I had thought that it might be another adventure for her to accompany me to Oxford, however that was put aside for another time when my sister rang up.
She had made arrangements for Lily to accompany her to Sotheby’s and the auction of various pieces of Egyptian artifacts and statues they were hosting.
When I explained to Lily, she had made a face.
“I first attended Sotheby’s when I was very near your age,” I consoled her. “You will find many fascinating things there. I’m certain that it led to my first adventure.” I forced myself to keep a straight face at her response to that.
“I seen some drawings that Lady Antonia had in her art room. Masks of dead people and bodies in boxes?”
That was rather cutting to the heart of it.
“Ancient kings and queens,” I replied in an attempt to pique her curiosity. “And undoubtedly a well-preserved snake or a ram covered in gold.”
That brought about a disapproving sound from Mrs. Ryan. However, it had the desired effect.
“A sheep covered in gold?”
“The ram represented the ancient god, Amun. The sign of the ram or a goat’s head has been found on the walls of many tombs. That would be far more interesting than an afternoon at Oxford.”
“A sheep covered in gold?”
I had read about that in the dailies, promoting the exhibition and auction.
She seemed to be considering that as opposed to Oxford which I had explained was actually several schools located in the town of Oxford.
“Over thirty schools at one place?” she exclaimed as I explained that Oxford was actually a combination of manydifferent colleges, including the women’s college that had opened in 1879.
“Wot does anyone need with that many schools? Ye’d die before ye learnt it all.”
She did have a very pragmatic way of thinking that I couldn’t argue with.
“I s’pose I’d rather see a gold sheep than all those schools,” she finally decided.
“Although I’d much rather go with ye in yer new investigation.”
With that more or less agreed upon, I had Mrs. Ryan make arrangements for my aunt’s driver to pick Lily up for her return to Sussex Square, which brought me around to the subject of Rupert.
He had joined us once more the previous evening when we went by the office on the Strand, in keeping with Brodie’s instructions to Mr. Cavendish. He insisted that the hound accompany Lily and I to Mayfair.
This morning Rupert was presently reclined before the hearth in the front parlor with only an occasional twitch to give any indication that he was still alive.
I would be making the trip to Oxford by way of Paddington Rail Station and while it was possible that I might take him along, I did foresee some objections from the attendants not to mention other passengers.
He did have a way of putting people off somewhat if not with his over-protective manner, then most certainly by the smell that accompanied him when he’d been out and about the streets.
“I’ll see that he gets to Mr. Cavendish then accompany Lily to Sussex Square,” Mrs. Ryan spoke up as I considered precisely what was to be done.
I looked over in surprise. It was one thing that she provided biscuits and scones for Mr. Cavendish and Rupert. It was quiteanother to go about London with the hound in a coach much like a favored pet.
“There’s no need to look at me like that,” she commented. “It will give me the opportunity to air the place after ye’re on yer way and the girl is quite fond of him.”
Lily grinned.
Oxford was more than an hour away by rail.
When I rang up Dr. Pennington’s office, his assistant informed me that the doctor suggested that we meet at an inn, rather than negotiating the vast grounds and halls of the medical school.
Oxford University was known across the empire and the rest of the world as one of the premier universities. The original school dated back almost to the time of the Norman Conquest with records that went back as far as the year 1096.
