Mystery and Mayhem and St Marks

Mystery and Mayhem At St Mark's

A Sequel

by

Joel

Seq. 1:

Some of the Characters Appearing or Mentioned: Mark Henry Foster The story-teller: Pennefather Organ Scholar Tristan (Tris) Price-Williams His well-proportioned boyfriend. At College of Law. Francis Michael Foster Alias Toad/Gobbo Mark's younger brother Jack Goodman Frankie's bosom pal James Bowes-Chesterton Frankie's pal Bozo Patrick Montgomery Frankie's pal Moggo Shelley Price-Williams Tris's younger sister Anthony Pugsley Shelley's ardent boyfriend [Puggo/Pugsy] Gregory Parks Bozo's friend [Harpo] Carey [Minky] Thomas Frankie's ex-sexpartner, now preggy by another. Boswell Johnson Servant of the Chapel Oliver Jensen A musical and alluring undergraduate Angus Alexander [Zack] McKenzie Oliver's young boyfriend. Charles Fane-Stuart Research student and Assistant Bursar Colonel Lachlan Cameron-Thomson Former Military Intelligence H.R.H. Sheik Sayed Al-Hamed An erstwhile Ambassador Safar Al-Hamed His son, a very musical don Cressida Al-Hamed Safar's wife, librarian and oboist James Al-Hamed Their son, research student and Fellow in waiting. Gabriel Pack A friendly Aussie Joshua Gibbons Another friendly Aussie, Gabriel's cousin Raphael Pack An Aussie dreamboat, Gabriel's brother Jason Knott A newly minted Porter Liam Moore A Lodge Boy, Porter-to-be Sean O'Malley Servery Lad and Lodge Boy Curt Stein Servery Lad and cute with it

Christmas 2003

What neither Tris or I had bargained for had been the 'phone call from Toad at the beginning of December where he had wheedled a promise out of me, of course including Tris, that his pals should have a special visit to inspect the completed cellars. He did make the good point that he and I were both taking RCO exams in January so the earlier the better. The earlier being Monday the twenty-second, two days after the wedding, with all six of them staying over until Tuesday. Six? Toad made it quite clear that Bozo's friend Harpo was not being left out. Resignedly I'd said OK without thinking about the logistics. In fact, having too many other things to occupy my mind for the next three weeks to think about arrangements for an invasion, I'd cast the matter into the deeper recesses of my consciousness.

Unknown to me he had chatted to Brad on Friday evening at the Club and found he was going to one of his sister's for Christmas and the two lads were off skiing. On Saturday he'd questioned Gabriel about his and Josh's plans. They were fixed to go to Lo's so he'd told Mum that Raphael was spending Christmas with us, if that was alright. Mum acquiesced.

Of course, this was all in a good cause. With Gabe and Josh happy that Raph was not being cast out into the cold over Christmas he'd then remarked that he and his friends would put a strain on my accommodation. As Gabe's and Josh's rooms would be vacant a generous Gabe suggested... Perhaps any overflow... A no doubt smiling and unctuous Toad accepted such thoughtfulness with due modesty. Voila. Bozo and Harpo would be accommodated.

Sunday 21st December

When he announced all this after we got back to my set after a superb Sunday lunch with the remaining family and friends at the Garden House Hotel, Tris and I had advanced on him in a pincer movement with the unspoken intent of giving him a rather rough time. No. Simultaneously we both realised he did have a streak of goodness in his heart. Tris was first to speak.

"Bozo and Harpo? Two boys, same bed?"

"What do you think? There's no need to muck up both their beds." He spoke with a hint of asperity in his voice. "Anyway, I knew I would have to make all the arrangements as Mark would be much too busy. Don't worry, we won't bother you, Boz says the rest of us can kip down in his set...."

"....Boz?" queried Tris, I was still digesting the possible conjunction of Bozo and Harpo, the latter of whom we were still to meet.

"...Oh, I talked to him yesterday as well when Zack was asking him about the Servant of the Chapel's duties. I just happened to mention my friends were coming and you and Mark would want some privacy and he kindly...." He stopped, looked from one to the other of us and grinned. "...I knew you two wanted a couple of days here together..." He wrinkled his nose and looked pointedly at me. "You can practise and Tris can go and get some more experience at Jacob and Paul's office while they're here. We'll just need feeding..."

I exchanged looks with Tris across him. What did one do with pestiferous brats? Nothing. Just grin and bear it. We had decided to stay until Christmas Eve in any case as Safar had given me his two tickets for the Nine Lessons and Carols in King's. He said he and Cressie were going to spend Christmas in Paris with James and couldn't let them go to waste.

"...And what will the College authorities say about teenagers running rampant?..." Tris was cut short.

"Bollocks! Pugsy's coming here with me anyway next year and there certainly won't be any rampaging with him around as you well know...." The image of that muscly delight flashed up in my mind. "...and Charles said..."

"Charles?" I returned to this planet as it was my turn to ask a question.

"The College authorities, as Tris so exactly named them,..." OK, OK, the lad had things sussed! "...were quite agreeable. Charles said as long as we didn't upset the Porters he had no objection..."

"...When has Charles taken over the running of the College from the Master, Dean, Chaplain, Bursar, Fellows, not to mention the Porters?..." I could sense from the way Tris was speaking he wasn't far from bursting into laughter.

"Tristan Price-Williams....." Toad said the name in precisely the tones used by Tris's Mum when she was exasperated over his inability to clear his room of boyish detritus. "....you may have a first class honours in Law but even I have discerned the ruling hierarchy in this place and as long as the equilibrium is not disturbed there will be no repercussions..."

Tris's chest was heaving. Frankie's imitation of Charles's orotund style was spot on. In fact, probably a verbatim rendition. "...quoting the Assistant Bursar whose word is law."

Frankie's grin was even wider. "Dad said go for broke and Charles was the kingpin..."

"Dad? You discussed all this with him?" I was rather astounded. I didn't class Frankie in the 'take advice from dad' category

"Yeah. I have lots of chats with him. He said I was obviously the opposite of what Mark Twain said."

Tris did break down into giggles then. "You mean you've gained some sense since you were fourteen notwithstanding your sexual misadventures..."

"Of course." He sneered, a real Toad sneer. "Don't take the piss! Forget Minky. I don't have time for chasing women what with everything else. I've been practising hard and there's all the school work. Oh, and I've reorganised the Prefects' schedules there and Pugsy got me to deal with Batty over the rugger fixtures..." Mr Batt was the PE master in charge of rugby and someone not to cross swords with being eighteen stone and six foot four. "...As I play hockey now I've dealt with all our fixtures as well and I'm sure to get Full Colours as the rules were not clear before I went over them with Mr Squires. You don't get anywhere unless you take charge. And Safar said don't forget we've all been invited to the Burns Night again 'cause Dad'll be playing for the dances."

I wasn't quite sure of that non sequitur. "I hope you haven't been addressing Dr Al- Hamed in a discourteous manner," I said.

"No, but he said you played very well for the wedding and shouldn't have difficulty with the exam."

I realised I was being stroked. I said nothing. I waited for the next installment.

"Now," he continued, "I was interrupted when I said we needed to be fed. Charles said there would be leftovers from the wedding we could have for lunch. He'll tell Sean and Curt to arrange that for half past twelve. He won't be around as he's off tomorrow with Mother somewhere exotic."

Yes, Mother was advising on furnishing some sumptuous residence in Dubai, or was it Abu Dhabi? Somewhere in that direction! Charles had said about it at one of our last Nine O'clock Knock sessions.

"We can have it in here if that's OK. You might as well join us if you like." He would get what's coming to him pretty soon if he keeps this up, I said to myself. He waved a hand at the dining table. "Plenty of room and we won't scratch the table! Charles has arranged an hour for our tickets at two o'clock. Private showing. You don't have to come. He said Dwayne something would be in charge."

"That's Dwayne Mitchell," I said, discarding any thoughts of retribution for the moment, but wondering if I should insist on accompanying them just to see and hear what might happen in the middle room. "He's really the under-gardener but he's been doing a lot of the attendant duties as there's not much call for his gardening skills in the winter." I also privately thought that with the gay icon from the Buttery and the Club, young Curt, and the hunky Dwayne, friend, perhaps companion, of Christopher Lascelles-Wright, then Bozo and Harpo wouldn't seem too much out of place. But then, there was Tris and me as good exemplars as well.

Frankie nodded. He poked Tris's arm. "If you got fed-up with Marky I don't think Curt would be far behind. Friday night he was just about drooling when he came over with the drinks." He sniggered. "Those shorts he had on! Talk about Bulgy-boy, I bet Curt beats him hands down. Python isn't in it!"

"And when did you inspect him?" I said, having wondered about the package on show but so inconveniently wrapped.

"Saw it when I had to have a piss. Took ages to get mine out with that leather jockstrap on. He came in and laughed and asked if I wanted help and then hauled out a length and a half. Long and thin..."

"...Goes well in," intoned Tris. He winked at me as Frankie was between us looking at me. "I think I might have a go at him. Drooled over me, did he? Yep, that's a nice young body ripe for plucking! Shaves his armpits I noticed. Bet he does the same for his pubes. He's got well-toned abs, too. Young and sweet! Just as I like 'em! Wow!!"

All this was lost on Frankie, his earlier jibe against me was forgotten. He turned on Tris and literally snarled.

"You do that and upset Marky and I'll hold you down while Pugsy screws your balls off!"

Tris grinned and held his hands up in supplication. "Curt's lovely but I'd rather be screwed by Pugsy. Now there's a nice tight body and you've inspected him, too. How does he compare with Curt? He'd be thicker and slicker, eh?"

Realisation struck him. "You're fucking taking the piss again! I don't know why I bother to try and make things easy." He subsided. Sneers gone. "No, it wouldn't be the same without you two. I had to tell the gang about the tissues and Moggo said as soon as the rugrats get old enough he'll try that one with them. But I warn you Tris, you upset Marky..." He turned to me. "...And the same if you upset Tris."

With two steps each we spontaneously hugged Frankie.

"After last night, Microbe," Tris whispered throatily, "You had our love and I want yours and I know Marky does, too."

"And we want your friends to be happy, too." I had a burst of generosity. "If they've got a table free I'll take you all to the Caf‚ Rouge tomorrow evening..."

"...We will," said Tris, emphasising the 'we'.

We broke the hug. Tris was in questioning mode again. "Bozo and Harpo will be in together?" Frankie nodded. "Are they both OK with this?" Another nod. "Is this the first time they've slept together?" Two emphatic nods this time. "Do you know how far they've gone at present?"

Frankie was deadly serious now. "All I know is that Bozo said he's not forcing Harpo to do anything he doesn't want to. He just seventeen now so all's OK." He shook his head. "I don't know exactly what they've done but Zack and Oliver explained everything to Bozo on the holiday and you should know, you and Bozo..."

"....We made love," Tris nodded, "He's told you?"

Frankie nodded. "Not details but he's another one who drools!" He grinned. "In the nicest possible way."

"Yep, I'm very fond of Bozo. He seems a decent, considerate and loving lad. I'm just waiting to see Harpo."

"You'll like him, I'm sure. Me and Moggo wouldn't have let him near Bozo if we didn't approve. Pugsy and Jack approve, too."

"Pugsy for all the attention he gives my sister in his manly heterosexual manner isn't averse to his friends being the other way inclined?"

"Pugsy says what people are is what matters. The more I see of Pugsy the more I like him." He sniggered. "Not just that seeing. The rate things are going he'll probably end up as your brother-in-law. They're both smitten." He held his hands up this time. "And I don't think it's just because of what he's giving her as regularly as possible..."

"...Regularly? Where?"

I had wondered about the 'where' as well. Auntie Dil was home most afternoons unless playing bridge. Weekends there were dinner parties and friends around.

"Sleepovers at her friend Camilla's. Her parents are out most Saturday nights so Camilla has Jeff Cornish in and Shelley takes Pugsy round. He and Jeff are in the First XV and they've been muckers for yonks."

"Do Camilla's parents know?" Tris went on questioning. I was casting my mind back to one of the gatherings at Auntie Dil's. Camilla was another blonde like Shelley and had a hunky lad with her then. I assumed that must be Jeff. I'd thought at the time not one to cast out of bed! Gosh a bit of a difference from the skinny little lad I'd remembered him as when I was at the school. I zoned in on Frankie's answer.

"Pugsy says they have a pretty good idea but as long as they're careful..."

"...And what about my Mum and Dad?"

"They like Pugsy and he says they know about the pair of them. They didn't mind you two..."

"...But there's the little matter of a possible pregnancy in their case."

"Don't you worry about that," Frankie said with added emphasis. "Shelley learned a lesson from Minky and pills and johnnies are much in evidence I can tell you!"

I didn't want to hear anything more about Pugsy and Shelley. They could be little rabbits every Saturday night as far as I cared. I was, however, more concerned about Bozo and Harpo.

"That brings us back to Bozo and Harpo," I said, breaking up that train of conversation. "Protection etcetera. Bozo's not a virgin, so what about Harpo?"

Frankie was still serious. "Don't worry. We've made it quite clear to Bozo that if it gets to that he's got to make sure there's no chance of an infection." He looked at Tris. "I assume there was no chance with you and him?"

"You took a chance last night."

"Yeah, I thought of that, but I trust you. I was right?"

"I should hope so," I interjected. At around half-term we'd both been to Addenbrooke's and had tests. We'd heard we were both OK. We were going to keep it like that.

"I don't think they've decided anything yet, but Bozo did say Harpo wasn't too bothered."

Tris was now in strict uncle mode. "You can tell the pair of them - or at least Bozo - that there's no argument. Bozo and I had full protection and it's to be the same for him and Harpo. Tell him, as with us, it'll be 'first time out with blinkers'." The racing adage of looking for a winner was one of Uncle Nick's favourite incantations when he was proposing a little flutter on the geegees. I thought how appropriate - the lads were intent on a winner. Tris wasn't finished. "In fact, just in case they're not supplied.... Wait a minute." He hurried out to our bedroom. He came back and handed two small packets to Frankie. "You can give these to Bozo. There's half-a-dozen extra strong - should last them one night..."

Frankie sniggered, but then looked at Tris and shook his head. "I love you Tristan Price- Williams and I know why Marky loves you, too. Bozo'll have strict instructions..." Toad was back. "...And if he doesn't obey them it'll be his balls Pugsy'll be screwing off! First time out with blinkers! I like that!"

"And Curt and Sean," I said, "They'll be working extra. What do you intend giving them?"

Frankie looked a bit crestfallen. He shook his head.

"It's OK," I said, "I've got some of Uncle Francesco's latest they can have." True. I'd been given a large bagful of various new designs which he'd passed over to me yesterday with the instruction to help the firm along. I hadn't had time so far to explore all the contents. Toad could do that. "Look under my bed. You'll find a bag there. And don't keep the best stuff for yourself! Give some of it out tomorrow."

He came back with a grin on his face and holding up a very slinky pair of dark red silk boxers. "Wow!" he enthused, "There are six pairs of these we can have and four of these." He dropped the boxers on the table and held up two matching dark red bikini-type thongs. "Two each of these for them," he laughed, "As long as Curt can fit it all in! Don't know about Sean."

"What else?" I asked, ignoring the first reference but wondering if Sean was equally well-endowed.

"Some tops with the new Leopardi logo. Shall I give them one of those each?"

"If Curt wears it behind the bar it'll be a good advert."

"Righto," he grinned, "And I should get more in my account with orders coming in!"

I did my best attempt at a Toad sneer. Uncle Francesco had hugged me tight at the end of the service and when he gave me the bag in his room at the Garden House had said I wasn't forgotten and he had plans.

"First thing tomorrow you can go and get some wrapping paper at Paperchase on the Market Square and get some for me as well." I'd had a quick look and had extracted the nattiest pair of denim shorts which would fit Curt perfectly, I thought. I had intended to leave them anonymously at the Porter's Lodge - no, he'd guess as the logo was on the left leg - but giving him them tomorrow... Yep, I wouldn't have minded a little tumble with that lithe lad... But... ..Down Fido. I would need to find something for Sean and Liam as well. The other tops? Yep! I already had 'An Introduction to Bach' for Jason. No slinky underwear for him!

"And what other plans have you?" I asked, "An hour in the cellars isn't going to fill the afternoon. And you can't go punting, too cold, so you won't have Pugsy losing his pole again."

"I like that! But Pugsy loses his pole most weekends. I'll have to tell him that one except he might given me a battering. Nah, a bit of a wrestle perhaps!" He was all seriousness again. "Moggo said he could do his Christmas shopping afterwards and the others think that's a good idea as well. Moggo's step-Mum is a Lakeland fan and he knows just what to get her. He can give me ideas for Mum, too, and I can get Raph something at that sports shop."

My, Oh My! Six great hunks traipsing round the shops.

"Yeah, and after we've been out to eat tomorrow night we can go to the Club so can we book up early to eat? I want to show the lads what it's like and Shawn said we could all have temporary student membership as we're sponsored. Need your card. A quid each. OK?"

I nodded. Cheap at the price. I supposed that was all arranged Friday night. I knew Shawn had been much amused at the pair's antics and the bar's profits must have gone up with all the drinks which were circulating. "But what about Harpo. He's not eighteen yet."

He shook his head and grinned. "Bozo and he have other plans."

Tris had been listening to all this. He laughed. "I hand it to you, Frankie, I'm beginning to agree with your Dad. But, no over-imbibing at the Club. Boz won't want vomit-stained carpets."

"We're not like that. Jack doesn't drink and Pugsy's careful 'cause his cousin was in a drink-drive accident over the limit and got killed. Just me and Moggo and too much gives me a headache."

"So you've been rat-arsed?" Tris put the question none too delicately.

"A rite de passage for adolescents as Dr Mann said." Dr Mann had been my House Master and taught the compulsory lessons on Personal and Social Education. He normally taught Physics but even made PSE interesting. Frankie snickered. "That twat Chippy Ferris and his pals brought in a load of booze one Friday this term and we celebrated his eighteenth birthday royally. Mum wasn't pleased when I managed to get home 'cause I said I'd caught a bug from school lunch and she said she wasn't born yesterday! Couldn't argue and I spent the night with my arse on the bog when my head wasn't down it."

"Grounded?" Tris asked.

His nostril curled. "Made no difference. What with the head and the squits I was housebound! Even missed one of your Mum's Sunday lunches."

"Young boys have to learn their lessons the hard way," intoned Tris portentously. I grinned inwardly remembering my night on that garage floor.

"Bloody Hell!" Frankie said, "Why some people swill it down so much I do not know. Pugsy says there's some at the Rugby Club who drink gallons. No wonder there's so many beer- guts around."

"But you and Pugsy aren't going to ruin your Adonis-like figures?

Frankie looked him up and down. "You don't do too bad yourself for an old-'un. Bet he wishes you had love-handles to hang onto, though!"

I laughed. "Frankie, where do you get such ideas?" Probably the same place I'd seen references to such protuberances - front page of one of the tabloids I'd glanced at in the Junior Combination Room where a politician was on display with highly-patterned Bermudas, a sickly grin and overhanging waistline.

"My figure is still adorably boyish and well-maintained," said Tris, interrupting the flow and standing on tip-toe with one arm raised nonchalantly above his head, "I survey all I own every morning in the mirror and am well-pleased."

There was a snigger from Frankie. "True, you are reasonably well-hung, I'll agree, but you'd better keep up the exercise.... But I suppose you get plenty of that with Marky...."

"....Cheeky hound!" I interjected, "You watch your step or it'll be your endowments being displayed while your backside is being tanned. Don't forget I saved you from the Thugs last Christmas when they exposed your little willy then."

Tris laughed. "Bit less than the usual Dobbin, eh? Not much of a bulge on display in those panties!" We'd had several giggles over the shots of Frankie hoofed, tailed and reined with the, admittedly, not inconsiderable lump in the tanga briefs. But, teasing mode was on.

"No wonder he had to hide his lack of inches with that monstrous leather thing Friday night," I said. "He'd be had up under the Trade Descriptions Act, wouldn't he, Tris?"

"Oh, yes, Trade Descriptions Act 1968, definitely. I guess it would be a display of packaging disguising something without fitness for purpose."

"Right! He did admit just now it took him ages to find his midget digit when he was in the bogs with Curt. Ogling a weapon of considerably greater dimensions than his own...."

"....while trying to get his little winkle out of it's shell....." Tris snickered.

"....wondering if he might wet himself in his excitement..."

"....finally extracting a wrinkled inch with a sigh of relief..."

Frankie was looking from one to the other of us as this exchange progressed. His nose was twitching ready for the usual sneer at our interplay. At last he burst out. "Huh! You two need a few lessons from the Thugs when it comes to insults. I'm quite happy with the size of my dick." The full sneer was evident. "Kept Minky happy too until that skinhead turned up." That obviously rankled. "Just because he had a set of wheels..."

"...But look where it got her. She'll be pushing her own set of wheels soon." Tris was now in commiseration mode. "Saw her out with her Mum last weekend. Quite a bump now! At least you and she had sense. Poor girl!"

Frankie nodded. "Not worth the hassle, though. Even Pugsy says I'm better off without it until I find someone I really like."

"Love?" I asked.

Frankie nodded again. "It was great just shagging but to tell you the truth I was getting a bit fed up." He grinned. "No, I don't mean I didn't want it. God, I was ready for it every time but as soon as we'd finished that was that as far as she was concerned." He shrugged his shoulders. "I was a convenient cock, that's all. She wanted it, I had it, she got it, end of story each time!"

Tris was grinning. "Just a couple of randy teenagers, eh!"

The nose wrinkled. "At least your sister and Pugsy like each other. Probably love each other." Frankie was in contemplative mode. "Shelley's a very nice girl and I'm not saying that because she's your sister, Tris." He shook his head. "I think I was scared of her earlier. True, I'm a randy sod and when she used to do those dances and sit next to me I was tempted to have a go. I really didn't like her then because I knew if anything happened I would be in the shit good and proper." He looked at me. "It's OK , Marky, I did listen to what you said and wasn't I fucking glad when she hitched up with Pugsy."

"And you engineered their first copulatory excursion?" said Tris with the hint of a smile.

"I like that," the Toad smirked, "They used his bed." His chest heaved as he grinned. "Brother and sister have had it in the same bed, eh?"

Tris was laughing, too. "You little wretch. But Mark and I have spent many happy times there...."

"...I know. I've heard you!" The Toad retreated quickly, hands raised as Tris lunged at him. "Pax! You lucky buggers! I just had my right hand at the same time!"

"But that's sex with the one you love most didn't Woody Allen say?" I said, having long got over the trauma of our love-life being overheard by a now confessed concurrent wanker. "I'm not sure whether your self-love increases the more you wank, or whether the more you love yourself in the first instance the more you wank. What's your opinion, Frankie? You wank enough!"

My, my, that rather hit a nerve. There was a slight reddening about the gills. It didn't last long. The biggest sneer ever was directed at my innocently questioning self.

"What I do is my own business! God, I first heard you moaning and your bed springs creaking when I was ten and hadn't a clue what you were doing next door. And that was every night without fail. You must have loved yourself to death. Pity you couldn't have sucked your dick like those kids then you couldn't have moaned..."

The blush did appear.

"...Those kids? Where?" asked Tris, face passive.

"Jack and his computer, eh?" I asked. I rather let myself in for it as I had chanced on a site where self-suckers were in evidence. "Lads with bendy spines and sufficient length to allow self stimulation of a superior sort..."

"Oh, Marky, don't take the mick. I've tried it too, but no way." He shook his head again. "But last night..." A beatific smile lit up his face. "You and Tris. I can't tell you how wonderful it was." He looked from one to the other of us. "First time and twice." He smiled even more. "Twice that and the other..."

No way could we go on with teasing. We sat on my sofa with Frankie between us and just hugged him.

"We want you, too," whispered Tris, "When we're at home." He nibbled Frankie's ear and Frankie writhed in response as I held him. "But you'll be sharing with Raph so we'll have to make arrangements. It's OK. My Auntie Kay is coming so I'll have to move in with Mark and the girls can share my room at ours." Frankie's body stiffened between us. The magic word 'GIRLS'. "No, Frankie, eight and ten, too young even for your attention." The Toad subsided and the arm round me clasped me tighter. "And you are not to seduce young Raphael.... ....Your brother's already done that."

Frankie's body between us stiffened again. Thank you, dear Tris for letting out my little adventure on the side. No, it was a loving adventure. But Tris hadn't finished. I felt his arm muscles tauten as he held Frankie.

"No, Mark didn't seduce him. Mark isn't like that. Just as I gave Bozo some of my love so Mark gave Raph some of his. If it comes to it you must do the same with Raph. He's a lovely person and I envy Mark. But we're quits, he with Raph, me with Bozo. Both lovely people and to be cherished."

Frankie was silent for a while. "It's not just shagging or getting your rocks off with you two, is it? You have to feel for the person." He stopped. "I'm thinking more than I've ever done before..."

"..Same here," whispered Tris, "It's part of growing-up, but I knew I grew up early where Mark was concerned. He's mine and I know I'm his. When you know something like that, you know where your love lies."

Frankie was silent a bit longer. "Thanks for talking to me like this. I am growing up." He laughed and said in a little boy's voice, "Even if I am only eighteen!" He paused. "But, seriously, I do worry about it. That last visit to Ulvescott made me think a lot more, but I know now that any great worries will pass."

"They did for me.." I managed to just about croak out. "I haven't told you this, Frankie, but you nearly didn't have a brother when that incident on the Chapel tower happened. I've only ever told Tris, and Dude knows because he was there. It was only the love passed down in the family that saved me..."

"...Piers?" asked Frankie.

"No doubt," averred Tris with emphasis. "We're bound within the family. I know I am and I'm not related to Piers but I have pledged my love to Mark who is. I'm accepted and no way will I let anything break that bond. After we came out of the cellar on Saturday the Sheik held my hand and said he and I were accepted in the same way. Why he should say that to me out of the blue I don't know but he used that word 'accepted' and I knew it meant more. We're all interwoven in some way..."

I had never discussed any of this with Tris but he had expressed exactly how I felt and knew. Those loving hands had saved me....

I leaned round Frankie and kissed Tris's cheek gently, then did the same to Frankie. Before anything more was said or done there was a gentle but firm rap on my front door. Tris extricated himself and went off to answer it. He came back, preceded by Sean carefully balancing a laden tray.

"Cheffie thought you might like some supper," he announced with a huge smile on his face. He put the tray down on the dining-room table and whipped the cloth away. There was an array of smoked salmon, large prawns in a dressing and various other seafoods with a bowl of salad and a basket of rolls. Sean took off the rucksack he was wearing and withdrew a bottle of champagne. He placed that on the table with a flourish.

Frankie was up like a shot. "Wow!" he enthused, "Can I expect this sort of thing when I come here next year."

Oh my, Sean just about simpered. "We'll have to come to some arrangement." He grinned at Frankie. "Not like that! But this was left over from yesterday and we're all celebrating as someone was very generous." I guessed that was either Uncle Francesco, or the Sheik, or both, as I saw smiles on Jason's face after both had beckoned him over at the end of the meal. "Any more weddings in the family?"

"Watch it, cheekie!" I said, "You can come back at six o'clock to open that bottle and share a bit of the goodies as well. Who's around? Curt, Liam, Jason?"

He smiled. "Only Liam. Can he come? He's been very mysterious today 'cause he wants to ask you a question and he won't tell us what it is."

"Of course! I wonder what it is? No clues?" I asked.

"No idea, except it's probably something he overheard yesterday," he chuckled, "Liam's lugs don't miss much!"

"But he doesn't spread gossip," I said, knowing he'd seen plenty when clearing and cleaning our bedroom especially.

Sean shook his head. "No way. Unless it's someone who's pissed us off, pardon my French!"

I thought I'd better check as he'd deputised for Liam on a number of occasions. "And we haven't, I assume?"

"You're safe for the moment," he laughed, and spun away as Tris tapped his muscled young bum. Yowks, all those nights in the gym had certainly sculpted his figure which showed even when covered in his neat black slacks. "Might tell you things tonight if you're kind." He tapped the side of his nose. "'The all-seeing eye' is what Mr Tomkins says Porters are."

"And ears?"

"Follows. Anyway I'll pop all this in the 'fridge and we'll be here at six sharp!"

He picked up the tray and carried it to the kitchen. Frankie got up and followed him carrying the bottle of champagne. Tris and I looked at each other and grinned. Revelations!

I went over to the harpsichord and played the Bach Prelude number sixteen in g minor. It was a great favourite of mine and I knew Tris liked it, too. I had almost finished it when the pair came from the kitchen with very knowing looks on their faces. Something had been hatched. Both stood and listened until I'd finished.

"Thank you," Sean said, "I've heard you play that before when I've been clearing up. But must go, the Master's having all the old boys in for dinner tonight and Curt's on duty and I've got to help him set the dining-room up."

'Old boys'? I knew he meant the small group of elderly, resident, bachelor or widowed Fellows who invariably now, after my presentation of the solving of the code and finding the treasure, recognised me and passed the time of day whenever our paths crossed around the College. Frankie went to the door with him, but before he went through Sean turned and put his hand to his lips and almost blew us a kiss.

Frankie was laughing as he came back to us, now sprawled on the sofa. "I think he's got the hots for the pair of you. What with bloody Curt and now him..."

"...But he's straight," I said, "He goes to the gym most nights and does boxing so Jason told me..."

"...Don't bank on it," said Frankie, "We've had quite a little chat. He said he'd volunteer to be my gyp next year and I said I'd probably be sharing with Pugsy and the cheeky monkey said 'Separate beds?' and I said definitely and he said like all the others and he didn't mean you. The way he said it there's a lot of it about."

"Gossip, gossip, Frankie," I said, "But I'm quite impressed. I think he was serious when he said he'd heard me play that before."

Frankie nodded. "Yes, he said he liked coming here as you were often practising and you chatted to him, not like some of the others. There're no flies on him. He's a bright kid! He also said the Master is letting him have two days a week off next year to do a catering and management course at the Tech to follow up his catering certificate he's already got. He also said, and I bet you didn't know this, that Jason's brother Jonathan has been offered a place here to read Maths next year and he and Jason'll be sharing Granddad's old set at the top."

That was news. Jason hadn't said anything and I wondered if the Prof was going to be his tutor. And where was Charles going to be accommodated?

All that had broken our revealing little tˆte-...-tˆte with my rather larger than little brother. He said he would go off and check the sleeping arrangements in Boz's set for the 'crew' as he called them. I said I wanted to write down a couple of things about a maths problem I'd been cogitating on and went off to my study leaving Tris to amuse himself.

I searched around for my note book in which I jotted down ideas and odd solutions I came up with when some little byway caught my attention. I'd already filled one book and that was on the shelf, but my half-filled newer one was nowhere to be found. I was convinced I'd had it in my bag when I saw the Prof last week but I couldn't find it. I remembered I'd written out a rather interesting way of tackling an extension to a proof we'd gone over the week previously and I must have been sitting right here when I wrote it down. I was miffed but scrawled my present thoughts on a pad and was rather pleased on going through it again that it all seemed to fit together.

When I'd finished and still couldn't find my notebook I went back into the main room. Tris and Frankie were deep in conversation again and weren't very polite when I moaned about mislaying my book.

"Not surprised," said the Toad - I'll have to comment on his warty skin sometime in retaliation - "His room at home's a real tip. I looked in his wardrobe last week to see if there was a decent shirt I could wear for church but it was just cluttered up with all his old school rubbish. And all those old books! Found something called 'A Woman in White'. I thought it might be useful bedtime reading but it was the usual ancient whodunit, whodidit, whatever!"

"You keep out of my room! And that book's a classic! It's an early edition and belonged to the Honourable something or other of Apsley Guise!"

At least Tris came slightly to my aid. "No bonking in that for you, Frankie, eh?" Then descended to his level... "...You should have looked under his mattress. Six copies of Gay Times in well-thumbed condition complete with DNA evidence of ownership!"

I landed a carefully centred blow on his left biceps. He didn't even wince. "Don't encourage him. You know that's not true. There's one copy actually, in my wardrobe, and those two pages were stuck together when I found it in your chest-of-drawers."

Toad was in full form. "Yeah, I found that." He turned to Tris. "Some of those boys looked pretty well-equipped. Must make you jealous considering you're rather less-than- average..."

Toads do not incite well-hung stallions with impunity. Annihilation of the current amphibian population was imminent but there was a rap on the door again. The bewitching hour of six had arrived. The Toad made a laughing exit and admitted Sean and Liam bearing more goodies.

"Better stick this straight in the 'fridge," said Sean, brandishing another bottle of champers.

"Say 'Good Evening' politely first!" said Liam with his usual grin and holding up a small wicker hamper. He bowed his head and passed the object to Frankie whose grin more than matched Liam's. "Thank you for inviting us. I'm very honoured." He chuckled as Frankie followed the departing Sean to the kitchen. "I've never seen Cheffie in such a good mood. Only the best he kept saying. Must have been what was passed to him after the meal yesterday. That bodyguard went into the kitchen and they all stood to attention expecting to be done over for making some mistake or other but instead fifty-pound notes went the rounds like confetti." He laughed again. "Didn't do too badly myself. I got a couple and so did Sean. Be able to buy Mum something really nice for Christmas."

I realised 'that bodyguard' was Walid. A very nice, mild-mannered but tough-looking man who had beaten Frankie at chess while we were at Ulvescott last time. I think he was the Sheik's secretary or major-domo as he seemed to be in charge of any arrangements with Ibrahim who I knew was the Sheik's personal assistant.

"Yes, you'd better watch it," said Tris, "They tend to chop bits off evil-doers in their country. I think Sean could do with a bit more than having his toenails clipped rather than being showered with pennies from Heaven."

Toads come in all varieties. At least the sneer, which came through the door followed in exact proximity by Sean! "I heard that," he said, "Pity you've left or you might have got the Rogerson treatment."

"What's that?" Frankie asked, as he came through just behind Sean.

"Don't you remember him?" Sean asked Tris, "Big, ugly brute, must have been here in your first or second year 'cause I'd only just started here when it happened."

Tris nodded. "Yeah, Ivo dropped him from his team because he argued with everyone. So...?"

Sean chuckled. "Well, he had a rash or something, you know, down there and the doc gave him some lotion. Then he upset someone else...," Here he pointed sideways at Liam who pulled a face and waved a deprecating hand. "...who poured out half the gunge and topped it up with wintergreen. So, instead of feeling the effect of a soothing balm he woke up half the neighbourhood with his roars and spent the rest of the morning with his bits in a bowl of water being comforted by you-know-who!" A finger was pointed again at Liam.

"Guilty as charged," said Liam with a bow, "But Mr Tomkins could tell you quite a few tales about methods of dealing with nasty undergraduates, so watch it, young sir." This directed at Frankie who was visibly crossing his legs and grimacing with the thought of balls being doused in fiery liquid.

"Bloody Hell!" Frankie said through gritted teeth, "Got just a touch of Raygel there once and that was enough.

"Wouldn't have thought you could find anything there to even touch," said Tris.

"You watch it, matey! I might have a word with Mr Tomkins...."

"Shut up, you two," said I, mentally squeezing my thighs together having also at one time experienced a misplaced finger coated with liniment, "It's time for champers and some sustenance."

That galvanised Tris and the three lads into action. An array of goodies appeared on the table, with flutes produced from the hamper for the champagne which Tris expertly opened with a 'pop' and no loss of contents. So began a really convivial evening. But there was still the unasked question from Liam. We were well into our second or third glass and wiping greasy chins and fingers when Tris looked across the less-laden table.

"Sean said you overheard something yesterday, Liam. What was it?"

He smiled and lowered his glass. "Bit more complicated than that," he said, "Better start from the beginning." He sat back in his chair and interlaced his fingers in front of him, rested them against his chin and looked over at Tris. "Well.., before the service yesterday the Master was welcoming guests in the Chapel and asked me to go over to his house to fetch his reading glasses he'd forgotten to bring with him. I went across and found them but on the way back I noticed that scruffy reporter, you know who I mean 'Tristram'" He grinned at Tris as he emphasised the misnomer. We all knew who he meant, even Frankie had had a full description of all the events including the slight fracas in the cellar. "Well, he was talking to someone in the gateway. Actually, he was sort of lurking back against the wall with this bloke by his side. I thought I'd better keep an eye on him in case. He didn't see me get a bit closer and I heard him say something like 'Rothenia, bloody funny place, that' and just then the car that brought the old gentlemen earlier came through the doorway again and one of them got out. I think Jason called him the Colonel. Short, very dapper." He looked at me. I knew who he meant and nodded.

"Anyway, the bloke with the reporter said something in a foreign language and looked ready to scarper but that reporter put his arm out across him while the Colonel went towards the Chapel with the driver holding his arm. I heard the reporter say 'What's up?" and the other one said something like 'He must not see me'. Then the pair went off and I went to the Chapel."

"Have you told anyone else this?" Tris asked.

Liam shook his head. "No, but there's more." He unlaced his fingers and sat upright. "Mum's one of the housekeepers at a hotel in Lensfield Road and she was late home last night as there'd been some foreign chap burning paper in his room in the wastepaper bin and he'd set off the fire alarm. From what she said I think it's the same man. She said his address in the registration book was Strelzen and I know that's somewhere in Rothenia 'cause I remember when they had all that trouble out there it was mentioned. Anyway, the manager gave Mum twenty quid to keep her mouth shut but she told her darling son!" He laughed. "And now I've told you. Bit of a mystery, eh?"

To be continued: