India House - Chapter 10

A robbery in Dacca

Dacca, 1906

Hemachandra Kanungo Das surveyed the elegant mansion in front of him. It was built in imitation British style — it had turrets on the balcony and a tall, big chimney. It probably could do with some whitewashing, and wasn’t as large as some of the mansions on this street. But that was the point — You never rob the biggest mansion in the neighborhood. They usually have the best security.

“Today seems like a good day,” Barin Ghosh said, “The lamps have gone out. No moon. And the tall, fat servant is visiting his village.”

“I have treats for the dog here,” Naren Goswami said, indicating his shoulder bag, which hung loose over his wiry sixteen-year-old frame.

They were in the narrow street behind the house. None of the homes opened into the street, and the back walls of their compounds occupied the whole street. On the other side was the neighbourhood school. Only vagrants would use this street at night, often to sleep or place illegal bets, but the police had recently cleared out …