Reblogged from Jim Webster aka Tallis Steelyard:
When I was comparatively young and undoubtedly more innocent that I am now, I remember being present at an affair hosted by the ‘Port Naain Society of anonymous lady philanthropists’. The society is an interesting one. The idea was that one of the ladies would hold a dance, a soiree or some other event at their home. Lady guests would be strictly enjoined not to wear anything new for the event but instead were to secretly make a cash donation by dropping coins into one of the collecting urns. The design of the urn meant that one couldn’t see what coins were being dropped. Obviously surreptitious attempts were made to defeat this secrecy, one lady had a usurer’s clerk stand next to the urn on the reasonable assumption that his familiarity with coin meant that he could tell the amount dropped by the sound made. Subsequent hostesses have taken firm action to assume this never happened again. The presence of the urn is normally signalled by the presence of a piper, a horn player or in one case, a full string orchestra.
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I suspect that they are two ladies who will never turn up at an event wearing the same dress 🙂
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One would assume they have their sources to ensure such a possibility should never occur. 😉
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I have no doubt there are professional intelligence agents who regard their information collection methods with awe and wonder 🙂
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And Mutt’s cronies probably do well out of the affair 😉
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I trust their honest toil will be properly rewarded 🙂
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I have no doubt they will make sure hey do 😉
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indubitably. I suspect reputation ensures that the wise do not attempt to cheat them 🙂
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I certainly wouldn’t dare 😉
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I always had you marked down as a lady of wisdom, wit and discernment 😉
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As a fan of Tallis and Co…. 😉
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Taken as read 🙂
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😀
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