Jayant Biswas rang us later, as promised. The police had been meticulous in their search, but the necklace had not been found. They had even questioned the servants, to no avail. ‘I’ll come over, Mr Biswas,’ Feluda told him. ‘Now I’ll start my own investigation. It won’t clash with what the police are doing, I assure you.’ We took a taxi from the hotel, crossed the Gomti bridge and reached Mr Biswas’s house. It still wore a rather forlorn air. Suleman opened the door once more and showed us into the living room. Mr Biswas was seated on a sofa. He rose as we entered the room. ‘They couldn’t find it,’ he said, shaking his head sadly. ‘That’s hardly surprising. A clever thief like that would never leave it lying about, would he?’ ‘Would you like to search the house yourself?’ ‘No, no. I only want to speak to everyone in your family. Who is at home right now?’ ‘My wife, my daughter and Mr Som. I don’t think my son is back yet.’ ‘I see. I also need to talk to Mr Saldanha and Mr Sukius.’ ‘That shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll give you their addresses.’ ‘Very well. Let me start with you.’ ‘Go ahead. You wouldn’t mind a cup of tea, would you?’ ‘No, that would be very nice, thank you.’ Suleman was told to get four cups of tea. Feluda lit a Charminar and began his questions. ‘You told the police Mr Sukius had wanted to buy that necklace. How long ago was that?’ ‘About a year ago.’ ‘How did he learn about the necklace?’ ‘Lots of people know about it. It’s been written about more than once. When my mother-in-law died, the Pioneer published a short biography which mentioned the necklace. Sukius is really a moneylender. I mean, that’s how he’s made his money. Normally, one doesn’t associate a moneylender with anything as refined as art and aesthetics. But Sukius is different. I have been to his house. He has exquisite taste.’ ‘How did he react when you refused to sell the necklace?’ ‘He was naturally very disappointed. He had offered two hundred thousand. I might have agreed, but my wife wouldn’t dream of parting with it. And now, the very same . . .’ he left his sentence unfinished and sighed. ‘Do you suspect anyone?’ ‘No. I still feel perfectly amazed. I cannot believe one of my old and trusted servants did it. Yet, who else would have stolen it? Why would they do such a thing?’

‘You are a businessman, aren’t you?’ ‘Well yes, I have a small firm. We handle exports and imports.’ ‘How well are you doing?’ ‘Not bad, Mr Mitter. I have a partner. We run the firm together.’ ‘What’s he called?’ ‘Tribhuvan Nagar. We began our careers as clerks in a merchant firm. Thirty years ago, we gave that up and formed our own company.’ ‘What’s the name of your company? ‘Modern Imports & Exports.’ ‘Where is your office?’ ‘Hazratganj.’ Suleman came back with the tea. We helped ourselves. ‘I have one more question,’ said Feluda. ‘Yes?’ ‘While the film was being shown yesterday, did you see anyone move or go out of the room?’ ‘No.’ ‘Does your son work anywhere?’ ‘No. I tried to get him to join me, but he refused.’ ‘How old is he?’ ‘Twenty-five.’ ‘What’s he interested in?’ ‘God knows.’ ‘Thank you, Mr Biswas. May I now speak to your wife?’ ‘Certainly. But she’s very distressed, you understand.’ ‘I promise I won’t take long.’ Mr Biswas went inside to fetch his wife. We had finished our tea by this time. When Suneela Biswas arrived, she looked as if she had spent a long time crying. Despite that, the resemblances she bore to her mother seemed more pronounced today. She said in a low voice: ‘You wished to ask some questions, I believe?’ ‘Yes, only a few. I won’t keep you long.’ ‘Very well.’ ‘When your mother gave you her famous necklace instead of your elder sister, how did your sister react?’ ‘She had guessed what my mother was going to do.’ ‘How?’ ‘She was my father’s pet, I was mother’s. She gave me that necklace three years before she died. My sister and I never spoke about it, so really I couldn’t tell you how she reacted.’ ‘Are you and your sister close to each other?’ ‘Yes. We’re getting closer as we’re growing older. When we were young, there was a feeling of rivalry between us.’ ‘You were fond of acting, weren’t you?

‘Yes. That’s why my mother was so proud of me. Susheela—my sister—was never interested in acting.’ ‘What about your daughter?’ ‘She’s taken part in plays in school and her college. Then she received a few offers from film producers, but did not accept.’ ‘What does she want to do?’ ‘Go into journalism. She’s already started writing. She wants to be independent and have a career of her own.’ ‘Do you suspect anyone of having stolen your necklace?’ ‘No. I cannot help you at all, I am afraid.’ ‘Did you see anyone leave their seat during the film show last night?’ ‘No. I thought everyone was totally engrossed in the film.’ ‘Thank you Mrs Biswas, no more questions for you.’ Suneela Biswas said goodbye and went inside. Feluda turned to Mr Biswas once more. ‘I’d like to see Mr Som, if I may.’ ‘Sure.’ Mr Biswas disappeared inside and sent Mr Som. Mr Som had shaved this morning, which made him look slightly less unsavoury. He sat on the small sofa opposite Feluda and lit a cheroot. I had seen him smoking a cheroot last night too. A pungent smell filled the room. ‘How long have you lived in this house?’ Feluda began. ‘About fifteen years. Shakuntala Devi herself had brought me here.’ ‘Didn’t you mind having to depend on someone’s charity?’ ‘I had very little choice in the matter, Mr Mitter. I had already crossed fifty. Arthritis affected my right thumb so badly