That was another piece of luck, for Stoner was quite certain that if Cotherstone had ever had any connexion with Wilchester it must have been a long, long time ago: he knew, from information acquired, that Cotherstone had been a fixture in Highmarket for thirty years.
He glanced at Myler's father-in-law again as Myler, remarking that when old friends meet, the flowing bowl must flow, produced a bottle of whisky from a brand-new chiffonier, and entreated his bride to fetch what he poetically described as the crystal goblets and the sparkling stream.

The father-in-law was a little apple-faced old gentleman with bright eyes and a ready smile, who evidently considered his son-in-law a born wit, and was ready to laugh at all his sallies.

A man of good memory, that, decided Stoner, and wondered how he could diplomaticaly lead Mr.Pursey to talk about the town he came from.

But Mr.Pursey was shortly to talk about Wilchester to some purpose--and with no drawing-out from Stoner or anybody.
"Well," remarked Myler, having supplied his guests with spirituous refreshment, and taken a pull at his own glass.

"I'm glad to see you, Stoner, and so's the missis, and here's hoping you'll come again as often as the frog went to the water.