rtisements: 'Wanted--Daily lessons in Latin speech from competent
Spanish scholar. Write, Box 347, Banner office.' That is from the New
York Banner of April third, shortly after the strange caller's second
abortive attempt to get into the Graeme library."

"I suppose our Livius figured out that Colonel Graeme's theory of accent
was about what a Spaniard would have. But he couldn't have learned all
his Latin in four months."

"He didn't. He was a scholar already; an accomplished one, who went
wrong through drink and became a crook, specializing in rare books and
prints. His name is Enderby; you'll find it in the Harvard catalogue.
He's supposed to be dead. My assistant traced him through his
Spanish-Latin teacher, a priest."

"But even allowing for his scholarship, he must have put in a deal of
work perfecting himself in readiness of speech and accent."

"So he did. Therefore the prize must be big. A man of Enderby's caliber
doesn't concoct a scheme of such ingenuity, and go into bondage with it,
for nothing. Do you belong to the Cosmic Club?"

The assistant professor stared. "No," he said.

"I'd like to put you up there. One advantage of membership is that its
roster includes experts in every known line of erudition, from scarabs
to skeeing. For example, I am now going to telegraph for aid from old
Millington, who seldom misses a book auction and is a human bibliography
of the wanderings of all rare volumes. I'm going to find out from him
what British publication of the late seventeenth century in Latin is
very valuable; also what volumes of that time have changed hands in the
last six months."

"Colonel Graeme went to a big book auction in New York early in March,"
volunteered Warren, "but he told me he didn't pick up anything of
particular value."

"Then it's something he doesn't know about and Livius does. I'm going to
take advantage of our Roman's rather un-B.-C.-like habit of reading the
daily papers by trying him out with this advertisement."

Average Jones wrote rapidly and tossed the result to his coadjutor who
read:

"LOST--Old book printed in Latin. Buff
leather binding, a little faded ('It's safe to be
that,' explained Average Jones). No great
value except to owner. Return to Colonel
Ridgway Graeme, 11 Carteret Street, and
receive reward."

The advertisement made its appearance in big type on the front pages of
the Baltimore paper of the following day. That even