"Alexei Panshin - New Celebrations" - читать интересную книгу автора (Panshin Alexei)

She did look up at Villiers once, which pleased him.

However, when his meal was done, Villiers went his own way with only the briefest sense of regret, quite
prepared to indulge himself in appreciation of the next attractive young lady he should meet, and equally
ready to admire this one if he should see her again.

Now he considered various inexpensive entertainments and decided that a look at Star Well’s shops
might be in order. He found the appropriate level with no great difficulty, stepped off the lift, and began to
walk the Promenade. He gestured politely to the people he met and passed the shops one by one, until at
last he came to a shop that purported to sell the curious and ancient. He stopped there, and went inside.

Shops that purport to sell the curious and ancient ought of rights to be themselves curious and ancient,
with dust and clutter and secret treasure. This shop had no dust and only a little clutter, so that Villiers
almost turned and went out again. Neat tables and cases and shelves, all well-lit, held little promise of the
sort of discovery he had in mind.

The approach of an elderly man from the rear of the store stayed his departure. The old man’s hair was
thin, his posture was stooped, and there were liver spots on the backs of his hands.

“May I help you, sir?” The voice was thin, but firm.

“Mr. Eyre?” Villiers had the name from the sign discretely attached to the door.

“No, sir. Mr. Spottiswoode, at your service. Mr. Eyre is on a purchasing excursion now, and won’t be
back for several months. Did you especially want to see him?”

“No. In truth, I wondered if you had any books.”

“Oh, books may be had just down the Promenade.”

“I’m looking for a curious and ancient book.”
“We do have a few. If you’ll just let me consult our records.” Mr. Spottiswoode slipped behind a
counter and found an index number and pulled forth a small drawer.

“The book isCompanions of Vinland , by Ottilie A. Liljencrantz.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I misunderstood. I thought you simply meant an ancient book. I didn’t know you meant a
specific title. I never heard of this one. And that name.”

Villiers spelled the name for the old man. Spottiswoode picked his way through his file, peering quite
carefully at the cards. Then he stopped.

“Why, good heavens. We once had a book by Otillie A. Liljencrantz here. Something calledRandvar the
Songsmith . But we sold it long ago. And, oh, my—for a substantial sum. Fourteen royals.”

Villiers nodded. “I know that one. It’s relatively common.”

“Common!”

“Relatively.”