Limekiller!

One of the few lawyers who had not dropped out along the long, hard way, had a caveat. “Would the Law of Treasure Trove apply?” he wondered. “In which case, the Crown would own it. Although, to be sure, where there is no attempt at concealment The Crown would allow a finder’s fee. Mr. Limekiller.?”

And if anyone attempt to resist or set aside this my Intention, I do herewith and hereafter declare that he, she, or they shall not sleep well of nights..

Limekiller said, “I’ll pass.”

And Captain Sneed cried, “Piffle! Tush! Was the Deed of Gift registered, or was it not? Was the Stamp Tax paid, or was it not?”

One of the policemen said, “If you have the Queen’s head on your paper, you cahn’t go wrong.”

“Nol. con.," the lawver said. And said no more.

***

That had been that. The rest were details. (One of the details was found in one of the large jars: another piece of plastic-wrapped paper, on which was written in a now-familiar hand, He who led you hither, he may now sleep well of nights.) And in the resolution of these other details the three North Americans had no part. Nor had Marin and friends: back to Parrot Bend they went. Nor had Captain Sneed. “Holiday is over,” he said. “If I don’t get back to my farm, the wee-wee ants will carrv away mv fruit. Come and visit, all of you. Whenever you like. Anvone will tell you where it is,” he said. And was gone, the brave old Digger bush-hat bobbing away down the lane: wearing an invisible plume.

And the major (and the minor) currents of life in St. Michael of the Mountains went on — as they had gone on for a century without them.

There was the inevitable letdown.

May said, with a yawn, “I need a nice, long rest. And I know just where I’m going to find it. After we get back to King Town. I’m going to take a room at that hotel near the National Library.”

Felix asked, “Why?”

“Why? I’ll be like a kid in a candy warehouse. Do you realize that on the second floor of the National Library is the largest collection of nineteenth century English novels which I have ever seen in any one place? Everything EVer written by Everybody. Mrs. Edgeworth, Mrs. Trollope, Mrs. Gaskell, Mrs. Oliphant, Mrs. This and Mrs. That.”

“Mrs. That, I remember her. Say, she wasn’t bad at all —”

“No, she wasn’t. Although, personally, I prefer Mrs. This.”

Felix and Limekiller found that they were looking at each other. Speak now, he told himself. Aren’t you tired of holding your own piece? “And what are you going to be doing, then?” he asked.

She considered. Said she wasn’t sure.

There was a silence.

“Did I tell you about my boat?”

“No. You didn’t.” Her look at him was a steady one. She didn’t seem impatient. She seemed to have all the time in the world. “Tell me about your boat,” she said.

LIMEKILLER AT LARGE