The 98-year-old and widowered multi-billionaire Sir Horatio Holmes summoned his two sons, James and Arthur, and his daughter Guinevere, for an inheritance chat at his country estate \u201cThe Meadows.\u201d Jeeves, the butler was also present.<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome children, I will be leaving you for the parallel world within a month, so I have decided to divide up your inheritance,\u201d he announced with a fatherly smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut father,\u201d protested the three, \u201cyou are not that old yet. You certainly look quite young.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes indeed, as you all know my daily Five Tibetan exercises keep my chakras spinning at a young man\u2019s rate,\u201d he laughed. There\u2019s no need to be decrepit in one\u2019s old age. As I have told you often, my advice is to stay away from doctor\u2019s prescriptions, use natural food and medicine, exercise well and think young.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter, I have completed what I came here to learn and wish to move on for further development of my capabilities until the next time,\u201d Sir Holmes stated firmly. \u201cI will give you one week\u2019s notice so you can attend my departure with a proper orange-light ceremony and sandalwood incense.\u201d<\/p>\n
James, Arthur and Guinevere nodded acquiescence as they had long since learned that it was futile to argue with their father.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d said Sir Holmes, \u201clet us proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou, James, take one third of the gold coins from the pile placed on the desk. Each gold coin represents a billion pounds sterling. The sun suddenly shone through the window reflecting its golden rays from the coins.<\/p>\n
James counted the gold coins in the pile. \u201cFather,\u201d he said, \u201cthere is one coin too many to divide the pile into three equal parts.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter, give one to Jeeves,\u201d chuckled Sir Holmes.<\/p>\n
James gave one of the gold coins to the smiling Jeeves and removed one third of the coins from the pile.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it\u2019s your turn, Arthur,\u201d said Sir Holmes.<\/p>\n
Arthur counted the remaining coins, finding one too many to divide into three parts. At that very moment a crow flew in the window and grabbed one gold coin in its beak and flew out again before anyone could react.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlasted crow,\u201d exclaimed Jeeves, shaking a fist in the direction of the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cI say,\u201d said Arthur and took a third part of the remaining coins.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it is your turn, Guinevere,\u201d said Sir Holmes.<\/p>\n
Guinevere counted the coins in the remaining pile. \u201cThere is one too many to divide by three,\u201d said Guinevere.<\/p>\n
\u201cJeeves, hurry up and take the coin before the crow does,\u201d smiled Sir Holmes. Jeeves did not waste a millisecond.<\/p>\n
Guinevere removed a third of the remaining coins from the pile.<\/p>\n
\u201cFather, there is one too many coins to be able to divide the pile further into three parts,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive it to Jeeves and then divide the remaining coins equally among you three to be placed in trust for your children,\u201d said Sir Holmes.<\/p>\n
James, Arthur and Guinevere collected a third part each for their offspring, leaving no gold coins behind.<\/p>\n
Jeeves bowed to Sir Holmes. \u201cMy undying gratitude to you Sir. Now, with your permission I\u2019m going to get my shotgun to hunt crow,\u201d rushing out the door after a nod from Sir Holmes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank\u00a0 you so much, dear father,\u201d they stated in unison.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy pleasure, let\u2019s have some lunch,\u201d smiled Sir Holmes and escorted them out the door.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What was the minimum amount of Sir Holmes\u2019 fortune?<\/em><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>