I had no idea Saldanha & Co. in Hazratganj was such an old shop. Its threadbare look startled me. Mr Saldanha was sitting behind a desk. The shop was going to close in fifteen minutes. There was no one except an assistant. Mr Saldanha smiled as he saw us arrive. ‘Welcome, Mr Mitter. Do sit down.’ We were offered three chairs. ‘I hope we haven’t caused you any inconvenience by coming here?’ Feluda asked. ‘Oh no, not at all. We’re about to close, anyway. You may ask me what you like; then when we’re finished here. I’ll take you to my house. You could have a cup of coffee and meet my wife.’ ‘That would be very nice, thank you. I would like to ask your wife a few questions as well. You see, I have to speak to everyone who was present at the party.’ ‘That’s all right. I don’t think she’ll mind.’ ‘Very well. Let me begin with you. How old is this shop?’ ‘Nearly seventy years. My grandfather started it. It was Lucknow’s first music shop.’ ‘There must be other music shops now?’ ‘Yes, there are two more, both owned by Goans. One belongs to de Mello, the other to Noronha. One of them is not far from here. Sadly, we have not been able to keep up with the times. You can tell that, can’t you, from the appearance of this shop?’ ‘Are you saying that your business isn’t doing all that well?’ ‘What can I say, Mr Mitter? It’s the age of competition, isn’t it? If I could get my son to join me, perhaps his young ideas would help. But he studied medicine, then went off to America. He’s earning a lot of money there, but his old Dad has to look after this old shop. I have a few faithful customers, so I do get by, but things have changed. No one respects simplicity and honesty any more. Everyone wants glamour.’ Feluda made sympathetic noises, then moved to his next question. ‘Do you have anything to say about the tragedy that occurred last night?’ ‘I hardly know what to say. When that necklace went to my sister-in-law, Margaret—my wife— broke down completely. She loved that necklace and was bitterly disappointed it wasn’t given to her. And who could blame her? It was so extraordinarily beautiful . . absolutely priceless.’ ‘You mean you agree that it was unfair of Shakuntala Devi to have given it to her younger daughter, even in the eyes of God?’ ‘Yes. Why else would Pamela suffer such a tragedy?’ ‘But who could have taken it? Do you have any idea?’ ‘No, Mr Mitter, I cannot help you at all in this matter.’ ‘Are you aware that your sister-in-law’s son has fallen into bad company?’

‘I had guessed as much, yes.’ ‘He is probably into drugs. He needs a great deal of money regularly.’ Mr Saldanha clicked his tongue regretfully. Then he said, ‘That may be so, Mr Mitter, but