I was in the garden, at the entrance of the other passage.
When the door opened there was not much light, and the master was wrapped in his cloak, and he turned a little, and went in sideways, so I knew that he had something under his arm, for the door is narrow." "He was probably bringing over some valuable materials," said Giovanni.
"I believe he was bringing the great book," said the boy confidently, but almost in a whisper.
"What great book ?" The lad looked at Giovanni with an expression of cunning on his face, as much as to say that he was not to be deceived by such a transparent pretence of ignorance.
"He was afraid to leave it in his house," he said, "lest you should find it and learn how to make the gold as he does.

So he took it over to the laboratory at night." Giovanni began to understand, though it was the first time he had heard that the boys, like the common people, suspected Angelo Beroviero of being an alchemist.

It was clear that the boy meant the book that contained the priceless secrets for glass-making which Giovanni and his brother had so long coveted.

His interest increased.
"After all," he said, "you saw nothing distinctly.

My father went in and shut the door, I suppose." "Yes," answered the boy.