The Complete Adventures of Feluda: Volume I Read Online Free PDF Page A

offered it to Feluda. ‘This is for you. I had just one copy left. It’s my latest book.’
    Feluda stared at the cover. ‘Your book? You mean . . . you write under the pseudonym Secret Agent?’ Tinkori Babu’s eyes drooped. He smiled slightly and nodded. Feluda grew more excited. ‘But you’re my favourite writer! I’ve read all your books. No other writer can write mystery stories the way you do.’
    ‘Thank you, thank you. To tell you the truth, I had come to Darjeeling to chalk out a plot for my next novel. But I’ve now spent most of my time trying to sort out a real life mystery.’
    ‘I do consider myself very fortunate. I had no idea I’d get to meet you like this!’
    ‘The only sad thing is that I have to go back to Calcutta. I’m returning tomorrow. But I think I may be of some help to you before I leave.’
    ‘I’m very pleased to hear that. By the way, we saw Rajen Babu’s son today.’
    ‘What!’
    ‘Only ten minutes ago.’
    ‘Are you sure? Did you see him properly?’
    ‘Yes, I am almost a hundred per cent sure. All we need to do is check with the Mount Everest Hotel, and then there won’t be any doubt left.’
    Suddenly, Tinkori Babu sighed. ‘Did Rajen Babu talk to you about his son?’ he asked.
    ‘No, not much.’
    ‘I have heard quite a lot. Apparently, his son had fallen into bad company. He was caught stealing money from his father’s cupboard. Rajen Babu told him to get out of his house. Prabeer did leave his home after that and disappeared without a trace. He was twenty-four at the time. A few years later, Rajen Babu began to regret what he’d done and tried to track his son down. But there was no sign of Prabeer anywhere. About ten years ago, a friend of Rajen Babu came and told him he’d spotted Prabeer somewhere in England. But that was all.’
    ‘That means Rajen Babu doesn’t know his son is here in Darjeeling.’
    ‘I’m sure he doesn’t. And I don’t think he should be told. After all, he’s already had one shock. Another one might . . .’ Tinkori Babu stopped. Then he looked straight at Feluda and shook his head. ‘I think I am going mad. Really, I should give up writing mystery stories.’
    Feluda laughed. ‘You mean it’s only just occurred to you that the letter might have been sent by Prabeer Majumdar himself?’
    ‘Exactly. But . . . I don’t know . . .’ Tinkori Babu broke off absent-mindedly.
    The waiter came back and placed our hot chocolate before us. This seemed to cheer him up. ‘How did you find Dr Phoni Mitra?’ he asked.
    ‘Good heavens, how do you know I went there?’
    ‘I paid him a visit shortly after you left.’
    ‘Did you see me coming out of his house?’
    ‘No. I found a cigarette stub on his floor. I knew he didn’t smoke, so I asked him if he’d already had a patient. He said yes, and from his description I could guess that it was you. However, I didn’t know then that you smoked. Now, looking at your slightly yellowish fingertips, I can be totally sure.’
    ‘You really are a most clever man. But tell me, did you suspect Dr Mitra as well?’
    ‘Yes. He doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, does he?’
    ‘You’re right. I’m surprised Rajen Babu consults him rather than anyone else.’
    ‘There’s a reason for it. Soon after he arrived in Darjeeling, Rajen Babu had suddenly turned religious. It was Dr Mitra who had found him a guru at that time. As followers of the same guru, they are now like brothers.’
    ‘I see. But did Dr Mitra say anything useful? What did you talk about?’
    ‘Oh, just this and that. I went there really to take a look at the books on his shelves. There weren’t many. Those that I saw were all old.’
    ‘Yes, I noticed it, too.’
    ‘Mind you, he might well have got hold of different books from elsewhere, just to get the right printed words. But I’m pretty certain that is not the case. That man seemed far too lazy to go to such trouble.’
    ‘Well, that takes care of Dr Mitra. What