["learn\tabout\tit?\tShakuntala\tstopped\tacting\tbefore\tyou\twere\tborn.\u2019 \u2018True.\tBut\tI\tread\ta\treport\tabout\tit\tfifteen\tyears\tago.\tThis\tnecklace\twas\tstolen\tand\tthen\trecovered\tby the\tpolice,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Right.\tShakuntala\twas\talive\tat\tthe\ttime.\tShe\tdied\tonly\tthree\tyears\tago,\tat\tthe\tage\tof\tseventy-eight. There\t were\t stories\t about\t the\t necklace\t even\t after\t her\t death.\t But\t how\t did\t you\t manage\t to\t remember something\tyou\thad\tread\tfifteen\tyears\tago?\tYou\tmust\thave\ta\tvery\tsharp\tmemory.\u2019 \u2018I\t have\t always\t been\t interested\t in\t news\t on\t crime.\t And\t yes,\t I\t can\t usually\t recall\t things\t I\u2019ve\t read. Perhaps\tI\tshould\ttell\tyou\tthe\twhole\ttruth.\tYou\tsee,\tmy\tprofession\tis\trelated\tto\tcrime\tand\tcriminals.\u2019 Feluda\ttook\tout\tone\tof\this\tcards\tand\toffered\tit\tto\tJayant\tBiswas.\tHe\ttook\tit,\traising\this\teyebrows. \u2018A\tprivate\tinvestigator!\tOh,\tI\tsee.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\tyour\tname\tsounded\tfamiliar.\tYou\thave\ta\tpet\tname,\tdon\u2019t you?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tI\tam\tcalled\tFelu.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tright.\tFeluda.\tMy\tdaughter \u2019s\tan\tardent\tadmirer\tof\tyours.\tShe\thas\tread\tall\tyour\tstories.\tI\tam very\tglad\tto\thave\tmet\tyou.\u2019 Feluda\t now\t turned\t to\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know\t if\t his\t name\t has\t reached\t Lucknow,\u2019\t he\t said, \u2018but\the\tis\ta\tvery\twell-known\twriter\tin\tBengal.\tHe\twrites\tunder\tthe\tpseudonym\tof\tJatayu.\u2019 \u2018Really?\t Who\t knew\t I\u2019d\t get\t to\t meet\t two\t famous\t personalities\t tonight\t in\t the\t same\t compartment? Where\twill\tyou\tbe\tstaying\tin\tLucknow?\u2019 \u2018The\tClarks\tAvadh.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tI\tlive\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\triver,\tin\tBadshah\tBagh.\tI\twill\tcontact\tyou\tin\tLucknow.\tAll\tof you\tmust\tcome\tand\thave\ta\tmeal\twith\tus.\tMy\twife\tis\ta\tgreat\tcook,\tand\tMughlai\tfood\tis\ther\tspeciality. And\tof\tcourse\tmy\tdaughter \u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\tthrilled\tto\tmeet\ther\thero.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018We\u2019d\tbe\tvery\tglad\tto\tcome.\tPerhaps\twe\tcan\tsee\tthat\tfamous\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tsure.\tThat\u2019s\tnot\ta\tproblem\tat\tall,\tsince\tit\u2019s\twith\tme.\tI\tmean,\tmy\twife\thas\tgot\tit.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\ta\tbit\todd,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tSurely\tit\tshould\thave\tbeen\tgiven\tto\tShakuntala\u2019s\telder\tdaughter?\tDidn\u2019t you\tsay\tyou\thad\tmarried\tthe\tyounger\tone?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t The\t reason\t is\t quite\t simple.\t Virginia\u2014I\t mean\t Shakuntala\u2014was\t deeply\t fond\t of\t my\t wife, Suneela.\tSuneela\tis\textremely\ttalented.\tA\tgifted\tactress,\tshe\tmight\thave\tgone\tinto\tfilms\tand\tbecome\ta famous\tstar\tlike\ther\tmother.\tBut\tshe\tchose\tto\tbe\ta\tsimple\thousewife\tinstead.\u2019 \u2018Suneela?\tDoesn\u2019t\tshe\thave\ta\tChristian\tname?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tHer\tfull\tname\tis\tPamela\tSuneela.\u2019","Two I\twent\tto\tsleep\tat\tten\to\u2019clock\tand\twoke\tat\thalf\tpast\tsix.\tBreakfast\twas\tserved\twhen\twe\treached\tBuxar. We\twere\tsupposed\tto\treach\tMughalsarai\tat\ta\tquarter\tto\tnine.\tLunch\twould\tbe\tserved\tat\ttwelve-thirty, our\tbearer\ttold\tus.\tBy\tthat\ttime\twe\tshould\thave\treached\tPratapgarh. Mr\tBiswas\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\tan\tearly\triser.\tAfter\tbreakfast,\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Someone\tI\tknow\tis\ttravelling\tin the\tnext\tcompartment.\tLet\tme\tgo\tand\tsay\thello\tto\thim.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu,\t I\t noticed,\t had\t had\t a\t shave\t and\t was\t looking\t quite\t fresh.\t He\t was\t currently\t using imported\trazors.\tA\tfriend\thad\tbrought\thim\ttwenty\tfrom\tKathmandu.\tEach\tlasted\tthree\tor\tfour\tshaves, then\thad\tto\tbe\tdiscarded. \u2018What\t will\t you\t do\t when\t you\t run\t out\t of\t these?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked\t him.\t \u2018Go\t back\t to\t ordinary\t Indian blades?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgrinned.\t\u2018I\trather\tlike\tto\tindulge\tmyself\twhen\tif\tcomes\tto\tshaving.\tI\tbuy Wilkinson\tblades\tfrom\tNew\tMarket.\u2019 \u2018But\tthat\u2019s\treally\texpensive.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tI\tdon\u2019t\thave\tany\tother\texpenses\tto\thandle,\tdo\tI?\tI\tlive\talone,\tso\tI\tlike\tto\tspend\tmy\tmoney on\tmyself.\u2019 \u2018We\tcontribute\tquite\ta\tlot\tto\tyour\texpenses,\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tJust\tthink\thow\toften\twe\tuse\tyour\tcar?\u2019 \u2018Heh,\t that\u2019s\t hardly\t a\t problem.\t We\t are\t the\t Three\t Musketeers,\t remember?\t How\t can\t one\t of\t them travel\tin\this\town\tcar,\tleaving\tthe\tothers\tto\tlook\tfor\ttaxis?\tI\tnever\theard\tanything\tso\tridiculous.\u2019 Feluda\tlit\ta\tCharminar\tand\twent\tinto\tthe\tcorridor\tfor\ta\twalk.\tHe\treturned\tin\tfive\tminutes\tand\tsaid, \u2018I\tfound\tMr\tBiswas\tand\tanother\tman\tdeep\tin\tconversation\tin\tcoupe\tnumber\tone.\tHe\tappeared\tto\tbe\tan Anglo-Indian,\talthough\this\tcomplexion\twasn\u2019t\tall\tthat\tfair.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\thear\twhat\tthey\twere\tsaying?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked\tcuriously. \u2018I\t o nly\t hear d\t what\t this\t o ther \t man\t was\t saying .\t He\t said,\t \u201cI\t can\t g ive\t yo u\t just\t thr ee\t days.\u201d\t That\t was all.\u2019 \u2018Did\tit\tsound\tlike\ta\tthreat?\u2019 \u2018Difficult\tto\tsay.\tOne\thas\tto\traise\tone\u2019s\tvoice\tso\toften\tin\ta\tmoving\ttrain.\tPerfectly\tharmless\twords may\tsound\tlike\ta\tthreat.\u2019 A\tlittle\tlater,\tMr\tBiswas\tcame\tback\twith\tthe\tman\the\thad\tbeen\tspeaking\tto.\t\u2018I\tthought\tyou\tmight\tlike to\t meet\t Mr\t Sukius,\u2019\t he\t said\t to\t Feluda.\t \u2018He\u2019s\t a\t well-known\t businessman\t of\t Lucknow;\t and\t a connoisseur\tof\tart.\u2019 \u2018I\thope\twe\twill\tmeet\tagain\tin\tLucknow.\tMr\tBiswas\tand\tI\tare\told\tfriends,\u2019\tMr\tSukius\tsaid,\tshaking hands\twith\tFeluda.\tHe\tleft\tsoon\tafter\twe\thad\tbeen\tintroduced\tto\thim. Feluda\tturned\tto\tMr\tBiswas\tas\the\treturned\tto\this\tseat.\t\u2018You\ttold\tus\tyour\tmother-in-law\u2019s\treal\tname was\tVirginia\tReynolds,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Do\tyou\tknow\tanything\tabout\tthe\thistory\tof\ttheir\tfamily?\tHow\tlong","have\tthey\tbeen\tin\tIndia?\u2019 \u2018Virginia\u2019s\t grandfather,\t John\t Reynolds,\t came\t to\t India\t in\t 1827.\t He\t was\t nineteen\t at\t the\t time.\t He joined\tthe\tBengal\tregiment.\tDuring\tthe\tmutiny\tof\t1857,\the\twas\tposted\tin\tLucknow.\tHe\tfought\tbravely for\ta\tlong\ttime,\tbut\twas\teventually\tkilled.\tHis\tson\tThomas\twas\talso\tin\tthe\tBengal\tregiment\tand,\tlike his\t father,\t was\t po sted\t to \t Luckno w\t after \t a\t while.\t He\t decided\t to \t settle\t ther e.\t He\t lear nt\t to \t speak\t Ur du, beg an\t to \t smo ke\t a\t ho o kah,\t take\t paan\t and\t use\t attar.\t Since\t he\t was\t fo nd\t o f\t music\t and\t dancing ,\t he\t g o t professional\t singers\t and\t dancers\t to\t perform\t regularly\t in\t his\t house.\t Sometimes\t he\t even\t dressed\t in Indian\tclothes.\tIn\tother\twords,\this\tlifestyle\twas\tno\tdifferent\tfrom\tthat\tof\ta\tnawab\tin\tLucknow.\tPeople called\t him\t \u201cT ho mas\t Bahadur \u201d.\t In\t the\t end,\t he\t fell\t in\t lo ve\t with\t a\t kathak\t dancer \t called\t Far ida\t Beg um and\tmarried\ther.\tThey\thad\ttwo\tsons,\tEdward\tand\tCharles.\tNeither\twent\tinto\tthe\tarmy.\tEdward\tbecame a\t lawyer \t and\t Char les\t went\t to \t manag e\t a\t tea\t estate\t in\t Assam.\t He\t never \t r etur ned\t to \t Luckno w.\t T ho mas and\tFarida\u2019s\tthird\tchild\twas\tVirginia.\tShe\twas\tborn\twith\ther\tfather \u2019s\tpale\tskin,\tbut\ther\tmother \u2019s\tdark hair\tand\teyes.\tWhen\tshe\tbegan\tacting\tin\tfilms,\tshe\tlooked\tbeautiful,\tand\tnot\tunsuitable\tin\tthe\trole\tof an\tIndian\twoman.\tShe\tspoke\tboth\tUrdu\tand\tEnglish. \u2018As\tI\ttold\tyou\tbefore,\tshe\tmarried\ta\tBengali\tChristian.\tHe\twas\tcalled\tPercival\tMotilal\tBanerjee.\tHe was,\tin\tfact,\tthe\tproducer\tof\tShakuntala\u2019s\tfilms.\tIt\twas\the\twho\tgot\tVirginia\tto\tjoin\tfilms\tand\tchange her\tname\tto\tShakuntala.\tHe\tmade\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney\tfrom\tfilms.\tVirginia\u2019s\tfather,\tThomas\tReynolds,\thad vir tually\t no \t saving s.\t He\t mig ht\t have\t died\t a\t pauper,\t but\t Vir g inia\t stepped\t in\t and\t to o k\t car e\t o f\t her \t o ld father. \u2018Percival\tand\tVirginia\thad\ttwo\tdaughters\tand\ta\tson.\tThe\teldest\tis\tcalled\tMargaret\tSusheela.\tShe\tis married,\tas\tI\ttold\tyou,\tto\ta\tGoan\tcalled\tSaldanha.\tHe\towns\ta\tshop\tselling\tmusical\tinstruments. \u2018I\t married\t their\t second\t daughter,\t Pamela\t Suneela,\t in\t 1960.\t I\t am\t in\t the\t business\t of\t imports\t and exports.\tI\u2019ve\ttold\tyou\tabout\tmy\tdaughter.\tI\thave\talso\tgot\ta\tson.\tVictor\tPrasenjit.\tMy\tdaughter \u2019s\tcalled Mary\t Sheela.\t I\t tried\t to\t get\t my\t son\t to\t join\t me,\t but\t he\t wasn\u2019t\t interested\t in\t running\t a\t business.\t He usually\tdoes\twhat\the\tlikes.\tSheela\tfinished\tcollege\ttwo\tyears\tago.\tShe\tis\tquite\ta\tgifted\tactress,\tbut\ther main\t interest\t is\t in\t journalism.\t She\u2019s\t started\t writing\t for\t various\t publications.\t I\u2019ve\t read\t her\t articles. They\u2019re\treally\tgood.\u2019 Mr\tBiswas\tstopped\tand\tlit\ta\tcigarette,\thaving\toffered\tone\tto\tFeluda. \u2018Interesting,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tbriefly. \u2018Highly\tromantic!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tdeclared.\t\u2018Tell\tme,\thas\tyour\twife\tever\tworn\tthat\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tshe\u2019s\tworn\tit\tto\ta\tfew\tparties.\tBut\tusually\tit\tstays\tlocked\tin\ta\tchest.\tYou\u2019ll\tsee\thow\tvaluable\tit is\twhen\tI\tshow\tit\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018I\tcan\u2019t\twait!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcried. \u2018You\u2019ll\thave\tto\tbe\tpatient,\tMr\tGanguli,\tfor\tjust\tanother\tfour\tdays,\u2019\tMr\tBiswas\ttold\thim.","Three We\thad\tbeen\tin\tLucknow\tfor\tthe\tlast\tthree\tdays.\tMy\tmind\tkept\tgoing\tback\tto\tour\tfirst\tvisit\u2014Emperor Aurangzeb\u2019s\t diamond\t ring,\t Dr\t Srivastava,\t Bonobihari\t Babu\u2019s\t amazing\t zoo,\t Haridwar\t and,\t finally, our\tspine-chilling\tadventure\ton\tthe\tway\tto\tLaxmanjhoola. On\t that\t o ccasio n\t we\t had\t stayed\t with\t a\t fr iend,\t no t\t in\t a\t ho tel.\t Clar ks\t Avadh\t had\t pr o bably\t no t\t even been\tbuilt\tat\tthat\ttime.\tIt\twas\ta\treally\tgood\thotel.\tWe\thad\tbeen\tgiven\ta\tdouble\tand\ta\tsingle\troom.\tBoth o ver lo o ked\t the\t r iver.\t When\t the\t sun\t set\t ever y\t evening \t o n\t the\t o ther \t side\t o f\t the\t Go mti,\t it\t was\t a\t sig ht worth\t seeing.\t The\t food,\t too,\t was\t excellent.\t We\t had\t stayed\t in\t many\t hotels\t in\t various\t parts\t of\t the country,\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\trecall\ta\tsingle\tplace\twhere\tthe\tfood\thad\tbeen\tquite\tso\tdelicious. Lalmo han\t Babu\t had\t seen\t mo st\t o f\t the\t impo r tant\t sig hts\t in\t these\t thr ee\t days.\t We\t had\t beg un\t with\t the Bara\t Imambara.\t Its\t huge\t hall\u2014unsupported\t by\t pillars\u2014made\t my\t head\t reel\t once\t more.\t Lalmohan Babu\twas\tspeechless.\tAll\the\tsaid,\tas\twe\tleft,\twas:\t\u2018Bravo,\tnawabs\tof\tLucknow!\u2019 The\tBhulbhulaiya\tnearly\tmade\thim\tfaint.\tWhen\tFeluda\ttold\thim\tthe\tnawabs\tused\tto\tplay\thide-and- seek\twith\ttheir\tbegums\tin\tthis\tmaze,\the\tgrew\ttotally\tround-eyed. The\t Residency\t was\t another\t surprise.\t \u2018This\t .\t .\t .\t this\t is\t like\t going\t back\t in\t time,\t Felu\t Babu!\t I\t can almost\thear\tthe\tcannons\tand\tsmell\tthe\tgunpowder.\tMy\tword,\tdid\tthe\tsepoys\treally\tcause\tsuch\ta\tlot\tof damage\tto\tthis\tstrong\tand\tsturdy\tbuilding?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\texclaimed. On\t the\t fo ur th\t day,\t we\t went\t o ut\t to \t the\t lo cal\t mar ket\t to \t buy\t bho o na\t peda,\t a\t sweetmeat\t Luckno w\t is famo us\t fo r.\t On\t o ur \t r etur n\t to \t the\t ho tel,\t we\t fo und\t an\t invitatio n\t to \t dinner.\t It\t had\t been\t sent\t by\t Hecto r Jayant\tBiswas,\tinviting\tus\tto\tattend\this\tsilver\twedding\tanniversary\tin\ttwo\tdays\ttime.\tThere\twas\ta\tmap enclo sed\t with\t the\t invitatio n,\t which\t sho wed\t clear ly\t wher e\t his\t ho use\t was\t lo cated.\t We\t alr eady\t knew\t it was\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\triver.\tWith\ta\tmap\tlike\tthat,\twe\tshould\thave\tno\tdifficulty\tin\tfinding\tit. Mr\tBiswas\trang\tus\tin\tthe\tevening.\t\u2018All\tof\tyou\tmust\tcome,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018You\u2019ll\tget\tto\tmeet\tsome\tother people,\tand\tof\tcourse\tI\u2019ll\tshow\tyou\tShakuntala\u2019s\tnecklace.\u2019 We\tspent\tthe\tnext\ttwo\tdays\tlooking\tat\tthe\tChhota\tImambara,\tChattar\tManzil\tand\tthe\tzoo.\tLalmohan Babu\t was\t most\t impressed\t to\t find\t animals\t in\t the\t open\t and\t not\t locked\t in\t cages.\t \u2018The\t Calcutta\t zoo should\talso\tbe\tlike\tthis!\u2019\the\tproclaimed. In\t the\t evening ,\t we\t to o k\t a\t taxi\t to \t Mr \t Biswas\u2019s\t ho use.\t The\t map\t we\t had\t been\t sent\t was\t a\t ver y\t g o o d one.\t Our\t driver\t found\t his\t house\t quite\t easily.\t It\t was\t a\t bungalow,\t large\t and\t sprawling.\t Flowers bloomed\tin\tthe\tbig\tfront\tgarden.\tA\tcobbled\tdriveway\tled\tto\tthe\tfront\tdoor.\tWhen\twe\trang\tthe\tbell,\ta bearer\tin\tuniform\topened\tthe\tdoor.\tWe\tcould\thear\tvoices\tfrom\tthe\tliving\troom.\tMr\tBiswas\tcame\tout quickly.\t\u2018I\tam\tso\tglad\tyou\tcould\tcome!\u2019\the\tsaid\twarmly.\t\u2018Do\tcome\tin\tand\tmeet\tthe\tothers.\u2019 We\tfollowed\thim\tinto\tthe\troom\twhere\ta\tfew\tother\tpeople\thad\tassembled.\tPerhaps\tmany\tmore\twere expected.\t The\t first\t person\t we\t were\t introduced\t to\t was\t Mr\t Biswas\u2019s\t wife,\t Pamela\t Suneela.\t She\t had clearly\t been\t good-looking\t at\t one\t time.\t Her\t daughter\u2014Mary\t Sheela\u2014was\t attractive\t and\t smart.\t Her","son,\t however,\t was\t just\t the\t opposite:\t he\t sported\t long,\t thick,\t unruly\t hair\t untouched\t by\t a\t comb,\t an unkempt\tbeard\tand\ta\tmoustache.\tHis\tname\twas\tVictor\tPrasenjit. Mrs\t Biswas\u2019s\t sister\t and\t brother-in-law\u2014Mr\t and\t Mrs\t Saldanha\t were\t also\t present.\t Mrs\t Saldanha may\thave\tbeen\tpretty\tonce,\tbut\thad\tnow\tput\ton\ta\tlot\tof\tweight.\tHer\thusband,\ton\tthe\tcontrary,\twas\tvery thin.\tHe\tseemed\tto\tbe\tabout\tsixty.\tI\tremembered\tbeing\ttold\the\tsold\tmusical\tinstruments.\tThere\twas\tno one\telse\tin\tthe\troom\tapart\tfrom\tthese\tfamily\tmembers. The\t room\t was\t fairly\t large.\t I\t was\t surprised\t to\t find\t that\t a\t screen\t had\t been\t put\t up\t in\t one\t corner. Opposite\tit\tstood\ta\tprojector.\tI\tlooked\tenquiringly\tat\tour\thost.\t\u2018We\thave\tgot\ta\tprint\tof\tthe\tlast\tfilm\tin which\t Shakuntala\t Devi\t appeared.\t We\u2019d\t like\t to\t show\t one\t reel\t from\t it\t before\t dinner,\u2019\t he\t explained. \u2018You\u2019ll\tsee\ther\twearing\tthat\tfamous\tnecklace.\u2019 That\tshould\tbe\tquite\tinteresting,\tI\tthought.\tMary\tSheela\tcame\tup\tto\tspeak\tto\tFeluda. \u2018I\tam\ta\tfan\tof\tyours.\tI\twould\tlove\tto\thave\tyour\tautograph\tbut,\tright\tnow\tI\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tan\tautograph book.\tI\u2019ll\tbuy\tone\tand\tcall\ton\tyou\tat\tyour\thotel\tbefore\tyou\tleave,\u2019\tshe\tsaid. A\t bearer\t came\t in\t with\t a\t tray\t of\t drinks.\t We\t picked\t up\t three\t glasses\t of\t orange\t juice.\t Samuel Saldanha\t approached\t us.\t \u2018My\t shop\t is\t in\t Hazratganj,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Why\t don\u2019t\t you\t come\t and\t see\t it\t one day?\tI\tshould\tbe\tvery\tpleased\tif\tyou\tdid.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tDo\tyou\tsell\tIndian\tinstruments?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\twe\tsell\tsitars,\tas\twell\tas\twestern\tinstruments.\u2019 At\t this\t mo ment,\t we\t wer e\t jo ined\t by\t ano ther \t g entleman.\t Judg ing \t by\t the\t r esemblances\t between\t him and\t Mrs\t Biswas,\t he\t was\t her\t brother.\t But\t his\t skin\t and\t his\t eyes\t were\t lighter,\t which\t made\t him\t look more\tEuropean\tthan\tIndian.\tHe\tpicked\tup\ta\tglass\tof\twhisky\tand\tturned\tto\tus. \u2018I\tam\tAlbert\tRatanlal\tBanerjee,\tJayant\u2019s\tbrother-in-law,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018You\tare\u2014?\u2019 Mr\t Biswas\t stepped\t forward\t and\t quickly\t introduced\t us.\t \u2018Private\t detective?\u2019\t Ratanlal\t raised\t his eyebrows.\t\u2018Are\tyou\there\tworking\ton\ta\tcase?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\u2019\tFeluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018I\tam\there\tpurely\ton\tholiday.\u2019 Another\t man\t emerged\t from\t the\t house.\t He\t seemed\t to\t be\t about\t the\t same\t age\t as\t Mr\t Saldanha. Perhaps\t he\t lived\t here.\t I\t looked\t at\t him\t in\t surprise.\t His\t clothes\t were\t dirty,\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t shaved\t for\t a couple\tof\tdays\tand\this\thair\thung\tdown\tto\this\tshoulders.\tHe\twas\ta\ttotal\tmisfit\tamong\tthe\tother\tpeople. Mr\tBiswas\tlaid\ta\thand\ton\this\tshoulder\tand\tbrought\thim\tover\tto\tus.\t\u2018Meet\tMr\tSudarshan\tSom,\u2019\the said.\t\u2018He\tis\tan\tartist,\ta\twell-known\tpainter\tof\tportraits.\tHe\tdid\tmany\tportraits\tof\tShakuntala.\tHe\u2019s\tbeen living\twith\tus\tsince\this\tretirement.\u2019 I\thad\tnever\theard\tof\tan\tartist\tretiring\tso\tearly.\tNow\tI\tnoticed\tthe\tportrait\tof\ta\twoman\tin\tone\tcorner of\t the\t room.\t Was\t that\t Shakuntala\t Devi?\t She\t must\t have\t been\t about\t forty\t when\t that\t portrait\t was painted,\twhich\tmeant\tshe\thad\talready\tgiven\tup\tfilms.\tSudarshan\tSom\tpicked\tup\ta\twhisky\tfrom\ta\ttray. For\tsome\todd\treason,\tI\tfelt\ta\tlittle\tsorry\tfor\tthe\tman.\tSamuel\tSaldanha\tand\tRatanlal\thad\tstarted\ta\tloud argument\ton\tcurrent\tpolitics.\tMr\tSom\twent\tand\tjoined\tthem. I\tkept\twondering\twhen\twe\u2019d\tget\tto\tsee\tthe\tnecklace.\tMrs\tBiswas\tand\ther\tsister\twere\tmoving\tamong the\t guests,\t making\t sure\t they\t were\t being\t looked\t after.\t Mrs\t Biswas\t stopped\t as\t she\t saw\t Feluda\t and exclaimed,\t\u2018What\tis\tthis?\tJust\torange\tjuice?\tDon\u2019t\ttell\tme\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tdrink!\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t,\tMrs\tBiswas,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied\twith\ta\tsmile.\t\u2018In\tmy\tprofession,\tit\tis\tbest\tto\tkeep\ta\tclear head\tat\tall\ttimes.\u2019","\u2018But\tI\talways\tthought\tprivate\tdetectives\tdrank\ta\tlot.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\tyou\tgot\tthat\tidea\tfrom\tAmerican\tcrime\tthrillers.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tperhaps.\tI\tam\tvery\tfond\tof\treading\tthrillers.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\t by\t the\t way,\u2019\t Feluda\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t saying,\t \u2018your\t husband\t offered\t to\t show\t us\t your\t mother \u2019s necklace.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse!\tI\tam\tso\tsorry,\tMr\tMitter,\t!\tcompletely\tforgot.\tSheela!\u2019 Sheela\tcame\tover\tto\ther\tmother. \u2018Yes,\tMa?\u2019 \u2018Be\ta\tsweetheart,\tand\tbring\tme\tyour\tgrandmother \u2019s\tnecklace.\tMr\tMitter\twould\tlike\tto\tsee\tit.\tYou know\twhere\tthe\tkey\tis\tkept.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tshe\tsaid\tand\tleft\timmediately. \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\tkeep\tthe\tkey\twith\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No,\t it\t is\t kept\t in\t the\t drawer\t of\t my\t dressing\t table.\t We\t hardly\t open\t the\t chest.\t It\t is\t perfectly\t safe, really.\t The\t few\t servants\t we\u2019ve\t got\t are\t all\t old\t and\t trustworthy.\t Suleman,\t who\t opened\t the\t door\t for you,\thas\tbeen\twith\tus\tfor\tthirty\tyears.\u2019 Sheela\treturned\tin\tthree\tminutes,\tcarrying\ta\tdark\tblue\tvelvet\tbox.\tHer\tmother\ttook\tit\tfrom\ther\tand opened\tit.\t\u2018Here\tit\tis,\u2019\tshe\tsaid,\tturning\tthe\topen\tbox\ttowards\tus. Each\t of\t us\t gave\t an\t involuntary\t gasp.\t Never\t before\t had\t I\t seen\t a\t piece\t of\t jewellery\t with\t such exquisite\t cr aftsmanship.\t It\t was\t a\t g o lden\t necklace\t with\t a\t delicate\t desig n,\t studded\t with\t diamo nds\t and pearls\tand\tmany\tother\tprecious\tstones. \u2018A\t remarkable\t object,\u2019\t Feluda\t said.\t \u2018Truly\t a\t unique\t piece.\t Do\t you\t have\t any\t idea\t how\t much\t it\u2019s worth\ttoday?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\t.\t.\t.\tin\texcess\tof\ttwo\thundred\tand\tfifty\tthousand,\tI\tshould\timagine.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tGo\tand\tput\tit\tback,\tSheela.\tIt\u2019s\tbest\tnot\tto\tkeep\tsomething\tvaluable\tlike\tthis\tout\tfor\tlong.\u2019 Sheela\tleft\twith\tthe\tnecklace. I\thad\tnoticed\tthat\tSheela\u2019s\tbrother\twas\tmaking\tno\tattempt\tto\ttalk\tto\tus.\tIn\tfact,\the\tlooked\tdistinctly uncomfortable\tand\twas\tobviously\tnot\tenjoying\thimself.\tPerhaps\the\twas\tone\tof\tthose\tyoung\tmen\twho cannot\tfeel\tat\tease\tunless\tthey\tare\twith\ttheir\town\tset\tof\tfriends. The\t round\t of\t drinks\t was\t coming\t to\t an\t end.\t I\t saw\t a\t man\t come\t in\t and\t start\t fiddling\t with\t the projector.\tAfter\ta\twhile,\the\tcalled\tout\tto\tMr\tBiswas,\t\u2018I\tam\tready.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tLadies\tand\tgentlemen,\twe\tare\tnow\tgoing\tto\twatch\ta\tpart\tof\tthe\tlast\tfilm\tShakuntala\tDevi featured\tin.\tSuleman,\tplease\tswitch\tthe\tlights\toff.\u2019 T he\t r o o m\t was\t plung ed\t in\t dar kness.\t T he\t pr o jecto r \t beg an\t r unning \t no isily.\t A\t seco nd\t later,\t the\t fir st scene\tappeared\ton\tthe\tscreen.\t\u2018This\tfilm\twas\tmade\tin\t1930,\u2019\tJayant\tBiswas\ttold\tus.\t\u2018Just\tbefore\ttalkies began\tto\tbe\tmade\tin\tIndia.\u2019 I\t watched\t Shakuntala\t Devi\t with\t some\t interest.\t She\t was\t undoubtedly\t a\t beauty\u2014even\t today,\t one didn\u2019t\t o ften\t g et\t to \t see\t such\t a\t beautiful\t wo man\t in\t films.\t It\t was\t clear \t why\t she\t was\t so \t successful.\t She had\ttouched\tthe\thearts\tof\tpeople\u2014from\tmaharajas\tto.\tpaanwalas\u2014not\tmerely\tbecause\tof\ther\tlooks, but\talso\tbecause\tof\ther\tacting.\tDespite\tthe\tdrawbacks\tof\ta\tsilent\tfilm\tand\tthe\tovertly\ttheatrical\tstyle\tof acting,\tShakuntala\tDevi\temerged\tas\ta\tgifted\tperformer.","The\t film\t ran\t for\t ten\t minutes.\t All\t the\t lights\t were\t switched\t on\t again,\t and\t people\t began\t talking. Suddenly\t I\t realized\t someone\t had\t slipped\t in\t while\t the\t room\t was\t dark.\t It\t was\t Mr\t Sukius.\t He\t had pr esumably\t no t\t been\t invited,\t fo r \t I\t hear d\t him\t apo lo g ize\t fo r \t bar g ing \t in.\t Mr \t Biswas\t waved\t aside\t his apologies\tand\tasked\thim\tto\tstay\tfor\tdinner.\tOnly\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\ta\tbearer\tappeared\tat\tthe\tdoor\tto announce\tthat\tdinner\thad\tbeen\tserved. When\twe\treturned\tto\tour\thotel\tafter\ta\tsumptuous\tmeal,\tit\twas\ta\tquarter\tpast\televen.\tThe\tparty\tmust have\tcontinued\tfor\tquite\ta\twhile\tafter\tour\tdeparture.","Four Feluda\tshook\tme\tawake\tthe\tnext\tmorning.\tI\tsat\tup\tquickly. \u2018What\tis\tit,\tFeluda?\u2019 He\tlooked\tgrim.\t\u2018Mr\tBiswas\trang\tme\tjust\tnow.\tShakuntala\u2019s\tnecklace\thas\tbeen\tstolen.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tmy\tGod!\u2019 \u2018Get\t ready\t as\t quickly\t as\t you\t can.\t I\u2019ll\t go\t and\t tell\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t We\t must\t go\t back\t there\t after breakfast.\tI\tbelieve\teveryone\texcept\tMr\tSukius\thas\talready\tarrived\tafter\tthey\theard\tthe\tnews.\u2019 \u2018Haven\u2019t\tthe\tpolice\tbeen\tinformed?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tthey\twant\tme\tas\twell.\u2019 We\treached\tMr\tBiswas\u2019s\thouse\tby\thalf\tpast\teight.\tThe\tcheerful\tatmosphere\tof\tthe\tnight\tbefore\twas replaced\ttoday\tby\ta\tsombre\tsilence. \u2018I\t can\u2019t\t help\t feeling\t I\t am\t responsible,\u2019\t Feluda\t said.\t \u2018That\t necklace\t was\t taken\t out\t yesterday\t only because\tI\tasked\tto\tsee\tit.\tIt\tmay\twell\thave\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\ttheft,\tbut\tI\tthought\tI\tought\tto\ttell\tyou how\tawful\tI\tfeel.\u2019 The\tpolice\thad\talready\tappeared.\tThe\tinspector\tin\tcharge\tgreeted\tFeluda\twith\tan\toutstretched\tarm. \u2018Mr\tPradosh\tMitter?\u2019\the\tsaid,\tshaking\thands,\t\u2018I\thave\theard\tof\tyou.\tI\tam\tInspector\tPandey.\u2019 \u2018Pleased\tto\tmeet\tyou,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018I\tassume\tyou\u2019d\tlike\tto\tmake\tyour\town\tenquiries?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tonly\tafter\tyou\u2019ve\tfinished.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\u2019 Inspector\tPandey\tbegan\tasking\tquestions.\tIt\twas\tgradually\trevealed\tthat\twhen\tthe\tlast\tguest\thad\tleft after\tmidnight,\tMrs\tBiswas\tretired\tto\ther\tbedroom\tand\tsuddenly\tfelt\tlike\tlooking\tat\tthe\tnecklace\tonce mo r e.\t As\t she\t co nfessed\t her self,\t \u2018It\t is\t pr o bably\t o nly\t my\t vanity\t that\t made\t me\t want\t to \t o pen\t the\t chest and\tlook\tat\tthe\tnecklace.\tI\thad\tjust\twatched\tmy\tmother\twear\tit\ton\tthe\tscreen\tand\tit\tlooked\tlovely\ton her.\tSo\tI\tthought\tI\u2019d\tput\tit\tround\tmy\town\tneck\tand\tsee\thow\tI\tlooked.\tBut\t.\t.\t.\tbut\twhen\tI\ttook\tout\tthe key\t from\t my\t dressing\t table\t drawer\t and\t opened\t the\t chest,\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t find\t it\t anywhere.\t I\t called\t my daughter\timmediately\tand\tasked\ther\tif\tshe\thad\tput\tit\tback.\tShe\twas\tabsolutely\tsure\tthat\tshe\thad.\tIt\thad always\tbeen\tkept\tin\tthat\tchest.\tWhere\telse\tcould\tshe\thave\tput\tit,\tanyway?\u2019 \u2018You\thad\ta\tdinner\tparty\tlast\tnight,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019\tthe\tinspector\tasked. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tMrs\tBiswas\treplied. \u2018When\tdid\tit\tstart\tand\thow\tlong\tdid\tit\tcontinue?\u2019 \u2018It\twent\tfrom\ta\tquarter\tto\teight\tto\tmidnight.\u2019 \u2018Mrs\tBiswas,\tdid\tyou\tgo\tstraight\tto\tyour\troom\tafter\tthe\tparty\twas\tover?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018And\thow\tlong\twas\tit\tbefore\tyou\tdiscovered\tthe\tnecklace\twas\tmissing?\u2019","\u2018About\tfifteen\tminutes.\u2019 \u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\tleave\tyour\troom\tduring\tthat\tperiod?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018That\tmeans\tit\twas\tstolen\tduring\tthe\tparty.\u2019 \u2018So\tit\tseems,\u2019\tMr\tBiswas\tremarked.\t\u2018When\tmy\tdaughter\tbrought\tthe\tnecklace\tout\tto\tshow\tit\tto\tMr Mitter,\tthe\tparty\twas\tin\tfull\tswing.\u2019 \u2018After\tthat,\tMiss\tBiswas,\tdid\tyou\tput\tthe\tnecklace\tback\twhere\tyou\thad\tfound\tit?\tDid\tyou\tgo\tback\tto your\tmother \u2019s\troom\tstraightaway?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse!\u2019\tMary\tSheela\tsaid\tfirmly.\t\u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\twaste\teven\ta\tsecond.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\tI\tought\tto\tmention,\tInspector,\tthat\tsoon\tafter\tthe\tnecklace\twas\ttaken\taway,\tall\tthe\tlights\tin the\tliving\troom\twere\tswitched\toff\tto\tscreen\ta\tfilm.\tThe\troom\tremained\tdark\tfor\tten\tminutes.\u2019 \u2018How\tmany\tservants\tdo\tyou\thave?\u2019 \u2018Three.\tA\tcook\tand\ttwo\tbearers.\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\thave\tyou\thad\tthem?\u2019 \u2018Fifteen\t year s\t o r \t mo r e.\t Suleman,\t the\t o ld\t bear er,\t has\t been\t with\t us\t since\t the\t time\t o f\t my\t father -in- law,\u2019\tMrs\tBiswas\tsaid. \u2018Then\t there\t is\t only\t one\t conclusion\t to\t be\t drawn,\u2019\t Inspector\t Pandey\t declared.\t \u2018If\t you\t think\t your servants\t are\t all\t above\t suspicion,\t the\t necklace\t was\t taken\t by\t one\t of\t those\t present\t at\t the\t party.\t I\t am sorry,\tMr\tBiswas,\tbut\tevery\treason\tpoints\tthat\tway.\u2019 I\u2014and\t possibly\t Feluda\t and\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2014could\t only\t agree\t with\t him.\t Inspector\t Pandey\t now turned\tto\tFeluda. \u2018Mr\tMitter,\twho\tare\tyour\tcompanions?\u2019 \u2018Sorry,\t I\t should\t have\t introduced\t them\t before.\t This\t is\t my\t cousin,\t Tapesh;\t and\t that\u2019s\t my\t friend, Lalmohan\tGanguli.\tHe\tis\ta\twell-known\twriter.\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\thave\tyou\tknown\thim?\u2019 \u2018More\tthan\tfive\tyears.\u2019 I\tlooked\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tHe\thad\tturned\tpale.\tFor\ta\tmoment,\tI\ttried\tto\tpicture\thim\tas\ta\tthief.\tEven at\tthis\tcritical\tmoment,\tI\tnearly\tlaughed\tout\tloud. Fortunately,\tthe\tinspector\tchanged\tthe\tsubject.\t\u2018How\tmany\tpeople\tlive\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Apart\tfrom\tmy\twife\tand\tmyself,\tmy\ttwo\tchildren\tand\tMr\tSom,\tthe\tartist.\u2019 Mr\tSom\twas\tpresent\tin\tthe\troom\twith\tall\tthe\tothers.\tHis\tstubble\twas\theavier\ttoday\twhich\tmade\thim look\teven\tmore\thaggard. \u2018What\tabout\tthe\tothers?\u2019\tInspector\tPandey\twent\ton. \u2018Mr\tSaldanha\tand\this\twife\tlive\tin\tClive\tRoad.\tMrs\tSaldanha\tand\tmy\twife\tare\tsisters.\u2019 \u2018I\tcan\tsee\tone\tmore\tgentleman.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\the\tis\tmy\twife\u2019s\tbrother,\tRatanlal\tBanerjee.\u2019 \u2018Was\tthere\tanyone\telse\tat\tthe\tparty?\u2019 \u2018Only\t one\t other\t person.\t In\t fact,\t he\t had\t not\t been\t invited,\t but\t he\t happened\t to\t drop\t by.\t It\t was\t Mr Sukius.\tHe\tarrived\twhile\tthe\tfilm\twas\tbeing\tshown.\tI\tsaw\thim\tonly\twhen\tthe\tlights\tcame\ton.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tMr\tSukius\tdo?\u2019 \u2018He\tis\ta\tcollector\tof\tantiques\tand\tart\tobjects.\tHe\tis\talso\ta\tprofessional\tmoneylender.\u2019","\u2018Did\the\tever\tshow\tan\tinterest\tin\tthat\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tHe\twanted\tto\tbuy\tit,\tbut\tI\trefused\tto\tsell.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 Inspector\tPandey\twas\tsilent\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tthink\twe\tare\tagreed\tthat\tone\tof\tthe guests\tat\tdinner\tremoved\tthe\tnecklace.\tThe\tquestion\tis:\twhere\thas\tit\tgone?\u2019 Mr\tBiswas\tcleared\this\tthroat.\t\u2018If\tyou\twish\tto\tsearch\tus\tand\tthe\thouse,\tplease\tfeel\tfree\tto\tdo\tso.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\thave\tto\tdo\tthat.\tI\u2019ve\tarranged\ta\tcouple\tof\twomen\tpolice\tofficers\tto search\tthe\twomen.\tThe\thouse\twill\thave\tto\tbe\tthoroughly\tsearched.\u2019 No\tone\traised\tany\tobjection.\tOnly\tMr\tSaldanha\tsaid,\t\u2018I\thave\tto\tgo\tand\topen\tmy\tshop\tat\tten\to\u2019clock. I\u2019d\tbe\tgrateful\tif\tyou\tcould\tsearch\tme\tfirst\tand\tallow\tme\tto\tleave\tbefore\tten.\u2019 Feluda\t was\t silent\t all\t this\t while.\t No w\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t am\t g o ing \t to \t g o \t back\t to \t the\t ho tel.\t If\t yo u\t find\t the necklace,\tMr\tBiswas,\tplease\tlet\tme\tknow.\tIf\tyou\tdon\u2019t,\tI\twill\tcome\tback\tthis\tevening.\u2019 We\t r etur ned\t to \t o ur \t ho tel.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t jo ined\t us\t in\t o ur \t r o o m.\t \u2018Can\t yo u\t r emember \t ho w\t many times\tthis\thas\thappened\tbefore?\tI\tmean,\tthis\tbusiness\tof\tgoing\ton\ta\tholiday\tand\tgetting\tmixed\tup\tin\ta mystery?\tTelepathy,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tit\tmust\tbe!\u2019\the\tobserved. \u2018All\t r ig ht\t then,\t Lalmo han\t Babu,\t let\t me\t test\t yo ur \t memo r y,\u2019\t Feluda\t laug hed.\t \u2018I\t have\t tested\t To pshe often\tenough,\tbut\tnot\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell\tsir,\tI\tam\tready.\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\task\tyou\tsomething\tabout\tShakuntala\tDevi\u2019s\tfamily.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tthe\tnames\tof\ther\tthree\tchildren?\u2019 \u2018The\telder\tdaughter\tis\tcalled\tSusheela.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tthere\u2019s\ta\tChristian\tname\tbefore\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tThe\tChristian\tname\t.\t.\t.\tah\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Topshe,\tdo\tyou\tremember?\u2019 Luckily,\tI\tdid.\t\u2018Margaret,\u2019\tI\tsaid. \u2018Good.\tWhat\tis\tMrs\tBiswas\tcalled,\tLalmohan\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018Pamela\tSuneela.\u2019 \u2018Right.\tHer\tbrother?\u2019 \u2018Ratanlal.\tAlbert\tRatanlal\tBanerjee.\u2019 \u2018Fine.\tNow\ttell\tme\tthe\tnames\tof\tthe\tBiswas\tchildren.\u2019 \u2018Mary\tSheela\tand\tPrasenjit.\tI\tcan\u2019t\tremember\this\tChristian\tname.\u2019 \u2018Victor.\tMargaret\tSusheela\tcame\twith\ther\thusband.\tWhat\u2019s\the\tcalled?\u2019 \u2018Samuel\tSaldanha.\u2019 \u2018Very\tgood.\tWho\telse\twas\tthere?\u2019 \u2018That\tartist\tfellow.\tWhat\u2019s\this\tname,\tnow?\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Topshe?\u2019 \u2018Som.\tSudarshan\tSom.\u2019 \u2018Well\tdone.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tmind\tmy\tsaying\tthis,\tFelu\tBabu,\tbut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tlike\tthat\tman.\u2019 \u2018Why\tnot?\u2019","\u2018He\t looked\t weird,\t as\t if\t he\t was\t really\t quite\t mad.\t Hadn\u2019t\t shaved\t for\t days,\t his\t clothes\t hadn\u2019t\t been washed\tprobably\tfor\tweeks!\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Artists\tdon\u2019t\talways\tkeep\tthemselves\tspruced\tup.\tThey\tdon\u2019t\toften\tlive\tby\tsocial\tnorms.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps,\tbut\tin\tmy\tview\the\tand\tone\tother\tperson\tare\tthe\tprime\tsuspects.\u2019 \u2018Who\tis\tthis\tother\tperson?\u2019 \u2018Victor\t Prasenjit\t Biswas.\t Looks\t like\t a\t hippie,\t a\t good-for-nothing.\t But\t I\t noticed\t he\t wasn\u2019t drinking.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\tthat\twas\tbecause\this\tfather\twas\tpresent.\u2019 \u2018Could\tbe.\tAnyway,\tthere\twas\tsomeone\telse\tpresent\tat\tthe\tparty.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tMr\tSukius?\u2019 \u2018Correct.\tHe\twanted\tto\tbuy\tthe\tnecklace,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018He\tis\tan\tart\tcollector.\tAny\tart\tcollector\twould\twant\tto\tbuy\tsomething\tso\tbeautiful.\tThat\tis\tto\tsay, he\u2019d\t want\t to\t buy\t if\t he\t had\t sufficient\t resources.\t If\t he\t didn\u2019t,\t he\t might\t try\t to\t get\t it\t through\t unfair means.\t We\t kno w\t no thing \t abo ut\t Sukius\t o r \t his\t financial\t status.\t Let\u2019s\t no t\t waste\t any\t mo r e\t time\t in\t idle speculation.\tWe\u2019re\tfree\tuntil\tMr\tBiswas\trings\tus\tin\tthe\tevening.\tWhat\tabout\ta\ttrip\tto\tKaizer\tBagh?\u2019 \u2018Excellent\t idea,\t Felu\t Babu.\t If\t getting\t involved\t in\t a\t case\t meant\t going\t back\t without\t seeing\t all\t the important\tsights\tof\tLucknow,\tI\u2019d\tbe\tvery\tdisappointed.\u2019","Five Jayant\t Biswas\t rang\t us\t later,\t as\t promised.\t The\t police\t had\t been\t meticulous\t in\t their\t search,\t but\t the necklace\thad\tnot\tbeen\tfound.\tThey\thad\teven\tquestioned\tthe\tservants,\tto\tno\tavail. \u2018I\u2019ll\t co me\t o ver,\t Mr \t Biswas,\u2019\t Feluda\t to ld\t him.\t \u2018No w\t I\u2019ll\t star t\t my\t o wn\t investig atio n.\t It\t wo n\u2019t\t clash with\twhat\tthe\tpolice\tare\tdoing,\tI\tassure\tyou.\u2019 We\t took\t a\t taxi\t from\t the\t hotel,\t crossed\t the\t Gomti\t bridge\t and\t reached\t Mr\t Biswas\u2019s\t house.\t It\t still wore\ta\trather\tforlorn\tair. Suleman\topened\tthe\tdoor\tonce\tmore\tand\tshowed\tus\tinto\tthe\tliving\troom.\tMr\tBiswas\twas\tseated\ton a\tsofa.\tHe\trose\tas\twe\tentered\tthe\troom. \u2018They\tcouldn\u2019t\tfind\tit,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tshaking\this\thead\tsadly. \u2018That\u2019s\thardly\tsurprising.\tA\tclever\tthief\tlike\tthat\twould\tnever\tleave\tit\tlying\tabout,\twould\the?\u2019 \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tto\tsearch\tthe\thouse\tyourself?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tI\tonly\twant\tto\tspeak\tto\teveryone\tin\tyour\tfamily.\tWho\tis\tat\thome\tright\tnow?\u2019 \u2018My\twife,\tmy\tdaughter\tand\tMr\tSom.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tmy\tson\tis\tback\tyet.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tI\talso\tneed\tto\ttalk\tto\tMr\tSaldanha\tand\tMr\tSukius.\u2019 \u2018That\tshouldn\u2019t\tbe\ta\tproblem.\tI\u2019ll\tgive\tyou\ttheir\taddresses.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tLet\tme\tstart\twith\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Go\tahead.\tYou\twouldn\u2019t\tmind\ta\tcup\tof\ttea,\twould\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\t that\t would\t be\t very\t nice,\t thank\t you.\u2019\t Suleman\t was\t told\t to\t get\t four\t cups\t of\t tea.\t Feluda\t lit\t a Charminar\tand\tbegan\this\tquestions. \u2018You\ttold\tthe\tpolice\tMr\tSukius\thad\twanted\tto\tbuy\tthat\tnecklace.\tHow\tlong\tago\twas\tthat?\u2019 \u2018About\ta\tyear\tago.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\the\tlearn\tabout\tthe\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018Lots\t of\t people\t know\t about\t it.\t It\u2019s\t been\t written\t about\t more\t than\t once.\t When\t my\t mother-in-law died,\t the\t Pioneer\t published\t a\t short\t biography\t which\t mentioned\t the\t necklace.\t Sukius\t is\t really\t a moneylender.\t I\t mean,\t that\u2019s\t how\t he\u2019s\t made\t his\t money.\t Normally,\t one\t doesn\u2019t\t associate\t a moneylender\twith\tanything\tas\trefined\tas\tart\tand\taesthetics.\tBut\tSukius\tis\tdifferent.\tI\thave\tbeen\tto\this house.\tHe\thas\texquisite\ttaste.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\the\treact\twhen\tyou\trefused\tto\tsell\tthe\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018He\twas\tnaturally\tvery\tdisappointed.\tHe\thad\toffered\ttwo\thundred\tthousand.\t I\t might\t have\t agreed, but\t my\t wife\t wouldn\u2019t\t dream\t of\t parting\t with\t it.\t And\t now,\t the\t very\t same\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t he\t left\t his\t sentence unfinished\tand\tsighed. \u2018Do\tyou\tsuspect\tanyone?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tstill\tfeel\tperfectly\tamazed.\tI\tcannot\tbelieve\tone\tof\tmy\told\tand\ttrusted\tservants\tdid\tit.\tYet,\twho else\twould\thave\tstolen\tit?\tWhy\twould\tthey\tdo\tsuch\ta\tthing?\u2019","\u2018You\tare\ta\tbusinessman,\taren\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Well\tyes,\tI\thave\ta\tsmall\tfirm.\tWe\thandle\texports\tand\timports.\u2019 \u2018How\twell\tare\tyou\tdoing?\u2019 \u2018Not\tbad,\tMr\tMitter.\tI\thave\ta\tpartner.\tWe\trun\tthe\tfirm\ttogether.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\the\tcalled?\u2019 \u2018Tr ibhuvan\t Nag ar.\t We\t beg an\t o ur \t car eer s\t as\t cler ks\t in\t a\t mer chant\t fir m.\t T hir ty\t year s\t ag o ,\t we\t g ave that\tup\tand\tformed\tour\town\tcompany.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\tthe\tname\tof\tyour\tcompany? \u2018Modern\tImports\t&\tExports.\u2019 \u2018Where\tis\tyour\toffice?\u2019 \u2018Hazratganj.\u2019 Suleman\tcame\tback\twith\tthe\ttea.\tWe\thelped\tourselves. \u2018I\thave\tone\tmore\tquestion,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018While\tthe\tfilm\twas\tbeing\tshown\tyesterday,\tdid\tyou\tsee\tanyone\tmove\tor\tgo\tout\tof\tthe\troom?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018Does\tyour\tson\twork\tanywhere?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\ttried\tto\tget\thim\tto\tjoin\tme,\tbut\the\trefused.\u2019 \u2018How\told\tis\the?\u2019 \u2018Twenty-five.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\the\tinterested\tin?\u2019 \u2018God\tknows.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\tMr\tBiswas.\tMay\tI\tnow\tspeak\tto\tyour\twife?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\tBut\tshe\u2019s\tvery\tdistressed,\tyou\tunderstand.\u2019 \u2018I\tpromise\tI\twon\u2019t\ttake\tlong.\u2019 Mr\tBiswas\twent\tinside\tto\tfetch\this\twife.\tWe\thad\tfinished\tour\ttea\tby\tthis\ttime.\tWhen\tSuneela\tBiswas arrived,\tshe\tlooked\tas\tif\tshe\thad\tspent\ta\tlong\ttime\tcrying.\tDespite\tthat,\tthe\tresemblances\tshe\tbore\tto her\tmother\tseemed\tmore\tpronounced\ttoday.\tShe\tsaid\tin\ta\tlow\tvoice: \u2018You\twished\tto\task\tsome\tquestions,\tI\tbelieve?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tonly\ta\tfew.\tI\twon\u2019t\tkeep\tyou\tlong.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\u2019 \u2018When\tyour\tmother\tgave\tyou\ther\tfamous\tnecklace\tinstead\tof\tyour\telder\tsister,\thow\tdid\tyour\tsister react?\u2019 \u2018She\thad\tguessed\twhat\tmy\tmother\twas\tgoing\tto\tdo.\u2019 \u2018How?\u2019 \u2018She\twas\tmy\tfather \u2019s\tpet,\tI\twas\tmother \u2019s.\tShe\tgave\tme\tthat\tnecklace\tthree\tyears\tbefore\tshe\tdied. My\tsister\tand\tI\tnever\tspoke\tabout\tit,\tso\treally\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\ttell\tyou\thow\tshe\treacted.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tand\tyour\tsister\tclose\tto\teach\tother?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t We\u2019r e\t g etting \t clo ser \t as\t we\u2019r e\t g r o wing \t o lder.\t When\t we\t wer e\t yo ung ,\t ther e\t was\t a\t feeling \t o f rivalry\tbetween\tus.\u2019 \u2018You\twere\tfond\tof\tacting,\tweren\u2019t\tyou?","\u2018Yes.\t That\u2019s\t why\t my\t mother\t was\t so\t proud\t of\t me.\t Susheela\u2014my\t sister\u2014was\t never\t interested\t in acting.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tyour\tdaughter?\u2019 \u2018She\u2019s\t taken\t part\t in\t plays\t in\t school\t and\t her\t college.\t Then\t she\t received\t a\t few\t offers\t from\t film producers,\tbut\tdid\tnot\taccept.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tshe\twant\tto\tdo?\u2019 \u2018Go \t into \t jo ur nalism.\t She\u2019s\t alr eady\t star ted\t wr iting .\t She\t wants\t to \t be\t independent\t and\t have\t a\t car eer of\ther\town.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tsuspect\tanyone\tof\thaving\tstolen\tyour\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tcannot\thelp\tyou\tat\tall,\tI\tam\tafraid.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tanyone\tleave\ttheir\tseat\tduring\tthe\tfilm\tshow\tlast\tnight?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tthought\teveryone\twas\ttotally\tengrossed\tin\tthe\tfilm.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou\tMrs\tBiswas,\tno\tmore\tquestions\tfor\tyou.\u2019 Suneela\tBiswas\tsaid\tgoodbye\tand\twent\tinside. Feluda\tturned\tto\tMr\tBiswas\tonce\tmore. \u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tsee\tMr\tSom,\tif\tI\tmay.\u2019 \u2018Sure.\u2019 Mr\t Biswas\t disappeared\t inside\t and\t sent\t Mr\t Som.\t Mr\t Som\t had\t shaved\t this\t morning,\t which\t made him\tlook\tslightly\tless\tunsavoury.\tHe\tsat\ton\tthe\tsmall\tsofa\topposite\tFeluda\tand\tlit\ta\tcheroot.\tI\thad\tseen him\tsmoking\ta\tcheroot\tlast\tnight\ttoo.\tA\tpungent\tsmell\tfilled\tthe\troom. \u2018How\tlong\thave\tyou\tlived\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan. \u2018About\tfifteen\tyears.\tShakuntala\tDevi\therself\thad\tbrought\tme\there.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\tmind\thaving\tto\tdepend\ton\tsomeone\u2019s\tcharity?\u2019 \u2018I\t had\t ver y\t little\t cho ice\t in\t the\t matter,\t Mr \t Mitter.\t I\t had\t alr eady\t cr o ssed\t fifty.\t Ar thr itis\t affected\t my right\tthumb\tso\tbadly\tthat\tI\tcould\tno\tlonger\tpaint.\tI\thad\tno\tmoney.\tIf\tShakuntala\tDevi\thadn\u2019t\tgiven\tme a\thome,\tI\u2019d\thave\tstarved\tout\tthere\tin\tthe\tstreets.\tOf\tcourse\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tlike\thaving\tto\tdepend\ton\tanyone. But\t Shakuntala\t and\t her \t family\t wer e\t ver y\t kind,\t and\t then\t yo ung \t Pr asenjit\t and\t Sheela\t also \t seem\t to \t be very\tfond\tof\tme.\tSo\tnow\tI\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tso\tmuch.\tI\thave\tgot\tused\tto\tthe\tidea.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\thave\tan\tincome\tat\tall?\u2019 \u2018Not\t really.\t Some\t of\t my\t old\t paintings\t sell\t occasionally,\t at\t very\t low\t prices.\t That\t brings\t me virtually\tnothing.\tI\tmanage\ton\tthe\tallowance\tMr\tBiswas\tpays\tme\tevery\tmonth.\tI\thave\ta\troom,\tand\tI eat\twith\tthe\tfamily.\tCheroots\tare\tthe\tonly\tluxury\tI\tallow\tmyself,\talthough\tI\thave\tcut\tdown\ton\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tsuspect\tanyone\tregarding\tthe\tmissing\tnecklace?\u2019 Mr\tSom\tremained\tsilent\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tsuspect\tany\tof\tthe\tservants.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthere\tanyone\telse?\u2019 Mr\t Som\t fell\t silent\t again.\t \u2018Look,\u2019\t Feluda\t urged,\t \u2018if\t you\t don\u2019t\t tell\t me\t exactly\t what\t you\t think,\t it makes\tmy\tjob\tthat\tmuch\tmore\tdifficult.\tYou\tdo\twant\tthe\tnecklace\tto\tbe\trecovered,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen?\u2019 \u2018There\tis\tsomeone\tI\tam\tnot\tsure\tof.\u2019 \u2018Who?\u2019","\u2018Prasenjit.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\u2019 \u2018He\t has\t changed\t such\t a\t lot.\t He\t doesn\u2019t\t speak\t properly\t with\t anyone\t in\t the\t family,\t not\t even\t me. Perhaps\the\u2019s\tfallen\tinto\tbad\tcompany.\tPerhaps\the\u2019s\tinto\tdrugs,\tor\tgambling\t.\t.\t.\tor\tsomething\telse\tfor which\t he\t needs\t money.\t I\t know\t he\t hasn\u2019t\t got\t a\t job,\t and\t the\t money\t he\t gets\t from\t his\t father\t is\t never enough.\tSometimes\the\tcomes\tto\tme\tto\tborrow\tmoney,\the\u2019s\tthat\tdesperate.\tI\u2019ve\ttried\ttalking\tto\thim,\tto make\thim\tsee\treason,\tbut\tI\thave\tfailed.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tDid\tyou\tsee\tanyone\tmove\tor\twalk\taway\twhen\tthe\tfilm\twas\tbeing\tshown\tyesterday?\u2019 \u2018No.\tMy\teyes\tnever\tleft\tthe\tscreen.\u2019 \u2018All\t right,\t Mr\t Som.\t That\u2019s\t all\t for\t now.\t Thank\t you\t very\t much,\t and\t could\t you\t please\t send\t Mary Sheela?\u2019 Mr\t Som\t left\t in\t search\t of\t Sheela.\t She\t arrived\t in\t a\t few\t minutes.\t Dressed\t in\t a\t salwar-kameez,\t and devoid\tof\tjewellery,\tshe\tlooked\tthe\tperfect\tmodern\tyoung\twoman. \u2018What\twere\tyou\tdoing,\tSheela?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\ther\twhen\tshe\twas\tseated. \u2018I\twas\twriting\tan\tarticle.\u2019 \u2018For\ta\tmagazine?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\ton\thow\tto\tdecorate\ta\troom.\u2019 \u2018Oh?\tAre\tyou\tinterested\tin\tinterior\tdecoration?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tI\twould\tlike\tto\tbecome\ta\tdecorator\tone\tday.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\thad\tany\ttraining?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno\tformal\ttraining;\tbut\tI\thave\tread\tquite\ta\tlot\ton\tthe\tsubject.\u2019 \u2018Can\tyou\tdraw?\u2019 \u2018A\tlittle.\tI\tlearnt\ta\tfew\tthings\tfrom\tUncle\tSudarshan.\tHe\tused\tto\tencourage\tme\ta\tlot\twhen\tI\twas\ta child.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tget\ton\twith\tyour\tbrother?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t.\tNot\tany\tmore.\tHe\thardly\tever\tspeaks\tto\tme.\tYet,\tonce\twe\twere\tvery\tclose.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tmind?\tDoes\tthis\tchange\tin\thim\tupset\tyou?\u2019 \u2018It\tused\tto.\tNow\tI\u2019ve\tgrown\taccustomed\tto\tit.\u2019 \u2018You\tdid\tput\tthe\tnecklace\tback\tin\tits\tusual\tplace,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse!\tAnd\tI\treplaced\tthe\tkeys.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tany\tidea\thow\tit\tdisappeared?\u2019 Sheela\tsmiled,\t\u2018No,\thow\tshould\tI?\tYou\u2019re\tthe\tdetective!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\ta\tdetective\thas\tto\task\tquestion\tto\tget\tat\tthe\ttruth.\tYou\tknow\tthat,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 The\t bell\t r ang \t befo r e\t Feluda\t co uld\t speak\t ag ain.\t Suleman\t o pened\t the\t do o r \t and\t let\t Pr asenjit\t in.\t He seemed\tslightly\ttaken\taback\tto\tsee\tus,\tbut\trecovered\tquickly. \u2018Detection\tin\tprogress?\u2019\the\tsneered. \u2018I\t was\t simply\t asking \t yo ur \t sister \t a\t few\t questio ns.\t I\u2019m\t g lad\t yo u\u2019r e\t back\t because\t I\u2019d\t like\t to \t do \t the same\twith\tyou.\tDo\tyou\tmind?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tdo.\tThe\tpolice\ttried\tto\tquestion\tme,\ttoo.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tanswer\tany\tof\ttheir\tstupid\tquestions.\u2019 \u2018But\tI\tam\tnot\tthe\tpolice.\u2019","\u2018That\tmakes\tno\tdifference.\tI\tam\tnot\tgoing\tto\topen\tmy\tmouth.\u2019 \u2018Then\tyou\twill\tautomatically\tbecome\ta\tsuspect.\u2019 \u2018I\t do n\u2019t\t car e.\t Suspicio n\t alo ne\t isn\u2019t\t eno ug h\t to \t send\t anyo ne\t to \t pr iso n,\t is\t it?\t Wher e\u2019s\t the\t evidence? You\thave\tto\tfind\tthe\tnecklace\tbefore\tyou\tcan\tsay\tit\u2019s\tin\tmy\tpossession!\u2019 \u2018Very\t well,\t Prasenjit.\t If\t you\u2019re\t not\t prepared\t to\t cooperate,\t there\u2019s\t nothing\t we\t can\t do.\t We\t cannot force\tyou\tto\ttalk\tto\tus.\u2019 Feluda\trose.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tfollowed\tsuit. \u2018Before\tI\tgo,\u2019\the\tsaid\tto\tSheela,\t\u2018May\tI\tplease\tsee\tthe\tlayout\tof\tyour\thouse?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\u2019 Sheela\ttook\tus\tinside.\tThere\twas\ta\tdining\troom\tbehind\tthe\tliving\troom.\tThis\twas\tfollowed\tby\tMr and\tMrs\tBiswas\u2019s\tbedroom,\twhich\thad\tan\tattached\tbathroom.\tConnecting\tdoors\tin\ttheir\tbedroom\tled to\ta\troom\ton\teither\tside,\twhich\tbelonged\tto\tSheela\tand\tPrasenjit.\tThese\talso\thad\tattached\tbathrooms. Mr\tSom\u2019s\troom\twas\tnext\tto\tPrasenjit\u2019s. We\treturned\tto\tthe\tliving\troom. \u2018I\tam\tgoing\tto\tvisit\tyou\tsoon\twith\tmy\tautograph\tbook,\u2019\tSheela\tsaid. \u2018You\u2019d\t be\t most\t welcome,\u2019\t Feluda\t replied.\t \u2018But\t please\t give\t me\t a\t call\t before\t you\t come.\t If\t you simply\tturned\tup\tat\tthe\thotel,\tI\tmight\tnot\tbe\tin.\tBy\tthe\tway,\tcould\tI\tplease\tsee\tyour\tfather\tagain?\u2019 Sheela\twent\tand\tcalled\ther\tfather. \u2018Have\tyou\tfinished?\u2019\tMr\tBiswas\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tmore\tor\tless.\tYour\tson\tdidn\u2019t\tallow\tany\tquestions,\tunfortunately.\u2019 Mr\tBiswas\tshook\this\thead\tregretfully.\t\u2018I\tam\tsorry\tabout\tthat,\tMr\tMitter.\tPrasenjit\tis\tlike\tthat\t.\t.\t.\tI have\talmost\tgiven\tup\ton\thim.\u2019 \u2018Never \t mind.\t I\t wanted\t to \t see\t yo u\t abo ut\t so mething \t else.\t Do \t yo u\t think\t Mr \t Saldanha\t will\t be\t at\t his shop?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tshould\tthink\tso.\tIt\u2019s\tonly\thalf\tpast\tfive.\u2019 \u2018Could\tyou\tgive\tme\this\ttelephone\tnumber\tplease,\tand\ttell\tme\twhere\this\tshop\tis?\u2019 Mr\t Biswas\t tore\t a\t page\t off\t a\t small\t pad\t lying\t next\t to\t the\t telephone\t and\t quickly\t wrote\t down\t the shop\u2019s\taddress\tand\tphone\tnumber. \u2018May\tI\tring\thim\tfrom\there?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\u2019 Mr\tSaldanha\thimself\tanswered\tthe\tphone\tand\ttold\tFeluda\tto\tgo\tthere\tstraightaway. \u2018There\t are\t two\t other\t people\t I\t have\t to\t see,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t to\t Mr\t Biswas.\t \u2018Your\t brother-in-law, Ratanlal\tand\tMr\tSukius.\tI\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tsave\tthe\tlatter\tuntil\ttomorrow.\u2019 \u2018Ratanlal\tlives\tin\tFrazer\tRoad.\tLet\tme\tgive\tyou\this\taddress\tas\twell.\tThe\tbest\ttime\tto\tget\thim\tis\tafter seven\to\u2019clock.\u2019","Six I\thad\tno\tidea\tSaldanha\t&\tCo.\tin\tHazratganj\twas\tsuch\tan\told\tshop.\tIts\tthreadbare\tlook\tstartled\tme. Mr\tSaldanha\twas\tsitting\tbehind\ta\tdesk.\tThe\tshop\twas\tgoing\tto\tclose\tin\tfifteen\tminutes.\tThere\twas no\tone\texcept\tan\tassistant.\tMr\tSaldanha\tsmiled\tas\the\tsaw\tus\tarrive. \u2018Welcome,\tMr\tMitter.\tDo\tsit\tdown.\u2019 We\twere\toffered\tthree\tchairs. \u2018I\thope\twe\thaven\u2019t\tcaused\tyou\tany\tinconvenience\tby\tcoming\there?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Oh\tno,\tnot\tat\tall.\tWe\u2019re\tabout\tto\tclose,\tanyway.\tYou\tmay\task\tme\twhat\tyou\tlike;\tthen\twhen\twe\u2019re finished\there.\tI\u2019ll\ttake\tyou\tto\tmy\thouse.\tYou\tcould\thave\ta\tcup\tof\tcoffee\tand\tmeet\tmy\twife.\u2019 \u2018That\twould\tbe\tvery\tnice,\tthank\tyou.\tI\twould\tlike\tto\task\tyour\twife\ta\tfew\tquestions\tas\twell.\tYou\tsee, I\thave\tto\tspeak\tto\teveryone\twho\twas\tpresent\tat\tthe\tparty.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tall\tright.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tshe\u2019ll\tmind.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tLet\tme\tbegin\twith\tyou.\tHow\told\tis\tthis\tshop?\u2019 \u2018Nearly\tseventy\tyears.\tMy\tgrandfather\tstarted\tit.\tIt\twas\tLucknow\u2019s\tfirst\tmusic\tshop.\u2019 \u2018There\tmust\tbe\tother\tmusic\tshops\tnow?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t ther e\t ar e\t two \t mo r e,\t bo th\t o wned\t by\t Go ans.\t One\t belo ng s\t to \t de\t Mello ,\t the\t o ther \t to \t No r o nha. One\tof\tthem\tis\tnot\tfar\tfrom\there.\tSadly,\twe\thave\tnot\tbeen\table\tto\tkeep\tup\twith\tthe\ttimes.\tYou\tcan\ttell that,\tcan\u2019t\tyou,\tfrom\tthe\tappearance\tof\tthis\tshop?\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tsaying\tthat\tyour\tbusiness\tisn\u2019t\tdoing\tall\tthat\twell?\u2019 \u2018What\t can\t I\t say,\t Mr \t Mitter ?\t It\u2019s\t the\t ag e\t o f\t co mpetitio n,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\t If\t I\t co uld\t g et\t my\t so n\t to \t jo in\t me, perhaps\this\tyoung\tideas\twould\thelp.\tBut\the\tstudied\tmedicine,\tthen\twent\toff\tto\tAmerica.\tHe\u2019s\tearning a\tlot\tof\tmoney\tthere,\tbut\this\told\tDad\thas\tto\tlook\tafter\tthis\told\tshop.\tI\thave\ta\tfew\tfaithful\tcustomers, so\tI\tdo\tget\tby,\tbut\tthings\thave\tchanged.\tNo\tone\trespects\tsimplicity\tand\thonesty\tany\tmore.\tEveryone wants\tglamour.\u2019 Feluda\t made\t sympathetic\t noises,\t then\t moved\t to\t his\t next\t question.\t \u2018Do\t you\t have\t anything\t to\t say about\tthe\ttragedy\tthat\toccurred\tlast\tnight?\u2019 \u2018I\t hardly\t know\t what\t to\t say.\t When\t that\t necklace\t went\t to\t my\t sister-in-law,\t Margaret\u2014my\t wife\u2014 broke\tdown\tcompletely.\tShe\tloved\tthat\tnecklace\tand\twas\tbitterly\tdisappointed\tit\twasn\u2019t\tgiven\tto\ther. And\twho\tcould\tblame\ther?\tIt\twas\tso\textraordinarily\tbeautiful\t.\t.\tabsolutely\tpriceless.\u2019 \u2018You\t mean\t you\t agree\t that\t it\t was\t unfair\t of\t Shakuntala\t Devi\t to\t have\t given\t it\t to\t her\t younger daughter,\teven\tin\tthe\teyes\tof\tGod?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tWhy\telse\twould\tPamela\tsuffer\tsuch\ta\ttragedy?\u2019 \u2018But\twho\tcould\thave\ttaken\tit?\tDo\tyou\thave\tany\tidea?\u2019 \u2018No,\tMr\tMitter,\tI\tcannot\thelp\tyou\tat\tall\tin\tthis\tmatter.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\taware\tthat\tyour\tsister-in-law\u2019s\tson\thas\tfallen\tinto\tbad\tcompany?\u2019","\u2018I\thad\tguessed\tas\tmuch,\tyes.\u2019 \u2018He\tis\tprobably\tinto\tdrugs.\tHe\tneeds\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tof\tmoney\tregularly.\u2019 Mr\tSaldanha\tclicked\this\ttongue\tregretfully.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018That\tmay\tbe\tso,\tMr\tMitter,\tbut\tI\tcannot believe\the\u2019d\tsteal\tand\tsell\tsuch\ta\tprized\tpossession.\tNo,\tthat\tseems\tquite\tfar-fetched.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tanyone\tgo\tout\tof\tthe\troom\tduring\tthe\tfilm\tshow?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\tI\tsaw\tSukius\tcome\tin.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\u2019 It\twas\ttime\tto\tclose\tthe\tshop.\tWe\tgot\tto\tour\tfeet.\tWhen\twe\treached\tMr\tSaldanha\u2019s\thouse\tin\this\tcar, it\t was\t a\t quarter\t past\t six\t and\t quite\t dark.\t Like\t Mr\t Biswas\u2019s\t house,\t it\t was\t a\t bungalow,\t but\t smaller\t in size.\t The\t drawing\t room\t appeared\t rather\t bare.\t Mr\t Saldanha\t obviously\t wasn\u2019t\t as\t wealthy\t as\t his brother-in-law,\tand\this\twife\tnot\tthat\tkeen\ton\tinterior\tdecoration. \u2018Margaret,\tyou\thave\tvisitors!\u2019\tcalled\tMr\tSaldanha.\tMargaret\tSusheela\tarrived\ta\tmoment\tlater.\t\u2018Oh, it\u2019s\t you!\u2019\t she\t said,\t smiling\t a\t little.\t But\t the\t smile\t did\t nothing\t to\t hide\t the\t look\t of\t exhaustion\t on\t her face. \u2018Please\tsit\tdown,\tMrs\tSaldanha,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018Perhaps\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthat\tMr\tBiswas\tasked\tme\tto investigate\tthis\tbusiness\tof\tthe\tstolen\tnecklace.\u2019 \u2018I\thad\tguessed.\u2019 \u2018May\tI\task\tyou\ta\tfew\tquestions\tin\tthis\tregard?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tcertainly.\u2019 Mr\tSaldanha\tgot\tup,\t\u2018Let\tme\tgo\tand\tget\tchanged,\tMr\tMitter;\tand\tI\u2019ll\tget\tus\tsome\tcoffee.\u2019 He\twent\tinside.\tMargaret\tSusheela\ttook\ta\tchair\tand\tlooked\tat\tFeluda. \u2018How\tlong\thave\tyou\tbeen\tmarried?\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan\tafter\ta\tshort\tpause. \u2018Thirty-five\tyears.\u2019 \u2018Your\tson\tis\tin\tAmerica,\tI\tbelieve.\tDo\tyou\thave\tany\tother\tchildren?\u2019 \u2018A\tdaughter.\tShe\u2019s\tmarried.\tHer\thusband\towns\tan\tapple\torchard\tin\tKulu.\tThat\u2019s\twhere\tthey\tlive.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\tthe\tdifference\tin\tage\tbetween\tyou\tand\tyour\tsister?\u2019 \u2018Just\ttwo\tyears.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\talways\tbeen\tclose?\u2019 \u2018We\t were\t very\t close\t when\t we\t were\t little.\t We\t played\t together,\t wore\t similar\t clothes,\t went\t to\t the same\tnursery\tschool.\u2019 \u2018What\thappened\twhen\tyou\tgrew\tolder?\u2019 \u2018When\tI\twas\tabout\tfifteen,\tI\trealized\tour\tmother\twas\tmuch\tmore\tfond\tof\tPam\tthan\tshe\twas\tof\tme. There\twas\ta\treason\tfor\tthis.\tPamela\twas\tbetter\tlooking\tand\tfar\tmore\ttalented.\tShe\twas\tgood\tat\tacting, elocution\tand\tmusic.\tShe\teven\tfared\tbetter\tin\tstudies.\tI\tcould\tfeel\tmy\tmother \u2019s\taffection\tmoving\taway from\tme.\tShe\tgave\tPam\tall\ther\tattention.\tOur\tfather\tloved\tme\ta\tlot,\tbut\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tmake\tup for\t the\t loss\t of\t mother \u2019s\t affection.\t I\t felt\t quite\t jealous\t of\t Pam.\t And\t then\t .\t .\t .\t then\t that\t necklace\t was given\tto\ther.\tI\thave\tnever\tfelt\tso\tlet\tdown\tin\tmy\tlife.\tI\twas\tthe\telder\tdaughter.\tIt\tshould\thave\tcome\tto me.\tIt\ttook\tme\ta\tlong\ttime\tto\tget\tover\tmy\tdisappointment.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tnow?\tAre\tyou\tstill\tjealous\tof\ther?\u2019 \u2018No .\t All\t that\u2019s\t histo r y\t no w.\t We\t ar e\t ver y\t fo nd\t o f\t each\t o ther.\t Yo u\t saw\t us\t yester day.\t Did\t we\t appear distant?\u2019","\u2018Not\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tnot\tjust\tlove\tthat\tI\tfeel\tfor\tmy\tsister.\tSometimes\tI\teven\tfeel\tpity.\u2019 \u2018Pity?\tWhy\tis\tthat?\u2019 \u2018My\tbrother-in-law\u2019s\tbusiness\tis\tnot\tdoing\twell.\tThey\tare\tin\ttrouble.\tMoney\thas\tbecome\ta\tserious problem.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tI\tam\tsaying\tthis\tto\tyou\tin\tabsolute\tconfidence.\tPam\u2019s\thusband\thas\tpiled\tup\ta\tlot\tof\tdebts,\tand is\tdrinking\theavily.\u2019 \u2018But\tonly\tyesterday\tthey\tthrew\ta\tparty!\u2019 \u2018I\t know.\t I\t can\u2019t\t imagine\t how\t they\t did\t it.\t My\t husband\t and\t I\t were\t very\t surprised\t to\t receive\t an invitation.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\tthings\tare\tbetter\tnow.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps.\t But\t even\t two\t months\t ago,\t my\t sister\t often\t used\t to\t come\t to\t me\t and\t tell\t me\t of\t her problems.\tSometimes\tshe\tcried.\tBesides,\ttheir\tson\tisn\u2019t\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tknow\tabout\ttheir\tson,\tI\tassume?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018I\tjust\thope\tyou\u2019re\tright\tand\tthings\thave\timproved\tin\ttheir\thouse.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tany\tidea\twho\tmight\thave\tstolen\tthe\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018None\twhatsoever.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tbig\tmystery\tto\tme.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\tsuspect\tPrasenjit?\u2019 \u2018Prasenjit?\tPam\u2019s\tson?\u2019 Mrs\tSaldanha\tpondered\tfor\ta\twhile.\tThen\tshe\tsaid\tslowly,\t\u2018Perhaps\tI\tought\tto\tmention\tthis.\tWhen that\tfilm\twas\tbeing\tscreened,\tPrasenjit\twas\tsitting\tnext\tto\tme.\tHe\tleft\this\tseat\tduring\tthe\tshow.\tI\tdo\tnot know\twhere\the\twent.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tanyone\telse\tmove?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\twas\tengrossed\tin\tthe\tfilm.\tI\tsaw\tit\tafter\ttwenty\tyears.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\tMrs\tSaldanha.\tNo\tmore\tquestions.\u2019 We\t had\t co ffee\t after \t this,\t and\t left.\t As\t we\t emer g ed\t o utside,\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018Alber t\t Ratanlal.\t Then\t we can\tcall\tit\ta\tday.\u2019 We\twent\tto\tRatanlal\u2019s\tflat\tfrom\tthe\tSaldanhas\u2019\thouse.\tI\twas\tsurprised\tby\tthe\topulence\tthat\tgreeted\tmy eyes,\t in\t dir ect\t co ntr ast\t to \t the\t ho use\t we\t had\t just\t left.\t The\t flat\t was\t lar g e\u2014in\t fact,\t ver y\t lar g e\t fo r \t o ne person.\t The\t sitting\t room\t was\t filled\t with\t expensive\t furniture\t and\t various\t objets\t d\u2019art.\t Ratanlal\t was lounging\tin\ta\tsofa,\tlistening\tto\tghazals\ton\ta\thi-fi\tstereo.\tHe\twas\tdressed\tin\ta\tsilk\tdressing\tgown,\tand a\tpipe\thung\tfrom\this\tmouth.\tThe\twhole\troom\treeked\twith\tthe\tsmell\tof\tattar. He\tswitched\toff\tthe\tstereo\tas\the\tsaw\tus\tenter\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Why,\twhatever \u2019s\tthe\tmatter?\u2019 \u2018I\thave\ta\tfew\tquestions\tto\task\tyou,\tMr\tBanerjee,\u2019\tFeluda\texplained,\t\u2018regarding\tthe\ttheft\tlast\tnight.\tI have\tto\tspeak\tto\teveryone\twho\twas\tpresent.\u2019 \u2018Everyone?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tSukius\tis\tthe\tonly\tperson\tleft.\tI\u2019ll\tgo\tto\thim\ttomorrow.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tthink\tI\tmight\tbe\tthe\tthief?\u2019 \u2018No.\tBut\tI\tdo\tthink\tyou\tmight\thelp\tme\tcatch\twhoever\tit\twas.\u2019","\u2018Mr\tMitter,\tI\tam\tnot\tin\tthe\tleast\tbit\tinterested\tin\tthe\ttheft.\u2019 \u2018How\t can\t you\t say\t that?\t What\t was\t stolen\t was\t not\t just\t valuable,\t but\t such\t an\t exquisitely\t beautiful object.\tHow\tcan\tyou\tbe\ttotally\tdisinterested\tin\tit?\u2019 \u2018It\t was\t a\t gift\t from\t the\t Maharaja\t of\t Mysore,\t so\t obviously\t it\t was\t expensive.\t There\u2019s\t nothing surprising\tabout\tthat.\u2019 \u2018But\tit\twas\tso\tprecious\tto\tyour\tmother!\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\tLook,\tneither\tmy\tmother \u2019s\tjewellery\tnor\ther\tcareer\tin\tfilms\tis\tof\tany\tinterest\tto\tme.\tI think\tall\tfilms\tare\trotten,\tcertainly\tsilent\tones.\u2019 \u2018What,\tmay\tI\task,\tdo\tyou\tdo\tfor\ta\tliving?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyou\tmay.\tI\tam\tthe\tassistant\tmanager\tin\ta\tmercantile\tfirm.\u2019 \u2018And\tyou\tcannot\thelp\tus\tin\tany\tway?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tam\tvery\tsorry,\tbut\tI\thave\tnothing\tto\tsay\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018One\tlast\tquestion\u2014did\tyou\tsee\tanyone\tmove\tduring\tthe\tfilm\tshow?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\twasn\u2019t\twatching\tthe\tfilm,\thowever.\tIt\twas\tboring.\tI\tsaw\tSukius\tcome\tin.\u2019 \u2018Thank\t you.\t Goodbye,\t Mr\t Banerjee\t .\t .\t .\t I\t see\t that\t you\u2019re\t fond\t of\t Indian\t music,\t like\t your grandfather.\u2019 Ratanlal\tmade\tno\tcomment.\tHe\tsimply\tswitched\ton\tthe\tstereo\tagain.\tWe\tcame\taway.","Seven The\t next\t day,\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018Why\t don\u2019t\t you\t two\t go\t to\t Dilkhusha?\t I\t have\t a\t few\t things\t to\t do.\t I\t must make\tan\tappointment\twith\tSukius,\tand\talso\tspeak\tto\tInspector\tPandey.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tleft\tafter\tbreakfast.\tInstead\tof\ttaking\ta\ttaxi,\twe\ttook\ta\ttonga\tthis\ttime.\tIt\twas his\tidea,\tsince\the\thad\theard\tFeluda\tand\tI\thad\tridden\tin\ttongas\tduring\tour\tlast\tvisit. \u2018Can\t you\t tell\t me\t the\t history\t of\t this\t place,\t dear\t Tapesh?\u2019\t he\t asked\t on\t the\t way.\t I\t told\t him\t what\t I knew:\t\u2018Early\tin\tthe\tnineteenth\tcentury,\tNawab\tSadat\tAli\thad\tthis\tbuilding\tbuilt,\tthough\the\tdid\tnot\tlive here\tpermanently.\tHe\tbrought\this\tfriends\tover\tsometimes,\tto\thave\ta\tgood\ttime\tfor\ta\tfew\tdays.\tIt\thad\ta mo st\t scenic\t view.\t Deer \t r o amed\t in\t his\t g ar dens.\t Sadly,\t no w\t the\t who le\t place\t is\t in\t r uins,\t but\t ther e\t is\t a beautiful\t park\t next\t to\t it.\t To\t the\t north\t of\t Dilkhusha\t is\t the\t famous\t La\t Martiniere\t School.\t Claude Martin,\t who\t was\t a\t Major\t General,\t built\t this\t school\t in\t the\t eighteenth\t century.\t You\t can\t see\t it\t from Dilkhusha.\u2019 It\tdid\tnot\ttake\tus\tlong\tto\tinspect\tthe\truins.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tlike\twatching\thistory\tunfold\titself!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu enthused.\tThen\twe\twent\tfor\ta\twalk\tin\tthe\tpark,\tlittle\tknowing\twhat\tan\tunpleasant\texperience\tawaited us. At\t fir st,\t the\t par k\t appear ed\t to \t be\t empty.\t Per haps\t it\t was\t in\t the\t evening \t that\t mo st\t peo ple\t came\t her e. We\tmade\tour\tway\tthrough\tbeds\tof\tflowers.\tSoon,\ta\tportion\tof\ta\tbench\tbehind\ta\ttree\tcame\tinto\tview. This\twas\tfollowed\tby\tvoices.\tWhat\twe\tsaw\tas\twe\tpassed\tthe\ttree\tmade\tmy\theart\tjump. Prasenjit\tand\ta\tcouple\tof\tother\tboys\tof\tthe\tsame\tage\twere\tsitting\ton\tthe\tbench,\tsmoking.\tTheir\thair was\t dishevelled,\t their\t eyes\t looked\t glazed.\t Now\t there\t could\t be\t no\t doubt\t that\t Prasenjit\t was\t a\t drug addict.\t Unless\t something\t was\t done\t soon,\t it\t would\t be\t too\t late\t for\t him\t to\t make\t a\t comeback.\t Hard drugs\tmade\tan\taddict\tlose\tall\tsense\tof\tright\tand\twrong.\tSometimes\tpeople\tdidn\u2019t\teven\thesitate\tto\tkill. It\ttook\tPrasenjit\ta\tfew\tseconds\tto\tnotice\tus.\tWhen\the\tdid,\this\tlips\tspread\tin\ta\tslow,\tcruel\tsmile. \u2018I\tcan\tsee\tthe\tdetective\u2019s\tchamchas.\tWhere\u2019s\tthe\tsuper\tsleuth\thimself?\u2019\the\tasked.\tHis\tvoice\tsounded hoarse,\this\tspeech\twas\tslurred. \u2018He\tdidn\u2019t\tcome\twith\tus,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\treplied\tshortly. \u2018No?\tWell,\tit\u2019s\this\tloss.\tHe\tmissed\twitnessing\tthis\ttremendous\tscene!\u2019 We\tremained\tsilent. \u2018Has\tthe\tthief\tbeen\tcaught?\u2019\tPrasenjit\u2019s\tvoice\theld\topen\tcontempt.\t\u2018No,\tnot\tyet.\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t the\t prime\t suspect,\t aren\u2019t\t I?\t Because\t I\t need\t money.\t Everyone\t knows\t that.\t I\t have\t to\t borrow money\tall\tthe\ttime\t.\t.\t.\tjust\tfor\ta\tglimpse\tof\theaven\t.\t.\t.\tfor\tan\thour\tor\ttwo.\tListen\u2014I\tcan\ttell\tyou\tthis \u2014I\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tfoolish\tenough\tto\tsteal\tthat\tnecklace.\tDo\tyou\tknow\twhy?\tBecause\tI\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tto.\tMy luck\thas\tchanged.\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tmaking\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney\tlately.\tYes,\tyes\t.\t.\t.\tgambling,\twhat\telse?\tIf\tI\thave to \t bo r r o w\t mo ney\t so metimes,\t it\u2019s\t o nly\t because\t o nce\t yo u\u2019ve\t had\t a\t taste\t o f\t heaven,\t yo u\t canno t\t sto p.","Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\ttry\tit,\tMr\tThriller\tWriter?\tYour\twriting\u2019s\tbound\tto\timprove\t.\t.\t.\tyou\u2019ll\tget\tthousands of\tnew\tideas,\tI\tpromise.\tCome\ton,\tare\tyou\tgame?\u2019 Still\twe\tsaid\tnothing.\tWhat\tcould\twe\tsay,\tanyway? \u2018Remember\t just\t one\t thing,\t both\t of\t you!\u2019\t Prasenjit\t suddenly\t leapt\t to\t his\t feet.\t His\t voice\t was\t still hoarse,\tbut\thad\ta\tsharp\tedge\tto\tit.\tBefore\teither\tof\tus\tcould\task\thim\twhat\the\tmeant,\the\ttook\tout\ta\tflick knife\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand\tpointed\tit\tat\tus.\tWe\twere\tboth\tconsiderably\tstartled\tby\tthe\tspeed\twith\twhich the\tblade\tsprang\tout. \u2018If\tI\thear\tthat\tanyone\thas\tcome\tto\tknow\tabout\tmy\thanging\taround\tin\tthis\tpark,\tI\twill\tknow\twho\thas blabbed.\tAnd\tthen\tyou\twill\tlearn\thow\tsharp\tthis\tknife\tis.\tNow\tclear\tout\tfrom\there!\u2019 There\twas\tno\treason\tto\tstay\ton.\tWe\thad\talready\tseen\tand\theard\ttoo\t much.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I retraced\t our\t steps,\t found\t another\t tonga\t and\t returned\t to\t our\t hotel.\t Neither\t of\t us\t spoke\t on\t the\t way back. We\tfound\tSheela\tin\tour\troom,\tan\tautograph\tbook\tin\ther\thand.\tShe\tstood\tup\ton\tseeing\tus. \u2018I\u2019d\tbetter\tbe\tgoing\tnow,\u2019\tshe\tsaid,\tturning\tto\tFeluda.\t\u2018I\u2019ve\talready\ttaken\tup\tquite\ta\tlot\tof\tyour\ttime. Thank\tyou\tfor\tthe\tautograph.\tGood\tluck\twith\tyour\tdetection!\u2019 When\t Sheela\t had\t gone,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t described\t our\t recent\t experience.\t Feluda\t shook\t his\t head sadly.\t \u2018Ther e\t was\t so mething \t o dd\t abo ut\t the\t lo o k\t in\t his\t eyes,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018It\t was\t pr etty\t o bvio us\t he\t to o k drugs.\tI\tfeel\tsorry\tfor\this\tparents.\tA\tbleak\tfuture\tis\tall\tthat\u2019s\tin\tstore\tfor\thim.\u2019 \u2018But\tdoes\tthat\tmean\tit\twas\the\twho\tstole\tthe\tnecklace?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. Feluda\tmade\tno\treply.\tAfter\ta\tbrief\tpause,\the\tsuddenly\tsaid,\t\u2018Oh\tby\tthe\tway,\tyou\u2019ll\thave\tto\tgo\tout again,\tI\tam\tafraid.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018Mr\t Sukius\u2019s\t telephone\t seems\t to\t be\t out\t of\t order.\t We\u2019ll\t have\t to\t go\t to\t his\t house\t to\t make\t an appointment\tto\tsee\thim.\tI\twould\thave\tgone\tmyself,\tbut\tSheela\tturned\tup.\tAnd\tnow\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tgo out.\t I\t need\t to\t think.\t There\u2019s\t something\t shaping\t up\t in\t my\t mind\t .\t .\t .\t I\t have\t to\t sit\t quietly\t and\t think\t it through.\tIf\tyou\tleft\tnow,\tyou\tmight\tget\thim\tat\thome.\tGo\ton,\tTopshe,\tcall\ta\ttaxi.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t appeared\t quite\t pleased\t by\t this.\t \u2018I\t was\t getting\t tired\t of\t all\t those\t questions,\u2019\t he confessed\tas\twe\tclimbed\tinto\ta\ttaxi.\t\u2018Now\twe\u2019ve\tgot\tsomething\tdifferent\tto\tdo.\u2019 We\tfound\tthe\thouse\teasily\tenough.\tWe\ttold\tour\tdriver\tto\twait\tfor\tfive\tminutes\tand\trang\tthe\tbell.\tIt was\ta\tlarge\thouse.\tIt\tlooked\tat\tleast\tfifty\tyears\told,\tbut\twas\twell\tmaintained.\tA\tmarble\tnameplate\ton the\tgate\tbore\tSukius\u2019s\tname. A\tbearer\topened\tthe\tdoor. \u2018Is\tMr\tSukius\tin?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tMay\tI\tplease\thave\tyour\tname?\u2019 \u2018Tell\thim\tMr\tMitter\thas\tsent\this\tcousin\tand\this\tfriend\tto\tsee\thim.\tWe\twon\u2019t\ttake\tlong.\u2019 \u2018Please\twait\there.\u2019 The\t bearer\t disappeared.\t When\t he\t returned\t less\t than\t a\t minute\t later,\t his\t whole\t demeanour\t had chang ed.\t He\t lo o ked\t as\t tho ug h\t he\t had\t seen\t a\t g ho st.\t His\t eyes\t wer e\t bulg ing ,\t his\t bo dy\t was\t tr embling and\the\tcould\tbarely\tspeak.","\u2018What\u2019s\t the\t matter?\t What\t happened?\u2019\t we\t asked\t in\t unison.\t \u2018P-p-please\t c-come\t with\t me!\u2019\t he managed,\tmotioning\tus\tto\tfollow\thim. We\twent\tthrough\tthe\tdrawing\troom\tto\twhat\tappeared\tto\tbe\ta\tstudy.\tIt\twas\tpacked\twith\tglass\tcases, some\tfilled\twith\tbooks,\tothers\twith\tobjects\tof\tart.\tIn\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\troom\twas\ta\tbig\ttable.\tBehind\tit was\ta\trevolving\tchair.\tSeated\ton\tthis\tchair,\tleaning\tforward\ton\tthe\ttable,\twas\tMr\tSukius.\tHis\thead\twas resting\ton\tthe\ttable.\tThe\tback\tof\this\twhite\tshirt\twas\tsoaked\twith\tblood.\tAlthough\this\teyes\twere\topen,\tI knew\the\twas\tdead.\tRarely\thad\tI\tseen\ta\tsight\tso\thorrible. I\t hear d\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t g ive\t a\t g asp.\t I\t myself\t felt\t quite\t stupefied.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t was\t the\t fir st\t to recover. \u2018When\tdid\tyou\tlast\tsee\thim\talive?\u2019\the\tasked\tthe\tbearer. What\tthe\tpoor\tman\tmumbled\tamounted\tto\tthis:\tMr\tSukius\twas\tin\tthe\thabit\tof\tretiring\tto\tthis\troom ever y\t mo r ning \t after \t br eakfast.\t He\t had\t no \t secr etar y,\t so \t he\t had\t to \t deal\t with\t his\t o wn\t co r r espo ndence and\t o ther \t paper wo r k.\t His\t bear er \t had\t instr uctio ns\t no t\t to \t distur b\t him\t at\t this\t time\t o f\t the\t day\t unless\t it was\tnecessary\tto\tdo\tso.\tThis\tmorning,\tMr\tSukius\thad\thad\tbreakfast\tas\tusual\tand\tthen\tdisappeared\tinto his\tstudy.\tThe\tbearer\tfound\thim\tlike\tthis\twhen\the\tcame\tto\tinform\thim\tof\tour\tarrival. \u2018Did\tanyone\telse\tcome\tto\tsee\thim?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. The\tbearer\tshook\this\thead\tvigorously. There\twas\tan\topen\twindow\tbehind\tSukius\u2019s\tchair.\tIt\thad\tno\tgrills.\tThe\tmurderer\thad\tundoubtedly gained\tentry\tthrough\tthe\twindow.\tThere\twas\tno\tneed\tfor\thim\tto\thave\tcome\tthrough\tthe\tfront\tdoor. \u2018Your\ttelephone\tisn\u2019t\tworking,\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tIt\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\tworking\tfor\ttwo\tdays.\u2019 \u2018But\u2014\u2019 I\t inter r upted\t Lalmo han\t Babu.\t \u2018Never \t mind\t abo ut\t calling \t the\t po lice.\t Let\u2019s\t g o \t back\t and\t tell\t Feluda. Let\thim\tdecide\twhat\u2019s\tto\tbe\tdone.\u2019 \u2018OK.\tLet\u2019s\tdo\tthat.\u2019","Eight We\treached\tthe\thotel\tin\tten\tminutes.\tWhen\tFeluda\theard\tour\tstory,\the\tput\taside\tthe\tblue\tnotebook\the had\tbeen\tstudying\tand\tput\ton\this\tjacket.\tThen,\twithout\ta\tsingle\tword,\the\twent\tout\tof\tthe\troom\twith\tthe two\tof\tus\tin\ttow.\tHis\tbrow\twas\tdeeply\tfurrowed. On\treaching\tSukius\u2019s\thouse,\the\tasked\tthe\tbearer:\t\u2018You\thave\ta\tdriver,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Send\thim\tto\tme.\u2019 When\t the\t dr iver \t ar r ived,\t Feluda\t to ld\t him\t to \t take\t the\t car \t to \t the\t near est\t po lice\t statio n\t to \t r epo r t\t the murder.\tThe\tdriver\tleft. We\tthen\twent\tinto\tthe\tstudy. \u2018Stabbed,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t br iefly,\t g lancing \t at\t the\t bo dy.\t \u2018But\t the\t weapo n\t has\t been\t r emo ved.\u2019\t Then\t he bent\tover\tthe\tdesk\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018He\twas\twriting\ta\tletter\twhen\the\twas\tkilled.\u2019 I\t had\t no ticed\t it,\t to o .\t Near ly\t a\t who le\t pag e\t had\t been\t filled.\t Then\t I\t hear d\t Feluda\t exclaim,\t \u2018Why,\t it was\ta\tletter\tto\tme!\tWell,\tin\tthat\tcase\t.\t.\t.\tI\tsuppose\tI\thave\ta\tclaim\ton\tit,\teven\tif\tit\tisn\u2019t\tright\tto\ttouch anything\tbefore\tthe\tpolice\tarrive.\u2019\tSo\tsaying,\the\ttore\toff\tthe\ttop\tsheet\tfrom\tthe\twriting\tpad,\tfolded\tit and\tput\tit\tin\this\tpocket.\tThen\the\tmoved\tto\tthe\twindow\tand\tleant\tout.\tThere\twas\ta\tpassage\toutside\u2014 about\t four\t feet\t wide\u2014beyond\t which\t was\t the\t compound\t wall\t of\t the\t house.\t Any\t able-bodied\t man could\thave\tscaled\tthat\twall. \u2018It\tis\tobvious\tthat\tthe\tmurderer\twas\tnot\tan\teducated\tgentleman,\u2019\tFeluda\tobserved.\t\u2018As\tfar\tas\tI\tcan see,\t this\t is\t the\t wo r k\t o f\t a\t hir ed\t g o o nda.\t Or dinar y\t bur g lar y\t can\t be\t r uled\t o ut\t since\t no thing \t has\t been disturbed.\tThe\tstuff\tin\tthis\troom\twould\tbe\tworth\tat\tleast\ta\thundred\tthousand\trupees.\tA\tburglar\twould have\thelped\thimself\tto\tat\tleast\tsome\tof\tit.\tThe\tquestion\tis:\twho\thired\ta\tman\tto\tkill\tSukius?\u2019 \u2018Well,\twe\tneed\tto\tlearn\tsomething\tabout\tSukius\u2019s\thistory,\tdon\u2019t\twe?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsuggested.\t\u2018I mean,\thow\tmuch\tdo\twe\tknow\tabout\thim?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\t not\t as\t if\t we\t know\t nothing.\t At\t least\t we\t know\t what\t a\t strange\t character\t he\t was.\t How\t many moneylenders\tare\tinterested\tin\tbuilding\tup\ta\thuge\tcollection\tof\tantiques\tand\tart\tobjects?\tThat\u2019s\tpretty uncommon,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tI\tbelieve\this\tletter\tto\tme\twill\talso\treveal\ta\tfew\tthings\tabout\tthe\tman.\u2019 \u2018Aren\u2019t\tyou\tgoing\tto\tread\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tat\tthe\tright\ttime,\tin\tthe\tright\tplace.\tIt\thad\t\u201cconfidential\u201d\twritten\ton\tit,\twhich\tyou\tclearly\tdidn\u2019t see.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tSukius\tsaw\this\tkiller.\tSo\tthe\tletter\tcannot\tpossibly\tcontain\this\tkiller \u2019s\tname.\u2019 The\t police\t arrived\t in\t ten\t minutes.\t We\t met\t Inspector\t Pandey\t again.\t He\t shook\t hands\t with\t Feluda. \u2018You\tseem\tto\thave\ttaken\ta\tlead\tin\tthis\tcase,\tMr\tMitter!\u2019\the\tsmiled. \u2018That\u2019s\thow\tit\tmight\tseem,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tall\tyours.\tInspector.\tI\tam\tnot\tgoing\tto\tmeddle\tin\tit\tat\tall\tbecause I\tknow\tthat\twon\u2019t\tdo\tany\tgood.\tJust\tlet\tme\tknow\tif\tyou\tcatch\tthe\tmurderer.\u2019 \u2018What!\tAre\tyou\tleaving?\u2019","\u2018Yes.\tBut\tI\tmay\tsee\tyou\tagain\tin\ta\tday\tor\ttwo.\tI\u2019ve\tnearly\tsolved\tthat\tcase\tof\tthe\tmissing\tnecklace.\u2019 \u2018Really?\tMy\tsuspicious\thave\tfallen\ton\tthe\tyoung\tBiswas\tboy.\tDo\tyou\tthink\tthat\u2019s\tright?\u2019 \u2018I\tcouldn\u2019t\tsay.\tPlease\tforgive\tme.\u2019 \u2018We\u2019ve\tgot\tdefinite\tproof\tthat\the\u2019s\ttaking\tdrugs.\tWe\u2019re\thaving\thim\tfollowed.\u2019 \u2018Well,\t best\t of\t luck.\t You\u2019ve\t now\t got\t a\t murder\t on\t your\t hands.\t Tell\t me\t something:\t I\t know\t it\u2019s possible\tin\tmost\tplaces\tin\tthe\tworld\tto\thire\ta\tkiller.\tLucknow,\tI\ttake\tit,\tis\tno\texception?\u2019 \u2018Not\tat\tall.\tIt\tis\tperfectly\tpossible\tto\tdo\tthat\there.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tThat\u2019s\tall\tI\tneeded\tto\tknow.\tGoodbye.\u2019","Nine Feluda\tdid\tnothing\tover\tthe\tnext\tcouple\tof\tdays\texcept\taccompany\tus\tto\tthe\tremaining\tsights\tworth seeing\tin\tLucknow.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\thim\tbehave\tlike\tthis\twhen\the\twas\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\ta\tcase.\tOn\tthe third\tday,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\tasking\thim.\t\u2018What\u2019s\tthe\tmatter\twith\tyou,\tFeluda?\tHave\tyou\tgiven\tup?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t no.\t Half\t the\t mystery\u2019s\t solved,\t dear\t boy.\t I\t need\t help\t from\t the\t police\t to\t solve\t the\t other\t half. Pandey\thas\tcalled\tme\ttwice\talready.\tI\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tget\tthe\tfinal\tnews\tin\ttwo\tdays.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tneed\tthe\tpolice\tto\thelp\tyou?\tIs\tit\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tdeath\tof\tMr\tSukius?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tthe\tmissing\tnecklace?\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\tnothing\tto\tworry\tabout\ton\tthat\tscore.\tThe\tnecklace\tis\tfine.\u2019 \u2018Really?\t So \t all\t yo u\t have\t to \t do \t is\t find\t the\t killer ?\t Sur ely\t yo u\u2019ve\t g o t\t so me\t ideas\t abo ut\t who \t mig ht have\tdone\tit?\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tideas\tall\tright,\tbut\tno\tproof.\tI\u2019ll\tget\tenough\tevidence,\tI\tam\tsure,\tthe\tminute\tthat\thired killer\tis\tcaught\tby\tthe\tpolice.\tI\thave\tdefinite\tideas\tabout\twho\thad\thired\thim.\u2019 Another\t day\t passed.\t In\t the\t meanwhile,\t we\t took\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t to\t see\t the\t museum.\t He\t had practically\tfinished\this\tsightseeing\tof\tLucknow.\tWe\twere\tsupposed\tto\treturn\tto\tCalcutta\tin\ttwo\tdays. That\tafternoon,\tFeluda\tfinally\tgot\tthe\tphone\tcall\the\twas\twaiting\tfor.\tHe\tspoke\tto\tInspector\tPandey, then\treplaced\tthe\treceiver\tquietly. \u2018What\tdid\the\tsay,\tFeluda?\u2019\tI\tasked\teagerly. \u2018The\tcase\tis\tover,\tTopshe.\tThey\tcaught\tthe\tman,\ta\tfellow\tcalled\tShambhu\tSingh.\tHe\u2019s\tmade\ta\tfull confession\tand\tagreed\tto\texpose\tthe\treal\tculprit.\tThe\tknife\tthat\thad\tbeen\tused\tto\tstab\tSukius\twith,\thas also\tbeen\tfound.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat\thappens\tnow?\u2019 \u2018We\t now\t raise\t the\t curtain.\t At\t seven\t o\u2019clock\t this\t evening,\t in\t Jayant\t Biswas\u2019s\t house,\t all\t will\t be revealed.\u2019 Feluda\thad\tto\tmake\ta\tlot\tof\tphone\tcalls\tafter\tthis.\tThe\tfirst\tone\twas\tnaturally\tto\tMr\tBiswas.\t\u2018Very well,\t Mr \t Mitter,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018but\t wo uld\t yo u\t mind\t telling \t all\t the\t o ther s\t to \t co me\t her e?\t Yo u\u2019ve\t g o t\t their phone\tnumbers,\thaven\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 We\treached\tMr\tBiswas\u2019s\thouse\tat\ta\tquarter\tto\tseven.\tI\tfelt\tboth\tdeeply\tanxious\tand\tcurious.\tFeluda had\t said\t no thing \t after \t making \t the\t last\t pho ne\t call.\t Inspecto r \t Pandey\t ar r ived\t at\t five\t minutes\t to \t seven, together\twith\ttwo\tconstables\tand\ta\tman\tin\thandcuffs.\tThat\twas\tobviously\tthe\thired\tmurderer. The\t others\t arrived\t within\t ten\t minutes.\t There\t were\t five\t people\t from\t the\t Biswas\t household,\t the Saldanhas,\tand\tRatanlal\tBanerjee.\tThe\tbig\tdrawing\troom\tcould\taccommodate\teveryone\tquite\teasily. \u2018What\tis\tthis\tfarce?\u2019\tasked\tRatanlal,\ttaking\ta\tseat. \u2018You\tmay\tcall\tit\ta\tfarce,\tMr\tBanerjee,\tbut\tI\tthink\tto\tthe\tothers\tit\u2019s\ta\tserious\tmatter,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.","\u2018Have\tyou\tfound\tthe\tnecklace?\u2019\tasked\tMrs\tBiswas\tin\tan\turgent\twhisper. \u2018Yo u\u2019ll\t g et\t the\t answer \t to \t yo ur \t questio n\t in\t due\t co ur se,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t to \t her.\t \u2018Please\t bear \t with\t me.\u2019 Then\t he\t ran\t his\t eyes\t over\t the\t assembled\t group\t and\t announced,\t \u2018The\t mystery\t has\t been\t solved. Needless\t to \t say,\t no thing \t co uld\t have\t been\t achieved\t witho ut\t the\t assistance\t o f\t the\t po lice.\t All\t I\t want\t to do\tnow\tis\texplain\twhat\thappened.\tI\thope\tall\tyour\tquestions\twill\tbe\tanswered\tas\tI\tproceed.\u2019 \u2018I\thope\tyou\twon\u2019t\ttake\tlong.\tI\thave\ta\tdinner\tto\tgo\tto,\u2019\tRatanlal\tmuttered. \u2018I\t will\t take\t not\t a\t second\t longer\t than\t is\t necessary.\t May\t I\t begin?\u2019\t There\t was\t a\t moment\u2019s\t silence. Then\tMr\tBiswas\tsaid,\t\u2018Please\tdo.\u2019\tFeluda\tstarted\tto\tspeak\tagain,\t\u2018The\tchief\tthing\tto\tremember\tis\tthat we\t had\t two \t cases\t o n\t o ur \t hands:\t the\t sto len\t necklace\t and\t the\t mur der \t o f\t Mr \t Sukius.\t I\t questio ned\t each one\tof\tyou.\tSome\tof\tyou\tlied\tto\tme,\tor\ttried\tto\thide\tthings,\tor\tjust\trefused\tto\tanswer\tme.\tSuspicion could\tfall\ton\tmany\tof\tyou\tregarding\tthe\tnecklace.\tYoung\tPrasenjit\there\thas\tgot\tinto\tthe\tunfortunate habit\tof\ttaking\tdrugs.\tHe\tneeds\tmoney\tall\tthe\ttime.\tSometimes\the\tcan\tborrow\tit,\tat\tother\ttimes\the\tis lucky\tat\tcards.\tThe\tsecond\tsuspect\tmight\thave\tbeen\tMr\tSudarshan\tSom.\tHe\thas\tspent\ta\tlarge\tpart\tof his\t life\t depending\t on\t charity.\t He\t might\t have\t stolen\t the\t necklace\t in\t a\t desparate\t attempt\t to\t start\t life afresh.\tThen\tthere\twas\tMr\tSaldanha.\tHis\tshop\tisn\u2019t\tdoing\twell\tat\tall.\tHe\tis\tcertainly\tin\tneed\tof\tmoney. Only\t one\t person\t seemed\t above\t suspicion.\t It\t was\t Mr\t Biswas,\t because\t he\t said\t his\t business\t was flourishing,\t he\t had\t enough\t money.\t However,\t someone\t else\t told\t me\t that\t that\t was\t not\t the\t case.\t Mr Biswas\twas\tapparently\tgoing\tthrough\ta\trough\tpatch\tfinancially,\twhich\thad\tled\tto\this\tdrinking\theavily. Of\tcourse,\twhether\tthis\tinformation\twas\tcorrect\tor\tnot\tis\tanother\tmatter. \u2018Let\t me\t no w\t tur n\t to \t the\t mur der \t o f\t Mr \t Sukius.\t He\t was\t wr iting \t a\t letter \t when\t he\t was\t killed.\t It\t was addressed\tto\tme,\tand\the\thad\tnearly\tfinished\tit.\tThe\treason\twhy\the\twas\twriting\twas\tthat\the\twas\tleaving fo r \t Kanpur \t the\t same\t day.\t He\t knew\t he\t co uldn\u2019t\t meet\t me,\t so \t he\t tr ied\t to \t tell\t me\t in\t a\t letter \t all\t that\t he knew. \u2018I\t learnt\t two\t things\t from\t his\t letter.\t One,\t Jayant\t Biswas\t had\t finally\t agreed\t to\t sell\t Shakuntala\u2019s necklace\tto\thim,\tfor\ttwo\thundred\tthousand\trupees.\tHe\twas\tgoing\tto\tpass\tit\ton\tto\tMr\tSukius\tthree\tdays after\ttheir\tagreement.\tBut\tSukius\twas\tkilled\tbefore\tthis\tthree-day\tperiod\twas\tover. \u2018Two,\t there\t is\t someone\t present\t in\t this\t room\t who\t had\t borrowed\t fifty\t thousand\t rupees\t from\t Mr Sukius\t six\t weeks\t ago.\t He\t had\t promised\t to\t return\t the\t amount\t with\t interest\t in\t a\t month,\t but\t despite several\treminders,\tfailed\tto\tkeep\this\tpromise.\tMr\tSukius\tthen\tthreatened\tto\ttake\tlegal\taction.\tHe\twas killed\tbecause\twhoever\thad\tborrowed\tthe\tmoney\tdidn\u2019t\twant\thim\tto\ttell\tme\tany\tof\tthis.\tSadly\tfor\thim, things\tdidn\u2019t\twork\tout\tquite\tthe\tway\the\thad\tplanned.\tHis\taccomplice\u2014a\thired\thooligan\u2014did\this\tjob and\tkilled\this\tquarry,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tremove\tthe\tletter\tthe\tdeceased\thad\tbeen\twriting.\tObviously,\the\thad no\tidea\twhat\thad\tbeen\tsaid\tin\tthat\tletter.\tThe\tpolice\thave\tnow\tarrested\tthis\tman\tand\the\thas\toffered\tto show\tus\twho\thad\temployed\thim.\u2019 Feluda\tturned\tto\tInspector\tPandey.\t\u2018Ask\tyour\tman\tto\tcome\tover\there,\tplease.\u2019 The\t man\t in\t handcuffs\t and\t the\t co nstable\t wer e\t waiting \t at\t the\t far \t end.\t At\t a\t no d\t fr o m\t the\t inspecto r, they\tbrought\tthe\tman\tforward. \u2018Tell\t me,\t Shambhu\t Singh,\t do\t you\t see\t the\t man\t who\t hired\t you\t to\t kill\t Mr\t Sukius?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked slowly. The\tman\tran\this\tgaze\tswiftly\tthrough\tthe\tgroup. \u2018Yes,\tsir,\u2019\the\treplied.","\u2018Can\tyou\tpoint\thim\tout?\u2019 \u2018Easily.\t There\t he\t is!\u2019\t Shambhu\t Singh\t raised\t his\t handcuffed\t hands\t and\t pointed.\t The\t pipe\t from Ratanlal\u2019s\tmouth\tfell\tto\tthe\tground\twith\ta\tloud\tclatter. \u2018What\tnonsense\tis\tthis?\u2019\the\tbarked. \u2018Nonsense\t or\t farce,\t your\t game\t is\t up,\t Mr\t Banerjee,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t calmly.\t A\t second\t later,\t he continued\tto\tspeak\tas\teveryone\tsat\ttense\tand\ttaut\tin\ttheir\tseats. \u2018Will\tyou\ttell\tus\twhy\tyou\tborrowed\tthat\tlarge\tsum\tof\tmoney,\tMr\tBanerjee?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018I\twill\tnot!\u2019 \u2018Very\t well.\t Allow\t me\t to\t speak\t for\t you.\t What\t you\t spent\t was\t always\t in\t excess\t of\t your\t income, wasn\u2019t\t it?\t Sukius\t wrote\t to\t me\t about\t your\t visits\t to\t singers\t and\t dancers\t and\t the\t kind\t of\t money\t you spent\ton\tthem.\tWhen\twe\twent\tto\tyour\tflat,\twe\tcould\tsmell\tattar.\tPerhaps\tyou\thad\tbeen\tentertaining\ta singer,\twho\twas\thurriedly\tsent\tinside\twhen\twe\trang\tthe\tbell?\tYou\tdo\tnot\tuse\tattar\tyourself,\tdo\tyou?\tIf you\twere\tin\tthe\thabit\tof\tusing\tattar\tyourself,\tyou\twould\thave\tused\tit\ton\tthe\tday\tof\tthe\tparty.\tThis\tmay well\tbe\ta\ttrait\tyou\tinherited\tfrom\tyour\tgrandfather.\tHe,\ttoo,\twas\tfond\tof\tall\tthe\tgood\tthings\tin\tlife,\tI believe.\tAnd\tlike\tyou,\tmoney\thad\tbecome\ta\tserious\tproblem\tfor\thim\tin\this\told\tage.\tHis\tdaughter\thad helped\thim\tout.\tYou\tturned\tto\tSukius.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tmy\tGod!\u2019\tRatanlal\twhispered,\this\thead\tbent\tlow.\t\u2018I\tam\tfinished.\u2019 Inspector\tPandey\tand\ta\tconstable\twent\tover\tto\thim. \u2018I\thaven\u2019t\tfinished,\u2019\tFeluda\twent\ton.\t\u2018We\tstill\thave\tthe\tfirst\tmystery\tto\texplain.\tMr\tBiswas\twanted\tto take\tthe\tnecklace\tand\tsell\tit\tto\tSukius,\tbut\tsomeone\telse\tgot\thold\tof\tit\tbefore\thim.\u2019 \u2018Who?\u2019\tMrs\tBiswas\tgasped. \u2018Let\t me\t clarify\t something.\t At\t first,\t most\t people\t assumed\t someone\t had\t crept\t out\t of\t the\t room during\tthe\tfilm\tshow\tand\tremoved\tthe\tnecklace.\tBut\tthat\twas\tnot\tthe\tcase.\tI\thad\tbeen\tstanding\tbehind the\tprojector.\tThe\troom\twasn\u2019t\ttotally\tdark\tand\tI\tdid\tremove\tmy\teyes\tfrom\tthe\tscreen\tfrom\ttime\tto time\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\tothers.\tIf\tanyone\tleft\tthe\troom,\tI\twould\tcertainly\thave\tseen\thim,\tor\ther.\tNo\tone\tdid. Pr asenjit\t was\t r estless.\t He\t left\t his\t seat\t and\t mo ved\t to \t a\t differ ent\t chair,\t but\t he\t r emained\t in\t the\t r o o m. Then\tMr\tSukius\tcame\tin.\tThat\twas\tall.\u2019 \u2018So\twhen\t.\t.\t.\thow?\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tMrs\tBiswas\tcould\tbarely\tspeak. \u2018The\tnecklace\twas\ttaken\tbefore\tthe\tfilm\tbegan.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t kno w\t that,\u2019\t Mr s\t Biswas\t no w\t so unded\t a\t little\t impatient.\t \u2018Sheela\t went\t and\t to o k\t it\t o ut.\t Then she\tbrought\tit\there,\tso\tyou\tcould\tlook\tat\tit.\u2019 \u2018Ah\tyes.\tBut\tdid\tshe\tput\tit\tback?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse\tshe\tdid.\u2019 \u2018No.\tSheela\tdid\tnot\tput\tit\tback,\tbut\tkept\tit\twith\therself.\tI\thad\trealized\tthis,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\twhy\tshe should\thave\tdone\tso.\tAt\tfirst\tit\twas\tin\ther\troom.\tThen,\tmuch\tlater,\tshe\tdug\tup\ta\tflower\tpot\tand\thid\tit in\tthere.\tThis\tis\tsomething\tI\tlearnt\tfrom\tSheela\therself.\tLook,\there\u2019s\tyour\tnecklace.\u2019 Feluda\t to o k\t o ut\t the\t necklace\t fr o m\t his\t po cket\t and\t placed\t it\t o n\t a\t co ffee\t table.\t Ever yo ne\t g asped\t in unison. \u2018But\t.\t.\t.\tbut.\t.\t.\twhy\tdid\tshe\tdo\tsuch\ta\tthing?\u2019\tMrs\tBiswas\tasked,\tcasting\ta\tperplexed\tglance\tat\ther daughter.","\u2018Because\t the\t nig ht\t befo r e,\t she\t had\t o ver hear d\t yo u\t and\t yo ur \t husband\t talking .\t Her \t r o o m\t is\t next\t to yours,\t and\t there\u2019s\t a\t communicating\t door.\t This\t door\t happened\t to\t be\t open.\t She\t heard\t you\t tell\t your husband\t that\t you\t had\t finally\t overcome\t your\t reservations\t and\t were\t willing\t to\t sell\t the\t necklace\t to Sukius.\tSheela\tdid\tnot\twant\tsuch\ta\tprecious\theirloom\tto\tbe\tlost.\tSo\tshe\tdid\tthe\tonly\tthing\tshe\tcould have\t do ne,\t and\t r emo ved\t it\t fr o m\t sig ht.\t It\t is\t because\t she\t did\t so \t that\t yo u\t can\t still\t say\t it\u2019s\t yo ur s.\t I\t do ho pe\t it\t will\t never \t leave\t this\t ho use.\t Yo u\t must\t no t\t let\t g o \t o f\t so mething \t like\t this.\t It\t wo uld\t be\t no thing short\tof\ta\tcrime,\tMrs\tBiswas!\u2019 \u2018Felu\tBabu,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked\twhen\twe\twere\tback\tin\tour\thotel,\t\u2018Lucknow\tmeans\tgood-fortune- right-at-this-moment,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Luck-now?\tYes,\tif\tyou\twant\tto\tput\tit\tlike\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Well,\twho\tis\tthe\tlucky\tone\there?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tyou\tare!\tDidn\u2019t\tyou\tget\tto\twitness\tthe\tbrilliance\tof\tmy\tintelligence,\tall\tfor\tfree?\u2019 \u2018And\tthink\tof\tthe\tBiswas\tfamily,\u2019\tI\tput\tin.\t\u2018Aren\u2019t\tthey\tlucky\tto\thave\ta\tclever\tgirl\tlike\tSheela\tand\tto have\ttheir\tnecklace\tback?\u2019 \u2018True,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t agreed.\t \u2018A\t girl\t like\t Sheela\t is\t one\t in\t a\t million.\t What\t do\t you\t say,\t Felu Babu?\u2019 \u2018If\tthere\tis\tanyone\twho\tappreciates\tthe\treal\tvalue\tof\tShakuntala\u2019s\tnecklace,\u2019\tFeluda\tdeclared,\t\u2018it\tis Mary\tSheela\tBiswas.\u2019","","F ELUDA \t I N \t LO NDO N","One \u2018Ibought\t a\t new\t television,\t but\t it\t didn\u2019t\t do\t me\t any\t good,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t complained.\t \u2018There\u2019s really\tnothing\tworth\tseeing.\tI\ttried\twatching\tthe\tMahabharata,\tbut\t had\t to\t switch\t it\t off\t after\t just five\tminutes.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\ta\tpity\tyou\u2019re\tnot\tinterested\tin\tsports,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018If\tyou\twere,\tyou\tcould\thave\twatched\tsome good\t programmes.\t Tennis,\t cricket,\t football\t .\t .\t .\t everything\u2019s\t covered,\t games\t played\t both\t here\t and abroad.\u2019 \u2018Do o r dar shan\t had\t wr itten\t to \t me\t r ecently,\t saying \t they\u2019d\t like\t to \t make\t a\t T V\t ser ial\t fr o m\t o ne\t o f\t my stories.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tgood\tnews,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tsuppose\tso,\tthough\tI\tcannot\timagine\twho\tmight\tplay\tPrakhar\tRudra,\tmy\thero.\tCan\tyou\tthink o f\t an\t acto r \t in\t Beng al\t who \t mig ht\t suit\t the\t par t?\t I\t mean,\t it\u2019s\t no t\t like\t Amer ica,\t is\t it?\t They\t even\t fo und someone\tto\tplay\tSuperman!\tHe\tlooks\tas\tthough\the\u2019s\tclimbed\tout\tof\tthe\tpages\tof\tthe\tcomic!\u2019 Durga\t Puja\t had\t started.\t A\t song\t from\t a\t Hindi\t film\t was\t being\t played\t on\t a\t loudspeaker.\t We\t could hear\t it\t clearly\t from\t our\t living\t room.\t When\t he\t had\t finished\t complaining\t against\t Doordarshan, Lalmohan\tBabu\ttried\tsinging\tthe\tsame\tsong,\tbut\thad\tto\tgive\tup\tsoon.\tHis\tgrandfather\twas\tsupposed to\thave\tbeen\ta\tclassical\tsinger,\tbut\the\thimself\tcould\tnot\tsing\teven\ta\tsingle\tnote\twithout\tgoing\tout\tof tune. We\t had\t alr eady\t had\t tea,\t but\t wer e\t wo nder ing \t whether \t to \t have\t a\t seco nd\t r o und,\t when\t a\t car \t sto pped outside\tour\thouse.\tThe\tdoor\tbell\trang\ta\tmoment\tlater. I\t opened\t the\t door\t to\t find\t a\t tall\t and\t handsome\t gentleman.\t His\t complexion\t was\t as\t fair\t as\t a European\u2019s. \u2018Is\tthis\twhere\tPradosh\tMitter\tlives?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tplease\tcome\tin.\u2019 I\t showed\t him\t into\t our\t living\t room.\t Dressed\t traditionally\t in\t a\t dhoti\t and\t kurta,\t he\t had\t a sophisticated\tair\tabout\thim. \u2018Please\tsit\tdown,\u2019\tFeluda\toffered.\t\u2018I\tam\tPradosh\tMitter.\u2019 Our\t visitor\t took\t a\t sofa\t and\t looked\t enquiringly\t at\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t \u2018He\t is\t my\t friend,\t Lalmohan Ganguli,\u2019\t Feluda\t explained.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t said\t \u2018namaskar \u2019,\t but\t our\t visitor\t did\t not\t respond.\t He appeared\tsomewhat\tpreoccupied.\tThere\twas\ta\tfew\tseconds\u2019\tsilence. \u2018I\theard\tabout\tyou\tfrom\tone\tof\tyour\tclients,\u2019\the\tsaid\tfinally.\t\u2018Sadhan\tChakravarty.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tworked\tfor\thim\tlast\tyear.\tHow\tcan\tI\thelp\tyou?\tIs\tthere\ta\tparticular\tproblem?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\teven\tknow\twhether\tit\tmerits\tbeing\tdescribed\tas\ta\tproblem.\tYou\tmust\tdecide\tthat.\tBut\tyes, there\tis\tsomething\tbothering\tme.\u2019","He\t to o k\t o ut\t an\t envelo pe\t fr o m\t his\t po cket.\t In\t it\t was\t a\t pho to g r aph.\t He\t br o ug ht\t it\t o ut\t car efully\t and handed\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tI\tpeered\tover\tFeluda\u2019s\tshoulder\tand\tsaw\ttwo\tyoung\tboys\u2014seventeen\tor\teighteen years\told\u2014standing\ttogether,\tsmiling\tat\tthe\tcamera.\tBoth\twere\tdressed\tin\tshirts\tand\ttrousers.\tIt\twas an\told\tphoto\tand\tits\tcolour\thad\tfaded\tconsiderably. \u2018Can\tyou\trecognize\tany\tof\tthese\tboys?\u2019\tour\tvisitor\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018The\tone\ton\tthe\tleft\tis\tyou,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tthe\tone\tI\tcan\trecognize\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018The\tother\tone\tmust\tbe\tyour\tfriend.\u2019 \u2018Pr esumably,\t but\t I\t have\t no \t idea\t who \t he\t is.\t I\t fo und\t this\t pho to \t o nly\t r ecently,\t while\t g o ing \t thr o ug h some\t old\t papers\t in\t a\t drawer.\t There\u2019s\t only\t one\t thing\t I\u2019d\t like\t you\t to\t do:\t find\t out\t who\t this\t boy\t is.\t I mean,\tI\tneed\tto\tknow\twhere\the\tis\tnow,\twhat\the\tdoes\tfor\ta\tliving,\thow\tdid\the\tand\tI\thappen\tto\tmeet,\tthe lot.\tI\twill,\tof\tcourse,\tpay\tyour\tfee\tand\tany\tother\texpenses.\u2019 \u2018Haven\u2019t\tyou\tmade\tenquiries\ton\tyour\town?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\u2019ve\tshown\tthe\tphoto\tto\ta\tfew\told\tclassmates\twho\tnow\tgo\tto\tthe\tsame\tclub\tas\tme,\tbut\tnone\tof them\tcould\tremember\tthat\tother\tboy.\tIf\tyou\tlook\tat\tthe\tphoto\tcarefully,\tyou\u2019ll\tsee\tit\u2019s\timpossible\tto tell\twhether\tthe\tboy\tis\tIndian\tor\tnot.\u2019 \u2018Well,\this\thair\tis\tdark,\tbut\this\teyes\tseem\tlight.\tWhy,\tdid\tyou\tknow\tmany\tforeigners\twhen\tyou\twere young?\u2019 \u2018I\tspent\tfive\tyears\tin\tEngland\tas\ta\tyoung\tboy.\tFour\tof\tthose\tyears\twere\tspent\tin\tschool,\tthen\tI\tdid one\tyear\tof\tcollege.\tMy\tfather\twas\ta\tdoctor\tthere.\tThen\twe\treturned\tto\tIndia.\tThe\tproblem\tis,\tI\thad\ta serious\t accident\t before\t we\t left.\t I\t fell\t off\t my\t bicycle\t and\t fractured\t my\t skull.\t As\t a\t result,\t I\t suffered partial\tloss\tof\tmemory.\tEven\ttoday,\tI\tcannot\trecall\tanything\tof\tthe\tyears\tI\tspent\tin\tEngland.\u2019 \u2018Surely\tyou\tknow\twhich\tschool\tand\tcollege\tyou\twent\tto?\u2019 \u2018My\tfather\ttold\tme,\tmany\tyears\tago.\tI\twent\tto\ta\tcollege\tin\tCambridge.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tremember\tits\tname, nor\tcould\tI\ttell\tyou\tthe\tname\tof\tthe\tschool.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\treceived\tany\ttreatment\tto\tbring\tback\tthis\tlost\tmemory?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tConventional\tmedicine\thasn\u2019t\thelped.\tNow\tI\tam\ttrying\tayurvedic\tstuff.\u2019 \u2018What\thappened\twhen\tyou\treturned\tfrom\tEngland?\u2019 \u2018I\t was\t admitted\t to\t St\t Xavier \u2019s\t College\t here\t in\t Calcutta.\t My\t father\t made\t all\t the\t arrangements.\t I wasn\u2019t\tfully\trecovered.\u2019 \u2018Which\tyear\twas\tthat?\u2019 \u20181952.\tI\tjoined\tthe\tintermediate\tyear.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 Feluda\tstared\tat\tthe\tphoto\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Do\tyou\tthink\tthis\tother\tboy\tis\trelated to\tsome\tspecial\tincident?\tSome\tparticularly\tsignificant\tevent\tin\tyour\tlife?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t the\t thought\t has\t indeed\t crossed\t my\t mind.\t Sometimes,\t I\t feel\t as\t if\t I\t can\t recall\t a\t few\t things vaguely.\tThis\tboy\u2019s\tface\tkeeps\tcoming\tback\tto\tme,\tbut\tfor\tthe\tlife\tof\tme\tI\tcannot\tremember\this\tname, or\twhere\tI\tmet\thim.\tIt\u2019s\tan\textremely\tawkward\tsituation.\tWe\tmust\thave\tbeen\tclose\tfriends.\tI\u2019d\tbe\tvery interested\tto\tlearn\tif\the\u2019s\tstill\taround\tsomewhere\tand\twhether\the\tremembers\tme,\tI\trealize\tit\twon\u2019t\tbe a\tsimple\ttask\tto\ttrace\thim,\tbut\tperhaps\tyou\twon\u2019t\tmind\tthe\tchallenge?\u2019","\u2018Very\t well,\t I\u2019ll\t take\t the\t job.\t But\t obviously,\t I\t cannot\t tell\t you\t how\t long\t it\t might\t take\t to\t finish\t it. Suppose\tI\thave\tto\tgo\tto\tEngland\tto\tmake\tenquiries?\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\tdo,\tI\twill\tpay\tfor\tyou\tand\tyour\tassistant\tto\tgo\tand\tstay\tthere.\tI\twill\talso\tget\tyou\tthe\tforeign exchange\tyou\u2019ll\tbe\tallowed\tto\ttake\tfrom\there.\tThat\tmust\ttell\tyou\thow\tkeen\tI\tam\tto\tget\tto\tthe\tbottom of\tthis\tmystery.\u2019 \u2018Is\tyour\tfather\tstill\talive?\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\tno\tmore.\tHe\tdied\tfive\tyears\tafter\twe\treturned\tfrom\tEngland.\tMy\tmother\tdied\tten\tyears\tago.\tI have\ta\twife\tand\ta\tdaughter.\tMy\tdaughter \u2019s\tmarried.\tShe\tlives\tin\tDelhi.\tHere\u2019s\tmy\tcard.\u2019 I\tlooked\tcuriously\tat\tthe\tcard.\tRanjan\tK.\tMajumdar,\tit\tsaid.\tThe\taddress\tgiven\twas\t13\tRoland\tRoad, followed\tby\ta\ttelephone\tnumber. \u2018Thank\tyou,\tI\u2019ll\tbe\tin\ttouch.\tI\tmay\twell\tneed\tto\task\tyou\tmore\tquestions.\u2019 \u2018I\twill\tdo\tmy\tbest\tto\tanswer\tthem,\tMr\tMitter,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\talready\texplained\tthe\tbasic\tproblem.\tShall\tI leave\tthe\tphoto\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\u2019ll\tget\ta\tcopy\tmade\tand\treturn\tthe\toriginal\tto\tyou.\tOh,\tby\tthe\tway,\tI\tneed\tto\tknow\twhere\tyou work.\tI\tmean,\twhat\tdo\tyou\tdo\tfor\ta\tliving?\u2019 \u2018Sorry,\tI\tought\tto\thave\ttold\tyou\tmyself.\tI\tam\ta\tchartered\taccountant.\tI\tdid\tB.\tCom\tfrom\tSt\tXavier \u2019s. My\tfirm\tis\tcalled\tLee\t&\tWatkins.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\tMr\tMitter.\tGoodbye.\u2019 With\ta\tgeneral\tnod\tin\tour\tdirection,\tMr\tMajumdar\tleft. \u2018A\tunique\tcase,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcommented\twhen\the\thad\tgone.\t\u2018No\tdoubt\tabout\tthat.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink I\u2019ve\tever\thandled\ta\tcase\tlike\tthis.\u2019 \u2018May\tI\tsee\tthe\tphoto?\u2019 Feluda\thanded\thim\tthe\tphoto\tof\tthe\ttwo\tboys.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tlooked\thard\tat\tit,\tfrowning.\tThen\the shook\this\thead. \u2018Mr\tMajumdar\twas\tright.\tIt\u2019s\timpossible\tto\ttell\twhether\tthat\tboy\tis\tEnglish\tor\tIndian.\tHow\ton\tearth will\tyou\tproceed,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tthink\tof\ta\tway.\tLeave\tit\tto\tme,\tMr\tGanguli.\u2019","Two Feluda\t knew\t a\t chartered\t accountant\t called\t Dharani\t Mukherjee.\t He\t rang\t him\t the\t same\t day.\t Mr Mukherjee\tsaid\the\tknew\tRanjan\tMajumdar\tvery\twell\tsince\tboth\twere\tmembers\tof\tthe\tSaturday\tClub. On\tbeing\tasked\twhat\tkind\tof\ta\tman\tMr\tMajumdar\twas,\tMr\tMukherjee\tsaid\the\twas\tquiet\tand\treserved, and\tdid\tnot\tspeak\tto\tmany\tpeople.\tUsually,\the\twas\tseen\tsitting\talone.\tHe\tdrank\toccasionally,\tbut\tnever in\texcess.\tMr\tMukherjee\tknew\tthat\the\thad\tspent\ta\tfew\tyears\tin\tEngland\tin\this\tchildhood,\tbut\tcould\ttell us\tnothing\tmore. The\t next\t day,\t Feluda\t got\t hold\t of\t a\t list\t of\t students\t who\t had\t attended\t the\t intermediate\t year\t at\t St Xavier \u2019s\tin\t1952.\t\u2018I\tthink\tI\u2019ve\theard\tof\tone\tof\tthem.\tHe\u2019s\ta\thomeopath,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\tquickly\tscanning the\tlist.\t\u2018Topshe,\tsee\tif\tyou\tcan\tget\tme\tthe\ttelephone\tnumber\tof\tDr\tHiren\tBasak.\u2019 I\t fo und\t his\t number \t in\t two \t minutes.\t Feluda\t r ang \t up\t and\t made\t an\t appo intment\t to \t see\t him\t the\t next morning\tat\thalf\tpast\televen. Lalmohan\t Babu\t turned\t up\t the\t next\t day\t to\t find\t out\t if\t we\t had\t made\t any\t progress.\t We\t went\t to\t Dr Basak\u2019s\tchamber\tin\this\tcar.\tThe\tcrowded\twaiting\troom\tbore\tevidence\tof\tthe\tdoctor \u2019s\tpopularity.\tHis assistant\tgreeted\tus\tand\ttook\tus\tstraight\tinto\tthe\tconsulting\troom. Dr\tBasak\trose\tas\the\tsaw\tus,\ta\tsmile\ton\this\tface. \u2018What\tbrings\tyou\there,\tMr\tMitter?\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tfall\till\toften.\u2019 \u2018No,\t no,\t it\t isn\u2019t\t illness\t that\u2019s\t brought\t me\t here\t today,\t Dr\t Basak.\t I\u2019ve\t come\t only\t to\t ask\t you\t some questions\tas\ta\tpart\tof\tmy\tinvestigations.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018Were\tyou\ta\tstudent\tat\tSt\tXavier \u2019s?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\twas.\u2019 \u2018Will\tyou\tplease\tlook\tat\tthis\tphoto\tand\ttell\tme\tif\tyou\tcan\trecognize\tthese\tboys?\u2019 Feluda\t took\t out\t the\t photo\t from\t its\t cellophane\t wrapper\t and\t gave\t it\t to\t Dr\t Basak.\t He\t had\t already returned\tthe\toriginal\tto\tMr\tMajumdar.\tThis\twas\ta\tcopy\the\thad\thad\tmade.\tThe\tdoctor\tfrowned\tas\the lo o ked\t at\t it.\t \u2018I\t seem\t to \t r eco g nize\t o ne\t o f\t them,\u2019\t he\t said\t after \t a\t while.\t \u2018He\t used\t to \t be\t in\t my\t batch.\t I think\this\tname\twas\tRanjan.\tYes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\tRanjan\tMajumdar.\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tother\tone?\tI\tam\tmore\tinterested\tin\thim.\u2019 \u2018No,\tsorry,\tMr\tMitter.\tI\tnever\tsaw\tthe\tother\tboy\tin\tmy\tlife.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\the\tgo\tto\tSt\tXavier \u2019s?\tI\tmean,\twasn\u2019t\the\tin\tyour\tbatch\tas\twell?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tam\tcertain\tof\tthat.\u2019 Feluda\tput\tthe\tphoto\taway. \u2018Would\tthere\tbe\tany\tpoint\tin\tspeaking\tto\tany\tof\tyour\tother\tbatchmates?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso.\tIt\u2019ll\tonly\tbe\ta\twaste\tof\ttime.\u2019 \u2018Even\tso,\tI\u2019d\tbe\tvery\tgrateful\tif\tyou\tcould\tdo\tsomething\tfor\tme.\u2019","\u2018I\tam\twilling\tto\tdo\twhat\tI\tcan.\u2019 Feluda\t took\t out\t the\t list\t of\t students.\t \u2018Please\t go\t through\t this\t and\t tell\t me\t if\t you\t know\t how\t any\t of these\tmen\tmight\tbe\tcontacted.\u2019 Clear ly,\t he\t was\t no t\t g o ing \t to \t g ive\t up\t easily.\t Dr \t Basak\t r an\t his\t eyes\t o ver \t the\t list\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t kno w o ne\t o f\t them.\t He\u2019s\t a\t do cto r,\t to o ;\t but\t he\t pr actises\t o r tho do x\t medicine.\t Dr \t Jyo tir mo y\t Sen.\t He\t lives\t in Hastings.\tYou\u2019ll\tget\this\taddress\tfrom\tthe\ttelephone\tdirectory.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tThank\tyou\tvery\tmuch,\tsir.\u2019 We\tcame\tout\tand\tgot\tinto\tthe\tcar.\t\u2018Look,\tFelu\tBabu,\twhy\tare\tyou\tassuming\tthat\tthe\tother\tboy\twas\ta classmate?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked\tas\twe\tdrove\toff.\t\u2018One\tcan\tmake\tfriends\tanywhere,\tsurely?\tNot\tone of\tmy\tpresent\tset\tof\tfriends\thad\tever\tstudied\twith\tme.\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\tright.\tI\tthink\tin\tthe\tend\twe\u2019ll\thave\tto\tput\tin\tan\tadvertisement\tin\tthe\tpress\twith\tthe\tphoto,\tbut in\tthe\tmeantime\tlet\u2019s\tsee\twhat\tthis\tother\tdoctor\thas\tto\tsay.\u2019 Dr\tJyotirmoy\tSen\twas\tnot\tavailable\tfor\tthe\tnext\tthree\tdays.\tBut\the\tagreed\tto\tsee\tus\tin\this\thouse\ton the\tfourth\tday,\tat\thalf\tpast\tnine.\tHe\tnormally\tleft\tfor\this\tclinic\tat\tten,\the\tsaid.\tHe\thad\theard\tof\tFeluda, and\tappeared\tduly\timpressed. Lalmohan\tBabu\tcollected\tus\tin\this\tcar,\tand\twe\treached\tDr\tSen\u2019s\thouse\ton\tthe\tdot\tof\tnine-thirty.\tHis house\t was\t large\t and\t well\t kept,\t so\t presumably\t here\t was\t another\t doctor\t with\t a\t thriving\t practice.\t A bearer\t showed\t us\t into\t his\t drawing\t room.\t \u2018The\t doctor\t will\t be\t with\t you\t shortly,\u2019\t he\t said\t and disappeared. \u2018Who\t will\t you\t ask\t him\t about?\t Ranjan\t Majumdar,\t or\t the\t other\t boy?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t asked, lowering\this\tvoice. \u2018Let\u2019s\tsee\tif\twe\tcan\tget\tanything\tmore\ton\tRanjan\tMajumdar.\tWe\tdon\u2019t\tknow\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tabout\tour client,\tdo\twe?\tAs\tfor\tthe\tother\tboy,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tDr\tSen\tcan\thelp.\u2019 The\tdoctor\tarrived\tas\tsoon\tas\tFeluda\tfinished\tspeaking. \u2018You\t must\t be\t Pradosh\t Mitter,\u2019\t he\t said,\t taking\t a\t chair,\t \u2018although\t you\u2019re\t better\t known\t as\t Feluda, aren\u2019t\t you?\t And\t you\t two\t must\t be\t Tapesh\t and\t Jatayu.\t Everyone\t in\t my\t family\t devours\t the\t stories Tapesh\twrites,\tso\tall\tof\tyou\tare\tquite\tfamiliar\tto\tme.\tHow\tmay\tI\thelp\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Take\ta\tlook\tat\tthis\tphotograph.\tCan\tyou\trecognize\teither\tof\tthese\tboys?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tone\tof\tthem\tis\tRanjan\tMajumdar.\tI\tremember\thim\tpretty\twell.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthe\tother\tone.\u2019 \u2018He\twasn\u2019t\tin\tyour\tclass?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\u2019d\thave\tremembered\thim\tif\the\twas.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\task\tyou\ta\tfew\tquestions\tabout\tRanjan\tMajumdar.\u2019 \u2018Go\t ahead.\t We\t were\t close\t friends\t in\t college.\t We\t attended\t lectures\t together,\t went\t to\t movies together.\tIf\the\tmissed\ta\tclass,\tI\tstood\tin\tfor\thim\tat\troll-call,\tand\the\toften\tdid\tthe\tsame\tfor\tme.\tBut\tnow we\u2019ve\tlost\ttouch.\u2019 \u2018What\twas\the\tlike\tas\ta\tperson?\u2019 Dr\tSen\tfrowned\tslightly.\t\u2018A\tlittle\teccentric.\tBut\twe\tdidn\u2019t\treally\tmind\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Eccentric?\tWhy\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t he\t had\t ver y\t str o ng \t natio nalistic\t feeling s.\t I\t mean,\t no \t yo ung \t man\t o f\t that\t ag e\t ever \t spo ke\t o r felt\t like\t that\t about\t the\t country.\t Perhaps\t this\t was\t something\t he\t had\t inherited\t from\t his\t grandfather, Raghunath\t Majumdar,\t who\t was\t a\t terrorist\t once.\t He\t fought\t very\t hard\t against\t the\t British.\t Ranjan\u2019s","father\twent\tto\tEngland,\tbut\tcame\tback\tbecause\tof\tsome\tdisagreement\the\thad\thad\twith\tan\tEnglishman. The\twhole\tfamily\thad\tthis\tfunny\ttrait.\u2019 \u2018Mr\tMajumdar\twent\tto\tschool\tin\tEngland,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\the\tnever\tspoke\tabout\tit.\tHe\thad\ta\tterrible\taccident\tin\tEngland.\tI\tassume\tyou\tknow\tabout it?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\the\ttold\tus.\u2019 \u2018As\ta\tresult,\the\tlost\this\tmemory.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember\tanything\tof\this\tlife\tin\tEngland.\tFive\tyears \u2014or\tmore\u2014were\ttotally\twiped\tfrom\this\tmind.\u2019 \u2018Suppo sing \t he\t had\t made\t a\t fr iend\t ther e,\t o r \t met\t so meo ne\t special,\t is\t ther e\t any\t way\t o ne\t co uld\t find out?\u2019 \u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tsee\thow,\tunless\this\tlost\tmemory\tcame\tback.\tThat\thas\tbeen\tknown\tto\thappen\tin\tmany\tcases. But\t let\t me\t tell\t you\t this,\t Ranjan\t was\t not\t an\t ordinary\t young\t man.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t how\t he\t lived\t in England,\tor\twhat\the\tdid\tas\ta\tstudent\tthere,\tbut\twhen\tI\tmet\thim\tin\tcollege,\tI\tcould\ttell\the\twas\tdifferent from\tall\tthe\tothers.\tHe\thad\ta\tdistinct\tpersonality\tof\this\town,\teven\tat\tthat\tyoung\tage.\u2019 We\twent\tto\tMr\tMajumdar \u2019s\thouse\tthe\tnext\tday. \u2018Any\tprogress?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Well,\t we\u2019ve\t established\t that\t your\t friend\t in\t the\t photo\t did\t not\t go\t to\t college\t with\t you\t here\t in Calcutta.\tNow\tI\twish\tto\ttake\ta\tstep\tthat\trequires\tyour\tapproval.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tpublish\tthe\tphoto\tof\tthis\tother\tboy\tand\tsee\tif\tanyone\tcan\trecognize\thim.\tIf\tit\tcame\tout\tin papers\tin\tCalcutta\tand\tDelhi,\tI\tthink\tthat\tshould\tbe\tenough.\u2019 Mr\tMajumdar\tthought\tfor\ta\tminute. \u2018Will\tmy\tname\tbe\tmentioned\tanywhere?\u2019 \u2018No,\t not\t at\t all.\t All\t I\u2019m\t going\t to\t say\t in\t the\t notice\t is\t that\t if\t anyone\t can\t recognize\t the\t boy,\t they should\tcontact\tme,\tat\tmy\taddress.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tYou\tmust\tdo\twhat\tyou\thave\tto\tfor\tyour\tinvestigation.\tI\thave\tno\tobjection,\tMr\tMitter.\u2019","Three Five\tdays\tlater,\tFeluda\u2019s\tlittle\tadvertisement\tcame\tout\tin\tthe\tStatesman\tin\tDelhi\tand\tCalcutta.\tNothing happened\t on\t the\t first\t day.\t \u2018It\t can\u2019t\t be\t anyone\t from\t Calcutta,\t I\t guess.\t If\t it\t was,\t we\u2019d\t have\t heard\t by now,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tto\tme. On\t Wednesday,\t Feluda\t got\t a\t call\t from\t a\t tourist\t staying\t in\t the\t Grand\t Hotel.\t His\t name\t was\t John Dexter.\tHe\twas\ttravelling\twith\ta\tgroup\tof\tAustralians,\tand\thad\tseen\tthe\tphoto\u2014purely\tby\tchance\u2014in Delhi.\tThis\tmade\thim\tcome\tto\tCalcutta\tto\ttalk\tto\tFeluda.\tSince\the\twas\tleaving\tfor\tKathmandu\tin\tthe evening ,\t he\t wo uld\t have\t to \t see\t us\t in\t the\t after no o n,\t he\t said.\t \u2018Wo uld\t it\t be\t all\t r ig ht\t if\t I\t called\t at\t yo ur house\tat\tone\to\u2019clock?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tThank\tyou\tfor\ttaking\tso\tmuch\ttrouble.\u2019 Feluda\tsounded\texcited.\tHe\thad\tnot\treally\texpected\tthe\tlittle\tnotice\tto\twork. A\ttaxi\tdrew\tup\tat\tour\tfront\tdoor\ta\tlittle\tbefore\tone.\tFeluda\topened\tthe\tdoor\tand\tadmitted\ta\tmiddle- aged\twhite\tgentleman. \u2018Mr\tMitter?\u2019\the\tsaid,\toffering\this\thand,\t\u2018I\tam\tJohn\tDexter.\u2019 \u2018Pleased\t to \t meet\t yo u,\u2019\t Feluda\t sho o k\t his\t hand.\t \u2018Please\t sit\t do wn.\u2019\t Mr \t Dexter \t sat\t o n\t o ur \t settee.\t His face\tand\tarms\thad\ta\tdeep\ttan.\tHe\thad\tclearly\tbeen\ttravelling\tin\tIndia\tfor\tsome\ttime. \u2018You\tsaw\tthat\tphoto\tin\tthe\tStatesman?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\twhy\tI\tam\there.\tI\ttold\tyou\ton\tthe\tphone.\tI\twas\tamazed\tto\tsee\ta\tphoto\tof\tmy\tcousin,\tPeter Dexter,\tafter\tsuch\ta\tlong\ttime\tand\tin\ta\tforeign\tcountry.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tsure\tit\twas\tyour\tcousin?\u2019 \u2018Absolutely.\tPeter\tand\tI\tare\tfirst\tcousins.\tBut\tI\tleft\tEngland\tand\twent\tto\tAustralia\twhen\tI\twas\tquite young.\t Then\t I\t lost\t touch\t with\t Peter\t and\t his\t family.\t In\t fact,\t I\t am\t no\t longer\t in\t touch\t with\t my\t own family\tin\tEngland.\tSo\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\ttell\tyou\twhere\tPeter\tis\tat\tpresent,\tor\twhat\the\tdoes.\tAll\tI\tcan\ttell\tyou is\tthat\tPeter \u2019s\tfather,\tMichael\tDexter,\tused\tto\tbe\tin\tthe\tIndian\tArmy.\tI\tthink\the\twent\tback\tto\tEngland after\t1947.\u2019 \u2018Was\tPeter\this\tonly\tson?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tno.\tMichael\tDexter\thad\tseven\tchildren.\tPeter\twas\this\tsixth.\tHis\teldest\tson,\tGeorge,\twas\talso\tin the\tarmy.\u2019 \u2018Where\tdid\tMichael\tDexter\tlive\tin\tEngland?\u2019 \u2018In\tNorfolk.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tgive\tyou\tthe\twhole\taddress,\tnot\teven\tthe\tname\tof\tthe\ttown.\tSorry.\u2019 \u2018Never\tmind.\tYou\thave\tbeen\tmost\thelpful.\u2019 Mr\tDexter\trose.\tHis\tcompanions\twere\twaiting\tfor\thim\tin\tthe\thotel.\tFeluda\tthanked\thim\tagain\tand saw\thim\toff\tto\this\ttaxi. We\twent\tto\tsee\tRanjan\tMajumdar\tthe\tnext\tday. \u2018Did\tyour\tplan\twork?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tI\thave\tcome\tto\ttell\tyou.\tThat\tboy\twas\tEnglish,\tcalled\tPeter\tDexter.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\tyou\tfind\tout?\u2019 Feluda\t told\t him\t about\t John\t Dexter \u2019s\t visit.\t Mr\t Majumdar\t grew\t a\t little\t thoughtful.\t \u2018Dexter?\u2019\t he muttered,\t\u2018Dexter\t.\t.\t.\tDexter\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Can\tyou\tremember\tanything?\u2019 \u2018Only\t vaguely.\t Something\t unpleasant\t happened,\t I\t think\t .\t .\t .\t but\t no,\t it\u2019s\t no\t more\t than\t a\t feeling. There\tare\tno\tdefinite\tmemories.\u2019 \u2018Does\tyour\tmemory\treturn\toccasionally?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsometimes\tI\tfeel\tas\tif\tI\tcan\trecall\tcertain\tincidents.\tBut\tthere\u2019s\tno\tone\tI\tmight\task\tto\tsee\tif\tany of\tit\tis\ttrue.\tMy\tparents\twere\tthe\tonly\tpeople\twho\tknew\twhat\thad\thappened\tin\tEngland.\tBoth\tare\tnow dead.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tone\tthing\thas\tbecome\tquite\tclear.\tNo\tone\tin\tCalcutta\tcan\ttell\tus\tanything\tmore\tabout\tPeter Dexter.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\trealize\tthat,\tbut\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tMr\tMajumdar\tgrew\tpreoccupied\tagain. \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tme\tto\tdrop\tthe\tcase?\u2019 Mr\tMajumdar\tsuddenly\tpulled\thimself\ttogether.\t\u2018No,\tno,\tof\tcourse\tnot.\tI\twant\tto\tknow\twhere\the\tis, where\the\tworks,\twhether\the\tremembers\tme,\teverything.\tWhen\tcan\tyou\tleave?\u2019 \u2018Leave?\tWhere\tto?\u2019\tFeluda\twas\ttaken\taback. \u2018London,\twhere\telse?\tYou\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tgo\tto\tLondon!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\twould\tbe\tthe\tnext\tlogical\tstep.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tboth\thave\tvalid\tpassports?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tWe\u2019ve\thad\tto\ttravel\tabroad\tbefore.\tI\thave\tno\tother\tcase\tat\tthe\tmoment,\tso\tI\tcould\tgo\tany time.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tI\u2019ll\tarrange\ttickets\tfor\tyou.\u2019 \u2018A\tfriend\tof\tours\twill\tgo\twith\tus\u2014at\this\town\texpense,\tof\tcourse.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tLet\tmy\tsecretary\thave\this\tname.\tHe\u2019ll\tmake\tthe\tnecessary\tarrangements\tfor\tall\tof\tyou. We\tuse\ta\tgood\ttravel\tagent,\twho\tcan\tbook\tyou\tinto\ta\thotel\tin\tLondon.\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\twould\tyou\tlike\tme\tto\tstay\tthere?\u2019 Mr\tMajumdar\tthought\tfor\ta\tminute.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Give\tit\ta\tweek.\tIf\tyou\tfee!\tyou\u2019re\tjust\tnot\tgetting anywhere,\t you\t can\t come\t back\t after\t that.\t I\u2019ll\t tell\t my\t secretary\t to\t make\t your\t return\t bookings accordingly.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tIf\tI\treturn\twithout\thaving\ttraced\tthe\twhereabouts\tof\tyour\tfriend,\tI\twill\tnot\taccept\ta\tfee from\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tever\tfailed\tin\ta\tcase,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019 \u2018Not\tas\tyet.\u2019 \u2018Then\tyou\twon\u2019t\tfail\tin\tthis\tone\teither.\u2019","Four \u2018UK!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstared,\this\teyes\tround\twith\tsurprise.\tFeluda\thad\tjust\tfinished\ttelling\thim\tof\tthe latest\tdevelopments.\tHe\twas\tclearly\tnot\tprepared\tfor\ta\tvisit\tto\tthe\tUK. \u2018You\t will\t have\t to\t bear\t your\t own\t expenses,\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t Mr\t Majumdar\t is\t paying\t for\t Topshe and\tmyself.\u2019 \u2018I\tknow\tthat.\tI\tcan\tafford\tthe\ttrip,\tI\tassure\tyou.\tYou\tmay\tbe\ta\tbusy\tand\tfamous\tdetective,\tbut\tdon\u2019t forget\tI\tearn\tmuch\tmore\tthan\tyou.\tJust\ttell\tme\twhat\tI\thave\tto\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Take\tenough\twarm\tclothes\tto\tlast\tyou\ta\tweek.\tI\thope\tyou\thaven\u2019t\tlost\tyour\tpassport?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tIt\u2019s\tkept\tcarefully\tin\tmy\talmirah.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\tyou\thave\tto\tdo\tnothing\telse\texcept\tpay\tMr\tMajumdar\twhatever\tis\trequired\tin\tIndian r upees.\t He\t will\t make\t yo ur \t bo o king s\t and\t ar r ang e\t fo r eig n\t exchang e.\t His\t tr avel\t ag ent\t is\t handling \t all the\tarrangements.\u2019 \u2018Where\tare\twe\tgoing\tto\tstay\tin\tLondon?\u2019 \u2018Probably\tin\ta\tthree-star\thotel.\u2019 \u2018Why\tonly\tthree\tstar?\u2019 \u2018Because\tif\the\ttried\tto\tclimb\tany\thigher,\tMr\tMajumdar\tmight\twell\tgo\tbankrupt.\tDo\tyou\thave\tany idea\thow\texpensive\tLondon\thotels\tare?\u2019 \u2018No.\t Tell\t you\t what,\t I\u2019ve\t just\t thought\t of\t something.\t One\t of\t my\t neighbours\t is\t a\t businessman.\t He goes\tabroad\tevery\tyear.\tHe\tmight\tbe\table\tto\tgive\tme\ta\tfew\textra\tdollars.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tsay?\u2019 \u2018It\twould\tbe\tgoing\tagainst\tthe\tlaw.\u2019 \u2018Please,\t Felu\t Babu,\t yo u\t do n\u2019t\t always\t have\t to \t act\t like\t a\t saint.\t Ever yo ne\t tr ies\t to \t take\t extr a\t fo r eig n exchange.\tThat\tdoesn\u2019t\tmake\tthem\tall\tcriminals,\tdoes\tit?\u2019 \u2018Very\twell,\tMr\tJatayu.\tI\tagree,\tmuch\tagainst\tmy\tbetter\tjudgement,\tmind\tyou.\u2019 We\t were\t booked\t to\t travel\t by\t Air-India\t on\t a\t Tuesday.\t The\t plane\t would\t leave\t Calcutta\t soon\t after midnight\tand\tgo\tto\tBombay,\twhere\twe\twould\tcatch\ta\tconnecting\tflight\tto\tLondon.\tThe\thotel\twe\twere booked\tat\twas\tcalled\tthe\tRegent\tPalace,\tin\tPiccadilly\tCircus.\tFeluda\tsaid\tit\twas\ta\tvery\tgood\tplace\tto be\tin,\tright\tin\tthe\theart\tof\tthe\tcity.\tHe\thad\tbeen\treading\ta\tlot\tof\tguide\tbooks\ton\tLondon,\tand\tstudying various\tmaps. He\t r ang \t Mr \t Majumdar \t the\t day\t befo r e\t we\t left.\t I\t hear d\t him\t speak\t fo r \t a\t co uple\t o f\t minutes,\t then\t he said\tgoodbye\tand\trang\toff.\t\u2018I\tasked\thim\tif\this\tfather\thad\tbeen\tattached\tto\ta\thospital,\tbut\the\tsaid\the\tdid not\tknow;\tnor\tcould\the\tremember\twhere\tthey\tused\tto\tlive.\tNever\tmind,\tone\tof\tmy\tfriends\tis\ta\tdoctor in\tLondon.\tLet\u2019s\tsee\tif\the\tcan\thelp.\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\t work\t had\t taken\t us\t to\t so\t many\t different\t places,\t but\t I\t never\t thought\t we\u2019d\t go\t to\t London. When\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t arrived\t to\t pick\t us\t up\t on\t his\t way\t to\t the\t airport,\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t was\t trying\t to\t tell myself\t to \t stay\t calm\t fo r,\t after \t all,\t ever y\t To m,\t Dick\t and\t Har r y\t g o es\t to \t Lo ndo n\t these\t days.\t But\t I\t just","co uldn\u2019t\t help\t g etting \t excited.\t Do \t yo u\t kno w\t what\t my\t pulse\t r ate\t was\t this\t mo r ning .\u2019\t One\t hundr ed\t and ten.\tNormally\tit\tnever\tgoes\tbeyond\teighty.\u2019 It\twasn\u2019t\tjust\tthe\tthought\tof\tgoing\tto\tLondon\tthat\tmade\thim\tfeel\tpleased.\tI\tknew\the\thad\tmanaged\tto get\tquite\ta\tfew\textra\tdollars\tfrom\this\tneighbour. Feluda\t said\t nothing\t in\t reply.\t He\t was\t doing\t everything\t that\t needed\t to\t be\t done,\t but\t was\t speaking very\tlittle.\tPerhaps\the\thad\tnot\tyet\tworked\tout\thow\the\u2019d\tproceed.\tI\tcertainly\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ta\tclue.\tThere was\t virtually\t nothing\t to\t go\t on.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t noticed\t his\t silence\t and\t remarked,\t \u2018Frankly,\t Felu Babu,\tI\tcan\u2019t\timagine\twhy\tyou\ttook\tthis\tcase.\tHave\tyou\tever\thandled\tanything\tlike\tthis\tbefore,\twith so\tlittle\tinformation?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\tif\tI\thadn\u2019t\ttaken\tthe\tcase,\thow\tcould\tyou\thave\tgone\tto\tLondon. \u2018Yes,\tthere\tis\tthat,\tof\tcourse.\u2019 Our\t plane\t took\t off\t on\t time\t and\t we\t soon\t reached\t Bombay.\t When\t it\t was\t announced\t that\t our connecting\tflight\twas\tready\tfor\tdeparture,\tI\tlooked\tat\tmy\twatch.\tNormally,\tat\tthis\ttime\tI\twould\tbe\tin bed,\tfast\tasleep.\tBut\ttoday,\tI\twasn\u2019t\tfeeling\tsleepy\tat\tall. \u2018I\t feel\t wide\t awake\t too,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t told\t me,\t fastening\t his\t seat\t belt.\t \u2018I\t slept\t for\t a\t couple\t of hours\t this\t afternoon,\t you\t see.\t I\t say,\t doesn\u2019t\t this\t remind\t you\t of\t the\t story\t of\t Pinocchio?\t He\t got swallowed\t by\t a\t whale,\t didn\u2019t\t he?\t This\t jumbo\t jet\t seems\t like\t a\t whale\t to\t me.\t I\t could\t be\t sitting\t right inside\tits\ttummy!\tHow\twill\tit\tclimb\tinto\tthe\tair\twith\tso\tmany\tpeople\tinside\tit?\tAmazing\tstuff!\u2019 The\tamazing\tstuff\thappened\tsoon\tenough.\tWhen\tthe\tplane\tbegan\tto\trush\tdown\tthe\trunway,\tmaking an\t ear-splitting\t noise,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t kept\t his\t eyes\t closed.\t As\t the\t bright\t lights\t of\t Bombay\t grew smaller,\t I\t saw\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t lips\t move,\t possibly\t in\t a\t prayer\t for\t a\t safe\t journey.\t Then\t the\t noise grew\tless\tand\tthe\thostess\tannounced\tthat\twe\tcould\tunfasten\tour\tseat\tbelts.\tWe\twere\tsitting\tin\tthe\tnon- smo king \t sectio n\t o f\t the\t plane.\t Feluda\t usually\t smo ked\t fr equently,\t but\t co uld\t g o \t witho ut\t do ing \t so \t fo r several\thours,\tif\the\thad\tto. \u2018Aren\u2019t\tthey\tgoing\tto\tshow\ta\tfilm?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. They\tdid,\tbut\tit\twas\tsuch\ta\u2019\tboring\tfilm\tthat\tI\tput\tmy\theadphones\taway\tand\twent\tto\tsleep. When\tI\twoke,\tbright\tsunlight\twas\tstreaming\tin\tthrough\tthe\twindows.\tFeluda\tsaid\the\ttoo\thad\tslept for\ttwo\thours.\tOnly\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad\tbeen\tawake\tthroughout. \u2018I\twill\tmake\tup\tfor\tit\twhen\twe\tget\tto\tour\thotel,\u2019\the\tsaid. I\tlooked\tout\tof\tthe\twindow,\tbut\tthere\twas\tnothing\tto\tsee\texcept\tthe\tsnow-covered\tAlps.\tOn\tlearning the\tname\tof\tthe\trange,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked,\t\u2018Shall\twe\tget\tto\tsee\tMont\tBlanc?\u2019\tHe\tpronounced\tthe\t\u2018t\u2019 and\tthe\t\u2018c\u2019. \u2018Yes,\u2019\t Feluda\t replied,\t \u2018but\t if\t you\t are\t going\t to\t visit\t Europe,\t you\t had\t better\t learn\t the\t correct pronunciations\tof\tEuropean\tnames.\tIt\u2019s\t\u201cMaw\tBleau\u201d.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tseveral\tletters\tare\tsilent?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tnatural\tenough\tin\tFrench.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tmuttered\t\u2018Maw\tBleau,\tMaw\tBleau\u2019\ta\tfew\ttimes.\tFinally,\twe\tlanded\tat\tHeathrow\thalf an\thour\tlater\tthan\tour\tscheduled\ttime\tof\tarrival.\tAfter\twe\thad\tbeen\tthrough\timmigration\tcontrol\tand collected\tour\tbaggage,\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018There\tare\tthree\tways\tto\tget\tto\tcentral\tLondon:\tby\tbus,\ttaxi\tor\tby tube.\t A\t taxi\t wo uld\t be\t to o \t expensive,\t and\t a\t bus\t wo uld\t take\t to o \t lo ng .\t Let\u2019s\t tr y\t the\t tube.\t Acco r ding \t to my\tmap,\tit\twould\tgo\tthrough\tPiccadilly.\u2019","\u2018What\tis\tthe\ttube?\u2019 \u2018It\t is\t like\t our\t metro\t rail,\t except\t that\t there\t are\t many\t more\t lines.\t The\t map\t looks\t like\t a\t maze,\t but once\tyou\tget\tto\tunderstand\thow\tit\tworks,\ttravelling\tby\ttube\tis\tthe\teasiest\tthing\tto\tdo\tin\tLondon.\tI\u2019ll get\tyou\ta\tmap\ttomorrow.\u2019","Five Our\t hotel\t was\t large\t and\t comfortable,\t but\t not\t all\t that\t expensive.\t \u2018Mr\t Majumdar \u2019s\t travel\t agent\t is\t a sensible\tfellow,\tI\tmust\tsay,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcommented.\tHe\tseemed\tvery\tpleased\twith\teverything\the saw,\tfrom\tthe\tunderground\tstations\tto\tthe\tred\tdouble-decker\tbuses. \u2018See\t how\t handsome\t these\t buses\t are?\u2019\t he\t said\t admiringly,\t looking\t out\t of\t the\t window.\t \u2018We\t have do uble-decker \t buses\t to o .\t Why\t do \t yo u\t think\t o ur s\t lo o k\t as\t tho ug h\t they\u2019ve\t been\t chewed\t and\t then\t spat out?\u2019 After\t lunch,\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018If\t you\u2019re\t not\t feeling\t tired,\t go\t and\t have\t a\t walk\t down\t Oxford\t Street. You\u2019ll\tsee\tLondon\tat\tits\tbusiest.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tyou?\tWhat\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tdo?\u2019 \u2018I\tam\tgoing\tto\tcall\tmy\tfriend,\tBikash\tDatta.\tDidn\u2019t\tI\ttell\tyou\tI\thad\ta\tfriend\there?\tLet\u2019s\tsee\tif\the\tcan give\tus\tany\tinformation.\u2019 We\t were\t not\t particularly\t tired,\t so\t we\t decided\t to\t go\t out.\t Feluda\t managed\t to\t get\t through\t to\t his friend\t almost\t immediately.\t When\t he\t rang\t off,\t he\t was\t smiling.\t \u2018Bikash\t was\t amazed\t to\t hear\t my enquiries\thad\tbrought\tme\tto\tLondon.\tBut\the\ttold\tme\tsomething\tuseful.\u2019 \u2018What?\u2019 \u2018Ther e\u2019s\t an\t o ld\t do cto r \t her e\u2014an\t Indian,\t who \t came\t to \t Lo ndo n\t as\t a\t medical\t student\t so o n\t after \t the Second\tWorld\tWar,\tthen\tstayed\ton\tto\twork\tas\ta\tGP.\tA\tman\tcalled\tNishanath\tSen.\tHe\tis\tapparently,\ta very\tkind\tand\thelpful\tman.\tHe\tmight\thave\tknown\tMr\tMajumdar \u2019s\tfather.\tBikash\tgave\tme\tthe\taddress of\this\tclinic.\tI\tthink\tI\u2019ll\ttry\tmeeting\thim.\u2019 Feluda\tgot\tto\this\tfeet.\t\u2018If\twe\tmust\ttake\tshots\tin\tthe\tdark,\twe\tmay\tas\twell\tstart\twith\tDr\tSen.\u2019 We\tleft\tthe\thotel\ttogether.\tFeluda\twent\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tthe\ttube\tstation,\thaving\ttold\tus\thow\tto\tfind Oxford\tStreet.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tpulled\tout\twoollen\tscarves\tand\twound\tthem\tround\tour\tnecks\tas we\tbegan\twalking.\tOctober\tin\tLondon\twas\tdecidedly\tcool. Ther e\t wer e\t plenty\t o f\t Indians\t o n\t the\t str eet,\t which\t was\t pr o bably\t why\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t said,\t \u2018I\t feel quite\tat\thome,\tdear\tTapesh.\tMind\tyou,\tthe\troads\tare\tso\tgood\there\tthat\tthat\tis\tenough\tto\tremind\tme\tI am\tnot\tat\thome!\u2019 A\t little\t later,\t staring\t wide-eyed\t at\t the\t milling\t crowds\t on\t Oxford\t Street,\t he\t exclaimed,\t \u2018A\t sea\t of humanity,\tTapesh!\tA\tveritable\tocean!\u2019 What\twas\tamazing\twas\tthe\tspeed\twith\twhich\teveryone\twas\twalking.\tWhy\twas\tevery\tsingle\tperson in\tsuch\ta\thurry?\tWe\thad\tto\tincrease\tour\town\tpace,\tor\twe\u2019d\thave\tbeen\ttrampled\tin\tthe\trush.\tThe\tstreet was\t lined\t with\t huge\t departmental\t stores,\t with\t the\t most\t tempting\t objects\t in\t their\t show\t windows.\t I could\tnow\tsee\tthe\tfamous\tnames\tI\thad\tonly\theard\tof:\tMarks\t&\tSpencer,\tBoots,\tDebenhams,\tD.\t H.\tEvans,\tJohn\tLewis.\tSelfridges,\tI\tknew,\twas\tat\tone\tend\tof\tOxford\tStreet.\tBut\tI\thad\tno\tidea\tit\twas\tso big.","\u2018Let\u2019s\t g o \t in,\u2019\t I\t said\t and\t pushed\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t thr o ug h\t a\t r evo lving \t do o r.\t Neither \t o f\t us\t had\t ever seen\tanything\tlike\tit.\tIt\twas\tcrammed\twith\tpeople.\tWe\tcould\thardly\ttake\ta\tstep\tforward\twithout\tbeing pushed\t and\t jostled.\t I\t held\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t hand\t tightly,\t in\t case\t he\t got\t lost.\t Every\t conceivable consumer\tproduct\tappeared\tto\tbe\tavailable\tin\tthis\tshop. \u2018I\t never\t knew,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t remarked\t as\t we\t finally\t emerged\t in\t the\t stationery\t department, which\t was\t r elatively\t less\t cr o wded,\t \u2018that\t it\t was\t po ssible\t to \t have\t a\t human\t tr affic\t jam.\t But,\t dear \t bo y, how\tcan\twe\tgo\tback\twithout\tbuying\tanything\there?\u2019 \u2018What\twould\tyou\tlike\tto\tbuy?\u2019 \u2018See\t the\t number\t of\t pens\t and\t writing\t material\t they\u2019ve\t got?\t If\t I\t could\t buy\t a\t pen,\t that\t would\t be enough.\tI\tmean,\tI\tcould\twrite\tmy\tnext\tnovel\twith\ta\tpen\tI\tbought\tin\tLondon,\tcouldn\u2019t\tI?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tWhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tchoose\tone?\u2019 It\ttook\thim\tfive\tminutes\tto\tfind\tone\the\tliked.\t\u2018Three\tpounds\tthirty\tpence.\tWhat\u2019s\tthat\tin\trupees?\u2019\the asked. \u2018Nearly\tseventy-five,\u2019\tI\treplied. \u2018Good.\tA\tpen\tlike\tthis\tin\tCalcutta\twould\tcost\tnot\tless\tthan\ttwo\thundred.\u2019 \u2018Really?\tWell\tthen,\ttake\tit.\tThe\tpayment\tcounter \u2019s\tover\tthere.\u2019 \u2018What\t.\t.\t.\twhat\tdo\tI\thave\tto\ttell\tthem?\u2019 \u2018Nothing.\tJust\tgive\tthis\tpen\tto\tthat\tlady\tover\tthere,\tand\tshe\u2019ll\ttell\tyou\twhat\tyou\thave\tto\tpay.\tThen you\t give\t her\t a\t five\t pound\t note\t because\t I\t know\t you\t haven\u2019t\t got\t any\t coins,\t and\t she\u2019ll\t give\t you\t the change,\tand\tput\tyour\tpen\tin\ta\tSelfridges\tpaper\tbag.\tThat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow\tall\tthis?\tThis\tis\tonly\tyour\tfirst\tday!\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tbeen\tlooking\tat\tother\tpeople.\tSo\thave\tyou,\tbut\tyou\thaven\u2019\treally\tobserved\tanything.\u2019 Two\tminutes\tlater,\the\treturned\tsmiling,\tclutching\this\tpen\twrapped\tin\ta\tbag. \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018Good\tidea,\tbut\twhere\tcould\twe\tgo?\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\ta\tcafe\there,\tupstairs.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell,\tlet\u2019s\tgo.\u2019 We\ttook\tthe\tescalator\tto\tthe\ttop\tfloor\tand\tfound\tthe\tcafe\tand,\tluckily,\tan\tempty\ttable.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t\ttake us\tlong\tto\tfinish\tour\ttea.\tBy\tthe\ttime\twe\tcrossed\tthe\t\u2018ocean\tof\thumanity\u2019\tin\tOxford\tStreet\tagain\tand reached\tour\thotel,\tit\twas\thalf\tpast\tfour.\tFeluda\twas\tback\talready. \u2018Did\tyou\tget\tan\tidea\tof\twhat\tEngland\tis\tlike?\u2019\the\tasked\twith\ta\tsmile. \u2018Oh\tFelu\tBabu,\tI\thaven\u2019t\tgot\twords\tto\tdescribe\tmy\tfeelings.\u2019 \u2018Why?\t The\t books\t you\t write\t seem\t to\t suggest\t you\t have\t an\t endless\t stock\t of\t adjectives.\t Why\t are words\tfailing\tyou\tnow?\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\tonly\tone\tword\tI\tcan\tthink\tof:\tsuper-sensational.\tI\tam\tcaught\tin\ta\tdilemma,\tFelu\tBabu.\u2019 \u2018A\tdilemma?\tHow\tcome?\u2019 \u2018Should\tI\tsimply\tsee\tthe\tsights\tof\tLondon,\tor\tshould\tI\tsee\thow\tyou\u2019re\tconducting\tyour\tenquiries?\u2019 \u2018My\tenquiries\thave\tonly\tjust\tbegun.\tThere\u2019s\tnothing\tto\tsee.\tI\tsuggest\tyou\tsee\tas\tmuch\tof\tLondon\tas you\tcan.\tIf\tI\tcome\tacross\tanything\tinteresting,\tI\tshall\tcertainly\tlet\tyou\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tget\tto\tmeet\tthat\tdoctor?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tbut\the\twas\tso\tbusy\twith\this\tpatients\tthere\twas\tno\ttime\tto\ttalk.\tHe\ttold\tme\tto\tgo\tto\this\thouse tomorrow\tmorning.\tHe\tlives\tin\tRichmond.\u2019 \u2018Where\u2019s\tthat?\u2019 \u2018We\t can\t take\t the\t tube\t fr o m\t Piccadilly\t and\t chang e\t to \t Distr ict\t Line\t at\t So uth\t Kensing to n.\t That\t will take\tus\tstraight\tto\tRichmond.\tDr\tSen\twill\tmeet\tus\tat\tthe\tstation.\tBikash\twas\tright.\tHe\tis\tvery\tfriendly and\tkind.\tBut\tall\the\tcould\ttell\tme\ttoday\twas\tthat\the\tknew\tRanjan\tMajumdar \u2019s\tfather,\tnothing\tmore.\u2019 We\t spent\t the\t evening\t watching\t television\t in\t our\t room,\t then\t had\t an\t early\t dinner.\t I\t fell\t asleep\t the instant\tmy\thead\thit\tthe\tpillow.","Six I\twoke\tthe\tnext\tmorning\tto\tan\tovercast\tsky\tand\ta\tfaint\tdrizzle.\tFeluda\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\tput\ton\ttheir macintoshes\tand\tI\twore\tmy\twaterproof\tjacket\twhen\twe\tleft\tthe\thotel\tsoon\tafter\tbreakfast. \u2018Mr\t Jatayu,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t \u2018this\t is\t the\t normal\t weather\t in\t England.\t The\t bright\t sunshine\t you\t saw yesterday\twas\treally\tthe\texception,\tnot\tthe\trule.\u2019 \u2018But\tI\tbet\troads\there\tdon\u2019t\tget\twaterlogged!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcommented. \u2018No;\tbut\tthen,\ta\treally\theavy\tdownpour\u2014so\tcommon\tin\tCalcutta\u2014is\tsomething\tof\ta\trarity\there.\tA steady,\tsoft\tdrizzle\tis\twhat\tthe\tEnglish\tare\tused\tto.\u2019 Passengers\ton\tthe\tunderground\tseemed\tin\tas\tmuch\tof\ta\thurry\tas\tthe\tpeople\tin\tOxford\tStreet. \u2018This\tspeed\tis\tinfectious,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid,\twalking\tas\tfast\tas\the\tcould.\t\u2018Look,\teven\twe are\twalking\tfar\tmore\tquickly\tthan\twe\u2019d\tdo\tback\thome.\u2019 We\treached\tRichmond\tat\televen\to\u2019clock.\tDr\tSen\thad\ttold\tFeluda\thow\tlong\tit\twould\ttake\tus\tto\tget ther e\t fr o m\t Piccadilly.\t We\t fo und\t him\t waiting \t o utside\t the\t statio n.\t He\t was\t a\t g o o d-lo o king \t man\t in\t his early\tsixties. \u2018Welcome\t to\t Richmond!\u2019\t he\t said,\t smiling\t at\t Feluda.\t It\t had\t stopped\t raining,\t but\t the\t sky\t was\t still grey. Feluda\treturned\this\tgreeting\tand\tintroduced\tus.\t\u2018You\tare\ta\twriter?\u2019\tDr\tSen\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018I can\u2019t\tremember\twhen\tI\tlast\tread\tsomething\twritten\tby\tan\tIndian\twriter.\u2019 \u2018Why,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tgo\tback\thome\tfrom\ttime\tto\ttime?\u2019 \u2018The\tlast\ttime\tI\twent\twas\tin\t1973.\tThere\u2019s\tno\treason\tfor\tme\tto\tgo\tback,\treally.\tMy\twhole\tfamily\tis her e\t in\t Br itain.\t I\t have\t two \t so ns\t and\t two \t daug hter s\t who \t have\t all\t g r o wn\t up\t and\t left\t ho me.\t They\t ar e married\twith\tchildren\tand\tlive\tin\tdifferent\tparts\tof\tthe\tcountry.\tMy\twife\tand\tI\tlive\there\tin\tRichmond.\u2019 His\t car\t was\t parked\t little\t way\t away.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t not\t so\t bad\t here,\u2019\t he\t said,\t unlocking\t the\t doors,\t \u2018but\t in Lo ndo n\t the\t par king \t pr o blem\t is\t quite\t a\t ser io us\t o ne.\t If\t yo u\t went\t to \t see\t a\t film\t so mewher e\t in\t centr al London,\tyou\tmight\twell\thave\tto\tpark\thalf\ta\tmile\taway\tfrom\tthe\tcinema.\u2019 We\tgot\tinto\tthe\tcar.\tFeluda\tsat\tin\tthe\tfront\tand\tfastened\this\tseat\tbelt.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tlooked\tat\tme enquiringly.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tthe\tlaw\tin\tthis\tcountry,\u2019\tI\texplained\tquickly.\t\u2018Front\tseat\tpassengers,\tand\tof\tcourse\tthe driver,\tare\trequired\tto\thave\ttheir\tseat\tbelts\ton.\u2019 Dr\tSen\u2019s\thouse\twas\ta\tlittle\tmore\tthan\ta\tmile\tfrom\tthe\tunderground\tstation.\tOn\tour\tway\tthere,\tI\tsaw a\tfew\tbranches\tof\tsome\tof\tthe\tshops\tin\tOxford\tStreet.\tRichmond\twas\tclearly\tnot\ta\tsmall\tarea. His\thouse\twas\tin\ta\tquiet\tspot,\tsurrounded\tby\ttrees.\tTheir\tlarge,\tgreen\tleaves\thad\tpatches\tof\tyellow and\t br o wn.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t small,\t immaculate\t fr o nt\t g ar den,\t behind\t which\t sto o d\t a\t beautiful\t two -sto r ey house,\tlike\tsomething\tout\tof\ta\tpicture\tpostcard. We\twere\tshown\tinto\tthe\tliving\troom.\tA\tfire\tburnt\tin\tthe\tfireplace,\tfor\twhich\tI\twas\tglad\tsince\tit\twas cold\tand\tdamp\toutside.\tA\tmiddle-aged\tEnglish\tlady\tentered\tthe\troom\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\twere\tseated.","\u2018This\tis\tmy\twife,\tEmily,\u2019\tDr\tSen\tsaid.\tWe\tintroduced\tourselves.\t\u2018Would\tyou\tlike\ta\tcup\tof\tcoffee?\u2019 she\tasked\twith\ta\tsmile. \u2018That\twould\tbe\tvery\tkind,\tthank\tyou,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. Dr\tSen\tsat\tdown\ton\ta\tcouch\tand\tturned\tto\tFeluda.\tMrs\tSen\tleft\tthe\troom. \u2018All\tright.\tWhat\tis\tit\tthat\tyou\twant\tto\tknow,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019\tDr\tSen\tasked. \u2018You\t told\t me\t yesterday\t you\t knew\t Ranjan\t Majumdar \u2019s\t father.\t I\t am\t collecting\t information\t on Ranjan.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tRanjan\u2019s\tfather,\tRajani\tMajumdar\tand\tI\tcame\tto\tEngland\ttogether\tin\t1948.\tHe\twas\tolder\tthan me\t by\t about\t sixteen\t years.\t By\t the\t time\t I\t got\t to\t know\t him,\t I\t had\t finished\t studying\t medicine\t in Edinburgh\t and\t was\t working\t in\t London.\t Rajani\t Majumdar\t was\t attached\t to\t St\t Mary\u2019s\t Hospital.\t We happened\tto\tsit\tnext\tto\teach\tother\tat\ta\tplay.\tI\teven\tremember\twhich\tplay\tit\twas:\tMajor\tBarbara.\t We g o t\t talking \t dur ing \t the\t inter missio n\t and\t I\t r ealized\t he\t was\t a\t do cto r \t to o .\t His\t wife\t was\t with\t him.\t T hey used\tto\tlive\tin\tGolders\tGreen,\tand\tI\tin\tHampstead.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tmarried\tat\tthe\ttime.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\this\tson?\u2019 \u2018His\tson\twas\tin\tschool.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tremember\twhich\tschool\the\twent\tto?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tIt\twas\tWarrendel,\tin\tEpping.\tThen\the\twent\tto\tCambridge.\u2019 \u2018Which\tcollege?\u2019 \u2018As\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\trecall,\tit\twas\tTrinity.\u2019 \u2018What\tkind\tof\ta\tman\twas\tDr\tRajani,\tMajumdar?\u2019 Dr\tSen\twas\tquiet\tfor\ta\tminute.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Peculiar.\u2019 \u2018Peculiar?\tWhy\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\tthink\tthere\twas\ta\tcertain\trather\tstrange\ttrait\tin\this\tfamily.\tHis\tfather,\tRaghunath\tMajumdar, had\t been\t a\t ter r o r ist\t in\t his\t yo uth.\t I\t mean,\t he\t was\t suppo sed\t to \t have\t made\t bo mbs\t and\t attacked\t Br itish officers\twhen\the\twas\tonly\ta\tteenager.\tBut,\tlater,\the\tbecame\ta\theart\tspecialist.\tBy\tthe\ttime\the\tbegan\tto practise\tas\ta\tconsultant,\the\thad\tlost\tall\this\tearlier\thatred\tagainst\tthe\tBritish.\tIt\twas\the\twho\tsent\tRajani to\tEngland.\tHe\twanted\tto\tsee\this\tson\twork\tin\tEngland\tand\this\tgrandson\treceive\this\teducation\tthere. Seldom\tdoes\tone\tfind\tsuch\ta\tcomplete\tchange\tof\theart.\tBut\twhen\tRajani\tbegan\tworking\there,\the\tkept thinking\tthe\tBritish\tstill\tlooked\tdown\tupon\tIndians.\tI\ttried\texplaining\tto\thim\tthat\ta\tfew\tisolated\tcases of\tracism\tdid\tnot\tmean\tevery\tEnglish\tperson\twas\ta\tracist,\tbut\the\twasn\u2019t\tconvinced.\tIn\tthe\tend,\the\tleft England\tbecause\tof\tsomething\ta\tpatient\tof\this\tsaid\tto\thim\u2014something\ttrivial\tand\tinsignificant,\twhich he\tought\tto\thave\tignored.\u2019 \u2018By\tthen\tI\tassume\this\tson\thad\thad\tthat\taccident?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tWhat\tis\this\tson\tdoing\tnow?\tHe\tmust\tbe\taround\tfifty.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tHe\tis\ta\tchartered\taccountant.\u2019 \u2018That\t means\t the\t year \t he\t spent\t in\t co lleg e\t her e\t was\t a\t to tal\t waste.\t He\t must\t have\t had\t to \t star t\t afr esh when\the\twent\tback.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tBy\tthe\tway,\tdid\tyou\tknow\tany\tof\tRanjan\u2019s\tfriends?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tnever\tmet\tany\tof\tthem,\tnor\twas\tanyone\u2019s\tname\tin\tparticular\tever\tmentioned\tto\tme.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019","Mrs\tSen\tcame\tin\twith\tthe\tcoffee.\tFeluda\tasked\tnothing\tmore\tabout\tRanjan\tMajumdar.\tWe\tleft\tsoon afterwards.\tDr\tSen\tinsisted\ton\tdriving\tus\tback\tto\tthe\tstation.","Seven We\t took\t the\t tube\t to\t Epping\t the\t next\t day\t and\t reached\t Warrendel\t School\t at\t half\t past\t three\t in\t the after no o n.\t The\t main\t building \t was\t behind\t a\t hug e\t spo r ts\t g r o und.\t It\t was\t pr o bably\t two \t hundr ed\t year s old.\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tfind\tout\tif\tRanjan\tMajumdar\thad\treally\tbeen\ta\tstudent\tthere\tand\twhether\tthere had\tbeen\ta\tPeter\tDexter\tin\this\tclass. A\thall\tporter\tmet\tus\tat\tthe\tfront\tdoor. \u2018I\twould\tlike\tsome\tinformation\tabout\tone\tof\tyour\tex-students.\tHe\tstudied\there\tmany\tyears\tago,\tin the\tlate\tforties,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim.\tThe\tporter\ttook\tus\tto\twhat\tlooked\tlike\ta\tlibrary.\t\u2018Mr\tManning\there may\tbe\table\tto\thelp\tyou,\u2019\the\tsaid. Mr\t Manning\t was\t seated\t behind\t a\t desk,\t writing\t busily\t in\t a\t notebook.\t Feluda\t cleared\t his\t throat softly.\tHe\tlooked\tup. \u2018Yes?\u2019 Feluda\texplained\twhat\the\twanted. \u2018Right.\tWhich\tyear\tdid\tyou\tsay?\u2019 \u20181948.\u2019 Mr\t Manning\t rose\t and\t fetched\t a\t fat\t ledger\t from\t a\t shelf.\t Then\t he\t put\t it\t on\t his\t desk\t and\t sat\t down again. \u2018What\tname\tdid\tyou\tsay?\u2019\the\tasked,\tquickly\tleafing\tthrough\tthe\tpages. \u2018I\tdidn\u2019t.\tThe\tname\u2019s\tMajumdar.\tRanjan\tMajumdar.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tMajumdar\t.\t.\t.\tMajumdar\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tbegan\trunning\this\tfinger\tthrough\ta\tlist\tand\tstopped\tabruptly. \u2018Yes,\there\tit\tis.\tR.\tMajumdar.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tCould\tyou\tcheck\tanother\tname\tfor\tus,\tplease?\tDexter.\tPeter\tDexter.\tWas\the\tin\tthe\tsame batch?\u2019 \u2018Dexter\t.\t.\t.\tno,\tI\tsee\tno\tDexter\there.\u2019 \u2018Oh.\tWould\tyou\tbe\tso\tkind\tas\tto\tlook\tup\tthe\t1949\tlist\tas\twell?\tMaybe\tDexter\tcame\ta\tyear\tlater?\u2019 Mr \t Manning \t was\t mo st\t o blig ing .\t Sadly,\t tho ug h,\t ther e\t was\t no \t mentio n\t o f\t Peter \t Dexter \t in\t the\t 1949 list,\teither.\tThere\twas\tno\tpoint\tin\twasting\tmore\ttime. \u2018Thank\tyou\tvery\tmuch\tindeed,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tto\tMr\tManning.\t\u2018You\thave\tbeen\tmost\thelpful.\u2019 On\t our\t way\t back\t to\t Piccadilly,\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018If\t we\t went\t to\t Cambridge\t and\t made\t enquiries,\t I\t am pretty\t sure\t we\t could\t learn\t something\t about\t Dexter.\t Still,\t I\t think\t it\t might\t not\t be\t a\t bad\t idea\t to\t put\t a small\tnotice\tin\tthe\tpersonal\tcolumn\tof\tthe\tTimes.\u2019 \u2018What\twill\tyou\tsay\tin\tyour\tnotice?\u2019 \u2018If\tanyone\tknows\tanything\tabout\ta\tPeter\tDexter\tof\tNorfolk,\the\tshould\tcontact\tme\tat\tmy\thotel.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tthink\tyou\tare\tgoing\tto\tachieve\tby\tthis?\u2019","\u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know.\t Look,\t if\t we\t simply\t went\t to\t Cambridge,\t we\t might\t find\t his\t name\t in\t an\t old\t list\t of students.\t But\t that\t wouldn\u2019t\t tell\t us\t anything\t about\t the\t man,\t would\t it?\t An\t ad\t in\t a\t paper\t might\t bring better\tresults,\twho\tknows?\u2019 \u2018But\tthat\twill\ttake\tthree\tor\tfour\tdays,\tsurely?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. \u2018No ,\t the\t ad\t sho uld\t co me\t o ut\t in\t two \t days.\t If\t we\t g et\t a\t fr ee\t day,\t we\u2019ll\t explo r e\t Lo ndo n.\t Ther e\u2019s\t so much\tto\tsee.\tHave\tyou\theard\tof\tMadame\tTussaud\u2019s?\u2019 \u2018Where\tthere\tare\tthe\twaxworks\tof\tfamous\tpeople?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthen\tthere\tare\tthe\tart\tgalleries,\tthe\tHouses\tof\tParliament,\tBig\tBen,\tSt\tPaul\u2019s\tCathedral\t.\t.\t.\tyou might\tget\tblisters\ton\tyour\tfeet\twalking,\tbut\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\tfinish\tseeing\teverything\tin\ta\tday.\u2019 \u2018When\twill\tyou\tgo\tto\tthe\toffice\tof\tthe\tTimes?\u2019 \u2018Today.\tHopefully,\tthe\tnotice\twill\tcome\tout\tthe\tday\tafter\ttomorrow.\u2019 \u2018OK\tthen,\twe\tcan\tspend\tall\tday\ttomorrow\tjust\tsightseeing,\tcan\u2019t\twe?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\u2019 Madam\t Tussaud\u2019s\t was\t a\t r emar kable\t place.\t Even\t the\t po r ter s\t who \t sto o d\t in\t fr o nt\t o f\t cer tain\t r o o ms were\tmade\tof\twax\tand\tamazingly\tlifelike.\tThe\tchamber\tof\thorrors\tgave\tme\tthe\tcreeps. When\t we\t came\t o ut\t o f\t Madam\t Tussaud\u2019s,\t Feluda\t beg an\t walking \t witho ut\t telling \t us\t wher e\t we\t wer e g o ing .\t Puzzled,\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t and\t I\t fo llo wed\t him\t silently.\t Suddenly,\t my\t eyes\t fell\t o n\t a\t sig n\t fixed high\t up\t on\t the\t wall\t of\t a\t building,\t that\t told\t me\t which\t street\t we\t were\t in.\t \u2018Baker\t Street\u2019,\t it\t said. Sherlock\tHolmes\tused\tto\tlive\tin\t221-B\tBaker\tStreet.\tNow\tI\tknew\twhat\tFeluda\twas\tlooking\tfor.\tAs\tit tur ned\t o ut,\t ther e\t was\t no \t ho use\t with\t that\t number,\t but\t we\t fo und\t number \t 220.\t That\t was\t g o o d\t eno ug h. Feluda\t stood\t before\t that\t building\t and\t murmured\t softly,\t \u2018Guru,\t you\t showed\t us\t the\t way.\t If\t I\t am\t an investigator\ttoday,\tit\tis\tonly\tbecause\tof\tyou.\tNow\tI\tcan\tsay\tcoming\tto\tLondon\twas\ttruly\tworthwhile.\u2019 I\t knew\t how\t deeply\t Feluda\t admired\t Holmes\t and\t his\t methods.\t He\t had\t told\t me\t how\t the\t creator\t of Holmes,\t Conan\t Doyle,\t had\t once\t killed\t the\t famous\t detective.\t But\t his\t readers\t had\t made\t such\t an enormous\tfuss\tthat\the\twas\tobliged\tto\tbring\thim\tback. I\t realized\t that\t seeing\t the\t sights\t of\t London\t would\t have\t remained\t incomplete\t if\t we\t hadn\u2019t\t seen Baker\tStreet."]
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