"Beside the pregnant music box, on the table lay a fortuitous invitation to attend the Art Institute Valentines fundraiser as guests. It was not an invitation to donate a work; those only go to well-known artists.” Nicolas St. Denis continued to tell the story to Jack O’Brien.
“But, it was easy for me to contribute the music box covertly because, as you are aware since we work for the same agency, I know how to do this.”
"Nico, Jack said, "it is agreed that you are a brilliant code breaker, but not only was this not an official field action, but also you aren't authorized to take part in field actions.”
“I know that my colleagues, including you, joke that I am like Inspector Clouseau, but, you forget that Clouseau usually solves the case. You see, “ Nico said in a pronounced fake-French accent, “if we had not set sail that little boat of a music box that contained a French Book of Hours won in a card game by the grandson of a Riverboat gambler, it would not have arrived in the East Bay Hills in the collection of the daughter of a Cajun jazz musician.”
"So far, there have been three break-ins: one at Sido's house; one at the Huygens coach’s cottage; and one at my brother-in-law's beach house.”
"Yes, but three criminals have been arrested, and now a University Archivist is studying this manuscript. Already, much that we did not know has come to light.’"
