"Don Webb - The Shiny Surface" - читать интересную книгу автора (Webb Don)

for Tiffany & Company; a Koloman Moser jewellery box of silver, enamel
and semi-precious stones; a pair of brass candle holders enamelled to
resemble cobras; a souvenir reproduction of the Eiffel Tower; a Charles
Fouquet comb - gold, tortoise-shell and amethysts; a silver-framed
daguerreotype of Lincoln; and a small ebony box containing a convex
mirror, upon which a folded letter rested, brown with age.

I had never seen a mirror so made: a concave dish, it frankly
reminded me of an ashtray. I took it to my office to look through my
reference books. Janet cleaned up the trash and prepared to mark the
other items. In my office I carefully unfolded the letter.

The Brotherhood of Eulis
26 Boylston Street
Boston, Mass. September 5,1870

Dear Mrs. C

I am in receipt of your draft for sixty-five dollars. As you know, I
was in great financial straits when I agreed to create this mirror for
you. You have grown adept in poisim and volantia and should have no
trouble maintaining the mirrorтАЩs magnetism. As per your request I
have so constructed the mirror that it may be used by anyone, in order
that you may make of it a family heirloom. I feel that you are creating a
hateful thing, and had I not given you my word I would smash this
instrument to flinders.

My only consolation is that in order to work, the mirror must be
washed with pure water derived from melted snow before each
usage. Clean the mirror only with such a chemical and a chamois
cloth. Then you will be able to divine the heartтАЩs desire of those in its
presence. I believe that we are often best left in the dark; for we are
frail creatures, nourished by our illusions as the delicate flowers are
by the dew.
 If, Carolyne, you will promise to return the mirror to me unused,
I will refund your monies in full. Think what heartbreak this device can
bring. For once I urge you not to try.

Yr ObтАЩt servant,
Dr Paschal B. Randolph

This was pure gold! IтАЩd never had a тАШlegendaryтАЩ item before. I would
set up a special glass case just to display it. I would have to figure out if I
wanted to sell this or set it up is a draw to the shop.

I would have to see if I could dig up any more on this Randolph guy.

That afternoon, Hal dropped by. If Hal had had a classier shop,
heтАЩdтАЩve been a rival. But he went for sleaze, trash, buzz pop. He had made
a discovery. The seven-inch single was dead. HeтАЩs been to Sound