“I mean the folio Shakespeare of 1623. There are, of course, many folios much scarcer! I saw one the other day that the booksellers themselves gave eight hundred guineas for!”
“What was it?” asked Lestrange carelessly.
“It was a wonderful copy—unique as to condition—of Gower's Confessio Amantis;—not a very interesting book, though I do not doubt Shakespeare was fond of it. You see Shakespeare could hear the stones preaching!”
“By Jove, a man may hear the sticks do that any Sunday!”
“True enough, sir, ha-ha!”
“Have you read Gower, then?”
“A good deal of him.”
“Was it that same precious copy you read him in?”
“It was; but I hadn't time for more than about the half. I must finish on another edition, I fear.”
“How did you get hold of a book of such value?”