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believe that it came through the Curtain in order to find it for you.”
    â€œTrue, but there’s a small problem with that approach.”
    â€œWhat problem?”
    â€œIf you really think that I’m semidelusional or just overly sentimental about an old family antique, you probably won’t be sufficiently careful.”
    â€œWhy do I need to be careful?”
    â€œBecause there are collectors who do believe that the box dates from pre–Curtain Earth. Some of them would no doubt kill to get their hands on it.”

4
    â€œA SMALL CHEST , you say.” Bartholomew Greeley folded his hands on top of the locked glass case. His broad, ruddy features assumed a meditative expression. “Made of a yellowish wood. With a number of tiny hidden drawers.”
    â€œThat’s how my client described it.” Lydia glanced at her watch. She had only twenty minutes left on her lunch hour. “Apparently it’s been in his family for several generations. Between you and me, he’s convinced it’s an Old World antique.”
    Greeley looked pained. “Highly unlikely.”
    â€œYeah, I know. Probably a nice heirloom-quality piece made right here on Harmony less than a hundred years ago but with a history that has been, shall we say, embellished by a long series of grandfathers and grandmothers.” Lydia nodded. “You know how families are when it comes to that kind of thing.”
    â€œIndeed.” Bartholomew’s eyes gleamed. “But if the particular family in question actually believes the item is of Old World manufacture—” He let the sentence trail off suggestively.
    Lydia got the point. “Rest assured, my client is convinced that the cabinet came from Earth, and he is prepared to pay well to get it back.”
    â€œHow well?” Bartholomew asked bluntly.
    â€œHe has instructed me to put out the word that he will top any offer from a private collector.”
    â€œWhat about an offer from a museum?”
    â€œMy client says he can prove ownership of the cabinet and will go to court to get it back if necessary. No curator will touch it if he or she thinks the museum will lose it in a legal battle. What with the initial expense plus legal costs, it wouldn’t be worth the price.”
    â€œTrue. Not unless the artifact in question actually is a work of art from the home world.”
    â€œAs you said, highly unlikely. The thing to keep in mind is that my client believes it’s from Earth. That means there will probably be some other collectors who can be persuaded to believe it too.”
    â€œHmm.” Bartholomew pursed his lips. “So you need concern yourself only with the private market.”
    â€œNot just the private collector market, Bart.” Lydia gave him a meaningful look. “A very special segment of that market.”
    He did not pretend to misunderstand. “The segment that does not ask too many questions.”
    â€œRight. We both know that you would never get involved in questionable transactions, of course.”
    â€œAbsolutely not. I have my reputation to consider.”
    â€œNaturally.” Lydia was proud of the fact that she did not even blink at that statement. “But a dealer in your position sometimes hears things. I just want you to know that my client is prepared to compensate you for any information that leads to the recovery of his antique box.”
    â€œIndeed.” Bartholomew glanced around the cluttered interior of Greeley’s Antiques with an air of satisfaction. “You’re quite right, of course. A dealer in my position occasionally picks up rumors.”
    Lydia followed his gaze. The display cabinets were crammed with odd bits and pieces of rusty metal and warped, faded plastic. She recognized some of the items in the cases, including what looked like the remains of an Old World weather forecasting instrument and the hilt of a knife. They were typical of the