Upon a fair summer’s afternoon, when the sun did blaze o’er the coastal green, three goodly friends did wander forth to a humble cart of frozen delights.
The vendor, a portly fellow with cheeks red as berries and a voice full merry, did proclaim, “Hail, fine folk! Hast thou the wit to reckon my prices? For those who solve the puzzle of mine ice creams shall earn an extra scoop!”
This challenge did please them greatly, and thus they accepted it with laughter and good cheer.
Sir Liam of the Seaside did first step forth and did order two cones and one sundae, paying ten sovereigns for his pleasure.
Next came Lady Isla, most clever and fond of numbers, who did request one cone and two sundaes, for which she paid elevent sovereigns.
At last strode good Master Noah, ever boastful and merry of heart, who did declare, “I shall treat thee all!” He did purchase three cones and three sundaes for the princely sum of one and twenty sovereigns.
“Zounds!” quoth Liam. “These sums confound me! Methinks the prices shift as the tide!”
“Nay,” said Isla, “there be order in the chaos – the trick lies hidden ‘twixt cone and sundae.”
Noah, though merry, did scratch his head and mutter, “If the sundaes be thrice as dear as they appear, I’ll have been robbed, methinks.”
Thereupon, the three did sit upon a driftwood bench, their parchments spread before them like scholars in discourse. Quills were dipped in ink, lines were drawn, and presently Isla did cry out, “Eureka — the secret’s revealed!”
The vendor, overhearing, did chuckle most heartily. “Well done, good lady! Thou hast earned an extra scoop of honeycream!”
Thus ended the riddle of cones and sundaes, and the friends did partake most joyfully in their reward, the taste of victory made all the sweeter by numbers solved aright.
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