But as Baba alighted from the taxi and approached the Manzil, he stopped abruptly and remained motionless for a few moments. Baily, who had been waiting on the verandah, noted, "The smile vanished from Baba's face and instead it wore a look of seriousness mingled with sadness."
Baba said, "In my absence, someone has performed a devilish act in this house. The Manzil has been rendered impure."
All were surprised, and everyone's gaze fell on Baily. Baba walked towards him and repeated what he had said. Baily vigorously denied the charges and stated that he and Kashinath had been alone all day. Only the metrani (toilet sweeper woman) had entered the compound.
Baba repeated the charge. Exasperated, Baily blurted out, "Since you are all-knowing and know that some impure act had been committed, you should also be able to name the person who had committed it!"
Baba clarified, "I have not put my mind to this issue — nor do I want to do so. If I were to put my mind to it, the guilty person would suffer tremendously, which I do not want to happen. That is the reason I am insisting on a confession, so the person will have the opportunity of obtaining my grace and mercy, and escape from the situation with only a slight punishment rather than having to undergo a terrible one. The knowledge of the impure act having been committed at the Manzil is not because of my applying my mind to it. I have 'sensed' it intuitively the moment I entered the Manzil."
Baba confronted Kashinath, but he too proclaimed his innocence. Both Baily and Kashinath were given an hour to think over their statements, at the conclusion of which Baba said he would be forced to announce the guilty party.
"If I am compelled to do this," he warned, "the culprit will suffer tremendously throughout his life. He will become a leper, and there will be no cure or redress. He will lose his right for seeking my pardon or mercy. No pleading, begging, or banging of your head will be of any avail then. The time for pardon will have elapsed, and the guilty party will have lost all opportunity for being saved."
Baba went upstairs to his room and, after an hour, summoned all there. He declared that although the period of one hour had finished, he did not feel it appropriate to put his mind into this seedy and impure act.