Crofton whistled softly and then passed along the room.
"This is very beautiful!" he said suddenly, and bent over a small vase with figures in relief. "The design and sculpture are amazingly fine!"
"That piece," replied Sir Leopold, clearing his throat, "is almost unique. There is only one other example known—the Hamilton Vase!"
"The stolen one?"
"Yes. They are of the same period, and both from the Barberini Palace."
"Of course you have read the latest particulars of that extraordinary affair? What do you make of it?"
Jesson shrugged his shoulders.
"The vase is known to every connoisseur in Europe," he said. "No one dare buy it—though," he added smiling, "many would like to!"
Sheard coughed uneasily. He had a task to perform.
"Your collection represents a huge fortune, Sir Leopold," he said.