But Feluda’s next words were most annoying. ‘You must think this one through, Mr Lahiri,’ he said. ‘It’s just a matter of taking an attaché case to Simla, and bringing one back, isn’t it? So anyone can do the job. It doesn’t necessarily have to be me.’

‘No, no, no,’ Dinanath Babu protested rather vehemently, ‘where will I find anyone as reliable as you? And since you began the investigation, I think you should end it.’

‘Why, you have a nephew, don’t you?’

A shadow passed over Dinanath Babu’s face.

‘He is no good, really. I’m afraid my nephew’s sense of responsibility is virtually nonexistent. Do you know what he has done? He’s gone into films! No, I cannot rely on him at all. I’d rather the two of you went. I’ll tell my travel agents to make all arrangements. You can fly up to Delhi and then catch a train. When you’ve done your job, you can even have a holiday in Simla for a few days. It would give me a lot of pleasure to be of service to a man like you. What you’ve done in just a few hours is truly remarkable!’

The tea arrived, together with cakes and sandwiches. Feluda picked up a piece of chocolate cake and said, ‘Thank you. There is one little thing I am still feeling curious about. The Nepali box in which you found the manuscript. Is it possible to see it?’

‘Of course. That’s not a problem at all. I’ll get my bearer to bring it.’

The box appeared in a few moments. About two feet in length and ten inches in height, its wooden surface was covered by a sheet of copper. Red, blue and yellow stones were set on the lid. The smell that greeted my nostrils as soon as the lid was lifted was the same as that in Naresh Pakrashi’s study. Dust-covered old furniture and threadbare curtains gave out the same musty smell.

Dinanath Babu said, ‘As you can see, there are two compartments in the box. The manuscript was in the first one, wrapped in a Nepali newspaper.’

‘Good heavens, it’s stuffed with so many different things!’ exclaimed Feluda.

‘Yes,’ Dinanath Babu smiled. ‘You might call it a mini curio shop. But it’s so filthy I haven’t felt tempted to handle anything.’

It turned out that the compartments could be removed. Feluda brought out the second one and inspected the objects it contained. There were stone necklaces, little engraved discs made of copper and brass, two candles, a small bell, a couple of little bowls, a bone of some unknown animal, a few dried herbs and flowers, reduced to dust—truly a little junk shop.

‘Did this box belong to your uncle?’

‘It came with him, so I assume it did.’

‘When did he return from Kathmandu?’