The pawnbroker smiles and goes on showing us plate watch-chains.
“That picture,” says he, “was pledged a year ago by an Italian gentleman. I loaned him $500 on it. It is called “Love’s Idle Hour,’ and it is by Leonardo de Vinchy. Two days ago the legal time expired, and it became an unredeemed pledge. Here is a style of chain that is worn a great deal now.”
At the end of half an hour me and Silver paid the pawnbroker $2,000 and walked out with the picture. Silver got into a cab with it and started for Morgan’s office. I goes to the hotel and waits for him. In two hours Silver comes back.
“Did you see Mr. Morgan?” I asks. “How much did he pay you for it?”
Silver sits down and fools with a tassel on the table cover.
“I never exactly saw Mr. Morgan,” he says, “because Mr. Morgan’s been in Europe for a month. But what’s worrying me, Billy, is this: The department stores have all got that same picture on sale, framed, for $3.48. And they charge $3.50 for the frame alone—that’s what I can’t understand.”
