‘What is this watch that you’ve dug up?’ Mr Choudhury thundered. He was sitting on the sofa once more, still clutching the revolver, his eyes still fixed on Feluda’s face.

‘I’ve brought you exactly what I found, Mr Choudhury,’ pleaded the new arrival. ‘How could I hope to cheat an expert like you?’

‘What about that letter? Did it tell a lie?’ Mr Choudhury’s voice shook the entire room.

‘How should I know, Mr Choudhury? That was the only thing we could depend on. Look, here it is.’

The man took out an old letter and offered it to Mr Choudhury. The latter took it, glanced at it briefly, then threw it away irritably. Feluda burst out laughing in the same instant. It was laughter born from pure amusement. I hadn’t heard him laugh so merrily for a long time.

‘What’s there to laugh about, Mr Mitter?’ Mahadev Choudhury shouted. Feluda controlled himself with an effort and replied, ‘I am laughing because all your dramatic arrangements have come to nothing!’

Mr Choudhury rose with the gun in his hand and walked silently over to Feluda. The thick carpet on the floor stifled his footsteps.

‘So you think my drama is over, do you? How do I know the real watch is not with you? You visited the cemetery so many times. Even this evening, you were there long before William. If you have got that watch, do you think I’ll let you leave without taking it from you? You may have hidden it somewhere, but you will have to take it out yourself, and hand it over to me. Do you understand, Mr Mitter? Even if there is no watch, even if that letter is full of lies, why do you think I will spare you? Your habit of poking your nose into everything is most inconvenient for me. So don’t think the drama is over. No, Mr Mitter. It has only just begun!’

When Feluda spoke, his voice held a note that I could recognize instantly. He always uses it when a case reaches its climax. Lalmohan Babu says it reminds him of the sound made by Tibetan horns.

‘You are making a mistake, Mr Choudhury,’ he said. ‘The drama is now in my hands, not yours. I will direct it from now on. I will judge who is a bigger criminal— you, or that man called William ...!’

Suddenly, complete chaos broke out in the room. William gave a giant leap, knocked down Pyarelal who was standing in front of him, and rushed towards the exit. Mr Choudhury fired his gun, but missed him by a couple of feet. The bullet hit the dial of a standing clock and shattered it completely. To everyone’s surprise, the damaged clock immediately began chiming.