The Complete Adventures of Feluda: Volume I by Satyajit Ray

began to look rather alarmed when they heard our story. But, in the end, Bonobihari Babu laughed. ‘Don’t look so worried,’ he said, ‘I was only joking. Those stoneswere actually meant for me, not Felu. Didn’t you see me yell at those boys? It was simply their way of paying me back.’ Then he turned to Feluda and said, ‘Even so, Felu Babu, I would say that you really must be more careful. After all, you are young and new to this place. Why get involved in something that doesn’t concern you?’
    Feluda remained silent. We began walking back to the car.
    ‘Was it really him they were trying to hit? Or was it you?’ I whispered to Feluda.
    ‘Do you think he’d have taken it so quietly if he was their target? Wouldn’t he have screamed the roof down—or what’s left of it?’
    ‘I agree with you.’
    ‘But I’ve got hold of one little thing. That man dropped it.’ Feluda took out a small black object from his pocket. It was a false moustache. One side still showed traces of gum. He put it back in his pocket and said, ‘Bonobihari Babu knows very well those stones had been thrown at me.’
    ‘Then why didn’t he say so?’
    ‘Well, either because he didn’t want us to get worried, or . . .’
    ‘Or what?’
    Feluda didn’t reply. Instead, he inclined his head, snapped his fingers and said, ‘The plot gets thicker and thicker, Topshe! You’re not to disturb me at all!’
    He did not speak to me again that day. On returning home, he spent most of his time either pacing up and down in the garden or scribbling in his blue notebook. I took a quick look at what he’d written when he went out into the garden; but I couldn’t read a single word, for the script used was something I had never seen before.

Six
    Feluda got into the tonga and said to the driver: ‘Hazratganj.’
    ‘Where is that?’ I asked.
    ‘It is the Chowringhee of Lucknow. There’s lots to see in this town, beside royal palaces. I want to look at the shops today.’
    Yesterday, from the Residency, we had gone to Bonobihari Babu’s house for coffee, and taken a look at all the animals once more—the hyena, the rattle-snake, the spider, the wild cat and the scorpion.
    While having coffee in the living-room, Feluda had looked at a locked door and said to Bonobihari Babu, ‘I had noticed it waslocked the last time we were here. Where does it lead to?’
    ‘Oh yes—it’s just a spare room. I’ve kept it locked ever since I moved in. Didn’t want to take the trouble of having it cleaned, you see.’
    ‘In that case, the padlock on it must have been recently changed—for it isn’t rusted at all.’
    Bonobihari Babu’s smile did not falter, but he gave Feluda a very sharp look.
    ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘the old one got so rusty that I was obliged to change it.’
    Baba changed the subject. ‘We were thinking of going to Haridwar and Laxmanjhoola,’ he said.
    Bonobihari Babu lit his pipe and blew out a pungent-smelling smoke.
    ‘When would you like to go?’ he asked. ‘If you leave the day after tomorrow, I can come with you. I told you about that twelve-foot python, didn’t I? I really must take a look at it. Besides, our sleuth has turned so active that it might be a good idea for all of us to go out of town for a while.’
    Dhiru Kaka said, ‘I cannot do that quite so easily. But there’s no reason why the three of you can’t go. Felu and Tapesh mustn’t go back without having seen Laxmanjhoola.’
    ‘If you come with me,’ said Bonobihari Babu, ‘I can arrange for you to stay at a dharamshala I know; and get a car to take you to Laxmanjhoola from Haridwar. I know a lot of people there. Now you must decide what you want to do.’
    We decided to go with Bonobihari Babu on Friday, which was the day after tomorrow. Even a couple of days ago, I would have been quite pleased to have Bonobihari Babu accompany us. But the incident at the Residency had made me feel doubtful about the man. But Feluda didn’t seem to mind,