swear that I will find the Rings very soon."
Aphrodite gazed unseeingly into the darkened chamber.
"In the end, you will yield your secrets."
The candlelight flickered on the statue's serene and silent features.
"Soon, my cold little goddess. There will be no more mistakes."
The gloom-filled shop in Cunning Lane boasted a faded sign over the entrance that declared it to be the premises of one A. Sibson, dealer in antiquities. In truth, the front portion of
the musty, shabby establishment bore a close resemblance to a pawnshop.
The clientele was a mixed lot. It was composed chiefly of footpads seeking to fence stolen loot, and desperate, impoverished ladies wishing to dispose of family heirlooms. It also included the occasional collector of antiquities who had heard the rumors about Sibson's back room.
The bell over the door chimed weakly when Leo entered. There was no sign of anyone about inside. He made his way through a maze of dusty display cases filled with grimy jewelry, antique coins, and chipped vases. When he reached the counter he stopped.
"Sibson?" "Be with you in a moment." The voice emanated from behind the drawn curtain that masked the rear portion of the establishment.
Leo leaned negligently against the counter and surveyed the small shop. Very little had changed since the last time he was there. A fine film of grit shrouded the fake Greek statues in the corners. The pile of rune-inscribed stones on the floor did not look as if they had been disturbed in years.
As an old client, Leo was well aware that the goods in the front of the shop were for show. Sibson kept his most interesting offerings in his back room.
"Now, then, what can I do for you, sir?" Sibson pushed aside the curtain and peered out. He gave a nervous start when he saw Leo. His whiskers twitched and his ferretlike eyes darted back and forth as though seeking escape. "Monkcrest."
"Hello, Sibson. It's been a while, has it not? I haven't seen you since the day you tried to sell me that fraudulent Zamarian temple scroll."
"See here, now. I had every reason to think that scroll was genuine."
"Of course you did. You'd paid a great deal of money to that old forger Trull to create it. And I must say, he did an
W i t h
R i n g
excellent job. I especially admired the delicacy of the dolphin-and-shell decoration."
"Heard you were in town, m'lord. So kind of you to pay my humble establishment a visit. I've got some lovely things in the back."
"I won't have time to view your wares today. I'm here on other business."
Sibson sidled forward into the light. Cadaver-thin and sharp-boned, he seemed to be constantly in motion. Everything about him twitched or jerked or bounced.
"May I ask what brings you here today, m'lord?"
"I am in search of information. And, as always, I am willing to pay well for it."
"What kind ofinformation?"
"There is a rumor that certain antiquities have made their way to London. I wish to determine the truth of that gossip."
"What antiquities would those be, sir?"
"A pair of Rings," Leo said softly. "Keys to an old statue of Aphrodite."
Sibson's eyes widened suddenly. His brows jiggled. "There are always a number of Aphrodites and Venuses floating about but, as it happens, I haven't got any in stock at the moment."
"This particular statue is rather unusual. It is said to contain a fabulous treasure."
Sibson made peculiar sucking sounds. "I know of no such statue, m1ord."
"Itis sometimes referredto asthe alchemist's Aphrodite." "Oh, that Aphrodite." Sibson snorted scornfully. "'Tis naught but an old legend. You of all people should know that, m1ord."
"Come, Sibson. You are well acquainted with me after all these years. You know that I can be very generous."
"I told you, I do not know of any statue that has a treasure stored inside." Sibson's scowl was petulant.
Q u i c k
"What about the Rings? The keys to the Aphrodite? I was told they may have passed through Ashwater's shop."
"Ashwater?" Sibson
Aphrodite gazed unseeingly into the darkened chamber.
"In the end, you will yield your secrets."
The candlelight flickered on the statue's serene and silent features.
"Soon, my cold little goddess. There will be no more mistakes."
The gloom-filled shop in Cunning Lane boasted a faded sign over the entrance that declared it to be the premises of one A. Sibson, dealer in antiquities. In truth, the front portion of
the musty, shabby establishment bore a close resemblance to a pawnshop.
The clientele was a mixed lot. It was composed chiefly of footpads seeking to fence stolen loot, and desperate, impoverished ladies wishing to dispose of family heirlooms. It also included the occasional collector of antiquities who had heard the rumors about Sibson's back room.
The bell over the door chimed weakly when Leo entered. There was no sign of anyone about inside. He made his way through a maze of dusty display cases filled with grimy jewelry, antique coins, and chipped vases. When he reached the counter he stopped.
"Sibson?" "Be with you in a moment." The voice emanated from behind the drawn curtain that masked the rear portion of the establishment.
Leo leaned negligently against the counter and surveyed the small shop. Very little had changed since the last time he was there. A fine film of grit shrouded the fake Greek statues in the corners. The pile of rune-inscribed stones on the floor did not look as if they had been disturbed in years.
As an old client, Leo was well aware that the goods in the front of the shop were for show. Sibson kept his most interesting offerings in his back room.
"Now, then, what can I do for you, sir?" Sibson pushed aside the curtain and peered out. He gave a nervous start when he saw Leo. His whiskers twitched and his ferretlike eyes darted back and forth as though seeking escape. "Monkcrest."
"Hello, Sibson. It's been a while, has it not? I haven't seen you since the day you tried to sell me that fraudulent Zamarian temple scroll."
"See here, now. I had every reason to think that scroll was genuine."
"Of course you did. You'd paid a great deal of money to that old forger Trull to create it. And I must say, he did an
W i t h
R i n g
excellent job. I especially admired the delicacy of the dolphin-and-shell decoration."
"Heard you were in town, m'lord. So kind of you to pay my humble establishment a visit. I've got some lovely things in the back."
"I won't have time to view your wares today. I'm here on other business."
Sibson sidled forward into the light. Cadaver-thin and sharp-boned, he seemed to be constantly in motion. Everything about him twitched or jerked or bounced.
"May I ask what brings you here today, m'lord?"
"I am in search of information. And, as always, I am willing to pay well for it."
"What kind ofinformation?"
"There is a rumor that certain antiquities have made their way to London. I wish to determine the truth of that gossip."
"What antiquities would those be, sir?"
"A pair of Rings," Leo said softly. "Keys to an old statue of Aphrodite."
Sibson's eyes widened suddenly. His brows jiggled. "There are always a number of Aphrodites and Venuses floating about but, as it happens, I haven't got any in stock at the moment."
"This particular statue is rather unusual. It is said to contain a fabulous treasure."
Sibson made peculiar sucking sounds. "I know of no such statue, m1ord."
"Itis sometimes referredto asthe alchemist's Aphrodite." "Oh, that Aphrodite." Sibson snorted scornfully. "'Tis naught but an old legend. You of all people should know that, m1ord."
"Come, Sibson. You are well acquainted with me after all these years. You know that I can be very generous."
"I told you, I do not know of any statue that has a treasure stored inside." Sibson's scowl was petulant.
Q u i c k
"What about the Rings? The keys to the Aphrodite? I was told they may have passed through Ashwater's shop."
"Ashwater?" Sibson
Similar Books
