnyway,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tthey\u2019re\tclever\tenough\tto\tguess\twhere\tthe ring\tis.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase\twhy\tare\tthey\tthreatening\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Because\t they\t haven\u2019t\t given\t up\t hopes\t of\t getting\t hold\t of\t it.\t And\t they\t know\t very\t well\t that\t I\t am capable\tof\truining\tall\ttheir\tplans.\u2019 \u2018But\u2014\u2019\tmy\tthroat\twas\tso\tbadly\tparched\tI\tcould\thardly\tspeak,\t\u2018you\tmight\tbe\tin\tgreat\tdanger!\u2019 \u2018Felu\tMitter\tthrives\ton\trisks\tand\tdanger.\u2019 \u2018But\u2014\u2019 \u2018No\tmore\tbuts.\tGo\tto\tsleep.\u2019 Feluda\tyawned\tand\tturned\tto\this\tside. The\t dhar amshala\t was\t no w\t to tally\t quiet.\t A\t do g \t bar ked\t so mewher e.\t The\t sno r ing \t in\t the\t next\t r o o m continued\tnon-stop.\tI\tcould\tnot\tget\tthe\tmatchbox\tand\tits\tcontent\tout\tof\tmy\tmind.\tOne\thad\tto\tmarvel\tat the\tcourage\tFeluda\thad\tshown.\tIf\tit\twasn\u2019t\tfor\twhat\the\thad\tdone,\tthe\tring\twould\thave\tbeen\tstolen\tand the\tthief\twould\thave\tgot\taway\twith\tit. \u2018Kir-r-r-r-r-r\tkit\tkit\tkit!\tKir-r-r-r-r-r-r\tkit\tkit\tkit!\u2019 From\tthe\tnext\troom\tcame\tthe\tfaint\tnoise\tof\tthe\trattle-snake;\tbut\tit\tsounded\tas\tthough\tit\twas\tcoming from\t a\t distance.\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t must\t be\t listening\t to\t his\t favourite\t music.\t Strangely\t enough,\t this funny\tnoise\tsoon\tsoothed\tme\tto\tsleep. Baba\thad\tset\tthe\talarm\ton\this\ttravelling\tclock\tfor\t5\ta.m.\tI\twoke\ta\tlittle\tbefore\tit\twent\toff.\tIt\tdid\tnot take\tus\tlong\tto\tget\tready\tafter\ta\tcup\tof\ttea.\t\u2018We\tneedn\u2019t\tworry\tabout\ttaking\tfood,\u2019\tsaid\tDr\tSrivastava, \u2018there\tare\tshops\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\tthe\tbridge\tin\tLaxmanjhoola\tthat\tsell\tvery\tgood\tpuri-subzi.\u2019 We\twere\tall\twearing\tour\twoollens.\tLaxmanjhoola\twas\tfurther\tup\tin\tthe\thills\tand\twas\tbound\tto\tbe cooler.","The\t two \t taxis\t ar r ived\t at\t a\t quar ter \t to \t six\t and\t sto pped\t by\t the\t fr o nt\t g ate.\t Bilash\t Babu\t came\t o ut\t and joined\tus.\tIt\tturned\tout\tthat\the,\ttoo,\twas\tgoing\tto\tLaxmanjhoola\tand\twould\ttravel\twith\tus.\tAs\tI\tstood debating \t o n\t which\t car \t to \t g et\t into ,\t Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t said,\t \u2018Thr ee\t in\t each\t car,\t o bvio usly.\t I\t co uld\t tell you\tsome\tinteresting\tstories\tabout\tanimals,\tTapesh.\tWould\tyou\tlike\tto\tjoin\tme?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t why\t not?\t I\u2019m\t sure\t Feluda\t would\t like\t to\t come\t along,\t too.\u2019\t Feluda\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t mind.\t So Bo no bihar i\t Babu,\t Feluda\t and\t I\t g o t\t into \t o ne\t taxi\t and\t Baba\t g o t\t into \t the\t o ther \t with\t Dr \t Sr ivastava\t and Bilash\tBabu,\twho\tseemed\tto\thave\tstruck\tup\ta\tfriendship\talready. Bonobihari\t Babu\t placed\t the\t wooden\t packing\t crate\t on\t the\t front\t seat\t beside\t the\t driver.\t \u2018For\t my python,\t if\t I\t can\t find\t it,\u2019\t he\t said.\t Feluda\t sat\t in\t the\t middle\t in\t the\t back\t seat.\t I\t sat\t on\t his\t left\t and Bonobihari\tBabu\twent\tover\tto\this\tright. Both\t cars\t left\t at\t 6.15.\t Five\t minutes\t later,\t we\t were\t out\t of\t the\t main\t town\t and\t into\t the\t open countryside.\tThe\thills\trose\tbefore\tus.\tIf\tI\tlooked\tout\tof\tthe\tright\twindow,\tI\tcould\tcatch\tan\toccasional glimpse\tof\tthe\tGanges.\tMy\theart\tsuddenly\tfelt\tlight.\tBonobihari\tBabu,\ttoo,\tappeared\tto\tbe\tin\ta\tgood mood,\tfor\the\twas\thumming\tunder\this\tbreath,\tpossibly\tat\tthe\tthought\tof\this\tpython. Feluda,\thowever,\tdid\tnot\tutter\ta\tword.\tWhat\twas\the\tthinking?\tWas\tthe\tring\tstill\tin\tthat\tmatchbox\tin his\tpocket?\tThere\twas\tno\tway\tof\ttelling,\tfor\tI\tknew\the\twouldn\u2019t\tsmoke\tbefore\tBonobihari\tBabu. The\tother\ttaxi\twas\tright\tin\tfront\tof\tus.\tI\tcould\tsee\tBilash\tBabu\ttalking\tto\tDr\tSrivastava.\tPerhaps\tthe latter\thad\tseized\tthis\topportunity\tto\thave\this\tpalm\tread. \u2018The\troads\taren\u2019t\tdusty\tbecause\tof\tthe\tearly\tmorning\tdew,\u2019\tsaid\tBonobihari\tBabu.\t\u2018But\tvery\tsoon, yo u\u2019ll\t see\t that\t o ther \t car \t thr o w\t up\t clo uds\t o f\t dust.\t I\t think\t we\t o ug ht\t to \t let\t them\t g o \t ahead.\t Dr iver,\t will you\tplease\tslow\tdown\ta\tbit?\u2019 The\tbearded\tSikh\tdriver\treduced\tthe\tspeed\tof\tour\ttaxi\tand\tthe\tdistance\tbetween\tBaba\u2019s\tcar\tand\tours grew\tconsiderably. I\thad\twanted\tboth\tcars\tto\ttravel\ttogether,\tnever\tmind\tabout\tthe\tdust.\tBut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\tsay\tanything to\tBonobihari\tBabu.\tWhen\twould\the\tstart\ton\this\tstories? There\t was\t a\t car\t behind\t ours,\t apparently\t in\t a\t hurry\t to\t overtake\t us.\t Annoyed\t by\t its\t honking, Bonobihari\tBabu\tsaid\tto\tthe\tdriver,\t\u2018This\twill\tdrive\tme\tmad.\tLet\tit\tgo,\tdriver.\tGive\tway.\u2019 The\tdriver\tvery\tobediently\tmoved\ta\tlittle\tto\tthe\tleft\tand\tan\told-fashioned\tChevrolet\ttaxi\tshot\tpast us.\tIts\tpassenger\tleant\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\tgave\tus\ta\tquick\tlook. I\trecognized\thim\tinstantly\u2014it\twas\tthe\tsannyasi\tfrom\tthe\ttrain!","Eleven It\thad\talready\tbeen\tdecided\tthat\twe\twould\tfirst\tgo\tto\tLaxmanjhoola,\tspend\tmost\tof\tthe\tday\tthere\tand stop\tat\tHrishikesh\ton\tour\tway\tback.\tTo\ttell\tthe\ttruth,\tI\twasn\u2019t\ttoo\tkeen\ton\tgoing\tto\tHrishikesh,\twhich I\tknew\twould\tbe\tcrowded\tand\tdirty\tlike\tany\tother\tholy\tplace.\tOnly\tthe\triver\twas\tlikely\tto\tbe\ta\tlittle different. Bonobihari\tBabu\twas\tnow\tsinging\tthe\tsame\tUrdu\tsong\tFeluda\thad\tbeen\tsinging\tin\tthe\ttrain: Jab\tchhor\tchaley\tLucknow\tnagari Kahen\thaal\tke\thum\tpar\tkya\tguzri\t.\t.\t. He\tstopped\tabruptly\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Have\tyou\theard\tof\tJim\tCorbett?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018He\t killed\t man-eater s\t in\t these\t valleys,\t but\t like\t me,\t he\t under sto o d\t animals\t and\t lo ved\t them.\t I\t have always\tadmired\thim\tfor\tthat.\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tstarted\tsinging\tagain. Our\tcar\tsped\ttowards\tLaxmanjhoola\tthrough\tthe\thills.\tOn\tour\tright,\tthe\triver\toccasionally\tshowed itself\t through\t stretches\t of\t dense\t jungle.\t The\t sky\t was\t clouding\t over.\t The\t breeze\t seemed\t to\t grow cooler\teach\ttime\tthe\tsun\tgot\tblocked\tout\tby\ta\tcloud. I\tbegan\tto\tthink\tabout\tthe\tstolen\tring\tagain.\tI\thad\tlearnt\tquite\ta\tfew\tthings\tin\tthe\tlast\tfew\tdays,\tbut there\twas\tsuch\ta\tlot\tthat\tstill\tremained\tunexplained.\tWhy\tdid\tMahabir\tthink\tPyarelal\u2019s\tdeath\thad\tnot been\t a\t natural\t one?\t Why\t had\t Pyarelal\t screamed?\t Which\t spy\t had\t he\t tried\t to\t talk\t about?\t Was\t it someone\twe\tknew,\tor\twas\tit\tan\toutsider? All\tthese\tthoughts\tchased\tone\tanother\tin\tmy\tmind,\tas\tI\tglanced\tabout\tidly.\tMy\teyes\tsuddenly\tfell\ton the\t r ear -view\t mir r o r.\t I\t saw\t Feluda\t in\t it,\t lo o king \t intently\t in\t fr o nt\t o f\t him.\t I\t tur ned\t my\t head.\t He\t was staring\t at\t the\t driver.\t My\t eyes\t turned\t automatically\t in\t the\t same\t direction.\t Then\t my\t heart\t seemed\t to stand\tstill.\tOn\tthe\tdriver \u2019s\tneck,\tbetween\this\tturban\tand\tshirt-collar,\twas\ta\tlong\tscratch. We\thad\tseen\tsomeone\trecently\twith\tan\tidentical\tmark. It\thad\tbeen\tGanesh\tGuha. I\tlooked\tat\tFeluda\tagain.\tHe\twas\tnow\tgazing\tout\tof\tthe\twindow.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\thim\tlook\tso\tgrim. Sitting\twith\tus\tin\tthe\tKwality\trestaurant,\tGanesh\tGuha\thad\tsaid\the\thad\tleft\this\tjob\tand\twas\tleaving for\t Calcutta\t the\t same\t day.\t Today\t he\t was\t dressed\t like\t a\t Sikh\t and\t taking\t us\t to\t Laxmanjhoola.\t What could\tit\tmean?\tThen\tit\toccurred\tto\tme\tthat\tthis\ttaxi\thad\tbeen\tarranged\tby\tBonobihari\tBabu\thimself. Oh\tGod\t.\t.\t.\tin\tthat\tcase\t.\t.\t.\t? I\tcould\tthink\tno\tmore.\tMy\thead\tbegan\tto\treel.\tWhere\twere\twe\tgoing?\tWas\tit\tLaxmanjhoola\tor\twas it\tsomewhere\telse?\tWhat\tdid\tBonobihari\tBabu\tintend\tto\tdo?\tHe\tappeared\tcalm\tenough\tand\tcertainly did\tnot\tlook\tas\tthough\the\thad\tany\till-intent. At\tthis\tpoint,\the\tstartled\tme\tby\tspeaking\tabruptly.","\u2018We\t shall\t no w\t tur n\t left.\t T her e\t is\t a\t path\t that\t g o es\t thr o ug h\t the\t jung le.\t T hen\t we\u2019ll\t co me\t to \t a\t ho use where\tI\texpect\tto\tfind\tthe\tpython.\tLet\u2019s\tjust\thave\ta\tlook\tnow,\tthen\twe\tcan\tcollect\tit\ton\tour\tway\tback. All\tright,\tFelu\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t fine,\u2019\t said\t Feluda\t with\t remarkable\t composure.\t But\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t ask,\t \u2018Didn\u2019t\t you\t say\t the python\twas\tin\tLaxmanjhoola?\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tburst\tout\tlaughing. \u2018And\twho,\u2019\the\tasked,\t\u2018told\tyou\tthis\tis\tnot\tLaxmanjhoola?\tHowrah\tdoesn\u2019t\tsimply\tmean\tthe\tHowrah Bridge,\t does\t it?\t It\t means\t a\t whole\t region.\t Laxmanjhoola\t begins\t from\t here.\t The\t bridge\t over\t the Ganges\tis\tmore\tthan\ta\tmile\tfrom\there.\u2019 Our\t car\t took\t a\t left\t turn\t into\t the\t jungle.\t The\t path,\t covered\t with\t overgrown\t wild\t bushes,\t was virtually\tinvisible. I\tnoticed\tthat\tthe\tdriver\tdidn\u2019t\teven\twait\tfor\tinstructions.\tHe\tdrove\tas\tthough\the\tknew\twhere\the\twas going. \u2018How\t do\t you\t find\t this\t place,\t Felu\t Babu?\u2019\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t asked.\t His\t voice\t sounded\t different. There\tappeared\tto\tbe\ta\tsuppressed\texcitement\tbehind\tthose\tsimple\twords. \u2018Beautiful!\u2019\t said\t Feluda\t and\t gently\t pressed\t my\t right\t hand\t with\t his\t left.\t I\t knew\t it\t was\t his\t way\t of saying\u2014\u2018Don\u2019t\tbe\tafraid,\tI\u2019m\there.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tbrought\ta\thandkerchief,\tTopshe?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tprepared\tfor\tsuch\ta\tquestion\tat all.\tSo\tI\tcould\tonly\tstammer,\t\u2018H-h-andkerchief?\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\tknow\twhat\tit\tis?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tBut\t.\t.\t.\tI\tforgot\tto\tbring\tone.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018Are\tyou\tworried\tabout\tthe\tdust?\tIt\u2019s\tnot\tgoing\tto\tbe\tall\tthat\tdusty\tin\there.\u2019 \u2018No ,\t it\u2019s\t no t\t the\t dust,\u2019\t Feluda\t r eplied\t and\t stuffed\t a\t handker chief\t into \t my\t po cket.\t I\t to tally\t failed\t to see\twhy\the\tdid\tthis. Bonobihari\t Babu\u2019s\t tape-recorder\t was\t lying\t on\t his\t lap.\t He\t now\t switched\t it\t on.\t A\t hyena\t started laughing\tamongst\tthe\ttrees. The\tjungle\twas\tgetting\tdenser\tand\tdarker.\tIn\tany\tcase,\tthe\tsun\twas\tprobably\thiding\tbehind\tclouds.\tI wondered\t where\t Baba\u2019s\t car\t might\t be.\t Could\t they\t have\t reached\t Laxmanjhoola\t already?\t If\t anything happened\tto\tus,\tthey\twouldn\u2019t\teven\tget\tto\tknow.\tWas\tthat\twhy\tBonobihari\tBabu\thad\tallowed\tthem\tto go\tahead? I\ttried\tto\tmuster\tall\tmy\tcourage.\tAlthough\tI\thad\tevery\tfaith\tin\tFeluda,\tsomething\ttold\tme\tevery\tbit of\this\town\tcourage\tand\tpresence\tof\tmind\twas\tabout\tto\tbe\ttested. Our\tcar\twas\tnow\tcrawling\talong\tin\tdeep\tjungle.\tBonobihari\tBabu\thad\tturned\tthe\trecorder\toff;\tnor was\the\tsinging\thimself.\tAll\tI\tcould\thear\twas\ta\tcricket\tand\tthe\tcrunch\tof\tleaves\tunder\tthe\twheels. After \t abo ut\t ten\t minutes,\t thr o ug h\t the\t tr ee\t tr unks\t and\t o ther \t fo liag e,\t we\t saw\t a\t ho use.\t Who \t o n\t ear th could\thave\tbuilt\ta\thouse\tin\ta\tplace\tlike\tthis?\tThen\tI\tremembered\tan\tuncle\tof\tmine\twho\twas\ta\tforest o fficer.\t He\t was\t suppo sed\t to \t live\t in\t a\t ho use\t in\t the\t middle\t o f\t a\t fo r est,\t with\t just\t tig er s\t and\t o ther \t wild animals\tfor\tcompany.\tPerhaps\tthis\twas\ta\thouse\tlike\this? As\t we\t went\t closer\t to\t the\t house,\t I\t realized\t it\t was\t made\t of\t wood\t and\t had\t been\t built\t on\t a\t raised platfo r m.\t A\t wo o den\t stair case\t went\t up\t to \t the\t fr o nt\t do o r.\t It\t was\t clear ly\t ver y\t o ld\t and\t cer tainly\t didn\u2019t look\tas\tthough\tanyone\tlived\tin\tit.","Our\ttaxi\tstopped\tbefore\tthis\thouse.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tPandeyji\tis\tat\thome,\u2019\tsaid\tBonobihari\tBabu,\t\u2018but let\u2019s\t go\t in\t and\t wait\t since\t we\t have\t travelled\t all\t this\t way.\t He\t may\t have\t stepped\t out\t only\t for\t a\t few minutes\t to\t gather\t firewood\t or\t something.\t He\t lives\t alone,\t you\t see,\t and\t has\t to\t do\t everything\t all\t by himself.\tBut,\tlike\tme,\the\u2019s\tnot\tafraid\tof\tanimals.\tSo\tcome\tin,\tboth\tof\tyou.\tYou\u2019ve\tseen\tfake\tsannyasis, haven\u2019t\t you?\t Now\t you\u2019ll\t see\t a\t perfectly\t genuine\t one\t and\t perhaps\t learn\t something\t about\t how\t he lives.\u2019 The\t three\t of\t us\t got\t out\t of\t the\t car.\t I\t cannot\t tell\t how\t I\t might\t have\t kept\t my\t nerve\t if\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t for Feluda\u2019s\t r eassur ing \t pr esence.\t In\t fact,\t his\t unr uffled\t calm\t made\t me\t wo nder \t if\t the\t who le\t thing \t wasn\u2019t just\t my\t imag inatio n\u2014what\t if\t the\t dr iver \t was\t an\t o r dinar y\t Sikh\t and\t Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t was\t telling \t the truth\tand\tthis\thouse\tdid\tcontain\ta\tsadhu\tcalled\tPandeyji\twho\thad\ta\ttwelve-foot\tpython? We\twalked\ttowards\tthe\tstaircase,\tcrunching\tdry\tleaves\tunder\tour\tfeet.\tThen\twe\tclimbed\tup\tthe\tsteps and\twent\tin. The\t room\t we\t walked\t into\t was\t not\t much\t larger\t than\t a\t railway\t compartment.\t There\t was\t another door\tthat\tprobably\tled\tto\ta\tsecond\troom,\tbut\tit\tappeared\tto\tbe\tlocked\tfrom\tthe\tother\tside.\tThere\twere two\t small\t windows\t on\t the\t opposite\t wall,\t through\t which\t we\t could\t see\t the\t trees.\t The\t platform\t on which\tthe\thouse\tstood\twas\tno\thigher\tthan\ta\tman\tof\tmedium\theight. Bonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\ttape-recorder\twas\thanging\tfrom\this\tshoulder.\tHe\tput\tit\tdown\ton\tthe\tfloor\tand said,\t\u2018You\tcan\tsee\thow\tsimply\the\tlives.\u2019 Ther e\t was\t a\t br o ken\t table,\t a\t bench\t with\t an\t ar m\t missing \t and\t a\t tin\t chair.\t Feluda\t went\t acr o ss\t to \t the bench\tand\tsat\tdown.\tI\tdid\tthe\tsame. Bonobihari\tBabu\tstarted\tfilling\this\tpipe.\tThen\the\tlit\tit,\tput\tthe\tmatch\tout,\tthrew\tit\tout\tof\tthe\twindow and\t sat\t do wn\t o n\t the\t chair,\t after \t having \t tested\t its\t str eng th\t by\t pr essing \t its\t seat.\t \u2018A-a-a-a-h!\u2019\t he\t sig hed with\tpleasure\tand\tbegan\tpuffing\tat\this\tpipe,\tfilling\tthe\twhole\troom\twith\tsmoke. \u2018Well,\u2019\t he\t said\t after\t a\t while,\t in\t a\t low\t but\t clear\t voice,\t \u2018Felu\t Babu\u2014can\t I\t have\t my\t ring\t back, please?\u2019","Twelve \u2018Your\tring?\u2019 I\t could\t tell\t that\t Feluda\t was\t quite\t taken\t aback\t by\t the\t question.\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t did\t not\t reply.\t He o nly\t star ed\t at\t Feluda,\t the\t pipe\t hang ing \t fr o m\t o ne\t co r ner \t o f\t his\t mo uth,\t a\t little\t smile\t o n\t his\t lips.\t T he crickets\toutside\twere\tsilent. \u2018Besides,\u2019\tFeluda\tcontinued,\t\u2018what\tmakes\tyou\tthink\tI\thave\tgot\tit?\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tspoke\tthis\ttime. \u2018I\thad\tmy\tsuspicions\tthroughout.\tI\tknew\tit\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tstolen\tby\tan\toutsider.\tNo\tone\tcould have\tsimply\twalked\tinto\tthe\thouse\tand\ttaken\tsomething\tfrom\tDhiru\tBabu\u2019s\tbedroom\twithout\tanyone having\t seen\t or\t heard\t anything.\t I\t found\t that\t impossible\t to\t believe.\t But\t although\t I\t suspected\t you,\t I didn\u2019t\thave\tany\tevidence\tto\tprove\tmy\ttheory.\tNow\tI\tdo.\u2019 \u2018And\twhat\tis\tthat\tevidence?\u2019 Silently,\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t picked\t up\t his\t tape-recorder\t and,\t placing\t it\t once\t more\t on\t his\t lap, switched\tit\ton.\tIt\tfroze\tmy\tblood\tto\thear\twhat\tI\tdid. \u2018It\twas\tthat\tring,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\tspoke\tmy\town\tvoice\tfrom\tthe\tmachine. \u2018Since\tyou\thave\tguessed\tit\talready,\tthere\tis\tno\tpoint\tin\thiding\tthings\tfrom\tyou\t.\t.\t\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tturned\tthe\tmachine\toff\twith\ta\tclick.\t\u2018I\thad\tleft\tit\tunder\tyour\tbed\tlast\tnight\tbefore you\treturned\tto\tyour\troom,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tcouldn\u2019t,\tof\tcourse,\tbe\tsure\tthat\tyou\twould\tindeed\ttalk\tabout the\t ring.\t But\t since\t you\t did,\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t miss\t such\t an\t opportunity\t to\t get\t what\t I\t wanted\t What\t better evidence\twould\tyou\tneed,\teh,\tFelu\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018But\thow\tcan\tyou\tclaim\tthat\tthe\tring\tis\tyours?\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tput\tthe\trecorder\ton\tthe\ttable,\tcrossed\this\tlegs\tand\tleant\tback\tin\this\tchair. \u2018In\t 1948,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018that\t is,\t exactly\t eighteen\t years\t ago,\t I\t bought\t that\t ring\t from\t the\t Naulakha Company\tin\tCalcutta.\tIt\tcost\tme\ttwo\thundred\tthousand\trupees.\tI\tgot\tto\tknow\tPyarelal\tsoon\tafter\tthis. He\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tme\the\twas\tinterested\tin\tantiques,\tbut\tI\tdid\tshow\thim\tthe\tring.\tThe\tlook\ton\this\tface\ton seeing\t it\t made\t me\t instantly\t wary.\t Two\t days\t later,\t it\t disappeared\t from\t my\t house.\t The\t police\t were informed,\tbut\tthey\tcouldn\u2019t\tcatch\tthe\tthief.\tThen\tI\tcame\tto\tLucknow,\tand\tso\tdid\tPyarelal.\tI\tlearnt\tthat he\t had\t had\t the\t ring\t all\t these\t years\t only\t when\t Srivastava\t showed\t it\t to\t me.\t I\t don\u2019t\t suppose\t Pyarelal tho ug ht\t he\t wo uld\t sur vive\t his\t fir st\t hear t\t attack.\t So \t he\t g o t\t r id\t o f\t what\t he\t had\t sto len\t many\t year s\t ag o . But\tthen\the\trecovered,\tand\tI\twent\tto\tsee\thim.\tWhat\tI\thad\tthought\twas\tthat\tif\the\tadmitted\tto\tthe\ttheft,\tI could\t perhaps\t get\t the\t ring\t back\t from\t Srivastava.\t I\u2019m\t sure\t he\t would\t have\t agreed,\t and\t I\t was\t even prepared\tto\toffer\thim\tsome\tcompensation.\tBut\tdo\tyou\tknow\twhat\thappened?\tPyarelal\tsimply\tdenied the\twhole\tthing.\tIn\tfact,\the\twent\tso\tfar\tas\tto\tsay\the\thad\tnever\tseen\tthe\tring\tin\tmy\thouse\tin\tCalcutta!\u2019 Feluda\t br o ke\t in\t at\t this\t po int,\t no t\t a\t tr ace\t o f\t fear \t in\t his\t vo ice,\t \u2018I\t wo uld\t like\t to \t ask\t yo u\t so mething , Bonobihari\tBabu,\tand\tI\thope\tyou\u2019ll\tgive\tme\tan\tanswer.\u2019","\u2018No,\tyou\ttell\tme\tfirst\tif\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tring\twith\tyou\tnow,\tor\thave\tyou\tleft\tit\tsomewhere?\tI\twant\tto recover\tmyself\twhat\tis\tmy\town!\u2019 \u2018Oh?\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\tspeaking\twith\tundisguised\tscorn.\t\u2018How\tcome\tthen\tthat\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\thesitate\tto\tget o ther \t peo ple\t to \t steal\t the\t r ing \t fo r \t yo u,\t o r \t even\t have\t me\t fo llo wed\t and\t thr eatened?\t T hat\t henchman\t o f yours\u2014Ganesh\t Guha,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\u2014is\t dressed\t like\t a\t Sikh\t taxi\t driver\t today.\t I\t believe\t he\t was\t the\t fake sannyasi,\twasn\u2019t\the?\tYou\tgot\thim\tto\tbreak\tinto\tSrivastava\u2019s\thouse\tand\tfollow\this\tcar\tthe\tnext\tday.\tBut then\the\twas\ttold\tto\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\tme.\tThrowing\tstones\tat\tme\tat\tthe\tResidency,\ttrying\tto\tchloroform both\tof\tus,\tshowering\tthreats\ton\tme\u2014all\tthese\twere\this\tdoings,\tweren\u2019t\tthey?\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tsmiled,\t\u2018One\tcannot\tpossibly\tdo\tevery\tlittle\tthing\toneself,\tcan\tone?\tAn\tassistant can\t be\t very\t useful,\t you\t know.\t Besides,\t Ganesh\t is\t strong\t and\t healthy\t and\t has\t spent\t years\t handling wild\t animals.\t So \t I\t knew\t he\u2019d\t be\t g o o d\t at\t this\t r eckless\t g ame.\t And\t I\t have\t to \t say\t this\u2014if\t he\t has\t do ne anything\twrong,\tit\tis\tonly\tbecause\tI\tasked\thim\tto.\tWhat\tyou\thave\tdone,\tFelu\tBabu,\tis\tfar\tworse.\tYou are\t hanging\t on\t to\t something\t that\t doesn\u2019t\t belong\t to\t you.\t It\t is\t mine,\t I\t tell\t you,\t and\t I\t want\t it\t back. Today!\tNow!\u2019 He\tpractically\tshouted\tthe\tlast\tfew\twords.\tI\twas\tstill\ttrying\thard\tto\tstay\tcalm,\tbut\tmy\thands\tbegan\tto feel\tclammy. Feluda\u2019s\tvoice\tsounded\tcold\tas\tsteel\twhen\the\tspoke. \u2018What\tuse\twill\tthat\tring\tbe\tto\tyou,\tBonobihari\tBabu,\twhen\tyou\tare\tcharged\twith\tmurder?\u2019 Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t r o se\t fr o m\t his\t chair,\t tr embling \t with\t r ag e.\t \u2018What\t .\t .\t .\t what\t impudence!\t Yo u\t do n\u2019t know\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tsaying.\tHow\tdare\tyou!\u2019 \u2018I\tdare\tbecause\tI\tbelieve\tI\tsee\ta\tmurderer\tbefore\tme.\tNow\twill\tyou\ttell\tme\ta\tbit\tmore\tabout\tthe\tspy Pyarelal\thad\tmentioned?\tYou\tappeared\tto\tknow\tsomething\tabout\tit.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tsmiled\tdrily\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018There\u2019s\tnothing\tto\texplain.\tIt\u2019s\tall\tquite\tsimple.\tI\thad\tset\ta few\tmen\tto\tfollow\thim\taround\tto\tfind\tout\tmore\tabout\tthe\tring.\tI\u2019m\tsure\tthat\u2019s\twhat\the\tmeant.\u2019 \u2018And\twhat\tif\tI\ttell\tyou\tthe\tword\t\u201cspy\u201d\thad\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tyour\tsecret\tservice?\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018Yo u\t went\t to \t visit\t Pyar elal\t the\t mo r ning \t when\t he\t had\t his\t seco nd\t attack,\t didn\u2019t\t yo u?\t Yo u\t saw\t him before\tthe\tattack\tcame\ton.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\tAre\tyou\timplying\tthat\tthe\tvery\tsight\tof\tme\twould\tgive\thim\ta\tcardiac\tarrest?\tI\thad\tvisited him\toften\tenough,\teven\tbefore\tthat\tparticular\tday.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tthat\tday\tyou\twere\tnot\tempty-handed.\u2019 \u2018Empty-handed?\tWhat\tare\tyou\tgetting\tat?\u2019 \u2018You\twent\tarmed\twith\ta\tbox.\tIn\tthat\tbox\twas\tan\tinmate\tof\tyour\tzoo\u2014that\thuge,\tpoisonous\tAfrican spider\u2014the\tBlack\tWidow.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tright?\tWhat\tPyarelal\thad\ttried\tto\tsay\twas\t\u201cspider\u201d,\tbut\the\tcouldn\u2019t complete\tthe\tword.\tSo\t\u201ca\tspider\u201d\tbecame\t\u201ca\tspy\u201d\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Bonobihari\tBabu\tsuddenly\twent\tpale.\tHe\tsat\tdown\tagain. \u2018But\t.\t.\t.\tbut\twhat\tcould\tI\thave\tgained\tfrom\tshowing\thim\tthe\tspider?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018You\t were\t probably\t unaware\t that\t the\t sight\t of\t a\t cockroach\t gave\t him\t palpitations.\t Your\t intention was\tprobably\tjust\tto\tfrighten\thim\tinto\thanding\tthe\tring\tover\tto\tyou.\tBut\tthe\twhole\tthing\ttook\ta\tnasty turn,\tdidn\u2019t\tit?\tPyarelal\u2019s\tfright\tcaused\ta\theart\tattack,\tleading\tto\this\tdeath.\tNow\twho\tis\tresponsible\tfor it\tbut\tyou?\tAnd\tyou\tsit\tthere\tand\ttell\tme\tyou\thad\tbought\tthe\tring\tin\tCalcutta.\tWhat\tif\tI\ttell\tyou\tit\twas","Pyarelal\twho\thad\tshown\tit\tto\tyou\teighteen\tyears\tago\tand,\tever\tsince\tthen,\tyou\thad\twanted\tto\tget\thold of\tit?\tIn\tthat\troom\tin\tyour\thouse\u2014which\tyou\tsaid\tyou\talways\tkept\tlocked\u2014there\tare\tmany\tmore\told and\t valuable\t o bjects\t stashed\t away.\t And\t the\t pur po se\t o f\t the\t zo o \t is\t to \t war d\t o ff\t bur g lar s\t and\t r o bber s. Would\tyou\tdeny\tany\tof\tthis?\u2019 \u2018May\tI,\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\tsaid\tgravely,\t\u2018ask\tyou\twhat\telse\tyou\thappen\tto\tbelieve?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyou\tcertainly\tmay,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied,\tequally\tgravely.\t\u2018It\tis\tmy\tbelief\tthat\tyou\twill\tnever\tagain lay\tyour\teyes\ton\tthe\tEmperor \u2019s\tring,\tand\tyour\tfuture\twill\tbring\tyou\tyour\tjust\tdesserts.\u2019 \u2018Ganesh!\u2019\tBonobihari\tBabu\u2019s\tshout\trang\tthrough\tthe\tair\tlike\ta\tgunshot. Ganesh\t Guha\t entered\t the\t room,\t carrying\t the\t packing\t crate.\t Bonobihari\t Babu\t collected\t his\t tape- recorder\tand\tbegan\tbacking\tout\tof\tthe\troom. \u2018Cover\tyour\tface!\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\tme.\tI\tdid\tnot\tstop\tto\tquestion\twhy,\tand\tdid\tas\tI\twas\ttold,\tusing\tthe handkerchief\tI\thad\tbeen\tgiven. Feluda\ttook\tout\tanother\thandkerchief\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand,\twith\tit,\tthe\tlittle\ttin\tof\ttoothpowder. Ganesh\tGuha,\tby\tthis\ttime,\thad\tplaced\tthe\tcrate\ton\tthe\tfloor\tand\tlifted\tits\tlid.\tJust\tas\the\twas\tabout\tto retrace\t his\t steps,\t Feluda\t opened\t the\t tin\t in\t his\t hand\t and\t threw\t a\t handful\t of\t powder\t at\t both\t Ganesh Guha\tand\tBonobihari\tBabu.\tThen\the\tquickly\tcovered\this\town\tface. Through\tmy\thandkerchief,\tI\tgot\tthe\tfaint\tsmell\tof\ta\tfamiliar\tobject:\tblack\tpepper. It\t is\t difficult\t to\t describe\t the\t effect\t it\t had\t on\t the\t other\t two.\t Their\t faces\t were\t distorted\t with\t pain, which\t was\t fo llo wed\t by\t incessant\t sneezing \t and\t scr eams\t o f\t ag o ny.\t Bo no bihar i\t Babu\t stumbled\t o ut\t o f the\t room,\t rolled\t down\t the\t stairs\t and\t landed\t on\t the\t ground\t outside.\t Ganesh\t Guha\t didn\u2019t\t fare\t any better,\tbut\the\tmanaged\tto\tpull\tthe\tdoor\tshut\tbehind\thim,\tthereby\tblocking\tour\town\tescape. Now\t my\t eyes\t went\t to\t the\t open\t crate\t on\t the\t floor.\t A\t snake\t was\t slowly\t raising\t its\t head\t from\t it, making\tthe\tsame\tterrifying\tnoise\tI\thad\theard\tbefore. \u2018Kir-r-r-r-r-r\tkit\tkit\tkit\t.\t.\t.\tKir-r-r-r-r-r\tkit\tkit\tkit!\u2019 I\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tstrangely\tlightheaded.\tUnable\tto\tmove\tmy\tlimbs,\tI\tcould\tonly\tfeel\tFeluda\thelp\tme stand\tup\ton\tthe\tbench\tbefore\tclimbing\ton\tit\thimself. I\trealized\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\twhat\tterror\tcould\tdo\tto\tone.\tMy\teyes\trefused\tto\tmove\tfrom\tthe\tsnake. Or\tit\tcould\tbe\tthat\tthe\tsnake\treally\tdid\thave\tthe\tpower\tto\thypnotize.\tBefore\tmy\tpetrified\teyes,\tit\tslid out\tof\tits\tbox,\tshook\tits\trattle\tand\tseemed\tto\tglance\taround.\tThen\tit\tfixed\tits\tgaze\ton\tus,\tand\tbegan\tto move\tsteadily\ttowards\tour\tbench,\twriggling\tsideways\ton\tthe\tdoor,\tmaking\ta\tconstant\trattling\tnoise.\tI appeared\tto\tbe\tits\timmediate\ttarget. I\tcould\tfeel\tmy\tvision\tgetting\tblurred.\tThe\tsnake\twas\tcoming\tcloser,\tand\tall\tI\tcould\tdo\twas\tstand there,\t rooted\t to\t the\t spot.\t Then,\t when\t it\t was\t only\t about\t a\t couple\t of\t yards\t away,\t it\t suddenly\t felt\t as though\tthe\thouse\twe\twere\tin\twas\tstruck\tby\tlightning.\tThere\twas\ta\tloud\texplosion,\ta\tflash\tof\tlight\u2014 and\ta\tsmell\tof\tgunpowder. And\tthe\tsnake? T he\t head\t o f\t the\t snake\t was\t cr ushed\t and\t sever ed\t fr o m\t its\t bo dy.\t T he\t r attle\t sho o k\t a\t co uple\t o f\t times and\twas\tstill. At\tthis\tpoint,\tI\tpassed\tinto\toblivion. I\tregained\tconsciousness\tto\tfind\tmyself\tlying\ton\ta\tdurrie\tunder\ta\ttree.\tMy\thead\tand\tforehead\tfelt cold\t and\t damp.\t Clearly,\t someone\t had\t sprinkled\t water\t on\t me.\t My\t eyes\t slowly\t focused\t first\t on\t Dr","Srivastava\tand\tthen\ton\tBaba. \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tfeel,\tTapesh\tBabu?\u2019\tsaid\ta\tvaguely\tfamiliar\tvoice.\tStartled,\tI\tturned\tmy\thead\tand\tsaw Mahabir.\tBut\twhy\twas\the\twearing\tsaffron\tclothes? \u2018I\ttravelled\twith\tyou\tup\tto\tBareilly,\u2019\tMahabir\tgrinned,\t\u2018and\tyet\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\trecognize\tme!\u2019 He\t must\t be\t a\t talented\t acto r.\t And\t he\t was\t wear ing \t excellent\t make-up.\t In\t a\t lo ng ,\t flo wing \t bear d,\t he had\ttruly\tbeen\tunrecognizable.\tBesides,\the\thad\tchanged\tboth\this\tvoice\tand\tspeech. \u2018Now\tyou\u2019ve\tseen\thow\tgood\tmy\taim\tis.\tActually,\tI\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tdoubtful\tabout\tBonobihari\tBabu the\tday\twe\tmet\tat\tthe\tBhoolbhulaia\tand\the\tdenied\tever\thaving\tseen\tme\tbefore.\tThe\ttruth\twas\tthat\the had\toften\tvisited\tour\thouse\tin\tCalcutta\tand\tspoken\tto\tme\ta\tnumber\tof\ttimes.\tOnce\the\tand\tmy\tfather had\ta\trow\tover\tthat\tring.\tI\trecalled\tthat\tevent\tonly\ta\tfew\tdays\tago.\u2019 \u2018When\twe\tcouldn\u2019t\tspot\tyour\tcar,\u2019\tBaba\tadded,\t\u2018we\treversed\tours\tand\tfollowed\tthe\ttyre\tmarks\tinto the\tjungle.\tBut\tit\twas\tMahabir \u2019s\tidea.\u2019 \u2018And\twhat\thappened\tto\tthose\ttwo?\u2019 \u2018They\thave\tbeen\tadequately\tpunished.\tFelu\u2019s\tpowdered\tthunder\thad\tthe\tmost\tremarkable\teffect\ton both.\tNow\tthey\u2019re\tbeing\tlooked\tafter\tby\tthe\tpolice.\u2019 \u2018Police?\tHow\tdid\tthe\tpolice\tget\tinvolved?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tthey\tcame\twith\tus!\tBilash\tBabu\tis\tactually\tInspector\tGargari,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 How\tvery\tstrange!\tWho\twould\thave\tthought\tthat\tthat\tpalmist\twas\treally\ta\tpolice\tinspector?\tI\thad\tno idea\tthe\tmystery\tof\tthe\tEmperor \u2019s\tring\twould\tend\tlike\tthis. But\twhere\twas\tFeluda? A\t light\t flashed\t in\t my\t eyes\t again.\t But\t there\t was\t no\t loud\t noise\t this\t time.\t I\t saw\t Feluda\t standing\t at some\t distance,\t wearing\t the\t ring\t on\t his\t finger.\t He\t was\t turning\t it\t around\t in\t the\t sunlight\t that\t seeped through\tthe\tleaves,\tand\treflecting\tthe\tlight\tstraight\tinto\tmy\teyes. I\t thought\t quietly\t to\t myself:\t if\t anyone\t had\t emerged\t a\t winner\t in\t this\t whole\t business\t truly\t like\t an emperor,\tit\twas\tnone\tother\tthan\tFeluda.","","KAI LAS H\t C HO WDHURY \u2019 S \t J EWEL","\u2018See\thow\tyou\tlike\tmy\tcard.\u2019 Feluda\tfished\tout\ta\tvisiting\tcard\tfrom\this\twallet\tand\theld\tit\tbefore\tme.\tIt\tsaid:\tPRADOSH\tC.\t MITTER, PRIVATE\t IN VESTIGATOR.\t Feluda\t was\t clear ly\t tr ying \t to \t publicize\t what\t he\t did\t fo r \t a\t living .\t And\t why\t no t? After \t his\t success\t o ver \t the\t missing \t diamo nd\t r ing \t that\t had\t o nce\t belo ng ed\t to \t Emper o r \t Aur ang zeb,\t he was\t fully\t entitled\t to\t tell\t everyone\t how\t clever\t he\t had\t been.\t But,\t of\t course,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t really\t have\t to worry\tabout\tpublicity.\tA\tlot\tof\tpeople\thad\tcome\tto\tknow\tabout\tthe\tcase,\tanyway.\tIn\tfact,\tFeluda\thad received\ta\tcouple\tof\toffers\t\u2018already,\tbut\the\tdidn\u2019t\taccept\tthem\tas\tthey\twere\tnot\tchallenging\tenough. He\tput\tthe\tcard\tback\tin\this\twallet,\tand\tstretched\this\tlegs\ton\tthe\tlow\ttable\tin\tfront\tof\thim.\t\u2018It\tlooks like\tI\tshall\tget\tthe\tchance\tto\texercise\tmy\tbrain\tduring\tthis\tChristmas\tbreak,\u2019\the\tsaid\tcasually. \u2018Why?\t Have\t yo u\t fo und\t a\t new\t myster y?\u2019\t I\t asked.\t Feluda\u2019s\t wo r ds\t had\t made\t me\t quite\t excited,\t but\t I didn\u2019t\tshow\tit.\tHe\ttook\tout\ta\tsmall\tbox\tfrom\ta\tside\tpocket\tand\thelped\thimself\tto\tsome\tsupari\tfrom\tit. \u2018You\tappear\tgreatly\texcited,\u2019\the\tobserved. What?\t How\t did\t he\t guess?\t Feluda\t explained\t even\t before\t I\t could\t ask.\t \u2018Are\t you\t wondering\t how\t I knew?\tIt\tisn\u2019t\talways\tpossible\tto\thide\tyour\tfeelings,\tyou\tknow,\teven\tif\tyou\ttry.\tLittle\tthings\toften\tgive o ne\t away.\t When\t I\t made\t that\t r emar k\t abo ut\t wo r king \t dur ing \t this\t Chr istmas\t br eak,\t yo u\t wer e\t abo ut\t to yawn.\t My\t words\t made\t you\t close\t your\t mouth\t abruptly.\t If\t you\t were\t truly\t indifferent\t to\t what\t I\t said, you\u2019d\thave\tfinished\tyour\tyawn\tin\tthe\tusual\tway,\twithout\tbreaking\tit\toff.\u2019 Once\tagain\tI\twas\tstartled\tby\this\tpowers\tof\tobservation.\t\u2018Without\tbeing\table\tto\tobserve\tand\ttake\tin even\t the\t minutest\t detail,\t no \t o ne\t can\t claim\t to \t be\t a\t detective,\u2019\t Feluda\t had\t o ften\t said\t to \t me.\t \u2018Sher lo ck Holmes\thas\tshown\tus\tthe\tway.\tAll\twe\tneed\tto\tdo\tis\tfollow\thim.\u2019 \u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tme\twhy\tyou\twill\tneed\tto\texercise\tyour\tbrain,\u2019\tI\treminded\thim. \u2018Have\tyou\theard\tof\tKailash\tChowdhury,\tof\tShyampukur?\u2019 \u2018No .\t Ther e\t ar e\t so \t many\t famo us\t peo ple\t in\t o ur \t city.\t I\t canno t\t have\t hear d\t o f\t all\t o f\t them.\t I\t am\t o nly fifteen!\u2019 Feluda\t lit\t a\t cig ar ette.\t \u2018His\t family\t o wned\t a\t lo t\t o f\t land\t in\t Rajshahi.\t T hey\t wer e\t zamindar s.\t But\t they also\thad\tproperty\tin\tCalcutta,\tso\tthey\tmoved\there\tafter\tPartition.\tKailash\tChowdhury\tis\ta\tlawyer.\tHe used\tto\tgo\ton\tshikar\tand,\tin\tfact,\tbecame\tquite\twell-known\tas\ta\tshikari.\tHe\teven\twrote\ttwo\tbooks\ton the\tsubject.\tSometime\tago,\tan\telephant\twent\tmad\tin\tthe\tJaldapara\tReserve\tForest\tand\tbegan\tcreating such\thavoc\tthat\tKailash\tBabu\twas\tcalled\tin\tto\tkill\tit.\tHis\tname\twas\tmentioned\tin\talmost\tevery\tpaper.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWhat\thas\tall\tthis\tto\tdo\twith\tyour\tbrain?\tIs\tthere\ta\tmystery\tregarding\tKailash\tChowdhury?\u2019 Instead\t of\t giving\t me\t an\t answer,\t Feluda\t took\t out\t a\t letter\t from\t the\t front\t pocket\t of\t his\t jacket\t and passed\tit\tto\tme.\t\u2018Read\tit,\u2019\the\tsaid.\tI\tunfolded\tthe\tletter\tand\tread\twhat\tit\tsaid: Dear\tMr\tMitter, I\tdecided\tto\twrite\tto\tyou\tafter\tseeing\tyour\tadvertisement\tin\tthe\tAmrita\tBazar\tPatrika.\tI\tshould\tbe\tmuch\tobliged\tif\tyou\tcould come\t and\t meet\t me\t at\t the\t above\t address.\t I\t am\t sending\t this\t letter\t by\t express\t delivery.\t It\t should,\t therefore,\t reach\t you tomorrow.\tI\tshall\texpect\tyou\tthe\tday\tafter,\ti.e.\ton\tSaturday,\tat\t10\ta.m.\tYours\tsincerely, Kailash\tChowdhury. \u2018But\tit\u2019s\tSaturday\ttoday!\u2019\tI\texclaimed.\t\u2018And\tnine\to\u2019clock\talready!\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\timproving\teveryday.\tI\tam\tvery\tglad\tto\tnote\tthat\tyou\tremember\tdays\tand\tdates\tso\twell.\u2019","A\t sudden\t doubt\t raised\t its\t head\t in\t my\t mind.\t \u2018This\t letter\t speaks\t only\t of\t meeting\t you.\t What\t if\t he objects\tto\tan\textra\tperson?\u2019 Feluda\ttook\tthe\tletter\tback\tfrom\tme,\tand\tfolded\tit\tcarefully\tbefore\treplacing\tit\tin\this\tpocket. \u2018He\tshould\tnot,\tas\tyou\u2019re\ta\tyoung\tboy.\tHe\tmight\tnot\tsee\tyou\tas\tsufficiently\timportant\tto\tobject\tto. But\tif\the\tdoes,\twe\u2019ll\tpack\tyou\toff\tto\tanother\troom.\tYou\tcan\twait\tthere\twhile\twe\tfinish\tour\ttalk.\u2019 My\theart\tbegan\tbeating\tfaster.\tI\thad\tbeen\twondering\twhat\tto\tdo\tin\tthe\tChristmas\tholidays.\tNow\tit seemed\tas\tif\tI\twas\tin\tfor\ta\tvery\tinteresting\ttime. We\tgot\toff\ta\ttram\tnear\tShyampukur\tStreet\tat\tfive\tminutes\tto\tten.\tFeluda\thad\tstopped\ton\tthe\tway\tto buy\ta\tbook\twritten\tby\tKailash\tChowdhury.\tIt\twas\tcalled\tThe\tPassion\tof\tShikar.\tHe\tleafed\tthrough\tit\tin the\t tram,\t and\t said,\t as\t we\t got\t down,\t \u2018God\t knows\t why\t a\t brave\t man\t like\t him\t needs\t to\t see\t a\t private detective!\u2019 Kailash\t Cho wdhur y\u2019s\t ho use,\t 51\t Shyampukur \t Str eet,\t tur ned\t o ut\t to \t be\t a\t hug e\t o ld\t mansio n.\t A\t lo ng drive\t led\t to\t the\t main\t house.\t There\t were\t gardens\t on\t both\t sides,\t marble\t statues\t and\t a\t fountain.\t We passed\tthese\tand\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tthe\tfront\tdoor.\tThere\twere\tfootsteps\ton\tthe\tother\tside\twithin\tthirty seconds\t of\t pressing\t the\t bell.\t One\t look\t at\t the\t man\t who\t opened\t the\t door\t told\t me\t it\t was\t not\t Kailash Chowdhury.\t No\t brave\t shikari\t could\t have\t such\t a\t mouse-like\t appearance.\t He\t was\t a\t man\t of\t medium height,\t rather\t plump,\t possibly\t no\t more\t than\t thirty\t years\t old.\t His\t eyes\t held\t a\t look\t of\t childlike innocence.\tIn\this\thand\twas\ta\tmagnifying\tglass. \u2018Whom\twould\tyou\tlike\tto\tsee?\u2019\the\tasked.\tHis\tvoice\twas\tas\tmild\tas\this\tappearance. Feluda\t to o k\t o ut\t o ne\t o f\t his\t car ds\t and\t handed\t it\t to \t the\t g entleman.\t \u2018I\t have\t an\t appo intment\t with\t Mr Chowdhury.\tHe\tasked\tme\tto\tcome\there.\u2019 The\tman\tcast\ta\tquick\tglance\tat\tthe\tcard,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Please\tcome\tin.\u2019\tWe\tfollowed\thim\tdown\tthe\thall, up\ta\tflight\tof\tstairs\tand\twere\tushered\tinto\twhat\tlooked\tlike\ta\tsmall\toffice. \u2018Please\thave\ta\tseat.\tI\u2019ll\tgo\tand\tinform\tmy\tuncle,\u2019\the\tsaid\tand\tdisappeared. We\ttook\ttwo\told\tchairs\twith\tarms\tthat\tfaced\tan\tequally\told\ttable,\tpainted\tblack.\tThree\tsides\tof\tthe room\t were\t lined\t with\t glass\t cases\t filled\t with\t books.\t On\t the\t table\t I\t noticed\t something\t interesting. T hr ee\t fat\t stamp\t albums\t wer e\t stacked\t o ne\t o n\t to p\t o f\t the\t o ther,\t and\t a\t fo ur th\t was\t lying \t o pen.\t Ro ws\t o f stamps\thad\tbeen\tcarefully\tpasted\tin\tit.\tA\tfew\tloose\tstamps\tlay\tin\ta\tcellophane\tpacket,\ttogether\twith\tthe usual\tparaphernalia\tof\tstamp\tcollectors:\thinges,\ta\tpair\tof\ttweezers\tand\ta\tstamp\tcatalogue.\tNow\tit\twas clear\t why\t the\t man\t who\t met\t us\t at\t the\t door\t was\t carrying\t a\t magnifying\t glass.\t He\t was\t obviously\t the collector\tof\tthese\tstamps. Feluda,\t to o ,\t was\t lo o king \t at\t these\t o bjects,\t but\t befo r e\t either \t o f\t us\t co uld\t make\t a\t r emar k,\t the\t same man\treturned\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Uncle\tasked\tyou\tto\twait\tin\tthe\tdrawing\troom.\tHe\u2019ll\tjoin\tyou\tshortly.\u2019 We\t wer e\t taken\t to \t the\t dr awing \t r o o m.\t It\t was\t a\t lar g e\t r o o m,\t with\t a\t chandelier,\t o il\t painting s,\t mar ble statues\t and\t a\t g r eat\t number \t o f\t vases\t that\t wer e\t str ewn\t all\t o ver.\t Ever ything \t in\t it\t bo r e\t the\t mar k\t o f\t life during\tthe\tRaj,\tat\tleast\tlife\tin\tan\taffluent\thousehold.\tOn\tthe\tfloor\twas\tthe\tskin\tof\ta\tRoyal\tBengal\ttiger, and\tfrom\tthe\twalls\tstared\tfour\theads\tof\tdeer,\ttwo\tcheetahs\tand\ta\twild\tbuffalo. Near ly\t ten\t minutes\t later,\t a\t middle-ag ed\t man\t enter ed\t the\t r o o m.\t He\t seemed\t pr etty\t str o ng \t and\t ag ile for\t his\t age.\t His\t features\t were\t sharp,\t and\t he\t sported\t a\t thin\t moustache.\t He\t was\t wearing\t a\t red\t silk dressing\tgown\tover\ta\tpyjama-kurta.","We\t rose\t to\t our\t feet\t and\t said,\t \u2018Namaskar.\u2019\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t returned\t our\t greeting,\t but\t raised\t his eyebrows\tslightly\ton\tseeing\tme. \u2018This\t is\t my\t cousin,\u2019\t Feluda\t explained.\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t took\t the\t smaller\t sofa\t next\t to\t ours,\t and asked,\t\u2018Do\tyou\tcarry\tout\tyour\tinvestigations\ttogether?\u2019 Feluda\tlaughed,\t\u2018No,\tnot\treally.\tBut\tTapesh\thappened\tto\tbe\tinvolved\tin\tall\tthe\tcases\tI\thave\thandled so\tfar.\tHe\u2019s\tnever\tcaused\tany\ttrouble.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tAbanish,\tyou\tmay\tgo\tnow;\tand\tsee\tif\tyou\tcan\tarrange\ta\tcup\tof\ttea\tfor\tthese\tpeople.\u2019 The\t stamp-collector\t was\t standing\t near\t the\t door.\t At\t these\t words,\t he\t disappeared\t inside.\t Kailash Chowdhury\tlooked\tat\tFeluda,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\thope\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind,\tbut\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tsee\tthe\tletter\tI\twrote\tto you.\tDid\tyou\tbring\tit?\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018Is\tthis\tto\tmake\tsure\tI\tam\tthe\tright\tperson?\tHere\u2019s\tyour\tletter,\tsir.\u2019 Mr\tChowdhury\tglanced\tbriefly\tat\tthe\tletter,\tsaid\t\u2018Thank\tyou\u2019,\tand\treturned\tit\tto\tFeluda. \u2018One\t has\t to\t be\t careful\t in\t these\t matters,\t I\u2019m\t sure\t you\t understand.\t Anyway,\t I\t assume\t you\t know\t a little\tbit\tabout\tmy\twork.\tI\tam\tknown\tas\ta\tshikari.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tI\tdid\tknow\tthat.\u2019 Mr \t Cho wdhur y\t po inted\t at\t the\t heads\t o f\t var io us\t animals\t o n\t the\t walls\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t killed\t all\t tho se.\t I learnt\tto\tuse\ta\trifle\tat\tthe\tage\tof\tseventeen.\tBefore\tthat,\tas\ta\tchild,\tI\thad\tused\tairguns\tand\tkilled\tsmall birds.\tI\tam\tnot\tafraid\tto\tfight\tanyone\u2014or\tanything\u2014if\tI\tcan\tface\tmy\topponent,\tif\tI\tcan\tsee\thim.\tBut\tif the\tadversary\tis\ta\tsecret\tone\t.\t.\t.\tif\the\tdoesn\u2019t\tcome\tout\tin\tthe\topen\t.\t.\t.\twhat\tdoes\tone\tdo?\u2019 He\t paused.\t I\t co uld\t feel\t my\t hear t\t thudding \t faster \t ag ain.\t The\t details\t o f\t a\t myster y\t wer e\t abo ut\t to \t be revealed,\tbut\tMr\tChowdhury\twas\tbeating\tabout\tthe\tbush\tso\tmuch\tthat\tthe\tsuspense\twas\tgetting\thigher every\tminute.\tA\tfew\tseconds\tlater,\the\tresumed\tspeaking.\t\u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\texpect\tyou\tto\tbe\tso\tyoung,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018How\told\tare\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Twenty-eight.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWell,\tI\tcould\thave\tgone\tto\tthe\tpolice.\tBut\tI\tdon\u2019t\treally\thave\ta\tlot\tof\tfaith\tin\tthem.\tInstead\tof helping ,\t they\t usually\t make\t a\t to tal\t nuisance\t o f\t themselves.\t Besides,\t I\t r espect\t the\t yo ung .\t So \t yo u\t may well\t be\t the\t r ig ht\t per so n\t fo r \t the\t jo b.\t I\t think\t an\t o ld\t head\t o n\t yo ung \t sho ulder s\t can\t achieve\t a\t lo t\t mo r e than\tan\tentire\tpolice\tforce.\u2019 He\t paused\t again.\t Feluda\t seized\t this\t opportunity\t to\t ask\t quickly,\t \u2018If\t you\t could\t tell\t me\t what\t the problem\tis\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 Silently,\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t took\t out\t a\t piece\t of\t paper\t from\t his\t pocket\t and\t passed\t it\t to\t Feluda.\t \u2018See what\tyou\tcan\tmake\tof\tit,\u2019\the\tsaid.\tFeluda\tunfolded\tit.\tI\tleant\tacross\tand\tread\twhat\twas\twritten\ton\tit: Do\tnot\tmake\tthings\tworse\tfor\tyourself.\tYou\tmust\treturn\twhat\tdoes\tnot\tbelong\tto\tyou.\tGo\tto\tVictoria\tMemorial\ton\tMonday, and\tleave\tit\tunder\tthe\tfirst\tplant\tof\tthe\tfirst\trow\tof\tlilies\tthat\tfaces\tthe\tsouth\tgate.\tThis\tmust\tbe\tdone\tby\t4\tp.m.\tDo\tnot\ttry\tto inform\tthe\tpolice,\tor\tgo\tto\ta\tdetective.\tIf\tyou\tdo,\tyou\twill\tend\tup\texactly\tlike\tthe\tanimals\tyou\tkilled\ton\tyour\tshikar. \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tthink?\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\tasked\tgravely. Feluda\t stared\t at\t the\t note\t for\t a\t few\t moments.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018The\t writer\t tried\t to\t mask\t his handwriting,\tfor\tthe\tsame\tletters\thave\tbeen\twritten\tin\tdifferent\tways.\tAnd\the\twrote\ton\tthe\ttop\tsheet\tof a\tnew\tpad.\u2019 \u2018How\tcan\tyou\ttell?\u2019","\u2018If\t you\t write\t on\t a\t pad,\t the\t leaves\t below\t the\t top\t one\t always\t carry\t a\t faint\t impression\t of\t what\t is written\ton\tthe\tupper\tsheet.\tIt\tmay\tnot\tbe\tlegible,\tbut\tit\tis\tthere.\tThis\tsheet\tis\tabsolutely\tsmooth.\u2019 \u2018Very\tgood.\tCan\tyou\ttell\tanything\telse?\u2019 \u2018No,\tit\u2019s\timpossible\tto\tsay\tanything\tmore\tsimply\tby\tlooking\tat\tit.\tDid\tthis\tarrive\tby\tpost?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThe\tpostmark\tsaid\tPark\tStreet\tPost\tOffice.\tI\tgot\tthis\tnote\tthree\tdays\tago.\tToday\tis\tSaturday, the\t20th.\u2019 Feluda\treturned\tthe\tnote\tto\tMr\tChowdhury\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\twould\tnow\tlike\tto\task\tyou\ta\tfew\tquestions, if\tI\tmay.\tYou\tsee,\tI\tknow\tnothing\tabout\tyour\tlife,\texcept\tthe\ttales\tof\tshikar\tthat\tyou\twrote.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tGo\tahead\twith\tyour\tquestions.\tBut\tplease\thelp\tyourself\tto\tthe\tsweets\tbefore\tyou\tbegin.\u2019 A\tbearer\thad\tcome\tin\ta\tfew\tminutes\tearlier\tand\tplaced\ta\tsilver\tplate\tbefore\tus,\tloaded\twith\tsweets. Feluda\t did\t no t\t have\t to \t be\t to ld\t a\t seco nd\t time.\t He\t picked\t up\t a\t r asg ulla\t and\t po pped\t it\t into \t his\t mo uth. \u2018What,\u2019\the\tasked\tafter\ta\twhile,\t\u2018is\tthis\tobject\tthat\tdoesn\u2019t\tbelong\tto\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Fr ankly,\t Mr \t Mitter,\t I\t canno t\t think\t o f\t anything \t like\t that\t at\t all.\t Ever ything \t I\t po ssess\t in\t this\t wo r ld, including\t things\t in\t this\t house,\t were\t either\t inherited\t or\t bought\t by\t me.\t Everything\t .\t .\t .\t except.\t .\t .\u2019\t he stopped\tabruptly. \u2018Except\twhat?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tthere\tis\tsomething\tthat\u2019s\tboth\tvaluable\tand\ttempting.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018A\tstone.\u2019 \u2018A\tprecious\tstone?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tbuy\tit?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018Did\tit\tbelong\tto\tyour\tforefathers?\u2019 \u2018No ,\t I\t fo und\t it\t in\t a\t jung le\t in\t Madhya\t Pr adesh.\t Ther e\t wer e\t fo ur \t o f\t us.\t We\t chased\t a\t tig er \t into \t the jungle\tand\tfinally\tkilled\tit.\tThen\twe\tfound\tthis\tancient\tand\tabandoned\ttemple.\tThe\tstone\twas\tfixed\ton the\tforehead\tof\tthe\tstatue\tof\tthe\tdeity.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tanyone\teven\tknew\tof\tits\texistence.\u2019 \u2018Were\tyou\tthe\tfirst\tto\tsee\tit?\u2019 \u2018Everyone\telse\tsaw\tthe\ttemple,\tbut\tyes,\tI\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tnotice\tthe\tstone.\u2019 \u2018Who\telse\twas\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018An\tAmerican\tcalled\tWright,\ta\tPunjabi\tcalled\tKishorilal\tand\tmy\tbrother,\tKedar.\u2019 \u2018Is\tyour\tbrother\talso\ta\tshikari?\u2019 \u2018He\tused\tto\tgo\ton\tshikar\twith\tme\tsometimes,\tbut\tnow\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\the\tdoes.\tHe\twent\tabroad four\tyears\tago.\u2019 \u2018Abroad?\u2019 \u2018Switzerland.\tSomething\tto\tdo\twith\tmaking\twatches.\u2019 \u2018When\tyou\tfound\tthe\tstone,\twhat\thappened?\tDidn\u2019t\tany\tof\tthe\tothers\twant\tto\ttake\tit?\u2019 \u2018No ,\t because\t no ne\t o f\t us\t r ealized\t its\t value\t then.\t I\t came\t to \t kno w\t o nly\t when\t I\t had\t it\t assessed\t by\t a jeweller\tin\tCalcutta.\u2019 \u2018Who\telse\tgot\tto\tknow?\u2019","\u2018Not\tmany\tpeople.\tI\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tmany\trelations.\tA\tcouple\tof\tfriends\tknow\tabout\tit,\tI\ttold\tKedar,\tand I\tthink\tmy\tnephew\tAbanish\tis\taware\tof\tits\tvalue.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tkeep\tthe\tstone\there\tin\tyour\thouse?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tin\tmy\tbedroom.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tkeep\tit\tin\ta\tbank\tlocker?\u2019 \u2018I\tdid\tonce.\tThe\tvery\tnext\tday,\tI\twas\talmost\trun\tover\tby\ta\tcar.\tOh,\tI\thad\ta\tnarrow\tescape,\tI\tcan\ttell you.\tThat\tmade\tme\tthink\tif\tI\twas\tseparated\tfrom\tthe\tstone\tit\twould\tbring\tme\tbad\tluck.\tYes,\tI\tknow\tit\u2019s superstition.\tNevertheless,\tI\tbrought\tit\tback\tfrom\tthe\tbank.\u2019 Feluda\t had\t finished\t eating .\t I\t co uld\t tell\t fr o m\t the\t way\t he\t was\t fr o wning \t that\t he\t had\t star ted\t to \t think. He\twiped\this\tmouth,\tdrank\tsome\twater\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Who\telse\tlives\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019 \u2018My\tnephew,\tAbanish,\tand\tthree\told\tservants.\tThen\tthere\u2019s\tmy\tfather,\tbut\the\u2019s\tvery\told\tand\talmost totally\tsenile.\tOne\tof\tthe\tservants\tspends\tall\this\ttime\tlooking\tafter\thim.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tyour\tnephew\tdo?\u2019 \u2018Nothing\tmuch,\treally.\tHis\tpassion\tis\tphilately.\tHe\u2019s\ttalking\tof\tstarting\ta\tshop\tto\tsell\tstamps.\u2019 Feluda\t was\t quiet\t fo r \t a\t few\t mo ments,\t as\t if\t he\t was\t tr ying \t to \t co me\t to \t a\t decisio n\t abo ut\t so mething . Then\the\tsaid\tslowly,\t\u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tme\tto\tfind\tout\twho\twrote\tthat\tnote?\u2019 Mr\tChowdhury\tseemed\tto\tforce\ta\tsmile.\t\u2018I\tam\tgetting\told,\tMr\tMitter.\tI\tcan\tdo\twithout\tanxiety\tand tension.\tAnd\tit\tisn\u2019t\tjust\tthat\tnote.\tLast\tnight\tthis\tman\trang\tme.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\trecognize\this\tvoice.\tHe\tsaid if\t I\t didn\u2019t\t place\t that\t object\t at\t the\t specified\t time\t and\t place,\t he\u2019d\t come\t into\t my\t house\t and\t cause\t me bo dily\t har m.\t But\t even\t so ,\t I\t am\t no t\t willing \t to \t par t\t with\t that\t sto ne.\t Besides,\t this\t man\t canno t\t po ssibly have\ta\tlegitimate\tclaim\ton\tit.\tHe\u2019s\tjust\thoping\tto\tfrighten\tme\tby\this\tthreats.\tA\tcrook\tlike\thim\tought\tto be\tpunished.\tYou\tmust\twork\tout\thow.\u2019 \u2018There\t is\t only\t one\t thing\t that\t I\t can\t possibly\t do.\t I\t must\t go\t to\t Victoria\t Memorial\t on\t Monday\t and keep\tan\teye\ton\tthe\tlilies.\tThis\tman\thas\tgot\tto\tturn\tup.\u2019 \u2018He\tmay\tnot\tcome\thimself.\u2019 \u2018That\t shouldn\u2019t\t matter.\t If\t we\t can\t catch\t whoever\t comes\t hoping\t to\t collect\t the\t stone,\t it\t won\u2019t\t be difficult\tto\tfind\tout\twho\tis\treally\tbehind\tthe\tscene.\u2019 \u2018But\tthe\tman\tmight\tbe\tdangerous.\tWhen\the\tturns\tup\tat\tVictoria\tMemorial\tand\tdiscovers\tI\thave\tnot placed\tthe\tstone\tunder\tthat\tplant,\tGod\tknows\twhat\the\tmight\tdo.\tCan\u2019t\tyou\tdo\tanything\tto\tfind\tout\twho he\tis\tbefore\tMonday?\tI\tmean,\tthere\u2019s\tthat\tnote\tand\tthe\tphone\tcall.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tenough?\u2019 Feluda\tgot\tup\tand\tbegan\tpacing.\t\u2018Look,\tMr\tChowdhury,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018this\tman\thas\tsaid\tyou\u2019d\tget\tinto trouble\t if\t you\t went\t to\t a\t private\t detective.\t Now,\t whether\t or\t not\t I\t take\t any\t action,\t you\t might\t be\t in trouble\talready.\tSo\treally,\tyou\tmust\tdecide\twhether\tyou\twant\tme\tto\tgo\tahead.\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\twiped his\tface\twith\ta\thandkerchief,\talthough\tit\twas\tquite\tcold\tinside\tthe\troom.\t\u2018You,\tand\tthis\tyoung\tcousin of\tyours\t.\t.\t.\twell,\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tappear\tto\tbe\tinvestigators.\tThis\tis\tan\tadvantage.\tI\tmean,\tpeople\tmay\thave heard\tyour\tname,\tbut\thow\tmany\tknow\twhat\tyou\tlook\tlike?\tNo,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tthere\u2019s\tmuch\tchance\tof you\t being\t recognized\t as\t the\t detective\t I\t have\t hired.\t If\t you\t are\t still\t prepared\t to\t take\t this\t job,\t I\t will certainly\tpay\tyou\tyour\tfee.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tBut\tbefore\tI\tgo,\tI\twould\tlike\tto\tsee\tthat\tstone.\u2019 \u2018Sure.\u2019","All\t of\t us\t got\t up.\t The\t stone\t was\t kept\t in\t the\t wardrobe\t in\t his\t bedroom,\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t said.\t We followed\thim\tupstairs.\tA\tmarble\tstaircase\twent\tup\tto\tthe\tfirst\tfloor,\tending\tat\tone\tend\tof\ta\tlong,\tdark corridor.\tThere\twere\trooms\ton\teither\tside\tof\tthe\tcorridor.\tI\tdid\tnot\tactually\tcount\tthem,\tbut\tat\ta\tguess there\t were\t at\t least\t ten\t rooms.\t Some\t of\t them\t were\t locked.\t There\t was\t no\t one\t in\t sight.\t The\t slightest noise\tsounded\tunnaturally\tloud\tin\tthe\teerie\tsilence.\tI\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tuneasy. Mr\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t bedroom\t was\t the\t last\t one\t on\t the\t right.\t When\t we\t were\t more\t or\t less\t half\t way do wn\t the\t co r r ido r,\t I\t suddenly\t r ealized\t that\t the\t do o r \t to \t o ne\t o f\t the\t r o o ms\t was\t ajar.\t Thr o ug h\t a\t small gap,\ta\tvery\told\tman\twas\tpeering\tout,\tcraning\this\tneck\tto\tlook\tat\tus.\tHis\teyes\twere\tdimmed\twith\tage, but\t as\t we\t g o t\t clo ser,\t I\t was\t sho cked\t to \t no tice\t the\t expr essio n\t in\t them.\t The\t o ld\t man\t was\t star ing \t with murder\tin\this\teyes.\tBut\the\tsaid\tnothing.\tI\tnow\tfelt\tpositively\tscared. \u2018That\u2019s\t my\t father,\u2019\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t explained\t hurriedly,\t continuing\t to\t walk.\t \u2018I\t told\t you\t he\t was senile,\t didn\u2019t\t I?\t He\t keeps\t peeping \t o ut\t o f\t do o r s\t and\t windo ws.\t And\t he\t thinks\t ever yo ne\t neg lects\t him. That\u2019s\twhy\the\tlooks\tso\tcross\tmost\tof\tthe\ttime.\tBut\tI\tcan\tassure\tyou\tevery\teffort\tis\tmade\tto\tmake\tsure he\u2019s\tall\tright.\u2019 The\t bedroom\t had\t a\t huge,\t high\t bed,\t and\t the\t wardrobe\t was\t next\t to\t it.\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t opened\t it, pulled\tout\ta\tdrawer\tand\ttook\tout\ta\tsmall,\tblue\tvelvet\tbox\tfrom\tit.\t\u2018I\tbought\tthis\tbox\tfrom\ta\tjeweller just\tto\tkeep\tthe\tstone\tin\tit,\u2019\the\tinformed\tus,\tand\topened\tit.\tA\tglittering\tstone\tlay\tinside,\tabout\tthe\tsize of\ta\tlitchi,\tradiating\ta\tgreenish-blue\tlight. \u2018This\t is\t a\t blue\t beryl.\t It\u2019s\t usually\t found\t in\t Brazil.\t There\t cannot\t be\t many\t of\t these\t in\t India,\t and certainly\tnone\tof\tthis\tsize.\tI\tknow\tthat\tfor\ta\tfact.\u2019 Feluda\tpicked\tup\tthe\tstone,\theld\tit\tbetween\this\tforefinger\tand\tthumb\tand\tlooked\tclosely\tat\tit\tfor\ta few\tmoments\tbefore\treturning\tit\tto\tits\towner.\tMr\tChowdhury\tput\tit\tback\tin\tthe\tdrawer,\tthen\ttook\tout his\twallet\tfrom\this\tpocket.\t\u2018This\tis\tan\tadvance\tpayment,\u2019\the\tsaid,\toffering\tfive\tcrisp\tten-rupee\tnotes. \u2018I\u2019ll\tpay\tyou\tthe\trest\twhen\tthis\tbusiness\tis\tcleared\tup.\tAll\tright?\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\taccepting\tthe\tmoney.\tThis\twas\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tI\tsaw\thim\tactually\tbeing\tpaid for\this\tservices. \u2018I\twill\tneed\tthat\tnote\tyou\twere\tsent,\tand\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tspeak\tto\tyour\tnephew,\tplease,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\tas\twe climbed\t do wn\t the\t stair s.\t The\t pho ne\t in\t the\t dr awing \t r o o m\t star ted\t r ing ing \t just\t as\t we\t r eached\t the\t last step.\tMr\tChowdhury\twent\tquickly\tto\tanswer\tit,\tleaving\tus\tbehind.\t\u2018Hello!\u2019\twe\theard\thim\tsay.\tThis\twas followed\tby\tsilence. When\twe\tentered\tthe\tdrawing\troom\ta\tfew\tseconds\tlater,\tMr\tChowdhury\treplaced\tthe\treceiver\tand sat\tdown\tquickly,\tlooking\tpale\tand\tfrightened.\t\u2018It.\t.\t.\tit\twas\tthat\tsame\tvoice!\u2019\the\twhispered. \u2018What\tdid\tit\tsay?\u2019 \u2018It\t simply\t r epeated\t the\t same\t thr eat,\t but\t this\t time\t it\t was\t mo r e\t specific.\t He\t actually\t said\t he\t wanted what\tI\thad\tfound\tin\tan\tabandoned\ttemple.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\tsay\tanything\telse?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018And\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\trecognize\tthe\tvoice?\u2019 \u2018No,\t all\t I\t can\t say\t is\t that\t it\t was\t a\t most\t unpleasant\t voice.\t Maybe\t you\u2019d\t like\t to\t think\t again\t about taking\ton\tthis\tcase?\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018I\thave\tfinished\tthinking,\u2019\the\treplied.","We\t left\t the\t drawing\t room\t soon\t after\t this\t and\t made\t our\t way\t to\t the\t room\t of\t Mr\t Chowdhury\u2019s nephew,\t Abanish\t Babu.\t We\t found\t him\t closely\t examining\t something\t on\t a\t table\t with\t a\t magnifying glass.\tAs\twe\tentered\tthe\troom,\the\tswiftly\tcovered\tthe\tobject\twith\tone\thand\tand\tgot\tto\this\tfeet. \u2018Come\tin,\tcome\tin!\u2019\the\tinvited. \u2018I\tcan\tsee\tthat\tyou\tare\tvery\tinterested\tin\tstamps,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked.\tAbanish\tBabu\u2019s\teyes\tlit\tup.\t\u2018Yes, sir.\tThat\u2019s\tmy\tonly\tinterest\tin\tlife,\tmy\tonly\tpassion.\tAll\tI\tever\tthink\tof\tare\tstamps!\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tspecialize\tin\tany\tone\tcountry,\tor\tdo\tyou\tcollect\tstamps\tfrom\tall\tover\tthe\tworld?\u2019 \u2018I\tused\tto\tcollect\tthem\tfrom\twherever\tthey\thappened\tto\tbe,\tbut\tof\tlate\tI\u2019ve\tstarted\tto\tconcentrate\ton India.\tI\thad\tto\tsift\tthrough\thundreds\tof\told\tletters\tto\tget\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tfind\tanything\tgood?\u2019 \u2018Good?\tGood?\u2019\tAbanish\tBabu\tbegan\tto\tlook\tecstatic.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tinterested\tin\tthis\tsubject?\tWill\tyou understand\tif\tI\texplain?\u2019 \u2018Try\tme,\u2019\tFeluda\tsmiled,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tclaim\tto\tbe\tan\texpert,\tbut\tlike\tmost\tother\tpeople,\tI\twas\tonce\tkeen on\tcollecting\tstamps,\tand\tdreamt\tof\tacquiring\tthe\tfamous\tones.\tYou\tknow,\tthe\tone-penny\tstamp\tfrom the\tCape\tof\tGood\tHope,\tthe\ttwo-penny\tfrom\tMauritius\tand\tthe\t1856\tones\tfrom\tBritish\tGuyana.\tTen years\tago\ttheir\tprice\twas\tin\tthe\tregion\tof\ta\thundred\tthousand\trupees.\tNow\tthey\tmust\tbe\tworth\ta\tlot more.\u2019 Abanish\tBabu\tgrew\teven\tmore\texcited.\t\u2018Well\tthen,\u2019\the\tsaid\twith\tgleaming\teyes,\t\u2018well\tthen,\tI\u2019m\tsure you\u2019d\t understand.\t I\u2019d\t like\t to\t show\t you\t something.\t Here\t it\t is.\u2019\t He\t took\t his\t hand\t off\t the\t table\t and revealed\t the\t object\t he\t had\t been\t hiding.\t It\t turned\t out\t to\t be\t a\t very\t old\t stamp,\t detached\t from\t an envelope.\tIts\toriginal\tcolour\tmust\thave\tbeen\tgreen,\tbut\tit\thad\tfaded\talmost\tcompletely.\tAbanish\tBabu passed\tit\tto\tFeluda. \u2018What?\tWhat\tcan\tyou\tsee?\u2019\the\tasked\teagerly. \u2018An\t Indian\t stamp,\t about\t a\t hundred\t years\t old.\t It\t has\t a\t picture\t of\t Queen\t Victoria.\t I\u2019ve\t seen\t such stamps\tbefore.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou?\tYes,\tI\u2019m\tsure\tyou\thave.\tNow\tthen,\ttake\tanother\tlook\tthrough\tthis\tmagnifying\tglass.\u2019 Feluda\tpeered\tthrough\tthe\tproffered\tglass. \u2018Now\twhat\tdo\tyou\tsee,\teh?\u2019\tAbanish\tBabu\tasked\tanxiously.\t\u2018There\tis\ta\tprinting\terror.\u2019 \u2018Exactly!\u2019 \u2018The\tword\tis\tobviously\tPOSTAGE,\tbut\tinstead\tof\ta\t\u201cG\u201d,\tthey\tprinted\ta\t\u201cC\u201d.\u2019 Abanish\t Babu\t to o k\t the\t stamp\t back.\t \u2018Do \t yo u\t kno w\t ho w\t much\t that\t stamp\t is\t wo r th\t because\t o f\t that error?\u2019 \u2018How\tmuch?\u2019 \u2018Twenty\tthousand.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tI\u2019ve\tchecked\twith\tthe\tauthorities\tin\tUK.\tThe\tcatalogue\tdoes\tnot\tmention\tthe\terror.\tI\twas the\tfirst\tperson\tto\tfind\tit.\u2019 \u2018Congratulations!\tBut\t.\t.\t.\ter\t.\t.\t.\tI\twanted\tto\tdiscuss\tsomething\telse\twith\tyou,\tAbanish\tBabu.\tI\tmean, something\tother\tthan\tstamps.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018Your\tuncle\u2014Kailash\tChowdhury\u2014has\ta\tvaluable\tjewel.\tAre\tyou\taware\tof\tthat?\u2019","Abanish\t Babu\t had\t to \t think\t fo r \t a\t few\t mo ments\t befo r e\t r eplying ,\t \u2018Oh\t yes,\t yes.\t I\t did\t hear \t abo ut\t it.\t I know\tnothing\tabout\tits\tvalue,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tsupposed\tto\tbe\t\u201clucky\u201d,\tor\tso\tmy\tuncle\tsaid.\tPlease\tforgive\tme, Mr\tMitter,\tbut\tof\tlate\tI\thave\tbeen\table\tto\tpay\tno\tattention\tto\tanything\texcept\tmy\tstamps.\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\thave\tyou\tlived\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019 \u2018For\tthe\tlast\tfive\tyears.\tI\tmoved\there\tsoon\tafter\tmy\tfather\tdied.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tget\ton\twith\tyour\tuncle?\u2019 \u2018Which\tone\tdo\tyou\tmean?\tI\thave\ttwo\tuncles.\tOne\tof\tthem\tlives\tabroad.\u2019 \u2018Oh?\tI\twas\tspeaking\tof\tKailash\tBabu.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWell,\the\tis\ta\tvery\tnice\tman,\tbut\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat?\u2019 Abanish\tBabu\tfrowned.\t\u2018For\tthe\tlast\tfew\tdays\t.\t.\t.\the\u2019s\tbeen\tsort\tof\t.\t.\t.\tdifferent.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tmean?\tWhen\tdid\tyou\tfirst\tnotice\tthis?\u2019 \u2018Two \t o r \t thr ee\t days\t ag o .\t I\t to ld\t him\t abo ut\t this\t stamp,\t but\t he\t paid\t no \t attentio n\t at\t all.\t No r mally,\t he takes\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tof\tinterest.\tBesides,\tsome\tof\this\told\thabits\tseem\tto\tbe\tchanging.\u2019 \u2018How?\u2019 \u2018He\tused\tto\ttake\ta\twalk\tin\tthe\tgarden\tevery\tmorning\tbefore\tbreakfast.\tHe\thasn\u2019t\tdone\tthat\tfor\tthe last\tcouple\tof\tdays.\tIn\tfact,\the\tgets\tup\tquite\tlate.\tMaybe\the\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\tsleeping\twell.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tany\tparticular\treason\tto\tsay\tthis?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t My\t bedroom\t is\t on\t the\t ground\t floor.\t The\t room\t directly\t above\t mine\t is\t my\t uncle\u2019s.\t I\t have heard\t him\t pacing\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t night.\t I\u2019ve\t even\t heard\t his\t voice.\t I\t think\t he\t was\t having\t an argument.\u2019 \u2018An\targument?\tWith\twhom?\u2019 \u2018Probably\tGrandfather.\tWho\telse\tcould\tit\tbe?\tI\u2019ve\teven\theard\tfootsteps\tgoing\tup\tand\tcoming\tdown the\tstairs.\tOne\tnight,\tI\tgot\tup\tand\twent\tto\tthe\tbottom\tof\tthe\tstairs\tto\tsee\twhat\twas\tgoing\ton.\tI\tsaw\tmy uncle\tcoming\tdown\tfrom\tthe\troof,\twith\ta\tgun\tin\this\thand.\u2019 \u2018What\ttime\twould\tthat\thave\tbeen?\u2019 \u2018Around\ttwo\to\u2019clock\tin\tthe\tmorning,\tI\tshould\tthink.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\tthere\ton\tthe\troof?\u2019 \u2018No thing \t except\t a\t small\t attic.\t It\t was\t full\t o f\t o ld\t paper s\t and\t letter s,\t but\t I\t to o k\t tho se\t away\t a\t mo nth ago.\u2019 Feluda\t r o se.\t I\t co uld\t see\t he\t had\t no \t fur ther \t questio ns\t to \t ask.\t Abanish\t Babu\t said,\t \u2018Why\t did\t yo u\t ask me\tall\tthis?\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018You\tuncle\thas\ta\tlot\ton\this\tmind\tat\tthis\tmoment.\tBut\tyou\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto\tworry\tabout it.\tOnce\tthings\tget\tsorted\tout,\tI\u2019ll\tcome\tand\thave\ta\tlook\tat\tyour\tstamps.\tAll\tright?\u2019 We\treturned\tto\tthe\tdrawing\troom\tto\tsay\tgood-bye\tto\tMr\tChowdhury. \u2018I\tcannot\tguarantee\tanything,\tobviously,\tbut\tI\twould\tlike\tto\tsay\tone\tthing,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim.\t\u2018Please stop\tworrying\tand\tleave\teverything\tto\tme.\tTry\tto\tsleep\tat\tnight.\tTake\ta\tsleeping\tpill,\tif\tnecessary;\tand please\tdo\tnot\tgo\tup\tto\tthe\troof.\tThe\thouses\tin\tyour\tlane\tare\tso\tclose\tto\tone\tanother\tthat,\tfor\tall\twe know,\tyour\tenemy\tmight\tbe\thiding\ton\tthe\troof\tof\tthe\thouse\tnext\tdoor\tto\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\tyou.\tIf\tthat\tis the\tcast,\the\tmay\twell\tjump\tacross\tand\tattack\tyou.\u2019","\u2018Yo u\t think\t so ?\t I\t did\t g o \t up\t to \t the\t r o o f\t o ne\t nig ht,\t but\t I\t to o k\t my\t g un\t with\t me.\t I\u2019d\t hear d\t a\t str ang e noise,\tyou\tsee.\tBut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tanyone.\u2019 \u2018I\thope\tyou\talways\tkeep\tyour\tgun\thandy?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tBut\tmental\ttension\tand\tanxiety\tcan\toften\taffect\tone\u2019s\taim.\tIf\tthis\tbusiness\tisn\u2019t\tcleared\tup soon,\tGod\tknows\twhat\u2019s\tgoing\tto\thappen\tto\tmine.\u2019 The\tnext\tday\twas\tSunday.\tFeluda\tspent\tmost\tof\this\ttime\tpacing\tin\this\troom.\tAt\taround\tfour,\tI\tsaw\thim change\tfrom\this\tcomfortable\tkurta-pyjama\tinto\ttrousers\tand\ta\tshirt. \u2018Are\tyou\tgoing\tout?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018Yes.\tI\tthought\tit\tmight\tbe\ta\tgood\tidea\tto\ttake\ta\tlook\tat\tthe\tlilies\tin\tthe\tVictoria\tMemorial.\tYou\tcan come\twith\tme,\tif\tyou\tlike.\u2019 We\ttook\ta\ttram\tand\tgot\toff\tat\tthe\tcrossing\tof\tLower\tCircular\tRoad.\tThen\twe\twalked\tslowly\tto\tthe south\t gate\t of\t the\t Memorial.\t Not\t many\t people\t came\t here.\t In\t the\t evening,\t particularly,\t most\t people went\tto\tthe\tfront\tof\tthe\tbuilding,\tto\tthe\tnorth\tgate. We\tslipped\tin\tthrough\tthe\tgate\tTwenty\tyards\tto\tthe\tleft,\tthere\tstood\trows\tof\tlilies.\tThe\tblue\tberyl was\t supposed\t to\t be\t kept\t the\t next\t day\t under\t the\t first\t row\t of\t these.\t The\t sight\t of\t these\t flowers\u2014 beautiful\tthough\tit\twas\u2014suddenly\tgave\tme\tthe\tcreeps. \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyour\tfather\thave\ta\tpair\tof\tbinoculars,\twhich\the\u2019d\ttaken\tto\tDarjeeling?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\the\u2019s\tstill\tgot\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Good.\u2019 We\tspent\tabout\tfifteen\tminutes\twalking\tin\tthe\topen\tground\tsurrounding\tthe\tbuilding.\tThen\twe\ttook a\t taxi\t to\t the\t Lighthouse\t cinema.\t I\t got\t out\t with\t Feluda,\t feeling\t quite\t puzzled.\t Why\t did\t he\t suddenly want\tto\tsee\ta\tfilm?\tBut\tno,\the\twas\tactually\tinterested\tin\ta\tbookshop\topposite\tthe\tcinema.\tAfter\tleafing through\ta\tcouple\tof\tother\tbooks,\the\tpicked\tup\ta\tfat\tstamp\tcatalogue\tand\tbegan\tthumbing\tthrough\tits pages.\tI\tpeered\tover\this\tshoulder\tand\twhispered,\t\u2018Are\tyou\tsuspecting\tAbanish\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tif\the\u2019s\tso\tpassionately\tfond\tof\tstamps,\tI\u2019m\tsure\the\twouldn\u2019t\tmind\tlaying\this\thands\ton\tsome ready\tcash.\u2019 \u2018But.\t.\t.\tremember\tthat\tphone\tcall\tthat\tcame\twhen\twe\twere\tstill\tat\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s?\tAbanish\tBabu could\tnot\thave\tmade\tit,\tsurely?\u2019 \u2018No.\tThat\twas\tmade\tby\tAkbar\tBadshah.\tOr\tit\tmay\teven\thave\tbeen\tQueen\tVictoria.\u2019 This\t made\t me\t realize\t Feluda\t was\t no\t longer\t in\t the\t right\t mood\t to\t give\t straight\t answers\t to\t my questions,\tso\tI\tshut\tup. It\t was\t eig ht\t o \u2019clo ck\t by\t the\t time\t we\t g o t\t back\t ho me.\t Feluda\t to o k\t o ff\t his\t jacket\t and\t thr ew\t it\t o n\t his bed.\t\u2018Look\tup\tKailash\tChowdhury\u2019s\ttelephone\tnumber\tin\tthe\tdirectory\twhile\tI\thave\ta\tquick\tshower,\u2019 he\tsaid. I\t sat\t do wn\t with\t the\t dir ecto r y\t in\t my\t lap,\t but\t the\t pho ne\t star ted\t r ing ing \t befo r e\t I\t co uld\t tur n\t a\t sing le page.\tConsiderably\tstartled,\tI\tpicked\tit\tup. \u2018Hello.\u2019 \u2018Who\tis\tspeaking?\u2019 What\t a\t strange\t voice!\t I\t had\t certainly\t never\t heard\t it\t before.\t \u2018Who\t would\t you\t like\t to\t speak\t to?\u2019\t I asked.\tThe\tanswer\tcame\tin\tthe\tsame\tharsh\tvoice:\t\u2018Why\tdoes\ta\tyoung\tboy\tlike\tyou\tgo\taround\twith\ta detective?\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tfear\tfor\tyour\tlife?\u2019","I\t tr ied\t calling \t o ut\t to \t Feluda,\t but\t co uld\t no t\t speak.\t My\t hands\t had\t star ted\t to \t tr emble.\t Befo r e\t I\t co uld r eplace\t the\t r eceiver,\t the\t man\t finished\t what\t he\t had\t to \t say,\t \u2018I\t am\t war ning \t yo u\u2014bo th\t o f\t yo u.\t Lay\t o ff. Or\tthe\tconsequences\twill\tbe\t.\t.\t.\tunhappy.\u2019 I\tsat\tstill\tin\tmy\tchair,\tquite\tunable\tto\tmove.\tFeluda\twalked\tinto\tthe\troom\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\tand said,\t\u2018Hey,\twhat\u2019s\tthe\tmatter?\tWhy\tare\tyou\tsitting\tin\tthat\tcorner\tso\tquietly?\tWho\trang\tjust\tnow?\u2019 I\t swallowed\t hard\t and\t told\t him\t what\t had\t happened.\t His\t face\t grew\t grave.\t Then\t he\t slapped\t my shoulder\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tworry.\tThe\tpolice\thave\tbeen\tinformed.\tA\tfew\tmen\tin\tplain\tclothes\twill\tbe there.\tWe\tmust\tbe\tat\tVictoria\tMemorial\ttomorrow.\u2019 I\t didn\u2019t\t find\t it\t easy\t to\t sleep\t that\t night.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t the\t telephone\t call\t that\t kept\t me\t awake.\t I\t kept thinking\tof\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\thouse\tand\tall\tthat\tI\thad\tseen\tin\tit:\tthe\tstaircase\twith\tthe\tiron\trailing\tthat went\tright\tup\tto\tthe\troof;\tthe\tlong,\tdark\tveranda\twith\tthe\tmarble\tfloor\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor,\tand\tthe\told Mr\tChowdhury\tpeering\tout\tof\ta\thalf-open\tdoor.\tWhy\twas\the\tstaring\tat\this\tson\tlike\tthat?\tAnd\twhy\thad Kailash\tBabu\tgone\tto\tthe\troof\tcarrying\this\tgun?\tWhat\tkind\tof\tnoise\thad\the\theard? Feluda\tsaid\tonly\tone\tthing\tbefore\tswitching\toff\this\tlight,\t\u2018Did\tyou\tknow,\tTopshe,\tthat\tpeople\twho send\t anonymous\t notes\t and\t threaten\t others\t on\t the\t telephone\t are\t basically\t cowards?\u2019\t It\t was\t perhaps because\tof\tthis\tremark\tthat\tI\tfinally\tfell\tasleep. Feluda\t rang\t Kailash\t Chowdhury\t the\t following\t morning\t and\t told\t him\t to\t relax\t and\t stay\t at\t home. Feluda\thimself\twould\ttake\tcare\tof\teverything. \u2018When\twill\tyou\tgo\tto\tVictoria\tMemorial?\u2019\tI\tasked\thim. \u2018The\t same\t time\t as\t yesterday.\t By\t the\t way,\t do\t you\t have\t a\t sketch\t pad\t and\t pens\t and\t other\t drawing material?\u2019 I\tfelt\ttotally\ttaken\taback.\t\u2018Why?\tWhat\tdo\tI\tneed\tthose\tfor?\u2019 \u2018Never\tmind.\tHave\tyou\tgot\tthem\tor\tnot?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tI\thave\tmy\tschool\tdrawing\tbook.\u2019 \u2018Good.\t Take\t it\t with\t you.\t I\u2019d\t want\t you\t to\t stand\t at\t a\t little\t distance\t from\t the\t lilies,\t and\t draw something\u2014the\ttrees,\tthe\tbuilding,\tthe\tflowers,\tanything.\tI\tshall\tbe\tyour\tdrawing\tteacher.\u2019 Feluda\t could\t draw\t very\t well.\t In\t fact,\t I\t knew\t he\t could\t draw\t a\t reasonable\t portrait\t of\t a\t man\t after seeing\thim\tonly\tonce.\tThe\trole\tof\ta\tdrawing\tteacher\twould\tsuit\thim\tperfectly. Since\t the\t days\t wer e\t sho r t\t in\t winter,\t we\t r eached\t the\t Victo r ia\t Memo r ial\t a\t few\t minutes\t befo r e\t fo ur o\u2019clock.\t There\t were\t even\t fewer\t people\t around\t today.\t Three\t Nepali\t ayahs\t were\t roaming\t idly\t with their\tcharges\tin\tperambulators.\tAn\tIndian\tfamily\u2014possibly\tMarwaris\u2014and\ta\tcouple\tof\told\tmen\twere strolling\tabout,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tone\telse\tin\tsight.\tAt\tsome\tdistance\taway\tfrom\tthe\tgate,\tcloser\tto\tthe compound\twall,\tstood\ttwo\tmen\tunder\ta\ttree.\tFeluda\tglanced\tat\tthem,\tand\tthen\tnudged\tme\tquietly.\tThat meant\t those\t two\t were\t his\t friends\t from\t the\t police.\t They\t were\t in\t plain\t clothes,\t but\t were\t probably armed.\tFeluda\tknew\tquite\ta\tlot\tof\tpeople\tin\tthe\tpolice. I\t parked\t myself\t opposite\t the\t rows\t of\t lilies\t and\t began\t sketching,\t although\t I\t could\t hardly concentrate\t on\t what\t I\t was\t doing.\t Feluda\t moved\t around\t with\t a\t pair\t of\t binoculars\t in\t his\t hands, occasionally\t grabbing\t my\t pad\t to\t make\t corrections\t and\t scolding\t me\t for\t making\t mistakes.\t Then\t he would\tmove\taway\tagain,\tand\tpeer\tthrough\tthe\tbinoculars. The\t sun\t was\t about\t to\t set.\t The\t clock\t in\t a\t church\t nearby\t struck\t five.\t It\t would\t soon\t get\t cold.\t The Mar war is\t left\t in\t a\t big \t car.\t The\t ayahs,\t to o ,\t beg an\t to \t push\t their \t per ambulato r s\t to war ds\t the\t g ate.\t The","traffic\t on\t Lower\t Circular\t Road\t had\t intensified.\t I\t could\t hear\t frequent\t horns\t from\t cars\t and\t buses, caught\t in\t the\t evening\t rush.\t Feluda\t returned\t to\t me\t and\t was\t about\t to\t sit\t down\t on\t the\t grass,\t when something\tnear\tthe\tgate\tseemed\tto\tattract\this\tattention.\tI\tfollowed\this\tgaze\tquickly,\tbut\tcould\tsee\tno one\texcept\ta\tman\twrapped\tin\ta\tbrown\tshawl,\twho\twas\tstanding\tby\tthe\troad\toutside,\tquite\ta\tlong\tway away\t fr o m\t the\t g ate.\t Feluda\t placed\t the\t bino cular s\t to \t his\t eyes,\t had\t a\t quick\t lo o k,\t then\t passed\t them\t to me.\t\u2018Take\ta\tlook,\u2019\the\twhispered. \u2018You\tmean\tthat\tman\tover\tthere?\tThe\tone\twearing\ta\tshawl?\u2019 \u2018Hm.\u2019 One\tglance\tthrough\tthe\tbinoculars\tbrought\tthe\tman\tclearly\tinto\tview,\tas\tif\the\twas\tstanding\tonly\ta few\tfeet\taway.\tI\tgave\tan\tinvoluntary\tgasp.\t\u2018Why\t.\t.\t.\tthis\tis\tKailash\tChowdhury\thimself!\u2019 \u2018Right.\tPerhaps\the\u2019s\tcome\tto\tlook\tfor\tus.\tLet\u2019s\tgo.\u2019 But\tthe\tman\tbegan\twalking\taway\tjust\tas\twe\tstarted\tto\tmove.\tHe\twas\tgone\tby\tthe\ttime\twe\tcame\tout of\t the\t gate.\t \u2018Let\u2019s\t go\t to\t his\t house,\u2019\t Feluda\t suggested,\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t think\t he\t saw\t us.\t He\t must\t have\t gone back\tfeeling\tworried.\u2019 There\twas\tno\tchance\tof\tfinding\ta\ttaxi\tat\tthis\thour,\tso\twe\tbegan\twalking\ttowards\tChowringhee\tin the\thope\tof\tcatching\ta\ttram.\tThe\troad\twas\theavily\tlined\twith\tcars.\tSoon,\twe\tfound\tourselves\toutside the\tCalcutta\tClub.\tWhat\thappened\there\twas\tso\tunexpected\tand\tfrightening\tthat\teven\tas\tI\twrite\tabout\tit, I\t can\t feel\t myself\t br eak\t into \t a\t co ld\t sweat.\t I\t was\t walking \t by\t Feluda\u2019s\t side\t when,\t witho ut\t the\t slig htest warning,\t he\t pulled\t me\t sharply\t away\t from\t the\t road.\t Then\t he\t leapt\t aside\t himself,\t as\t a\t speeding\t car missed\thim\tby\tinches. \u2018What\tthe\tdevil\u2014!\u2019\tFeluda\texclaimed.\t\u2018I\tmissed\tthe\tnumber\tof\tthat\tcar.\u2019 It\twas\ttoo\tlate\tto\tdo\tanything\tabout\tthat.\tHeaven\tknew\twhere\tthe\tcar\thad\tcome\tfrom,\tor\twhat\thad possessed\t its\t driver\t to\t drive\t so\t fast\t in\t this\t traffic.\t But\t it\t had\t disappeared\t totally\t from\t sight.\t I\t had fallen\t on\t the\t pavement,\t my\t sketch\t pad\t and\t pencils\t had\t scattered\t in\t different\t directions.\t I\t picked myself\t up,\t without\t bothering\t to\t look\t for\t them.\t If\t Feluda\t hadn\u2019t\t seen\t that\t car\t coming\t and\t acted promptly,\tthere\twas\tno\tdoubt\tthat\tboth\tof\tus\twould\thave\tbeen\tcrushed\tunder\tits\twheels. Feluda\tdid\tnot\tutter\ta\tsingle\tword\tin\tthe\ttram.\tHe\tjust\tsat\tlooking\tgrim.\tThe\tfirst\tthing\the\tsaid\ton reaching\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\thouse\twas:\t\u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\tsee\tus?\u2019 Mr\t Chowdhury\t was\t sitting\t in\t a\t sofa\t in\t the\t drawing\t room.\t He\t seemed\t quite\t taken\t aback\t by\t our sudden\tarrival.\t\u2018See\tyou?\u2019\the\tfaltered.\t\u2018Where?\tWhat\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout?\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tto\tsay\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\tgo\tto\tVictoria\tMemorial?\u2019 \u2018Who,\t me?\t Good\t heavens,\t no!\t I\t didn\u2019t\t leave\t the\t house\t at\t all.\t In\t fact,\t I\t spent\t all\t afternoon\t in\t my bedroom\tupstairs,\tfeeling\tsick\twith\tworry.\tI\u2019ve\tonly\tjust\tcome\tdown.\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen,\tMr\tChowdhury,\tdo\tyou\thave\tan\tidentical\ttwin?\u2019 Mr\tChowdhury\u2019s\tjaw\tfell\topen.\t\u2018Oh\tGod,\tdidn\u2019t\tI\ttell\tyou\tthe\tother\tday?\u2019 \u2018Tell\tme\twhat?\u2019 \u2018About\tKedar?\tHe\u2019s\tmy\ttwin.\u2019 Feluda\tsat\tdown\tquickly.\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\tface\tseemed\tto\thave\tlost\tall\tcolour. \u2018Why,\tdid\tyou\t.\t.\t.\tdid\tyou\tsee\tKedar?\tWas\the\tthere?\u2019\the\tasked\tanxiously. \u2018Yes.\tIt\tcouldn\u2019t\tpossibly\thave\tbeen\tanyone\telse.\u2019 \u2018My\tGod!\u2019","\u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\tDoes\tyour\ttwin\thave\ta\tclaim\ton\tthat\tstone?\u2019 Mr\tChowdhury\tsuddenly\twent\tlimp,\tas\tthough\tall\tthe\tenergy\tin\this\tbody\thad\tbeen\tdrained\tout.\tHe leant\t against\t the\t arm\t of\t his\t sofa,\t and\t sighed.\t \u2018Yes,\u2019\t he\t said\t slowly,\t \u2018yes,\t he\t does.\t You\t see,\t it\t was Kedar\twho\tfound\tthe\tstone\tfirst.\tI\tsaw\tthe\ttemple,\tbut\tKedar\twas\tthe\tone\twho\tnoticed\tthe\tstone\tfixed on\tthe\tstatue.\u2019 \u2018What\thappened\tnext?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\ttook\tit\tfrom\thim.\tI\tmean,\tI\tpestered\tand\tbadgered\thim\tuntil\the\tgot\tfed\tup\tand\tgave\tit\tto\tme. In\t a\t way,\t it\t was\t the\t right\t thing\t to\t do,\t for\t Kedar\t would\t simply\t have\t sold\t it\t and\t wasted\t the\t money. When\t I\t learnt\t just\t how\t valuable\t the\t stone\t was,\t I\t did\t not\t tell\t Kedar.\t To\t be\t honest,\t when\t he\t left\t the country,\t I\t felt\t quite\t relieved.\t But\t now\t .\t .\t .\t perhaps\t he\u2019s\t come\t back\t because\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t find\t work abroad.\tMaybe\the\twants\tto\tsell\tthe\tstone\tand\tstart\ta\tbusiness\tof\this\town.\u2019 Feluda\twas\tsilent\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Do\tyou\thave\tany\tidea\twhat\the\tmight\tdo\tnext?\u2019 \u2018No.\tBut\tI\tdo\tknow\tthis:\the\twill\tcome\tand\tmeet\tme\there.\tI\thave\tstopped\tgoing\tout\tof\tthe\thouse,\tand I\t did\t no t\t keep\t the\t sto ne\t wher e\t I\t was\t to ld\t to .\t T her e\t is\t no \t o ther \t way\t left\t fo r \t him\t no w.\t If\t he\t wants\t the stone,\the\thas\tto\tcome\there.\u2019 \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tme\tto\tstay\there?\tI\tmight\tbe\table\tto\thelp.\u2019 \u2018No,\tthank\tyou.\tThat\twill\tnot\tbe\tnecessary.\tI\thave\tnow\tmade\tup\tmy\tmind,\tMr\tMitter.\tIf\tKedar\twants the\tstone,\the\tcan\thave\tit.\tI\twill\tsimply\thand\tit\tover\tto\thim.\tIt\u2019s\tsimply\ta\tmatter\tof\twaiting\tuntil\the\tturns up.\t Yo u\t have\t alr eady\t do ne\t so \t much,\t putting \t yo ur \t life\t at\t r isk.\t I\t am\t mo st\t g r ateful\t to \t yo u.\t If\t yo u\t send me\tyour\tbill,\tI\twill\tlet\tyou\thave\ta\tcheque.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tYou\u2019re\tright\tabout\tthe\trisk.\tWe\tnearly\tgot\trun\tover\tby\ta\tcar.\u2019 I\t had\t r ealized\t a\t while\t ag o \t that\t o ne\t o f\t my\t elbo ws\t was\t r ather \t badly\t g r azed,\t but\t had\t been\t tr ying \t to keep\t it\t o ut\t o f\t sig ht.\t As\t we\t r o se\t to \t take\t o ur \t leave,\t Feluda\u2019s\t eyes\t fell\t o n\t it.\t \u2018Hey,\t yo u\u2019r e\t hur t,\t ar en\u2019t you?\u2019\t he\t exclaimed,\t \u2018your\t elbow\t is\t bleeding!\t If\t you\t don\u2019t\t mind,\t Mr\t Chowdhury,\t I\t think\t Tapesh should\tput\tsome\tDettol\ton\tthe\twound,\tor\tit\tmight\tget\tseptic.\tDo\tyou\u2014?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t yes,\u2019\t Mr \t Cho wdhur y\t g o t\t up\t quickly.\t \u2018Yo u\t ar e\t quite\t r ig ht.\t The\t str eets\t ar e\t filthy,\t ar en\u2019t\t they? Wait,\tlet\tme\task\tAbanish.\u2019 We\t followed\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t to\t Abanish\t Babu\u2019s\t room.\t \u2018Do\t we\t have\t any\t Dettol\t in\t the\t house, Abanish?\u2019\tMr\tChowdhury\tasked.\tAbanish\tBabu\tgave\thim\ta\tstartled\tglance. \u2018Why,\tI\tsaw\tyou\tbring\ta\tnew\tbottle\tonly\ta\tweek\tago!\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\ttell\tme\tit\u2019s\tfinished\talready?\u2019 Mr\tChowdhury\tgave\tan\tembarrassed\tlaugh.\t\u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tI\ttotally\tforgot.\tI\tam\tgoing\tmad.\u2019 Five\tminutes\tlater,\tmy\telbow\tduly\tdabbed\twith\tDettol,\twe\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\thouse.\tInstead\tof\tgoing towards\tthe\tmain\troad\twhere\twe\tmight\thave\tcaught\ta\ttram\tto\tgo\thome,\tFeluda\tbegan\twalking\tin\tthe opposite\t direction.\t Before\t I\t could\t ask\t him\t anything,\t he\t said,\t \u2018My\t friend\t Ganapati\t lives\t nearby.\t He promised\tto\tget\tme\ta\tticket\tfor\tthe\tTest\tmatch.\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tsee\thim.\u2019 Ganapati\t Chatterjee\u2019s\t house\t turned\t out\t to\t be\t only\t two\t houses\t away.\t I\t had\t heard\t of\t him,\t but\t had never\t met\t him\t before.\t He\t opened\t the\t door\t when\t Feluda\t knocked:\t a\t rather\t plump\t man,\t wearing\t a pullover\tand\ttrousers. \u2018Felu!\tWhat\tbrings\tyou\there,\tmy\tfriend?\u2019 \u2018Surely\tyou\tcan\tguess?\u2019"]
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