The cook at the Calcutta Lodge produced an excellent chicken curry. He also served fish, which was equally tasty, but Lalmohan Babu did not touch it. ‘After having seen Machchli Baba this evening,’ he informed us, ‘I couldn’t eat fish, ever again.’ ‘Why?’ Feluda laughed, ‘would that make you feel you were chewing the Baba’s flesh? Do you suppose Machchli Baba himself abstains from consuming what you are proposing to give up?’ ‘Doesn’t he?’ ‘Well, you have heard he spends most of his time in water. So what could he possibly live on except fish? Certain species of fish eat other fish, didn’t you know?’ Lalmohan Babu did not say anything. I felt quite sure he’d go back to being his fish-eating self from the next day. After an eventful day, I was looking forward to a good night’s sleep. But that was not to be. Our roommate, Jeevan Babu (short and fat and with a beard, just as Feluda had predicted), turned out to be a champion snorer. I spent most of the night tossing and turning in my bed, wondering why, just this once, Feluda could not have been proved wrong. The next morning, as we were coming out of the hotel after breakfast, we met Niranjan Babu. Feluda exchanged pleasantries before asking, ‘Do you happen to know where Maganlal Meghraj lives?’ ‘Meghraj? As far as I know, he has two houses, both in the heart of Banaras. One of them is not far from the Vishwanath temple. Anyone will show you the way.’ Niranjan Babu told us one more thing. Machchli Baba was going to be in Banaras for another six days. Feluda’s famous lopsided smile peeped out at this, but he said nothing. We arrived at the Ghoshal residence on the dot of eight. Trilochan opened the gate for us with a bright smile and a smart salute. He must be about seventy, I thought; but he certainly did not look it. His back was ramrod straight, and the size of his moustache most impressive. Vikas Babu came out to greet us. ‘I saw you arrive,’ he said. He had probably just finished shaving, for there was a little soap stuck under his right ear. ‘Would you like to come in? Old Mr Ghoshal is waiting for you. You wanted to see him in particular, didn’t you?’ ‘Yes, but before we do that, do you mind telling me a few things?’ ‘No, not at all.’ Feluda asked a few rapid questions and noted the answers in his notebook. The following points emerged: 1. Maganlal came to meet Mr Ghoshal at his house on the 10th of October.

2. Mr Ghoshal took his wife and child to see Machchli Baba on the 15th, at 7.30 p.m. He returned a little more than an hour later. The figure of Ganesh was stolen during that time. 3. In the house between 7.30 and 8.30 p.m. were Umanath Ghoshal’s father, Ambika Ghoshal, Vikas Sinha, Trilochan, two bearers, a maid, a