26 AUGUST 2000, Page 51

No. 2153: Old Roman dozen

I shall explain this title later. Meanwhile you are invited to incorporate the following words and phrases, in any order, into a plau- sible piece of prose (maximum 150 words): paunch, Great Bear, linen, sapphire, poison, common people, hinge, weevil, staff, margin, udder, echo. Entries to 'Competition No. 2153' by 7 September.