Sign on the Door reads as follows:

Sign on the Door reads as follows:
The Finley's Royal Tea Emporium & Steamery is for members of the royal society, inhabitants of London, star-gazers, scientists and any other roving loons who may discuss the matters at hand without becoming agitated. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable as we prepare for low tea and some rather bland digestive biscuits that would regulate an ox.

Sunday

The icing on the cake

Ladies and gentlemen of the tea room, please excuse the unusual circumstances of beginning a new topic but I think you may find the evidence I have well supports what I am about to propose.

I made the acquaintance of a former colonel in the Russian army who spoke at length of an enchanting English nurse he met during the war.  I of course assumed he meant Florence Nightingale until he showed me this picture.

Someday, I hope Sir Doyle would be willing to illuminate us as to why the woman in this picture bears such a uncanny resemblance to our esteemed colleague.  A homely cousin perhaps, or a harrowing tale of desperation and intrigue?

In the mean time, perhaps he can tell us how he wintered on Mt. Everest after surviving the simultaneous onslaught of an Avalanche and an attack of the Yetti; all without the benefit of shoes or a coat.
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6 comments:

  1. Lady Toola P. FinleyJanuary 16, 2011 at 4:15 AM

    Yes, I had intended something worse originally but after careful consideration and colluding a decision was made to hear a story worthy of a gentleman of his stature. Sir Doyle, I may not be so kind in future requests.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sir Steven Chadwick DoyleJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:31 AM

    My dear LADY Finley?,


    I must beg to differ with you on the unkind and shameful remark made about the picture of my dearly departed WIFE of twenty-two years. She was neither homely nor desperate.

    Clabatha Jane and I were very happily married, and shared our lives doing what we loved, helping others until the Yellow Fever took her home to live with our Father. She was my nursing assistant after battlefield training with Florence and had occasion to care for many Russian soldiers during the Crimean War.

    Sometimes(so it's told) that as a couple lives a long time together, they come to look somewhat alike. It is true that some of our former friends did indeed remark on our similar resemblance, but I never saw it.

    As to the former Russian Colonel, That would have had to have been Colonel Joseph (forgive the English spelling, I've forgotten the Russian)Khodzko. Joseph and Clabatha and I all became acquainted just before he led an expedition up Mt. Ararat looking for (of course) Noah's ark, and then again when he was wounded during the war.

    I am astonished by your lack of decorum and tact, and can only remark, "if only you were a man..."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Major F. Jack CollinsJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    EGAD! She looks so... so...

    Great jumping Jehosophat, sir! She's... your wife.

    A picture of loveliness. The epitome of ... egad.

    My condolences, sir, on your... your betrothal. I mean bereavement.

    Would anyone mind if I had something a bit stronger than tea?

    Incidentally, sir, (my that's strong scotch!) why does the name on the photograph read H. Edwards?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lady Toola P. FinleyJanuary 16, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    Holy $@#^$@*! Quick pass the Gin and leave the glass. This week is going to be long and eventful. Gin for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sir Steven Chadwick DoyleJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    Lady Finley,

    I have a question for you. How in the world did you find out about my expedition to Mt. Everest? It was a while ago when I was but a lad just out of medical school. As I remember, it was the year after graduation and before I joined Her Majesty’s Service with the 13th Light Dragoons. It was one of the most exciting situations I've ever found myself in...let me see now, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Edmond Hilary and I began as...

    Ah, now I remember, you'll just have to wait for my story.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sir Steven Chadwick DoyleJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    Major Collins,

    Thank you for your kind word concerning the one true love of my life, CJ (my pet name for her).

    Please express to Lady Finley that I accept her apology and I am willing to forgive and forget, even though her choice of words escapes me.

    ReplyDelete

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