"No, through this. All Fields' things come here. We are told to always hurry his through. He's got lots of pull, and we like to oblige him."
"Yes, of course."
"But Fields, too, has to obey the letter of the law. I want to look this thing up."
Mr. Girard was gone for over half an hour. He returned. "Here's the thing. Look at this consular invoice."
"Bacon's Essays 1597. £200."
"But what good does it do? The book comes in free, if it's worth a million!"
"I know. But Fields wanted this cleared the very day it was received. He or no one else has a right to undervalue, even if the article does not pay duty. I'm going to find out about this. I'm going to get that book back and examine it. Fields or no Fields, he must obey the law! I might get fired for this."
The owner of the Bacon was much disturbed. Mr. Fields did not like the publicity that followed the newspaper revelations. He was much annoyed at one newspaper which said that if he undervalued non-dutiable things, how about those that carried a high impost?
Of course, the whole matter was nothing. And yet he was vexed. He did not like the notice that a Treasury official was to call for the sacred package that reposed within the solid walls of his safe.
The next day, a gentleman with an order from the Treasury Department of the United States paid him a visit. It was an official messenger in a blue suit with a conspicuous nickel badge. The great steel doors were opened and closed; the book was then removed; an instant later the click of the lock was heard. The other treasures in the vault were safe against the machinations of men!