elusive items in history I hope the British Museum’s unique library may contain clues to the whereabouts of she paused for dramatic effect the Eagle of the Ninth Legion Lottie gasped She didn’t need Uncle Bert to explain what that was The eagle was the standard which is a statue used as a symbol of the legendary lost Ninth Legion a Roman battalion of ten thousand men who mysteriously went missing when a mist descended on them on the battlefield But that’s just a myth shouted one of the reporters So was the Crystal Crown of Casablanca before I tracked it down said Lady Viola with 6
a wink The reporters laughed Now if you’ll excuse me I have research to do Lottie marveled at the way she elegantly turned and walked away from the crowd So composed So charming she thought Out of my way pip-squeak said Lady Viola as Lottie rushed to hold the door open for her So rude Uncle Bert held out his hand to shake Lady Viola’s but she walked past him without even looking Old man where are the books in this 7
dump she said with a snarl I want to get out of here as soon as possible Lottie felt crushed Who was this awful woman How had she changed from being so polite and charming in front of the reporters to being rude and arrogant I thought this was your beloved London said Lottie Lady Viola let out a laugh Dear me no That stuff is just for the papers They seem to like their heroines plain and polite London is where I was born but I don’t see why I should be in gray old England when I could be sunning myself in the Mediterranean said Lady Viola Now books 8
Uncle Bert nodded to Lottie who reluctantly took the rude lady through the museum to the library Lottie knew the museum inside out having lived there since she was four She and Uncle Bert shared an apartment in the museum The only other person to live on the grounds of the museum was Reg the old caretaker who was currently in the library dusting the bookshelves Ah this must be Lady Viola said Reg smiling a toothless grin Lottie tried to stop herself from laughing as he performed a curtsy 9
