I said, ‘I see that your sympathies for Malati Devi are on the upsurge.’

‘And whyever not?’

I continued, ‘Your sympathies for Rajani are ebbing with equal speed?’

‘Certainly not. I have nothing against Rajani. She is not to blame in all of this. The blame lies squarely with the male species.’

I raised a finger in mock-warning, saying, ‘Look here, don’t bring “species” into it!’

Satyaboti crinkled her nose and marched into the kitchen.

When we reached Mahidharbabu’s house it was still early evening, but the shadows were lengthening in the garden. There was no one at the gates. I presumed the gates stayed open at night.

The main door was open, but it didn’t seem as though anyone was at home. After a few attempts at clearing our throats loudly, an aged domestic appeared at the doorway. He said, ‘The master is resting upstairs. The little mistress is out in the garden. Please have a seat and I shall call her.’

Byomkesh said, ‘No need for that. We’ll find our way.’ He headed straight for one specific corner of the garden. The trees and bushes made it difficult to see very far, but the tiny paths spread out under our feet like spiders’ webs. I realized that Byomkesh was making for Phalguni’s dwelling.

We reached the corner of the compound. A tiny hut stood there, with clay tiles for a roof; it looked like a shed to stock the gardening tools. Just beside it there was a huge draw-well.

The door to the hut lay open, but it was dark inside. I beamed my torch into the interiors. Someone was lying upon a pile of hay. As the light shone upon him, he got up and came outside. It was Phalguni Pal.

Today he was not in a good mood; his voice was full of injured pride. He said, ‘Are you from the police too, come to search my room? Well, come on in and take a look. You won’t find anything. I may be poor, but I am not a thief.’

Byomkesh said, ‘We have not come to search. We just want to ask you a few questions. Why did you go to Ushanathbabu’s house last night?’

Bitterly, Phalguni replied, ‘I had done a sketch of him and I took it to show him. The watchman didn’t let me in and sent me away. Fine, that suits me. But was it necessary to set the police on my heels?’

Byomkesh said, ‘That was very unfair indeed. I shall tell the police; they will not trouble you again.’

‘Thank you. ‘ Phalguni went back into his dark hut. We retraced our steps.

Daylight was almost gone. We began to wander aimlessly in the garden, but did not see Rajani anywhere.

At the far end of the garden, there was a raised field house built with stones. It was encircled by a girdle of verdant moss. The field house was square in shape and resembled a pyramid. As we passed it, we suddenly heard voices raised in suppressed emotion, ‘Picture, picture, picture! What’s the use of the picture—I don’t need it.’

‘Shh! Someone may hear you.’

The voices were familiar; the first was Dr Ghatok’s and the second Rajani’s. We had found Dr Ghatok to be a mild- mannered, reserved person and it was difficult to imagine that such overt aggression could emanate from his voice. Rajani’s voice too held a heightened note, but that wasn’t so surprising.

When Dr Ghatok spoke again, his voice was relatively calmer, but there was still an excess of pent-up emotions in it. ‘I want you—just you. It’s not possible to quench a thirst for wine with the taste of water.’

Rajani said, ‘And I? Do I not want you? But there is no other way.’

Ghatok said, ‘There is a way, as I have told you.’

Rajani said, ‘But Father—’

Ghatok said, ‘You are not a minor. Your father cannot stop you.’

Rajani said, ‘I know that. But—listen to me, please, Father is unwell right now. Let him get better and then...’

Ghatok said, ‘No. I want to know this very moment whether you are with me or not.’

A pause. Then Rajani said, ‘All right, I’ll give you my answer today, but not right now. I need a little time. Meet me here at ten-thirty tonight; we can talk then. Perhaps people have come to the house now and if they don’t see me...’

Silently, Byomkesh grabbed my hand and pulled me away.

We were tip-toeing away from the place, when we suddenly noticed another figure emerging from behind the pyramid and stealthily making his way in the opposite direction. But before I could identify him accurately, he vanished into the darkness.

After putting some distance between the pyramid and ourselves, Byomkesh said, ‘Let’s get back home; there’s no need to visit today.’

We stepped out on the road. It was dark and there was no moon in the sky. The street was dimly lit. I turned the torch on from time to time and led the way back home.

Byomkesh was deep in thought. I guessed that he was trying to mentally map the path on which the two young lovers were about to venture. I did not disturb his contemplation.

When we were almost home, Byomkesh asked, ‘Did you recognize the other man?’

I said, ‘No. Who was it?’

Byomkesh said, ‘It was our landlord, Professor Adinath Shome.’

‘Really! Byomkesh, this case is growing too complicated for my taste. A missing photograph, a stolen figurine, a dipsomaniac artist, a one-eyed civil servant, a couple involved in illicit romance, an eavesdropping professor—I can’t make any sense of it.’

‘And you are not meant to either. You know that song—the strings are tangled up together, my harp can’t play the tune? I’m in a similar dilemma.’

‘Tell me, this matter of the doctor and Rajani—shouldn’t we do something about it?’

In a resolute tone Byomkesh said, ‘Nothing at all. We are