Swamped

Once again, you find yourself wishing that you were a little more attentive in your youth. Then you might at least have some idea of what in this town might be significant enough that they'd want to hide its theft.

Of course, it couldn't be so significant that its absence would be obvious. Something important, but not prominently displayed...

A book.

Just tonight, you saw someone stealing a page, and you're fairly sure someone tried to steal a whole book. And books can hold spells. If a book was stolen, but it wasn't widely known it held a spell in it... that's the kind of situation where authorities would want to keep things quiet.

But he's probably on guard for you asking directly. Maybe you can say something else as you're heading back, and see how he reacts to it.