The Complete Adventures of Feluda Vol 2

["\u2018No,\tbut\tI\twill\tthis\tafternoon,\tthough\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\ta\tsearch\twill\tyield\tanything.\tWhat\tI\thave\tto\tdo\tis speak\tto\thim\tsternly\tand\tput\tthe\tfear\tof\tGod\tin\thim.\tAnyway,\taren\u2019t\tyou\tgoing\tto\tdo\tanything?\u2019 \u2018No.\tAny\taction\tyou\tas\ta\tpolice\tofficer\tmay\ttake\twill\thave\ta\tlot\tmore\teffect,\tI\tthink.\tBut\tI\u2019ll\tkeep my\t eyes\t and\t ears\t open,\t naturally,\t and\t will\t let\t you\t know\t if\t I\t notice\t anything\t suspicious.\t Oh,\t by\t the way,\twhat\tabout\tthe\tfifth\tsuspect\tI\tmentioned?\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tPeter\tRobertson?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t I\t have\t a\t feeling\t Peter\t would\t now\t accept\t the\t loss\t of\t an\t old\t friendship,\t if\t need\t be.\t What\t is important\tto\thim\tis\tthat\this\tancestor \u2019s\twish\tbe\tfulfilled.\tHe\u2019s\tchanged\this\tmind\tabout\tselling\tthat\truby. I\tknow\the\thas.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyou\tsaid\tso\tlast\tnight,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\tI\tremembered\tyour\twords,\tMr\tMitter,\tand\tI\tsearched\tPeter Robertson\u2019s\t room\t only\t a\t few\t minutes\t before\t I\t came\t here.\t Need\t I\t tell\t you\t there\t was\t no\t sign\t of\t the ruby?\u2019 Feluda\tmade\tno\treply.\tInspector\tChaubey\trose.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tcome\tand\tsee\tyou\tagain\tin\tthe\tevening,\u2019\the\tsaid and\tleft. \u2018A\t most\t complicated\t case,\u2019\t Feluda\t sighed.\t \u2018Five\t suspects\t .\t .\t .\t all\t strewn\t in\t five\t different\t places. What\tcan\tI\tdo\tfrom\there?\tThe\tpolice\thave\tcertainly\tgot\tthe\tupper\thand\tthis\ttime.\u2019 \u2018Come\ton,\tFelu\tBabu,\tyou\u2019re\tnot\teven\ttrying.\tTell\tus\twho\tyou\treally\tsuspect,\u2019\tsaid\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018Out\tof\tthese\tfive?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018I\thad\truled\tout\tKishorilal\tfor\tthe\tsimple\treason\tthat\the\tdidn\u2019t\tstrike\tme\tas\tthe\ttype\twho\u2019d\tresort\tto violence\tto\tget\twhat\the\twanted.\tHe\thasn\u2019t\tgot\tthe\tcourage\tit\twould\ttake\tto\tknock\tsomeone\tout,\tsteal something\tfrom\this\tbag\tand\trun\taway,\tespecially\twhen\tthere\twere\tso\tmany\tpeople\tabout.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tChandu\tMallik?\u2019 \u2018Chandu\tmight\thave\thit\tMaxwell\u2014he\u2019s\tquite\tcapable\tof\thaving\tdone\tthat\u2014but\thow\tcould\the\thave known\tthat\tthe\truby\twas\tin\this\tbag?\tNo,\tChandu\tdid\tnot\tdo\tit.\tMr\tNaskar?\tIt\u2019s\tdifficult\tto\timagine\thim g etting \t into \t a\t messy\t business\t like\t this.\t T her e\t was\t abso lutely\t no \t need\t fo r \t him\t to \t g o \t to \t such\t leng ths; not\twith\tthe\tkind\tof\tmoney\the\u2019s\tgot.\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\tsomething\tI\tdon\u2019t\tunderstand\tat\tall,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tconfessed. \u2018What\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018Do\tpeople\talways\tspeak\tthe\ttruth\twhen\tthey\u2019re\thypnotized?\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tthe\ttruth\tyou\u2019re\tsupposed\tto\thave\tspoken?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tdidn\u2019t\tI\ttell\tyou\tall\thow\told\tPeter\tand\tTom\twere,\tand\tthat\tthey\tcame\tfrom\tLancashire?\tThey never\tmentioned\tit\tto\tme,\tso\thow\tdid\tI\tknow?\tMind\tyou,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tremember\thaving\tsaid\tit,\tbut\tTapesh says\tI\tdid.\u2019 \u2018Both\tthose\tfacts\thad\tbeen\tmentioned\tin\tthat\tarticle\tin\tthe\tStatesman.\t Even\t if\t you\t didn\u2019t\t read\t the whole\t thing,\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t your\t memory\t had\t somehow\t absorbed\t those\t details,\t and\t it\t came\t out when\t you\t were\t asked\t a\t specific\t question.\t Everything\t else\t you\t said\t has\t already\t been\t proved\t to\t be quite\tincorrect.\tSo\tplease\tdon\u2019t\tgo\taround\tthinking\tyou\thad\tacquired\tany\textraordinary\tpowers\tat\tany time.\u2019 \u2018All\t right,\t Felu\t Babu,\t point\t taken.\t But\t do\t you\t agree\t with\t Inspector\t Chaubey?\t Was\t it\t Jagannath Chatterjee?\u2019","\u2018Who\telse\tcould\tit\tbe?\tIt\u2019s\tsuch\ta\tpity\tthe\twhole\tthing\thad\tto\tend\tso\ttamely,\tbut\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tFeluda\tcouldn\u2019t finish\this\tsentence.\tSomeone\tknocked\ton\tthe\tdoor. It\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\tTom\tMaxwell,\tlooking\trather\tgrim.\tFeluda\toffered\thim\ta\tchair,\tbut\the\tshook\this head. \u2018I\thaven\u2019t\tcome\tto\tsit\tdown\tand\tchat\twith\tyou,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 \u2018I\tam\there\tto\tsearch\tyour\troom\tand\tyour\tfriend\u2019s.\u2019 \u2018But\twe\twere\tall\tsearched\tyesterday.\tWasn\u2019t\tthat\tgood\tenough\tfor\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No.\tYou\twere\tsearched\tby\tan\tIndian\tpoliceman.\tI\thave\tno\tfaith\tin\thim.\u2019 \u2018Do\t you\t have\t a\t warrant?\t Surely\t you\u2019re\t aware\t that\t you\t cannot\t search\t anyone\u2019s\t room\t without\t a proper\twarrant?\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tyou\twon\u2019t\tlet\tme\u2014?\u2019 \u2018No ,\t Mr \t Maxwell.\t Neither \t my\t fr iend\t no r \t I\t will\t let\t yo u\t g o \t thr o ug h\t o ur \t thing s.\t Inspecto r \t Chaubey searched\teach\tone\tof\tus\tyesterday,\tin\tyour\tpresence.\tYou\u2019ll\thave\tto\tbe\tsatisfied\twith\tthat.\u2019 Tom\tmade\tan\tabout-turn\twithout\tanother\tword\tand\tstrode\tout\tof\tthe\troom. \u2018Just\timagine!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\texclaimed.\t\u2018I\thave\tbeen\ton\tso\tmany\tcases\twith\tyou,\tFelu\tBabu,\tbut I\u2019ve\tnever\tended\tup\tas\tone\tof\tthe\tsuspects!\u2019 \u2018Put\tit\tdown\tto\texperience,\tMr\tGanguli.\tIt\u2019s\tgood\tto\thave\tall\tsorts\tof\texperiences,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\ttrue.\tBut\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tspend\tall\tyour\ttime\tindoors?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tgo\tout\tif\tI\tfeel\tlike\tit.\tRight\tnow\tall\tI\twant\tto\tdo\tis\tthink,\tand\tI\tcan\tdo\tthat\tvery\twell\twithout stirring\tout\tof\tmy\troom.\tBut\tthat\u2019s\tno\treason\twhy\tyou\tand\tTopshe\tshouldn\u2019t\tgo\tout.\tThere\u2019s\ta\tlot\tstill left\tto\tbe\tseen.\u2019 \u2018Very\t well.\t Let\u2019s\t go\t and\t get\t hold\t of\t Shatadal.\t He\t may\t be\t able\t to\t make\t some\t useful\t suggestions. Tell\tyou\twhat,\tFelu\tBabu.\tI\u2019ll\tleave\tthat\tbook\twith\tyou,\tthe\tone\tthat\tShatadal\tlent\tme.\tRead\tit.\tYou\u2019ll g et\t a\t lo t\t o f\t info r matio n\t abo ut\t To m\t Maxwell\u2019s\t ancesto r.\t And\t if\t yo u\t wish\t to \t lear n\t abo ut\t ho w\t indig o was\tgrown\tand\twhat\tthe\tBritish\tdid\twith\tit,\tthis\tbook\twill\ttell\tyou\tthat,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018Thank\t you,\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t I\t should\t love\t to\t read\t your\t book.\u2019\t We\t left\t soon\t after\t this,\t leaving Feluda\tto\tgo\tthrough\twhat\tRev\tPritchard\thad\twritten.\tShatadal\tSen\thappened\tto\tbe\tfree,\tand\toffered\tto take\tus\tto\tsee\ta\tvillage\tby\tthe\triver\tKopai,\twhich\tTagore\tused\tto\twatch\tand\tadmire.\tI\thad\tseen\tvillages and\trivers\tbefore,\tbut\tthere\twas\tsomething\tabout\tKopai\tand\tthe\tvillage\tcalled\tGoalpara\tthat\ttouched my\theart\tand\tlifted\tmy\tspirits\tinstantly. Lalmohan\t Babu\t went\t a\t step\t further\t and\t began\t reciting\t poetry.\t \u2018My\t favourite\t poet,\t Baikuntha Mallik,\tvisited\tSantikiniketan,\tyou\tsee,\tand\twrote\tquite\ta\tfew\tpoems\ton\tits\tnatural\tbeauty,\u2019\the\ttold\tme. \u2018Listen\tto\tthis: O\tKopai,\tthin\tyou\tmight\tbe, but\tyou\u2019re\tfast. May\tyour\tbeauty\tforever\tlast, you\tare\ta\tpleasure\tto\tsee. Rice\tfields\tlie\tby\tyour\tsides, nature\u2019s\tbounty\tin\tthem\thides, etching\tpictures\tin\tmy\tmemory. Kopai,\tyou\tare\ta\tpleasure\tto\tsee.\u2019","","Nine Inspector\t Chaubey\t returned\t to\t our\t room\t at\t 5\t p.m.\t The\t announcement\t he\t made\t wasn\u2019t\t altogether unexpected,\tbut\tnevertheless\twe\twere\tall\tsomewhat\ttaken\taback. \u2018The\t mystery\t is\t cleared\t up,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018I\t was\t right.\t Jagannath\t Chatterjee\t took\t the\t stone.\t When\t I searched\this\thouse,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tfind\tit\tat\tfirst;\tbut\ta\tfew\tthreats\tfrom\tthe\tpolice\tcan\toften\twork\twonders, as\tthey\tdid\tin\tthis\tcase.\tChatterjee\tbroke\tdown\tand\tconfessed\tin\tthe\tend.\tHe\teven\treturned\tthe\tstone\tto me.\tDo\tyou\tknow\twhere\the\thad\thidden\tit?\tIn\ta\tflower-pot!\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tbrought\tit\there?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tnaturally.\u2019 Chaubey\ttook\tit\tout\tof\this\tpocket.\tIt\tlay\ton\this\tpalm,\tglowing\tsoftly\tunder\tthe\tlight.\tIt\tfelt\tstrange\tto look\tat\tit. \u2018How\tvery\todd!\u2019\tFeluda\texclaimed. \u2018What\u2019s\todd?\u2019 \u2018Chatter jee\t mig ht\t well\t be\t a\t thief,\t but\t so meho w\t I\t can\u2019t\t see\t him\t lifting \t a\t heavy\t o bject\t and\t str iking someone\twith\tit.\tHe\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tthe\tnerve,\tInspector.\tHe\tdoesn\u2019t\tlook\tthe\ttype.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tjudge\tanyone\tby\this\tlooks,\tMr\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t you\u2019re\t right.\t My\t own\t experience\t has\t taught\t me\t just\t that.\t And\t yet\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t Feluda\t broke\t off, frowning. \u2018Shall\twe\tgo\tnow\tand\treturn\tthis\tstone\tto\tits\towner?\u2019\tChaubey\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tlet\u2019s\tdo\tthat.\u2019 We\tleft\tour\troom\tand\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tPeter \u2019s.\tPeter\thimself\topened\tthe\tdoor.\tTom\twas\twith\thim. \u2018Well,\tMr\tRobertson,\u2019\tsaid\tChaubey,\t\u2018I\thave\ta\tlittle\tgift\tfor\tyou.\u2019 \u2018A\tgift?\u2019 Silently,\tChaubey\thanded\tthe\truby\tback\tto\tPeter.\tPeter \u2019s\tmouth\tfell\topen. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tthis!\tWhere\u2014how\u2014?\u2019 \u2018Never\t mind\t all\t that,\t Mr\t Robertson.\t Just\t be\t happy\t that\t you\u2019ve\t got\t it\t back.\t Mr\t Maxwell,\u2019\t I\t hope you\u2019ll\t now\t agree\t that\t the\t Indian\t police\t isn\u2019t\t altogether\t stupid\t and\t incompetent.\t Anyway,\t now\t you must\tdecide\twhat\tyou\twant\tto\tdo\twith\tit.\u2019 Peter\tand\tTom\thad\tboth\trisen\tto\ttheir\tfeet.\tNow\tthey\tsank\tback\tinto\ttheir\tchairs.\tPeter\tsaid\tsoftly, \u2018Good\tshow,\tInspector.\tCongratulations!\u2019 \u2018Thanks.\tMay\tI\tnow\ttake\tyour\tleave?\u2019\tasked\tChaubey. \u2018I\t .\t .\t .\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t how\t to\t thank\t you!\u2019\t Tom\t spoke\t unexpectedly.\t \u2018You\t don\u2019t\t have\t to.\t That\t the thought\tof\tsaying\tthanks\tcrossed\tyour\tmind\tis\tgood\tenough\tfor\tme.\tGoodbye!\u2019","\u2018What\tare\tyou\tthinking,\tFelu\tBabu?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked\tover\tbreakfast\tthe\tnext\tday. \u2018There\tis\tsomething\twrong\t.\t.\t.\tsomewhere\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tmuttered\tFeluda\tabsent-mindedly. \u2018I\u2019ll\t tell\t you\t what\u2019s\t wrong.\t For\t the\t first\t time,\t the\t police\t caught\t the\t criminal\t before\t you.\t The inspector\twon,\tFelu\tBabu,\tand\tyou\tlost.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\u2019s\twrong.\u2019 \u2018No.\tThe\tthing\tis,\tyou\tsee,\tI\tcannot\tbelieve\tthat\tthe\tcase\tis\tover,\tand\tthere\u2019s\tnothing\tfor\tme\tto\tdo.\u2019 Feluda\tgrew\tpreoccupied\tagain.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Topshe,\twhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgo\tfor a\twalk?\tI\tneed\tto\tbe\talone.\tI\tneed\tto\tthink\tagain.\u2019 \u2018We\tcan\tsit\tin\tmy\troom.\tCome\ton,\tTapesh.\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tthis,\tTapesh,\tmy\tboy,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid,\toffering\tme\ta\tchair\tin\this\troom.\t\u2018We\tgot such\t a\t good\t opportunity\t to\t solve\t a\t mystery,\t and\t yet\t it\t just\t slipped\t through\t our\t fingers.\t Maybe\t it\u2019s because\tmy\tleft\teye\twas\ttwitching?\tNo,\tI\tmean\tseriously,\tis\tyour\tcousin\tall\tright?\tHe\tlooked\ttired,\tas though\the\thadn\u2019t\tslept\tvery\twell.\u2019 \u2018He\tsat\tup\tlate\treading\tthe\tbook\tyou\tgave\thim.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\ttime\the\twent\tto\tbed,\tbut\the\twas\tup at\tfive\tthis\tmorning\tto\tdo\this\tyoga.\u2019 \u2018Topshe!\u2019\t called\t Feluda\t from\t outside.\t His\t voice\t sounded\t urgent.\t Why\t had\t he\t followed\t us?\t Was anything\twrong? I\t opened\t the\t door\t quickly.\t Feluda\t rushed\t in\t and\t said,\t \u2018We\t have\t to\t go\t and\t see\t Chaubey, immediately.\u2019 \u2018What\thappened?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\ttell\tyou\tlater.\u2019 \u2018OK.\u2019 We\twere\tboth\tready\tto\tgo\tout\tin\tjust\ta\tfew\tseconds. \u2018To\tDubrajpur,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tto\tthe\tdriver.\t\u2018We\tneed\tto\tfind\tthe\tpolice\tstation\tthere.\u2019 This\twas\tnot\tdifficult.\tOur\tcar\twent\tstraight\tto\tthe\tpolice\tstation\tand\tstopped\tbefore\tthe\tmain\tgate. The\tconstable\ton\tduty\tlooked\tup\tenquiringly\tas\twe\tgot\tout.\t\u2018May\twe\tsee\tInspector\tChaubey?\u2019\tFeluda asked. \u2018Yes,\tplease\tcome\tthis\tway.\u2019 Chaubey\twas\tin\this\troom,\tgoing\tthrough\tsome\tfiles.\tHe\tlooked\tup\twith\ta\tmixture\tof\tpleasure\tand surprise. \u2018Oh,\twhat\tbrings\tyou\there?\u2019 \u2018There\tis\tsomething\twe\tneed\tto\ttalk\tabout.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tPlease\tsit\tdown.\tWould\tyou\tlike\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019 \u2018No,\tthanks.\tWe\u2019ve\tjust\thad\tbreakfast.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tSo\twhat\tcan\tI\tdo\tfor\tyou?\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\tjust\tone\tthing\tI\u2019d\tlike\tyou\tto\ttell\tme.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\ta\tChristian?\u2019 Chaubey\traised\this\teyebrows.\tThen\the\tsmiled\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tsuddenly\tneed\tto\tknow\tthat, Mr\tMitter?\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\ta\treason.\tAre\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tam\ta\tChristian.\tBut\thow\tdid\tyou\tguess?\u2019","\u2018Well,\t I\t saw\t you\t eat\t with\t your\t left\t hand,\t more\t than\t once.\t At\t first\t I\t paid\t no\t attention,\t but\t later\t it struck\t me\t as\t odd\t since\t Hindus\u2014unless\t they\u2019re\t left-handed\u2014prefer\t using\t their\t right\t hands\t to\t eat.\t I wondered\tif\tyou\twere\ta\tChristian,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\task\tat\tthe\ttime\tfor\tI\tdidn\u2019t\trealize\tit\tmight\thave\ta\tspecial significance.\tI\tthink\tI\tnow\tknow\twhat\tit\tmeans.\u2019 \u2018Really?\t So\t what\t does\t it\t signify,\t Mr\t Mitter?\t You\t didn\u2019t\t come\t all\t this\t way\t just\t to\t tell\t me\t you\u2019d guessed\tmy\treligion,\tdid\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No.\tAllow\tme\tto\task\tyou\tanother\tquestion.\u2019 \u2018Go\tahead.\u2019 \u2018Who\twas\tthe\tfirst\tin\tyour\tfamily\tto\tbecome\ta\tChristian?\u2019 \u2018My\tgrandfather.\u2019 \u2018What\twas\this\tname?\u2019 \u2018Anant\tNarayan.\u2019 \u2018What\twas\this\tson\tcalled?\u2019 \u2018Charles\tPremchand.\u2019 \u2018And\this\tson?\u2019 \u2018Richard\tShankar\tPrasad.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tyou,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\t\u00b7 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Was\tyour\tgreat-grandfather\tcalled\tHiralal?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\thow\tdid\tyou\u2014?\u2019 Chaubey\thad\tstopped\tsmiling.\tHe\tonly\tlooked\tamazed\tand\tbewildered. \u2018It\twas\tthe\tsame\tHiralal\twho\tused\tto\tpull\tthe\tpunkha\tfor\tReginald\tMaxwell.\tAm\tI\tright?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tyou\thave\tto\ttell\tme\thow\tyou\tlearnt\tall\tthis.\u2019 \u2018From\ta\tbook\twritten\tby\ta\tRev.\tPritchard.\tHe\ttook\tcharge\tof\tAnant\tNarayan\tafter\tHiralal\u2019s\tdeath, made\thim\ta\tChristian\tand\thelped\thim\tbuild\ta\tnew\tlife\tand\tfind\tnew\thappiness.\u2019 \u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tthere\twas\tsuch\ta\tbook!\u2019 \u2018Indeed\tthere\tis,\tthough\tit\u2019s\tnot\teasily\tavailable.\u2019 \u2018But\tif\tyou\tknow\tall\tthat,\tyou\tmust\thave\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018What?\u2019 \u2018You\tmust\tknow\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018What,\tInspector?\tWhat\tshould\tI\tknow?\u2019 \u2018Why\t don\u2019t\t you\t tell\t me\t yourself,\t Mr\t Mitter?\t I\t would\t find\t it\t extremely\t awkward\t to\t say\t anything myself.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tslowly,\t\u2018I\u2019ll\ttell\tyou\twhat\thappened.\tYou\tgrew\tup\thearing\ttales\tof\tReginald Maxwell\u2019s\tcruelty.\tYou\tcould\tnever\tforget\tthat\the\twas\tresponsible\tfor\tyour\tgreat-grandfather \u2019s\tdeath. But\t there\t was\t nothing\t you\t could\t do\t about\t it.\t However,\t when\t you\t heard\t Reginald\u2019s\t great-great- grandson\tTom\twas\there\tand\tsaw\tthat\tTom\thad\tinherited\tReginald\u2019s\tarrogance\tand\thatred\tfor\tIndians in\tfull\tmeasure,\tyou\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Stop,\tMr\tMitter!\tPlease\tsay\tno\tmore.\u2019 \u2018Does\tthat\tmean\tI\tam\tright\tin\tthinking\tthat\tit\twas\tyou\twho\tstruck\tTom\t at\t the\t dance,\t just\t because you\tfelt\tlike\tsettling\told\tscores?\tAnd\tthen\tyou\ttook\tthe\tstone\tso\tthat\tthe\tsuspicion\tfell\ton\tthe\tothers?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tMr\tMitter,\tyou\tare\tabsolutely\tright.\tNow\tyou\tmust\tdecide\thow\tI\tought\tto\tbe\tpunished.\tIf\tyou wish\tto\treport\tthe\tmatter\u2014\u2019 \u2018Inspector\tChaubey,\u2019\tFeluda\tsuddenly\tsmiled.\t\u2018I\twish\tto\tdo\tno\tsuch\tthing.\tThat\tis\twhat\tI\tcame\tto\ttell you.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t sir.\t I\t tho ug ht\t the\t who le\t thing \t o ver \t and\t r ealized\t that\t had\t I\t been\t in\t yo ur \t sho es,\t I\u2019d\t have\t do ne exactly\tthe\tsame.\tIn\tfact,\tI\tthink\tTom\u2019s\tbehaviour\tcalled\tfor\tsomething\tmuch\tworse\tthan\twhat\tyou\tdid to\thim.\tRelax,\tInspector.\tNobody\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tpunish\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\tMr\tMitter,\tthank\tyou!\u2019 \u2018Which\tone\tof\tyour\teyes\tis\ttwitching\tnow,\tMr\tKnow-All\tGanguli?\u2019 \u2018Both,\tFelu\tBabu,\tboth.\tThey\u2019re\tdancing\twith\tjoy.\tBut\twe\tmustn\u2019t\tforget\tone\tthing.\u2019 \u2018I\tknow\twhat\tyou\tmean.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tI\tmean?\u2019 \u2018We\tmustn\u2019t\tforget\tto\tthank\tyour\tfriend\tShatadal\tSen.\u2019 \u2018Correct.\tIf\the\thadn\u2019t\tlent\tus\tthat\tbook\u2014\u2019 \u2018\u2014We\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tsolved\tthis\tcase\u2014\u2019 \u2018\u2014And\tJagannath\tChatterjee\twould\thave\tremained\ta\tcriminal\u2019 \u2018At\tleast\tin\tour\tminds.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tTo\tMr\tSen\u2019s\thouse,\tplease\tdriver,\tbefore\tyou\ttake\tus\tback\tto\tthe\tlodge.\u2019 Robertson\u2019s\t Ruby\t eventually\t went\t to\t the\t Calcutta\t Museum.\t Needless\t to\t say,\t Feluda\t played\t an important\trole\tin\tthe\tactual\ttransfer.\tHe\tpointed\tout\tto\tPeter\tthat\tTom\twas\tsimply\tbeing\tgreedy.\tIf\the could\t get\t sponsorship\t from\t a\t famous\t journal\t like\t the\t National\t Geographic,\t he\t couldn\u2019t,\t by\t any means,\tbe\tlacking\tin\tfunds. Tom\tMaxwell\tdid\this\tbest\tto\tinfluence\this\tfriend\u2019s\tdecision\tagain,\tbut\tthis\ttime\tPeter\twas\tadamant. Patrick\tRobertson\u2019s\tlast\twish\twas\tfinally\tfulfilled.","Author\u2019s\tNote I\t have\t been\t an\t avid\t reader\t of\t crime\t fiction\t for\t a\t very\t long\t time.\t I\t read\t all\t the\t Sherlock\t Holmes stories\twhile\tstill\tat\tschool.\tWhen\tI\trevived\tthe\tchildren\u2019s\tmagazine\tSandesh\twhich\t my\t grandfather launched\tseventy-five\tyears\tago,\tI\tstarted\twriting\tstories\tfor\tit.\tThe\tfirst\tFeluda\tstory\u2014a\tlong-short \u2014appeared\tin\t1965.\tFelu\tis\tthe\tnickname\tof\tPradosh\tMitter,\tprivate\tinvestigator.\tThe\tstory\twas\ttold in\tthe\tfirst\tperson\tby\tFelu\u2019s\tWaston\u2014his\tfourteen-year-old\tcousin\tTapesh.\tThe\tsuffix\t\u2018da\u2019\t(short\tfor \u2018dada\u2019)\tmeans\tan\telder\tbrother. Although\tthe\tFeluda\tstories\twere\twritten\tfor\tthe\tlargely\tteenaged\treaders\tof\tSandesh,\tI\tfound\tthey were\tbeing\tread\tby\ttheir\tparents\tas\twell.\tSoon\tlonger\tstories\tfollowed\u2014novelettes\u2014taking\tplace\tin\ta variety\tof\tpicturesque\tsettings.\tA\tthird\tcharacter\twas\tintroduced\tearly\ton:\tLalmohan\tGanguli,\twriter of\tcheap,\tpopular\tthrillers.\tHe\tserves\tas\ta\tfoil\tto\tFelu\tand\tprovides\tdollops\tof\thumour. When\tI\twrote\tmy\tfirst\tFeluda\tstory,\tI\tscarcely\timagined\the\twould\tprove\tso\tpopular\tthat\tI\twould\tbe forced\t to\t write\t a\t Feluda\t novel\t every\t year.\t To\t write\t a\t whodunit\t while\t keeping\t in\t mind\t a\t young readership\t is\t not\t an\t easy\t task,\t because\t the\t stories\t have\t to\t be\t kept\t \u2018clean\u2019.\t No\t illicit\t love,\t no\t crime passionel,\tand\tonly\ta\tmodicum\tof\tviolence.\tI\thope\tadult\treaders\twill\tbear\tthis\tin\tmind\twhen\treading these\tstories. Calcutta February\t1988 Satyajit\tRay","","THE\tBEGINNING Let\tthe\tconversation\tbegin... Follow\tthe\tPenguin\tTwitter.com@PenguinIndia Keep\tup-to-date\twith\tall\tour\tstories\tYoutube.com\/PenguinIndia Like\t\u2018Penguin\tBooks\u2019\ton\tFacebook.com\/PenguinIndia Find\tout\tmore\tabout\tthe\tauthor\tand discover\tmore\tstories\tlike\tthis\tat\tPenguinbooksindia.com","P EN GU IN \tBOOKS Published\tby\tthe\tPenguin\tGroup Penguin\tBooks\tIndia\tPvt.\tLtd,\t7th\tFloor,\tInfinity\tTower\tC,\tDLF\tCyber\tCity,\tGurgaon\t-\t122\t002,\tHaryana,\tIndia P enguin\tGroup\t(U SA)\tInc.,\t375\tHudson\tStreet,\tN ew\tYork,\tN ew\tYork\t10014,\tU SA Penguin\tGroup\t(Canada),\t90\tEglinton\tAvenue\tEast,\tSuite\t700,\tToronto,\tOntario\tM4P\t2Y3,\tCanada Penguin\tBooks\tLtd,\t80\tStrand,\tLondon\tWC2R\t0RL,\tEngland Penguin\tIreland,\t25\tSt\tStephen\u2019s\tGreen,\tDublin\t2,\tIreland\t(a\tdivision\tof\tPenguin\tBooks\tLtd) Penguin\tGroup\t(Australia),\t707\tCollins\tStreet,\tMelbourne,\tVictoria\t3008,\tAustralia P enguin\tGroup\t(N Z),\t67\tApol l o\tDrive,\tRosedal e,\tAuckl and\t0632,\tN ew\tZeal and P enguin\tBooks\t(South\tAfrica)\t(P ty)\tLtd,\tBl ock\tD,\tRosebank\tOffice\tP ark,\t181\tJan\tSmuts\tAvenue,\tP arktown\tN orth,\tJohannesburg\t2193, South\tAfrica Penguin\tBooks\tLtd,\tRegistered\tOffices:\t80\tStrand,\tLondon\tWC2R\t0RL,\tEngland First\tpublished\tby\tPenguin\tBooks\tIndia\t2000 This\trejacketed\tedition\tpublished\t2015 www.penguinbooksindia.com Copyright\t\u00a9\tThe\tEstate\tof\tSatyajit\tRay\t2000,\t2004 This\ttranslation\tcopyright\t\u00a9\tPenguin\tBooks\tIndia\t2000,\t2004 Cover\tillustration\tby\tSukanto\tDebnath Cover\tdesign\tby\tAparajita\tN inan All\trights\treserved ISBN :\t978- 0- 143- 42504- 5 This\tdigital\tedition\tpublished\tin\t2015. e- ISBN :\t978- 9- 352- 14116- 6 This\tbook\tis\tsold\tsubject\tto\tthe\tcondition\tthat\tit\tshall\tnot,\tby\tway\tof\ttrade\tor\totherwise,\tbe\tlent,\tresold,\thired\tout,\tor\totherwise\tcirculated without\t the\t publ isher \u2019s\t prior\t written\t consent\t in\t any\t form\t of\t binding\t or\t cover\t other\t than\t that\t in\t which\t it\t is\t publ ished\t and\t without\t a\t simil ar condition\t including\t this\t condition\t being\t imposed\t on\t the\t subsequent\t purchaser\t and\t without\t limiting\t the\t rights\t under\t copyright\t reserved above,\tno\tpart\tof\tthis\tpublication\tmay\tbe\treproduced,\tstored\tin\tor\tintroduced\tinto\ta\tretrieval\tsystem,\tor\ttransmitted\tin\tany\tform\tor\tby\tany means\t (electronic,\t mechanical,\t photocopying,\t recording\t or\t otherwise),\t without\t the\t prior\t written\t permission\t of\t both\t the\t copyright\t owner and\tthe\tabove-mentioned\tpublisher\tof\tthis\tbook."]