A Mystery to Be Solved at Any Price

           Thatstudyofhiswasamuseum,andnothingelse. Specimensofeverythingknowninmineralogylaythereintheirplacesinperfectorder,andcorrectlynamed,dividedintoinflammable,metallic,andlithoidminerals. 

           HowwellIknewallthesebitsofscience! Manyatime,insteadofenjoyingthecompanyofladsofmyownage,Ihadpreferreddustingthesegraphites,anthracites,coals,lignites,andpeats! Andtherewerebitumens,resins,organicsalts,tobeprotectedfromtheleastgrainofdust; andmetals,fromirontogold,metalswhosecurrentvaluealtogetherdisappearedinthepresenceoftherepublicanequalityofscientificspecimens; andstonestoo,enoughtorebuildentirelythehouseinKönigstrasse,evenwithahandsomeadditionalroom,whichwouldhavesuitedmeadmirably. 

           ButonenteringthisstudynowIthoughtofnoneofallthesewonders; myunclealonefilledmythoughts. Hehadthrownhimselfintoavelveteasy-chair,andwasgraspingbetweenhishandsabookoverwhichhebent,ponderingwithintenseadmiration. 

           "Here’saremarkablebook!Whatawonderfulbook!"hewasexclaiming. 

           Theseejaculationsbroughttomymindthefactthatmyunclewasliabletooccasionalfitsofbibliomania; butnooldbookhadanyvalueinhiseyesunlessithadthevirtueofbeingnowhereelsetobefound,or,atanyrate,ofbeingillegible. 

           "Well,now;don’tyouseeityet? WhyIhavegotapricelesstreasure,thatIfoundhismorning,inrummaginginoldHevelius’sshop,theJew." 

           "Magnificent! "Ireplied,withagoodimitationofenthusiasm. 

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