The pool of St Branok

I used to love to sit by the Serpentine in blissful forgetfulness of that terrible day which during the visit to London seemed so far from what I thought of as the scene of the crime. It had faded into the past and was of for less significance than it had been in Cornwall. There was one day, I remember, when we talked of Ben, that brought it back a little, for I had not seen Ben since it happened. I had been aware of him at my bedside, I supposed, but that was all.

"You remember Benedict, Angelet," said Jonnie one day.

"Oh yes, I remember him."

"Of course you do. Do you know, Miss Gilmore, I was quite jealous of Benedict at one time. Angelet used to be my particular friend and when he came along she completely forgot me."

"Who is he exactly?" asked Grace. "I know he was at Cador for a while but I was never quite sure."

"He took a bit of explaining," said Jonnie. "He's my grandfather's grandson. I suppose that makes him a cousin. What complicated relationships we have in our family."

"Perhaps that's why you are rather complicated people," said Grace.

"That must be the answer. Do you know, I never thought of that."

“I wonder if he has found gold and become rich," I said.

Jonnie said to Grace: "That was what he went to Australia to find. Gold! Do you remember some time ago there was a great deal of comment about the goldfields of Australia. A place called Ballarat, I believe. Well, Benedict just thought he would like a share of it and he went in search of his fortune."

"I expect if he had found gold he would have been delighted to let us know," I said.

"Yes, I'm sure of that, too," agreed Jonnie. "Benedict was not one to hide his light under a bushel."

I wished they wouldn't talk of him. They were bringing it all back to me again.

"Perhaps he is having a hard time," I suggested.

"Well, I should think it is not a very easy life ... until one strikes gold."

"He sounds a very interesting young man," said Grace. "I remember him only slightly."

"He is rather overpowering, wouldn't you say, Angelet," said Jonnie. "In fact he is very much like my grandfather."

"I see what you mean," said Grace. "Tell me, when are you planning to go to Greece?"

"Next spring, I think."

"How very exciting! I think it must be one of the most thrilling things one can do ... to discover the past, for that is what it is."

"Exactly," agreed Jonnie. "Then I hope to get to Pompeii. I feel there is a good deal to discover there. People have explored a little. I have been there once ... two years ago. They have worked on it ... spasmodically. There is no system, though. I believe work on it would be very rewarding."

"How fascinating," cried Grace rapturously. "It was the volcano which erupted, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but there was a series of earthquakes before that. It was the shocks which set Vesuvius erupting and sending out those ashes and hot stones pelting down on the cities and utterly destroying them."

Grace shivered. "It makes you realize how uncertain life is."

"It does indeed. Well, I intend to get out there and work. I shall do everything I can to make that possible. There is so much to do, I am sure we can uncover a whole city."

"How did they know there was a city there?" I asked.

"The walls of the amphitheater marked the spot, but it was just a lot of hardened mud with sparse grass on it ... enough though to show that there had been a city there. As far back as the sixteenth century they came upon ancient buildings. There have been excavations but they have never been carried out in a scientific way. It's time they were. Then Heaven knows what treasures we shall uncover."

"I think it must be a wonderful profession," said Grace enthusiastically. "I'd love to be concerned in it."

"It's hard work ... digging and all that."

"I'm strong."

"I tell you what; I'll lend you some more books."

"Oh will you?"

"Of course."

He did and soon they were involved in intelligent discussions and I felt rather left out. It was the first time I had been made aware that I was still a child and Jonnie and Grace were adults. She must have been four or possibly five years older than he was. I liked Grace very much but I did wish that she was not always present when we went on our rides and walks. I also wished that she were not quite so clever; she seemed to have acquired quite an understanding of archaeology which she had certainly not had when she came to London.

I remember one day when we were walking back to the house we encountered a band of men walking along carrying banners. We stood watching them. They were singing something. It was hard to decipher but Jonnie translated for me. It was:

You jolly old Turk, now go to work And show the Bear your power. It is rumored over Britain's Isle That A is in the Tower.

"What does it mean?" I asked.