In a moment the others were all huddled in the little vestry, crowding round Adolphus as he opened the bag, thrust in his hand, took out the contents and laid them on the desk.
Gold coins. Twenty three of them.
“Have we found them?” Rena whispered.
“We have found them,” said Adolphus. “The twenty three remaining gold coins that once belonged to King Charles II.”
“And does that mean – ?” John also did not dare voice his hopes.
“It means that you have all thirty,” said Adolphus. “Part of this nation’s history. And as you have the complete set, their value is fabulous.”
“You said a hundred thousand?” John said. “Can it really be so much?”
“I can give you the name of a collector who has been seeking these for years,” said Adolphus. “I have no doubt of what they are worth to him. You wil
