Feluda shook me awake the next morning. I sat up quickly. ‘What is it, Feluda?’ He looked grim. ‘Mr Biswas rang me just now. Shakuntala’s necklace has been stolen.’ ‘Oh my God!’ ‘Get ready as quickly as you can. I’ll go and tell Lalmohan Babu. We must go back there after breakfast. I believe everyone except Mr Sukius has already arrived after they heard the news.’ ‘Haven’t the police been informed?’ ‘Yes, but they want me as well.’ We reached Mr Biswas’s house by half past eight. The cheerful atmosphere of the night before was replaced today by a sombre silence. ‘I can’t help feeling I am responsible,’ Feluda said. ‘That necklace was taken out yesterday only because I asked to see it. It may well have nothing to do with the theft, but I thought I ought to tell you how awful I feel.’ The police had already appeared. The inspector in charge greeted Feluda with an outstretched arm. ‘Mr Pradosh Mitter?’ he said, shaking hands, ‘I have heard of you. I am Inspector Pandey.’ ‘Pleased to meet you, sir.’ ‘I assume you’d like to make your own enquiries?’ ‘Yes, but only after you’ve finished.’ ‘Thank you.’ Inspector Pandey began asking questions. It was gradually revealed that when the last guest had left after midnight, Mrs Biswas retired to her bedroom and suddenly felt like looking at the necklace once more. As she confessed herself, ‘It is probably only my vanity that made me want to open the chest and look at the necklace. I had just watched my mother wear it on the screen and it looked lovely on her. So I thought I’d put it round my own neck and see how I looked. But . . . but when I took out the key from my dressing table drawer and opened the chest, I couldn’t find it anywhere. I called my daughter immediately and asked her if she had put it back. She was absolutely sure that she had. It had always been kept in that chest. Where else could she have put it, anyway?’ ‘You had a dinner party last night, didn’t you?’ the inspector asked. ‘Yes,’ Mrs Biswas replied. ‘When did it start and how long did it continue?’ ‘It went from a quarter to eight to midnight.’ ‘Mrs Biswas, did you go straight to your room after the party was over?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And how long was it before you discovered the necklace was missing?’

‘About fifteen minutes.’ ‘You didn’t leave your room during that period?’ ‘No.’ ‘That means it was stolen during the party.’ ‘So it seems,’ Mr Biswas remarked. ‘When my daughter brought the necklace out to show it to Mr Mitter, the party was in full swing.’ ‘After that, Miss Biswas, did you put the necklace back where you had found it? Did you go back to your mother’s room straightaway?’ ‘Of course!’ Mary Sheela said firmly. ‘I didn’t waste even a second.’ ‘Perhaps I ought to mention, Inspector, that soon after the necklace was taken away, all the lights in the living room were switched off to screen a film. The room remained dark for ten minutes.’ ‘How many servants do you have?’ ‘Three. A cook and two bearers.’ ‘How long have you had them?’ ‘Fifteen years or more. Suleman, the old bearer, has been with us since the time of my father-in- law,’ Mrs Biswas said. ‘Then there is only one conclusion to be drawn,’ Inspector Pandey declared. ‘If you think your servants are all above suspicion, the necklace was taken by one of those present at the party. I am sorry, Mr Biswas, but every reason points that way.’ I—and possibly Feluda and Lalmohan Babu—could only agree with him. Inspector Pandey now turned to Feluda. ‘Mr Mitter, who are your companions?’ ‘Sorry, I should have introduced them before. This is my cousin, Tapesh; and that’s my friend, Lalmohan Ganguli. He is a well-known writer.’ ‘How long have you known him?’ ‘More than five years.’ I looked at Lalmohan Babu. He had turned pale. For a moment, I tried to picture him as a thief. Even at this critical moment, I nearly laughed out loud. Fortunately, the inspector changed the subject. ‘How many people live in this house?’ he asked. ‘Apart from my wife and myself, my two children and Mr Som, the artist.’ Mr Som was present in the room with all the others. His stubble was heavier today which made him look even more haggard. ‘What about the others?’ Inspector Pandey went on. ‘Mr Saldanha and his wife live in Clive Road. Mrs Saldanha and my wife are sisters.’ ‘I can see one more gentleman.’ ‘Yes, he is my wife’s brother, Ratanlal Banerjee.’ ‘Was there anyone else at the party?’ ‘Only one other person. In fact, he had not been invited, but he happened to drop by. It was Mr Sukius. He arrived while the film was being shown. I saw him only when the lights came on.’ ‘What does Mr Sukius do?’ ‘He is a collector of antiques and art objects. He is also a professional moneylender.’

‘Did he ever show an interest in that necklace?’ ‘Yes. He wanted to buy it, but I refused to sell.’ ‘I see.’ Inspector Pandey was silent for a few moments. Then he said, ‘I think we are agreed that one of the guests at dinner removed the necklace. The question is: where has it gone?’ Mr Biswas cleared his throat. ‘If you wish to search us and the house, please feel free to do so.’ ‘Yes, I’m afraid I am going to have to do that. I’ve arranged a couple of women police officers to search the women. The house will have to be thoroughly searched.’ No one raised any objection. Only Mr Saldanha said, ‘I have to go and open my shop at ten o’clock. I’d be grateful if you could search me first and allow me to leave before ten.’ Feluda was silent all this while. Now