I felt a sudden stab of disappointment on seeing Mr Singhania. Perhaps it was his name that had made me think of lions and, subconsciously, I was expecting a man with a personality to match the majesty and ferocity of that animal. The man who walked in was of medium height, and everything else about him was so ordinary that it took me a while to accept that this indeed was the wealthy and powerful man who had gone to tempt Mr Upadhyaya. Only his thick moustache seemed to give him an air of importance. ‘My name is Singhania,’ he said. ‘Please sit down.’ We sat on two mattresses. He took the third, and sat facing us. ‘I am aware how well-known you are, Mr Mitter, but so far I haven’t had the chance to meet you,’ he began. ‘Nobody wants to meet me unless they are in trouble,’ Feluda replied lightly. ‘Possibly, but I am not in trouble.’ ‘I know that. In fact, I had heard of you. But I wasn’t sure that you were the same Singhania.’ ‘I’d be very interested to know how you learnt my name.’ ‘Did you ever go to Haridwar?’ ‘Oh yes.’ ‘Did you meet a man called Bhavani Upadhyaya there?’ ‘I did, but how do you know about it?’ ‘Mr Upadhyaya’s landlord told me someone called Singhania had come to meet his tenant, together with another man.’ ‘What else did he tell you?’ ‘You had apparently made a proposition that Upadhyaya found immensely tempting, but he managed to overcome that temptation.’ ‘What a strange man, this Upadhyaya! I have never seen anyone like him. Can you imagine this, Mr Mitter? His monthly income never exceeded five hundred rupees, as he treated the poor without charging a penny. I offered him five hundred thousand. You know about the pendant he was given, don’t you? Originally, I believe it used to belong to the Maharaja of Travancore.’ ‘Yes, I’ve heard that, but what I’d like to know is who told you. I was given to understand that only a handful of people who were close to Chandradeo Singh knew about it.’ ‘You’re right, Mr Mitter. It was one of this handful of people who told me. I have a business in Delhi. I buy and sell precious stones and jewellery. Umashankar Puri’s son, Devishankar, came to me and told me about this pendant. He wanted me to buy it, and naturally, expected a commission. So I went to Haridwar, but Upadhyaya refused to part with it, even at the price I offered. Puri lost all interest, but I did not. I simply cannot give up the idea of buying it. I have come here to make one last

attempt. If Upadhyaya has renounced the world and become a sanyasi, why should he want to hang on to an earthly object like that? Doesn’t it seem strange? Maybe if I made another offer, he’d agree to sell it this time?’ ‘So why don’t you approach him?’