Someshwar Burman’s house—a massive affair—was in Rammohan Roy Sarani. He came from a family of zamindars in East Bengal, but had been residing in Calcutta for a long time. Most of the rooms in his house were now lying empty. Apart from servants, there were only five people in the house: Someshwar Burman, his son Nikhil, Mr Burman’s secretary, Pranavesh Roy, his friend Animesh Sen, and an artist called Ranen Tarafdar. He was said to be drawing a portrait of Someshwar Burman. We learnt all these facts from Mr Burman himself. It was difficult to guess his age, because his hair was almost wholly untouched by grey. His eyes were bright, as the eyes of a magician ought to be. We were all seated in the living room on the ground floor. Nikhil Babu ordered some tea for us. ‘My father was a homoeopath,’ Someshwar Burman told us. ‘He had a thriving practice. I studied law, but never worked as a lawyer. My grandfather had been a tantrik. Perhaps it was he who influenced me. I was interested in magic even as a young boy. I remember watching an old magician in a park in Allahabad. The sleight of hand he could perform was just amazing. That’s what made me get more interested in traditional Indian magic. What is shown on a stage is always done with the help of equipment and gadgets. That does not mean anything to me. Indian magic depends purely on the dexterity of the magician. That’s what I call real magic. So once I’d finished college, I left home to learn this kind of magic. and gather as much information as I could. I was lucky to have a father who was both understanding and generous. He was happy to see me take an interest in something new. In our family, you see, people have always worked in different fields. There have been doctors, lawyers, singers, actors, the lot. And many of them were very successful in their chosen profession, just as I was as a magician. Rajas used to invite me to their states. I used to sit on the floor in their palaces, and pull off trick after trick, before a gaping audience. I earned a lot of money, too, though I did not have a set fee. What I received was always far in excess of my expectations.’ The tea had arrived by this time. Feluda picked up a cup and said, ‘Tell us something about your manuscript. I hear you have written about Indian magic?’ ‘Yes,’ Someshwar Burman replied. ‘I’m not aware of anyone else having worked in this area. I’ve often written articles about my research and findings, which is how some people have come to know about the existence of my manuscript. That’s the reason why Surya Kumar came to me, or else he could never have known that such a manuscript existed. Mind you, he had heard my name as a magician long ago.’ ‘Does he want to buy your manuscript?’ ‘That’s what he says. He came straight to my house. I liked the young man; in fact, I could feel a certain amount of affection for him. But I cannot accept his offer. It is my belief that the work I have put into writing that manuscript is very important, and certainly worth more than twenty thousand.

That’s why I want you to read it. You know a lot about a variety of subjects, don’t you? I have read about your cases. That’s the impression I got.’ ‘Very well. I’ll be glad to read your manuscript.’ Someshwar Burman turned to his secretary. ‘Pranavesh, go and get that notebook.’ His secretary left. ‘We went to Surya Kumar’s performance yesterday,’ Feluda told him. ‘How did you like it?’ ‘Well, it was so-so. The only thing he’s really good at is hypnotism. Everything else was done with the help of gadgets.’ Someshwar Burman suddenly picked up a biscuit from a plate, and closed his hand over it. He opened his hand in the next instant, but the biscuit had gone. It came out of Lalmohan Babu’s pocket a second later. ‘That’s terrific!’ Feluda exclaimed. ‘Why did you stop performing? You’re obviously so gifted.’ Mr Burman shook his head. ‘No, I do not wish to have shows any more. Now I must spend all my time over my manuscript. If the book is ever published, I do think people will find it useful. No other book has been written on this subject.’ ‘In that case, I will certainly read what you have written, and return your notebook the day after tomorrow, in the evening. Is that all right?’ ‘Yes, certainly. Thank you very much.’ Feluda told me the next day that he had finished reading the entire manuscript. It appeared that he had spent the whole night on it. ‘The man’s handwriting is beautiful, and it’s a gold mine. When it’s published, I’m sure the book will be an enormous success. Mr Burman must not part with his manuscript even for fifty thousand rupees, let alone twenty!’ In the evening, we returned to Mr Burman’s house and Feluda told him what he thought. Mr Burman seemed quite reassured by Feluda’s words. ‘That certainly takes a load off my mind!’ he said. ‘I was in a dilemma, you see, but if you liked the book so much, I think I know what to do. Pranavesh is typing it out. He has told me how impressed he’s felt by some of the facts I have described. My friend Animesh has also said the same thing. Now I can refuse Surya Kumar’s offer without any hesitation. Oh, by the way, someone stole into my room last night.’ ‘What!’ ‘Yes. I woke before he could take anything. In fact, he ran away as soon as I said, who is it?’ ‘Has anything ever been stolen from your house before?’ ‘No, never.’ ‘Is there anything valuable in your room?’ ‘Yes, but I keep it in a