Twenty minutes later another official called. Mr. Fields thought at first it was the same gentleman returning. He came for a book that had been under-valued at the Custom House.
"What! I've just given it to one of your men!"
"Impossible, Mr. Fields. This order was issued to me!"
"Why, that's a fake. Why, the one just presented to me had a big red government seal on it. It was signed by the head of the Treasury."
"Must have been a forgery. This is merely an order signed by Mr. Bond, the representative at New York. But it's genuine!"
The various theories of the robbery that were advanced would have filled many volumes. Even the British Museum was suspected!
Mr. Girard, the appraiser, felt in his inmost soul that Robert Hooker knew something about it. He told his story to the greatest detective in the world, who was in charge of the case for the Government. He did not want to issue a warrant for Hooker's arrest without any evidence whatever. He could not take into custody an honorable gentleman merely on suspicion. He had to have tangible proof.
The great detective accordingly employed three able assistants to examine every nook and corner of Hooker's house, including his library.
All this was done during the absence of the owner. The police even employed pickpockets to jostle him on the streets to make sure the book was not upon his person. Hooker had been under surveillance three hours after the robbery; it was either in the house, or he was not guilty.
Every book in his large library was examined. The police authorities finally had a complete catalogue of his collection, which some day will make interesting reading. The detectives took pen and pencil and noted the titles of every volume with the year of publication; they admitted that bibliography and literary work was not to their liking. It lacked excitement and they all agreed it was only fit for poets, professors, and other inferior persons.