"It is about twenty years since I left this place."
"You made a close study of it while you were resident here?"
"A very close study. Hathelsborough, from my point of view, is one of the most deeply interesting towns in England. While I lived here I accumulated a vast mass of material respecting its history and antiquities, with the idea of writing a monograph on the borough. But I have never made use of it."
"Let us hope that you will still do so, Dr. Pellery," said Meeking, with a suave smile and polite bow.
But Dr. Pellery shook his head and stroked his long beard. A cynical smile played round his wrinkled eyes.
"No, I don't think I ever shall," he said. "Indeed, I'm sure I shan't!"
"May I ask why?"
"You may! Because there aren't twenty people in Hathelsborough who would buy such a book. Hathelsborough people don't care twopence about the history of their old town—all they care about is money. This case is a proof!"
"I think we'll get back to the case," said Meeking, amidst a ripple of laughter. "Well, we may consider you as the greatest living expert on Hathelsborough anyway, Dr. Pellery, and eminently fitted to give us some very important evidence. Do you know the ancient church of St. Lawrence at the back of this Moot Hall?"