The Ninth Gate

00:38:46,700 --> 00:38:50,328 I would never have believed she would part with it, never. 359 00:38:50,496 --> 00:38:52,538 - She? - Mrs. Telfer. 360 00:38:55,417 --> 00:38:58,377 I understood that it was Mr. Telfer that had bought it. 361 00:38:58,545 --> 00:39:00,046 He paid for it. 362 00:39:00,214 --> 00:39:02,215 It was Mrs. Telfer who made him buy it. 363 00:39:02,382 --> 00:39:05,218 - He didn't seem particularly... - Interested. 364 00:39:06,345 --> 00:39:08,554 An exceptional specimen. 365 00:39:08,722 --> 00:39:11,140 - Do you think it could be a forgery? - Forgery? 366 00:39:11,308 --> 00:39:14,227 - You hear that, Pablo? - I took you for a professional. 367 00:39:14,394 --> 00:39:17,563 - You speak too lightly of forgeries. - Far too lightly. 368 00:39:17,731 --> 00:39:20,650 Forging a book is very expensive. 369 00:39:20,817 --> 00:39:25,071 Paper of the period, right inks. Too expensive to be profitable. 370 00:39:25,239 --> 00:39:27,031 - Still, it can be done. - Of course. 371 00:39:27,199 --> 00:39:30,076 Requires a great skill, but, yes, it can be done. 372 00:39:30,244 --> 00:39:32,245 Do you think that could be the case here? 373 00:39:32,412 --> 00:39:33,412 What makes you ask? 374 00:39:33,580 --> 00:39:37,583 My client wishes to satisfy himself on the book's authenticity. 375 00:39:37,751 --> 00:39:40,753 His name is Balkan. Boris Balkan of New York. 376 00:39:40,921 --> 00:39:44,840 - All books have a destiny of their own. - And a life of their own. 377 00:39:45,008 --> 00:39:48,970 Mr. Balkan is a celebrated collector. He's no fool. 378 00:39:49,137 --> 00:39:50,930 He must know this book is authentic. 379 00:39:51,098 --> 00:39:52,682 - We know it. - So must he. 380 00:39:52,849 --> 00:39:55,059 - We had this book for years. - Many years. 381 00:39:55,227 --> 00:39:57,770 And ample opportunity to study it thoroughly. 382 00:39:57,938 --> 00:40:01,065 The printing, the binding are magnificent examples... 383 00:40:01,233 --> 00:40:03,192 ...of 17th century Venetian craftsmanship. 384 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:07,863 Finest rag paper, resistant to the passage of time. 385 00:40:08,031 --> 00:40:10,324 None of your modern wood pulp. 386 00:40:10,492 --> 00:40:14,412 Watermarks, ink, typefaces. 387 00:40:14,580 --> 00:40:18,124 If this is a forgery, or a copy with missing pages restored... 388 00:40:18,292 --> 00:40:19,792 ...it's the work of a master. 389 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:21,794 - A master. - Yes. 390 00:40:21,962 --> 00:40:24,130 Have you studied the engravings? 391 00:40:24,298 --> 00:40:26,966 They seem to have some underlying significance. 392 00:40:27,134 --> 00:40:29,885 But of course. Here, for example. 393 00:40:30,053 --> 00:40:32,305 This one could be interpreted as a warning. 394 00:40:32,472 --> 00:40:37,727 "Venture too far," it seems to say, "and danger will descend on you from above. " 395 00:40:37,894 --> 00:40:40,730 These type of books often contain little puzzles. 396 00:40:40,897 --> 00:40:44,275 Especially in the case of such an illustrious collaborator. 397 00:40:44,443 --> 00:40:45,443 Collaborator? 398 00:40:45,611 --> 00:40:48,988 You could not have proceeded very far in your research, se or. 399 00:40:49,156 --> 00:40:50,656 Here, look close. 400 00:40:50,824 --> 00:40:53,326 Now, you see? Only six of the nine engravings... 401 00:40:53,493 --> 00:40:55,244 ...were signed by Aristide Torchia. 402 00:40:55,412 --> 00:40:58,456 Yes. And the other three? 403 00:40:58,624 --> 00:41:00,583 This is one of them. 404 00:41:01,001 --> 00:41:03,836 "LCF." 405 00:41:04,630 --> 00:41:07,256 - Who's LCF? - Think. 406 00:41:13,430 --> 00:41:15,306 Lucifer? 407 00:41:16,058 --> 00:41:19,560 Very perceptive of you, se or. 408 00:41:20,187 --> 00:41:22,855 Torchia was burned alive because he wrote this book... 409 00:41:23,023 --> 00:41:24,815 ...in collaboration with someone else. 410 00:41:24,983 --> 00:41:26,734 Come on. You can't honestly believe... 411 00:41:26,902 --> 00:41:30,613 The man who wrote this book did so in alliance with the devil... 412 00:41:30,781 --> 00:41:32,239 ...and went to the stake for it. 413 00:41:32,407 --> 00:41:35,868 Even hell has its heroes, se or. 414 00:43:30,317 --> 00:43:31,817 I've seen you before. 415 00:43:31,985 --> 00:43:34,528 - Have you? - Yes. 416 00:43:34,696 --> 00:43:36,989 Are you traveling in this car? 417 00:43:37,157 --> 00:43:39,658 - The next one. - The sleeper. 418 00:43:39,826 --> 00:43:42,244 I travel on the cheap. 419 00:43:43,288 --> 00:43:44,705 You're a student? 420 00:43:44,873 --> 00:43:47,082 Something like that. 421 00:43:47,334 --> 00:43:51,003 - I like trains. - Trains I'm on? 422 00:43:51,171 --> 00:43:53,172 Just trains. 423 00:43:55,717 --> 00:43:57,176 What's your name? 424...