B yomkesh and I went to Birenbabu's daughter's wedding last February. The town was some distance away from Calcutta. It was ancient and dirty. From Calcutta It took us about three hours by train.

We knew Birenbabu intimately for a long time. He was a police officer in Calcutta. An amiable and helpful man, he had retired two years back and had settled here in his ancestral home. He had begged us to attend his daughter's wedding. Byomkesh was free, so we decided to accept the invitation.

As we reached the house, we heard the sound of "shehnai" and saw people busily running here and there. Birenbabu welcomed us warmly and took us to a decorated room, which the bridegroom with his entourage would occupy in the evening. At present it was empty. We made ourselves comfortably there and were served tea and snacks. Byomkesh told Birenbabu, "You must be very busy, feel free to go and attend to your duties. We are very comfortable."

Birenbabu looked relieved. Suddenly we heard a deep voice outside, "Biren, I have come to see what arrangements you have made for your daughter's wedding."

Birenbabu quickly went out and ushered an elderly man into the room, "It is good, Sir, that you have come. These are my two friends from Calcutta. He is the well-known Byomkesh Bakshi, the Truth Seeker and this is his famous writer-friend — Ajit Banerjee."

"Yes, indeed, I have heard of them." The old gentleman gave us a sharp glance.

Birenbabu said, "He is Neelmani Majumdar. Also a well-known police officer. He has settled here after retirement."

He was a tall and fair man, well above sixty but erect as a ramrod. Although he had a walking stick in his hand — he did not seem to need it. His voice was heavy and his appearance commanded respect.

Byomkesh asked him to sit down. Birenbabu sought our permission to leave. Byomkesh asked, "Is your ancestral home here, too?"

Neelmanibabu said, "No, my home was in East Bengal — but everything was lost during Partition. After retirement I have settled here."

Byomkesh asked, "Do you have relatives here?"

Neelmanibabu said, "I have no relatives. I am a bachelor. I was so involved with the police job that I did not think of anything else. Then when I retired, I remained here. I have an affection for this town. When I started my career as a sub-inspector, I was posted here. Before I retired, I was posted here, too."

Byomkesh smiled, "You love this town. How long have you been retired?"

"Seven years."

As in most cases, Byomkesh was the subject of Neelmanibabu's curiosity. But his glance was different from the admiring glances of other people. He seemed to be weighing and gauging Byomkesh and his intelligence.

When he spoke, he sounded skeptical and at the same time curious, "Byomkeshbabu, I have read about you and your work. I have noticed that you have solved all the cases which have come to