“Five dollars is a big price for a rough pencil sketch,” said the scientist. “I’d have to know more of the picture to pay that for it. Where did you find it?”
“In this book. I bought the book at Dimmock’s rummage auction.” He produced a decrepit, loosely-bound edition of the Massachusetts Agricultural Reports. “The picture was stuck in between the leaves.”
“No name in the book,” said Kent. “The flyleaf is gone. But here’s the date of publication: 1830.”
“That would be just about right,” said Sedgwick with lively interest.
“Right for what?” demanded Dennett.
Before there was time for reply, Kent had pressed a five-dollar bill into his hand, with the words:
“You’ve made a trade.”
“Wait,” protested the Elder. But the sketch was already in Sedgwick’s possession.
“It’s an Elliott,” said that gentleman. “I’m sure of it. I’ve seen his sketches before—though they’re very rare—and there’s an unmistakable touch about his pencil work.”
“In that case,” said Kent suavely, “Mr. Dennett will be gratified to know that he has sold for five dollars an article worth fifty times that.”