The explosion came the next day. But, before I explain how it happened, I must describe what the day was like. It was cloudy, so Kanchenjunga couldn’t be seen. Feluda and I went out in the morning for a bit of shopping. Then we took a walk down Birch Hill Road before returning to our hotel. I left for Nayanpur Villa at eleven. Lalmohan Babu was already there, having practised his new lines to perfection. He had five lines today, and wasn’t required to light a cigar in a single shot. This gave an added bounce to his step. Pulak Ghoshal took seven shots with Lalmohan Babu. He was free by half past four. ‘There’s a jeep waiting, Laluda,’ Pulak Babu said, ‘you can go back any time.’ ‘Since I’ve managed to finish early today, Pulak, I think I’ll walk back.’ ‘Very well, just as you wish.’ ‘I like their tea,’ Lalmohan Babu confided when Pulak Ghoshal had gone, ‘so why don’t we wait until tea is served?’ By the time we had had tea, it was five o’clock. It took us another half an hour to reach the hotel. We found Feluda putting on his jacket rather hurriedly. ‘Going out?’ I asked. Feluda gave me a startled look. ‘But you were there! Didn’t you hear anything?’ ‘We left more than half an hour ago. No, we didn’t hear anything. What’s happened?’ ‘The old Mr Majumdar has been murdered.’ ‘Wha-a-a-t!’ Lalmohan Babu and I yelled together. ‘He rang me at about half past twelve,’ Feluda told us. ‘He said he had something important to tell me, so he’d see me here in the evening. And then this happened.’ ‘Who told you?’ ‘His son. Samiran Majumdar rang me five minutes ago. He said he had informed the police, but would like me to be there as well. It was he who found the body, when he went to see why his father hadn’t got up even after five. The door was shut, but not locked or bolted. Apparently, Mr Majumdar always left his door unlocked. Someone stabbed him in the chest. Their family doctor has already confirmed that stabbing was the cause of death. Whatever shooting remained has naturally been cancelled, and until the police finish their enquiries, it will have to stay cancelled. Anyway, I am going there. Would you like to come with me, or would you rather stay here?’ ‘Stay here? Felu Babu, how could we stay here after such news? Let’s go!’ We reached Nayanpur Villa at quarter past six. It was dark by this time, and had started to rain. Everyone from the film unit was still present. Pulak Ghoshal came forward to meet us. ‘What a terrible affair!’ he exclaimed. ‘None of us can quite believe it. What a nice man he was, so very

accommodating.’ I had already seen a police jeep standing outside. An inspector was waiting on the front veranda. He stretched out an arm towards Feluda. ‘I have heard a lot