\u201cWhat am I going to do with this entry, Sir,\u201d moaned accountant Mortimer\nSquigg scratching the few hairs left on his bald head as his boss, Sir Algoquin\nMarshwiggin, entered his office, \u201cwe need it to complete the annual audit by\ntomorrow morning, or we shall incur a hefty fine from the Land Revenue Service.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with the entry, Mr. Squigg?\u201d croaked Sir Algoquin\nMarshwiggin with a worried expression on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomeone spilled ink on the page and three digits have been blotted\nout, as well as the item price,\u201d said Mortimer Squigg, wincing as he looked at\nthe page so wantonly invaded by tiny ink blots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI say, what part of the entry can be read, Mr. Squigg,\u201d demanded Sir Algoquin\nMarshwiggin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir, the only part somewhat legible is an amount of \u00a3*85*.6*\npaid for 264 packages of frozen haddock. The unit price is totally blacked out,\u201d\nwhimpered Mortimer Squigg with horror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is the bloody idiot guilty of such stupidity,\u201d shrieked Sir Algoquin\nMarshwiggin, \u201cwe could be ruined if we are imposed another fine by the Land Revenue\nService.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, ah\u2026 Sir, it was you, Sir, when you were, ah\u2026 making a very\nimportant point at the Friday morning staff meeting last week,\u201d said Mortimer\nSquigg timidly, shrinking from a possible backlash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPoppycock and balderdash, how could that have occurred,\u201d bellowed Sir Algoquin\nMarshwiggin with an ominous sound to his voice, smacking his swagger stick on\nthe desk, paper flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, Sir, you suddenly and forcefully swung your arm in a wide arc holding your new fountain pen between your fingers to make an important point, and a streak of black ink spurted out of the pen flying in a perfect curve, splatting onto the open page of the ledger I was carefully inspecting,\u201d related Mortimer Squigg half triumphantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHumbug, you\u2019d better figure out what the missing amount is by morning,\nMr. Squigg, or you can consider yourself dismissed for incompetence,\u201d roared Sir\nAlgoquin Marshwiggin and stamped his way out of the office, slamming the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can you help the poor and unfortunate accountant Mortimer Squigg work out the missing entry amount and the item price for the frozen haddock packages so he won\u2019t get the sack in the morning?<\/em><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>