I’m afraid my burning passion overrode my conscience
It may appear selfish, but I felt the books had been abandoned.
They were covered with dust and pigeon droppings,
and I felt no one consulted them anymore.
There was also the thrill of adventure –
I was very scared of being found out.
The words of Stanislas Gosse when convicted of ‘burglary by ruse and escapade’ for stealing ancient books from Mont Saint-Odile monastery. He climbed the walls at night and entered through a secret door in a cupboard. Submitted by Gabriel Smy.