Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem - Charlie Cochrane Page 0,17
many men of good common sense, he has two ears, two eyes and one mouth and uses them in that ratio,” Henry observed. “Anyway, we have digressed again, for which I apologise. It’s too much of a pleasure to have such erudite and polymathematical guests.”
Orlando inclined his head at the compliment, although he wasn’t aware that either he or Jonty had been given the opportunity to display much erudition or a multiplicity of knowledge. He didn’t comment, though, for fear that they’d never get to hear the mystery they were ostensibly here to be consulted upon.
“So, returning to the point. A year before Edward died, my brother and I decided to spend part of our summer investigating what appeared to be earthworks in the field next but one across and slightly up from where Applecross is presently digging. We found a spring, with what appeared to be man-made reinforcements around its mouth and a culvert leading underground. Perhaps it’s the one that feeds the bath house which is presently under excavation. I would be very interested in exposing the pipes at both ends and perhaps putting a dye down into the water supply to see if the two connect. Although we’d have to wait until we’d had some steady days of rain, because otherwise there’s hardly a trickle coming through.” Henry slapped his thigh, evidently castigating himself for digressing again. “Come on Henry, keep to the point. Which is that one day Richard went digging for ruins, with only Edward and his nurse maid, Mary, for company. Edward was quite happy to be given his own special area, one where he could probably cause no harm, so he could dig up the earth with his little spade and trowel. Richard dug some test pits further down the slope but turned up nothing. The hummocks we’d spotted were merely caused by the natural geology rather than being a temple below the spring or anything exciting like that. With the benefit of hindsight, one can see that we’d clearly plumped for the wrong field, as is evident from Applecross’s successes in finding the villa. Although at the time we believed we hadn’t been mistaken.”
Henry rose, fetched the decanter, offered to top up everyone’s glasses—an offer that was politely declined—as he carried on with his tale. “Edward’s little trench, on the other hand, turned up wonders. A roman brooch, to start with, and a coin. He went running up to Richard, proudly brandishing them, then took him back to show him where they’d come from. They both dug some more and started to discover other things, including what appeared to be a layer of coins and possibly jewellery compressed together. Richard stopped digging immediately, recognising this might be a treasure trove with all the inherent complications.”
“Treasure trove?” Orlando had heard of the term but wasn’t sure what the complications might be.
“It would require an inquest to sit,” Jonty said, “to determine if this was indeed treasure. You can’t simply dig up any old stuff, sell it at the local market and pocket the profits.”
“Well put, Jonty. My brother has always had a great interest in such things,” Henry continued, “so knew that his duty was to report the find as soon as possible. He also had the sense to cover the site over once more, in case anybody came along who was less scrupulous than he. The exception was the loose things which Edward had found and which it would have been heartless to take from him. He already was upset that they couldn’t continue to dig up what he called his pirate gold, although Richard soothed him by saying that Queen Victoria must be informed immediately and that he must take very great care of his coin and brooch. Edward was very taken with the queen.”
“She visited the estate when Edward was hardly more than a babe in arms,” Beatrice said, in a voice that manged to convey both pride at the fact and regret that she hadn’t been present to enjoy the occasion. “His first word, other than Mama and Papa, was apparently majesty, was it not, Henry?”
“It was indeed, my dear. I have heard it said that our late and much-lamented monarch was not that taken with small children but she apparently smiled broadly and tickled young Edward under his chin when he spoke it.” Henry shook his head vigorously. “We digress again. The area in the field had the turf put back on it as best they could and