Ashok parked outside an imposing, wrought-iron gate. There was an emblem on the gate but Govinda was not sure what the emblem stood for. He tried looking in through the gate but the building in the compound could not be seen from outside because of large trees that blocked prying eyes. The grand entrance nonetheless seemed quiet and out of place. A watchman sat beside the gate. Before they got out of the car his father gave Ashok money and said, ‘You take him to Flurys for pastries.’

Govinda and Ashok walked across Park Street under a pink sky. It was nearing twilight. Govinda looked back to see his father enter the gate, walk past the watchman and up the windy drive.

Flurys was in full swing. Prosperous locals were buying exotic cakes, creamy pastries, rich puddings and Swiss chocolates. Ashok asked Govinda to choose whatever he wanted. Govinda chose rum balls, shortbread, raisin bread, fudge and a hot chocolate, but he was distracted secretly by his concern about what his father was doing. They walked back with their box of pastries to the car.

‘What is this compound?’ Govinda pointed to a sign beside the gate that read, ‘The Freemason’s Trust Association. Freemason’s Hall 19 Park Street. District Grand Lodge of Bengal’.

‘Your father attends meetings there,’ said Ashok. ‘I bring him every Thursday.’

‘What happens in there?’

‘They are a top-secret organisation. I heard it is a place where important men meet. They wear funny hats and have hush-hush handshakes. King Solomon is said to have built their first temple. I think the library inside contains secret maps of the ancient city of Jerusalem. The Calcutta branch is very old, but I’m not certain what it is they actually do in there.’

The watchman left the gate. He walked to a tobacconist and bought a cigarette. He lit it and then, instead of coming back to the gate, he walked further into the crowd.

‘I’m going to have a look,’ said Govinda. Without waiting for a response, he opened the car door and ran toward the lodge. Ashok adjusted his glasses and hauled himself out of the car. Recently he had been experiencing shortness of breath. He pulled his pants up, as far as he could, just under his protruding belly, and followed but Govinda ran to the gate and peered in. No one was around so he ran up the twisted drive. As he approached he saw a red carpet that went down an alley towards the building. He heard voices and turned and saw the watchman stop Ashok at the gate. He ran deeper into the lodge.