Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 2/Chapter 10
CHAPTER X.
the second year.
That night the chokidâr gave notice at the police-station that a murder had been committed at the Prasâdpur factory. It happened that the police-station was about twelve miles distant from that spot. The dârogâ arrived about nine o'clock on the next day and began his investigation. He noted down the facts of the case as prescribed by law, examined the dead body, and sent in a report. Then, placing Rohini's body on a bullock cart, he sent it in charge of a chokidâr to be examined by the doctor. He then bathed and ate his dinner. Now at his ease he set about searching for the guilty person. Where was he? Gobind Lâl had not re-entered the house since he fled from it on slaying Rohini. Who could say how far he had gone in the night and the day that had passed? No one had seen him. No one knew in which direction he had fled. No one knew even his name. Gobind Lâl had never revealed his name and condition in Prasâdpur. He had given out his name as Chuni Lâl Datt. Even the servants knew not from what part of the country he had come.
The dârogâ spent some days in going about, getting hold of one man after another, and taking down their depositions. He could not find out whither Gobind Lâl had gone, so at length he sent in a final report of the case, saying the accused had absconded.
Then a very clever detective officer named Pichel Khân was sent from Jessore. There is no need to relate in detail Pichel Khân's method of investigation. In his search through the house he found letters from which he was able to determine Gobind Lâl's true name and address. Needless to say that he took the trouble to go in disguise to Haridrâ village. But Gobind Lâl had not been there, so Pichel Khân returned without finding him.
In the meantime Nishâkar Das, on leaving the unfortunate Rohini to herself in that grim, fatal night, returned to his dwelling in Prasâdpur bazar. Mâdhabi Nâth was awaiting him there. Mâdhabi Nâth's person being well known to Gobind Lâl, he could not approach him. Nishâkar now told Mâdhabi Nâth all he had done. "That has not been well managed," was Mâdhabi Nâth's comment. "It will surely result in murder." To learn what consequences did ensue, the two men remained in the bazar, carefully disguised, and observing great caution. In the early morning they learned that Chuni Lâl Datt, having slain his wife, had fled. They were greatly alarmed and distressed. Their fear was for Gobind Lâl, but at length they saw that the dârogâ could do nothing, as he had no clue to Gobind Lâl's whereabouts. Thus, somewhat reassured, they returned to their homes greatly depressed in mind.