snyders

"Between August 2000 and May 2002 more than 1,000 ancient books went missing from the St. Odile monastery library. A book collector stole the books after finding an old map showing a secret entrance into the library. The route was not easy, however, involving climbing up exterior walls, a steep staircase and a secret chamber. A mechanism then opened the back of one of five cupboards. The disappearance of so many books over such a length of time confused the librarian, the monks and the police, with Gosse finally being caught by closed-circuit television cameras."

"The plans suggested that the secret route to the library, once the monastery's common room, served in medieval times to spy on the monks' conversations. "

"Gosse was so confident he left a rose on the main entrance door to tease Father Donius after a particularly successful visit."