try from whom he
sought it had never seen it; indeed, most of them were unaware of its
existence, though it is well known to all heralds.

At length, coming home late one night, our book-hunter found on his table
a catalogue from a bookseller who seems to garner more out-of-the-way
books than any of his fellows. His catalogues are issued very frequently,
for he has a large and quick sale, pricing most of his wares at less than
five shillings. Moreover, the fact that the books described therein are
thrown together without any attempt at classification, even alphabetical,
serves but to add a zest to the repast. But our book-hunter was tired,
and his evil star was in the ascendant, for he went to bed leaving the
catalogue unopened.

Reading it over a late breakfast next morning, upon the last page he came
across the following entry:--

Uptoni (Nich.) De Studio Militari. Johan de Bado Aureo, Tractatus
de Armis. Henrici Spelmanni Aspilogia. Folio, calf. _Scarce._ 8s.
6d.

Scarce, indeed! In less than five minutes he was driving hot-haste to the
shop.

Of course it was sold: sold by _telegram dispatched the night before_. He
was allowed to see it, even to handle it, and he frankly confesses that
murderous thoughts rose within him as he held it in his hands. . . . The
bookseller was an old man . . . the shop was very dark . . . just a push,
and perhaps one firm application _super caput_ of a large-paper copy of
Camden's 'Britannia' which lay handy upon the table. . . . But I am glad
to say that our bookman's better nature prevailed, and sorrowfully he
returned the volume to the dealer's hands. Did he know the customer, and
if so would he try to buy it back? Certainly he would. A week later came
a letter saying that the customer was also a collector of these things,
but that he was willing to part with it 'at a price.' Unfortunately his
price was not our book-hunter's, and he failed to secure the
treasure--then.

Now comes the more pleasant sequel. About a year later, coming home in
the small hours from a dance, our bookman found a catalogue from this
same bookseller on his table. Although tired out, his previous bitter
experience had taught him a lesson; so pulling up a chair before the
remains of the fire he proceeded to skim through the catalogue. He had
reached the last page, and was already beginning to nod, when suddenly
his weariness vanished in a flash: he was wide awake and on his feet in
an inst