Chapter Three: The Cost of Approval

Arthur held out his hand, suggesting they examine the inner mechanism inside the shop where the light was better. Leo hesitated for a fraction of a second, clutching the heavy chain, but Arthur assured him it was entirely safe and that a budding historian shouldn't work under a streetlamp.

"Go on, lad. Let’s see what the inside looks like. You might be holding a piece of local history right there."

Flattered and eager to impress, Leo handed the pocket watch over and followed Arthur into the dim, crowded interior of the shop. Arthur popped open the back casing, muttered a few technical-sounding phrases about brass gears, and told Leo to fetch a magnifying glass from the back counter.

When Leo returned a moment later with the glass, Arthur was sliding the watch deep into his waistcoat pocket, a polite smile fixed on his face.

"Wait a minute! That's mine!" Leo protested, stopping short.

Arthur shook his head smoothly. "You brought it into my shop to have it appraised and surrendered it for inspection, my boy. Under trade customs, items left for evaluation remain here until ownership can be legally verified."

Leo stood frozen in disbelief as Arthur turned away to chat with another customer. The bitter realization washed over him: the extravagant praise had never been about his talent or his future as a historian. Arthur had simply fed his vanity until Leo handed over his treasure willingly.