Byomkesh said, ‘Wrong address. Anyway, since we have come, let us check it out.’

After some knocking and shouting a domestic came out of the house, ‘Who would you be looking for, sir?’

‘Is the master at home?’

‘No.’

‘Who lives here?’

‘The Inspector of Police.’

‘Inspector? What is his name?’

‘Birenbabu.’

Byomkesh stared at him, open-mouthed, for a while. Then he guffawed and said, ‘Oh, I get it. When your master returns, tell him Byomkeshbabu was here to pay his respects. ‘ He continued to chuckle as we walked away.

I said, ‘You seem tobe quite delighted.’

‘What else can I be!’ said Byomkesh. ‘This man has such a tremendous sense of humour that he cracks jokes even at the government’s expense. If such a man wishes to play a prank on me, it would be rude not to play along. You go on home, I have some work to do. I shall discuss everything with you when I return.’

We had arrived at Harrison Road. Byomkesh jumped onto a passing tram.

That afternoon Byomkesh deigned to reveal his strategy to me. The plan did not inspire any hopes in me. It was like dropping a line into an unknown lake, in the hope that some fish may take the bait. When I said as much, Byomkesh said, ‘Well, of course, it is surely a shot in the dark and there is no guarantee of success. If it doesn’t work, we shall have to think of something else.’

I asked, ‘Has the Commissioner agreed to this?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘Is there anything I can do?’

‘Just keep this to yourself, that’s all. I’m going to leave right now. If I am to die, I should hurry up and have it done with. After all, how long can one matchbox last? If you wish, you may go to Srirampore tomorrow to take a look at the unidentified corpse.’

‘In the meantime if someone comes looking for you, what should I say?’

‘Tell them that I have left the city on a secret mission and you do not know when I shall return.’

‘Birenbabu may drop by in the evening. Should he be given the same story?’

Byomkesh knitted his brows and remained in thought for a few moments and then said, ‘Yes, tell him the same thing. You mustn’t reveal the plan to anyone at all.’

‘Fine.’ I was a little surprised. Birenbabu was part of the police and also the officer in charge of this case. Why should he be kept in the dark?

As if he sensed my unspoken doubt, Byomkesh said, ‘There is no particular reason for not telling Birenbabu, except an ordinary precaution. At present nobody knows about this plan except you, the Commissioner and me. Of course, tomorrow some more people will come to know of it. But for as long as possible, it should be kept completely under wraps. The learned Chanakya says that the key to successful politics lies in the secrecy of the scheme. So you are to keep your lips firmly sealed.’

About half an hour after Byomkesh left, Birenbabu called.

‘Where is Byomkeshbabu?’

‘He has gone out of Calcutta.’

‘Where has he gone?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘When will he return?’

‘There is no certainty; it may be a while, maybe a few days.’

‘A few days! Why were you people at my house this morning?’

I played dumb and said, ‘I don’t know.’

At the other end of the line, Birenbabu made some disapproving noises, ‘Looks like you know nothing. Do you at least know which assignment has taken Byomkeshbabu out of Calcutta?’

‘No.’

Birenbabu slammed the phone down.

It was four o’clock. I ordered Putiram to make some tea and was just wondering what I could do next, when there was a soft knock on the door. I got up, opened the door and found our scalded friend of the previous day. He was carrying a newspaper.

He said, ‘Byomkeshbabu isn’t in?’

‘No. But do come in.’

There was no purpose to the visit. He had just dropped by to honour the invitation extended the other day. I too was at a loss as to how I would spend the evening. So I was delighted to have Mr Bose’s company. He took a seat and said, ‘There was a very strange classified in today’s paper, I thought it might interest you. Perhaps it hasn’t caught your attention. ‘ He opened the newspaper and handed it to me, saying, ‘Have you seen it?’

It was the same advertisement! I was in a quandary. I was a very bad liar and invariably got caught out. Yet Byomkesh had quoted Chanakya to me and ordained me to keep my lips sealed. I was struggling to find a solution to my dilemma when Mr Bose smiled and said, ‘You have read it, but Byomkeshbabu has forbidden you to reveal anything, is that it?’

I remained silent.

Byomkesh Bose went on, ‘Lately matchsticks have been much in the news. Just the other day Debkumarbabu’s trial came to an end, that too was about matchsticks; and again there is this classified selling matchsticks—the price is one lakh rupees for a box! Naturally one begins to wonder if there is a connection between the two. ‘ He looked at me inquiringly. I still held my tongue.

He said, ‘Anyway, let that be. You are going to suspect me of trying to get your secrets out in the open. ‘ He changed the subject and I heaved a sigh of relief.

Putiram brought in the tea. The discussion shifted to cricket, politics, literature and various other topics. I found Mr Bose to be quite genial and sociable. He was also very knowledgeable.

At one point I asked, ‘So what is it that you do exactly? I hope you do not mind my asking.’

He remained quiet for a few moments and then said, ‘I work for the government.’

‘A government job?’

‘Yes, but the job doesn’t really involve