Jatayu turned a deep shade of pink and bit his lip in profound embarrassment. ‘Eh heh heh heh!’ he said. ‘Bad mistake, that! Tell you what, from now on I’ll show you my manuscript before giving it to the publisher.’

Feluda made no reply to this. ‘Excuse me,’ he said and disappeared into his room.

‘Your cousin appears a little quiet,’ Lalmohan Babu said to me. ‘Has he got a new case?’

‘No, it’s nothing important,’ I told him. ‘But we have to go to Simla in the next couple of days.’

‘A long tour?’

‘No, just about four days.’

‘Hmm … I’ve never been to that part of the country …’ Lalmohan Babu grew preoccupied. But he began to show signs of animation the minute Feluda returned.

‘Tapesh tells me you’re going to Simla. Is it something to do with an investigation?’

‘No, not exactly. It’s just that Tom’s case has got exchanged with Dick’s. So we have to return Dick’s case to him and collect Tom’s.’

‘Good lord, the mystery of the missing case? Or, simply, a mysterious case?’

‘Look, I have no idea if there is any real mystery involved. But one or two things make me wonder … just a little …’

‘Felu Babu,’ Jatayu interrupted, ‘I have come to know you pretty well in these few months. I’m convinced you wouldn’t have taken the case unless you felt there was … well, something in it. Do tell me what it is.’

I could sense Feluda was reluctant to reveal too much at this stage. ‘It’s difficult to say anything,’ he said guardedly, ‘without knowing for sure who is telling lies, and who is telling the truth, or who is simply trying to conceal the truth. All I know is that there is something wrong somewhere.’

‘All right, that’s enough!’ Jatayu’s eyes began to shine. ‘Just say the word, and I’ll tag along with you.’

‘Can you bear the cold?’

‘Cold? I went to Darjeeling last year.’

‘When?’

‘In May.’

‘It’s snowing in Simla now.’

‘What!’ Lalmohan Babu rose from his chair in excitement. ‘Sn-ow? You don’t say! It was the desert the last time and now it’s going to be snow? From the frying pan into the frigidaire? Oh, I can’t imagine it!’

‘It’s going to be an expensive business.’

I knew Feluda was trying gently to discourage him, but Jatayu paid no attention to his words.