The binding is wholly tool-work, much older than the brasses, which, I think, have been renewed--at least the clamps--certainly one of them is of a later period.

The vellum and the illuminated text"-- again he scrutinized the title-page, this time turning a few of the inside leaves--"is before Gutenberg's time.

Handwork, of course, by some old monk.

Very curious and very interesting.

And you say there are two others like this one ?" The hunchback, whose big, shaggy head reached but a very little above the case over which the colloquy was taking place, stretched himself upon his toes as if to see Felix the better.