The front of the Shrine of Aea in her Aspect as the Personification of Tempered Enthusiasm is so modest it’s almost self-effacing. It refuses to dominate Exegesis Square. To be fair it’s not the most elegant facade. We haven’t got a portico, never mind an entrance pylon. There again, Maljie has always extolled ‘clean lines’ and a lack of ‘clutter.’

Once you get round the back of the shrine then we lack even the clean lines. The finest building is in point of fact the Mendicants’ Bathhouse. They raised the money for this and I suppose it does go to prove that whilst crime doesn’t pay; extortion, moral blackmail, and undue exaction in pursuit of a good cause may well pay excellent dividends. There is also a collection of outbuildings. Doubtless in the days of our greatness (if such really existed) they were robing rooms and storerooms for ceremonial regalia…