Inspector Singh stayed on for the next three hours to question everyone. He had a word with Feluda first of all. ‘Did you hear anything suspicious last night?’ ‘No. The noise from the river tends to drown every other sound.’ ‘Yes, that’s true. That’s an advantage for a criminal, isn’t it? By the way, I haven’t met your companions.’ ‘Sorry, let me introduce them. This is Lalmohan Ganguli, he’s a writer; and that’s my cousin, Tapesh.’ Inspector Singh asked us the same questions, then allowed us to go into town. The three of us found a restaurant and ordered tea and omelettes. No one had had the chance to have breakfast. ‘What surprises me,’ said Lalmohan Babu, munching thoughtfully, ‘is that when the culprit couldn’t kill the son, he decided to kill the father.’ ‘It may not necessarily be the same man. Someone might have had something against Vijay Mallik, but a totally different person might have attacked his father.’ ‘My suspicions have fallen on someone.’ ‘Who?’ ‘Dr Majumdar. He’s supposed to be a doctor, a man of science; and, at the same time, he’s speaking to the dead. It’s peculiar, don’t you think?’ ‘Perhaps. It’s true that he had the best opportunity, since he slept only a few feet away from the deceased. But what motive could he possibly have had? Stealing that diamond ring? If so, he must be in desperate need of money. But there’s nothing to indicate that he is.’ ‘What about Vijay Mallik?’ ‘He stands to gain a lot, there’s no doubt about that. Mr Mallik was pretty wealthy, and Vijay will get all his assets—unless, of course, Mr Mallik made a will and left his money to someone else.’ ‘But why should Vijay want to kill his father? He’s got a good job, he earns reasonably well. Why should he be in need of a vast amount of money? I mean, killing another human being isn’t child’s play, is it?’ ‘No, it most certainly isn’t, and like you, I cannot see what pressing motive Vijay could have had.’ ‘Sushant Som? What about him?’ ‘Qualified and efficient, a man Mr Mallik used to depend on quite heavily. No discernible motive there, either.’ ‘Well then . . . suppose it was a case of revenge? Surely Mr Mallik had loads of enemies?’ ‘True. That’s what I’ve been thinking. Just consider the number of people he had sent to the gallows.’

‘But . . . well, revenge can be ruled out at least in his son’s case, I think.’ ‘Absolutely, which brings us back to square one.’ After lunch that afternoon, Feluda said he wanted to go for another walk, this time in the main town. Only a long walk would clear his head. ‘Keep your weapon with you, Felu Babu, even if you’re only going into town,’ Lalmohan Babu advised him. We went and sat by the river again. Mr Som came and joined us. ‘A bolt from the blue, wasn’t it?’ he said, sounding upset.