"I see. And then to lunch at the Town Hall, I suppose?"
"Not so fast. Remember this is a Cathedral city: the Dean and Chapter must be given an opportunity to put their oar in. The Dean will speak his piece, and then I understand that the Choir, who are to be concealed somewhere behind one of the doors, will create a brief disturbance. After that the Town will assert itself, as against the County and the Close."
"What is their stunt going to be?"
"An Address of Welcome and Grateful Thanks to Crake."
"That seems reasonable. But who is going to compose it?"
"I have already done so, by request. It is not half bad," said the Rector modestly.
"Who is going to read it? The Mayor?"
"The Mayor is an imperfect creature, but he possesses one superlative quality: he harbours no illusions about his own ability to grapple with the letter H. He declines to read the Address. Most of the Corporation are in the same boat—though they don't all admit it."
"Why don't you read it yourself?"
"Trades-Union rules forbid. If I read it, it would be regarded as the propaganda of the Established Church. The forces of Town and Chapel would combine to fall upon me and crush me. No, we must have a citizen—a citizen of credit and renown, locally known and esteemed." The Rector eyed me furtively. "I suppose you, now—