Our Noble Selves

Flynn and Miss Ogilvie, given no part in selecting the Festival Cake, acted as observers—a messenger role with no involvement in the outcome. Flynn served as the sole member of the Cake Subcommittee, while Miss Ogilvie was present because she was a woman. Despite her protests, she attended the clandestine judging session held in the Royal Society of Arts boardroom.

The judges, a motley crew of an Italian sous chef, a plaid-suited man, an author, a journalist, a man with a Birmingham accent, and a woman who authored a Handy Hints book, assembled around an oversized mahogany table displaying the various cakes.

The cakes, mostly conventional, lacked any exceptional flair, save for one which stood out due to its over-the-top design, resembling a cathedral dome embellished with icing, ornaments, and artificial cherries. The woman who authored the Handy Hints book explained its intricate details to Flynn. The cake was crowned with a small pennant featuring the Festival emblem crudely drawn in crayon.

Upon cutting into it, the judges were appalled by the immense quantity of sponge, meringue, raspberry jam, and marzipan. Miss Ogilvie remarked on its lack of austerity, while the Woman’s Realm woman ushered them out of the room.

Outside, Flynn and Miss Ogilvie speculated on the reason behind the judges' choice. Miss Ogilvie, known as Maud, suggested it might be a conspiracy, possibly orchestrated by a friend of Mr. Dangerfield. Flynn dismissed such notions, but Miss Ogilvie remained open to the idea, speculating about the dark arts employed to achieve the outcome. Flynn, however, maintained that it was simply a cake, and the judges' decision seemed inexplicable.