The Best of Satyajit Ray 1 by Satyajit Ray

Author:Satyajit Ray [Ray, Sandip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789354928727
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2022-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

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 was locked 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, so I told myself not to worry.

This morning, Feluda said, ‘I’ve run out of razor blades. Let’s go and get some.’ And so we were out in a tonga, going to Hazratganj. Apparently, you could get anything you wanted in Hazratganj.

Feluda had been totally silent since yesterday regarding the matter of the ring. When he had gone for his bath this morning, I had tried to read his scribbles once more, but they still didn’t make any sense. One or two letters appeared to be English, but the rest were all totally strange.

Sitting beside him in the tonga, I couldn’t contain my curiosity any longer, and told him what I’d done. He was furious at first.

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