Bhavananda was handed over to the local police. The charges against him were many. They included an attempt to murder Hemanga Hajra, disappearing with his belongings, and trying to pass himself off as Dr Hajra. We were back in the dak bungalow, having coffee (made with camel’s milk) on the veranda. Mukul was romping happily on the lawn in front of us. He knew he would leave for Calcutta the same night. Having seen the golden fortress, he had no wish to remain in Rajasthan any longer. Feluda turned to the real Dr Hajra and said, ‘Bhavananda was truly a fraud, wasn’t he? I mean, what he did in Chicago, and all that I read in the press reports . . . was all of it true?’ ‘Yes. One hundred per cent. Bhavananda and his accomplice cheated and swindled others in various countries, not just one. Besides, back in Chicago, they were doing something else. Not only were they out to deceive everyone, but they were also spreading evil tales and rumours about me, which was affecting my work. So, in the end, I was forced to take certain steps. But all that happened four years ago. I do not know when they returned to India. I came back only three months ago. One day, I happened to be in Mr Dhar’s shop, when I heard about his son. So I went to meet him. You know the rest. When I decided to travel to Rajasthan with Mukul, I had no idea I’d be followed!’ ‘Who wouldn’t want to kill two birds with one stone?’ Feluda asked. ‘There was the chance to grab that hidden treasure, plus settle scores with you . . . But didn’t you see them anywhere in Calcutta?’ ‘No, not once. The first time I met them was in the refreshment room in the station at Bandikui. The two men came up to me and began chatting.’ ‘You didn’t recognize them?’ ‘No, bow could I? I had only seen them in Chicago, where they had long hair, flowing beards and fat moustaches!’ ‘What happened next?’ ‘They sat at the same table and had a meal with us. They told Mukul they knew magic and even pulled some tricks. Then they got into the same compartment with us. I got off at Kisangarh to show Mukul the fort there, but didn’t realize that those two characters had followed me. They reached the fort soon after us, and hid somewhere until the coast was clear. It was a deserted place, in any case. There was no one in sight. When they found an opportunity, they pushed me down a slope. I rolled down, perhaps a hundred feet. Luckily, my fall was broken by a clump of bushes. If I take my shirt off, you’ll see that my body is still covered with bruises. Anyway, I remained by the side of that bush for a whole hour. I wanted them to think that they had managed to get rid