"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 044 - Treasures of Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"Glasgow has spoken of my library," continued the old man. "It is valuable, yet not exceedingly so. There
was but one item in my collection that could be highly prized. Until a few weeks ago, it rested with the
other books. When this illness seized me, I removed it to a place of absolute security."

The old man raised his withered right hand and pointed with scrawny finger to a panel on the opposite
wall. Terry, understanding his uncle's indication, went to the spot.

"Press," ordered Shattuck Barliss. "To the left-down-to the left-up-to the right-"

His voice became a chuckle as the panel sprang open. A small wall safe showed beneath the spot where
the woodwork had formed a covering. Terry grasped the knob of the safe with his fingers.

"Left, three"-Shattuck Barliss, keen and staring, was giving the combination in chiming tones-"right
five-left two-right six-"

The door yielded as Terry completed the action. The door of the safe opened. The young man found but
one object within-a leather-bound volume, that he removed with care. He brought it to the bedside.
Shattuck Barliss received it and turned back the cover.

The book was very thin. Its pages were of parchment. They were not permanently bound; the cover
merely served as container for what appeared to be a precious manuscript.

Terry stared at the title page. It was embellished with quaintly formed characters. Terry recognized that
the language must be French, yet it seemed strangely obscure.

"This," announced Shattuck Barliss, as he placed his long forefinger upon the title page, "is the only
existing copy of a work which is virtually unknown. There are other such manuscripts, but all are
incomplete with the exception of this one.

"This manuscript is called 'Les Rondeaux de Paris'. It contains five ballads written by Francois Villon, the
first and greatest of the French lyric poets. The verses were apparently produced by Villon in the year
1455.

"This manuscript is priceless. It belonged to your father, Terry. He gave it to me to reserve for you. Let
me explain why its value may be regarded as fabulous-why you could sell it for many, many thousands.

"The first four ballads are found in other manuscripts. The calligraphy-or penmanship-is identical.
Evidently all were inscribed at the same time. It is possible that some of those manuscripts were copies,
or forgeries. Their value is doubtful.

"This manuscript, however, is unique. It, alone, is complete. It contains the Fifth Ballad-the lost rondeau
of Francois Villon!"

THE gleam of enthusiasm showed on the old man's countenance. His right hand rested on the title page.
Terry Barliss-Rodney Glasgow as well-caught the spirit. They stared in awe as Shattuck Barliss turned
the title page to exhibit inscribed lines of verse upon the next sheet of parchment.

"This manuscript is genuine," exclaimed Shattuck Barliss. "All who have seen it have remarked upon that
fact. All except one"-the old man's face soured at the recollection-"and his opinion was outweighed. That