14 August 1298

Marco Polo returned home and discovered thirteen bottles 
of spices missing. These were a gift from Kublai Kahn. 
Polo devastated by the theft of the gift
from the now-deceased Mongol conqueror.  The Venetian
police searched the city and found only dead ends.  

NOTES FROM A CONVERSATION WITH MARCO:
*	Marco mentioned that when he opened the door to his palazzo, he
 	noticed a sulfuric odor. 
*	Nothing else was missing; the thief took only the spices from
 	their hiding place (a safe behind a wall in Marco's dressing room).
 	Did not touch rubies and emeralds lying next to the spices
 	in the safe.

THOUGHTS:
*	The sulfuric odor has appeared in one previous case. 
*	It's a strange criminal who leaves jewels behind.
*	What significance can these spices have?  Marco said their 
 	primary use was for making salves for the skin to keep it
 	soft. He hid them primarily because Kublai Kahn gave them to him.
