“It was an ancient French book, done in the oldest French type. It was called ‘Mysteries of the Sea,’” he went on without answering her question. “This was the tool we used most on it,” he said, holding out the edge of a steel tool for her inspection. “You see, the metal is heated and pressed into the leather in just the right way, then gold, twenty-two carat gold, is pressed into the creases that are left and we have a figure in gold as a result. This one you see is in the form of an ancient sailing ship.”
Lucile started, then examined the tool more carefully.
“Here is another tool we used. It represents clouds. This one makes the water. You see we use appropriate tools. The book was about ships and the sea, written before the time of Columbus.”
He was silent for a moment, then said slowly, a look of pain coming into his fine face, “I suppose I might as well tell you. The book was stolen, stolen from my bench during the lunch hour.”
Lucile started violently.
The artist stared at her for a second, then went on.
“Of course, I can’t be held responsible, yet no doubt they blame me in a way. The book was very valuable—worth thousands of dollars. And it would have been finished in two days.” He bowed his head as if in silent grief.
“Please,” Lucile’s lips quivered with emotion as she spoke, “did the book have three of these ancient ship designs on the back of it, one large and two small?”
“Yes.”
“And was it done in dark red leather with the decorations all in gold?”