Yours sincerely,
HENRY J. FORDYCE.
Petherton replied with a whizz-bang as thus:--
SIR,--I have read the idiotic correspondence to which you refer, and
am informed that you are the author of the screed which appeared in
last Saturday's issue of the paper. If my informant is correct as to
the authorship of the letter I can only say it is a pity that, with
apparently no knowledge of the subject, you should venture into print.
Anyone enjoying the least acquaintance with the rudiments of English
history would be perfectly aware that the remains have no connection
with QUEEN ELEANOR whatever. The whereabouts of all the crosses put
up to her memory are quite well known to archaeologists.
Yours faithfully,
FREDERICK PETHERTON.
I replied with light artillery:--
DEAR PETHERTON,--Yours _re_ the late Mrs. EDWARD PLANTAGENET to hand.
Though not a professed archaeologist I do know something of the ruin in
question, having several times examined it and having heard, perhaps,
most, if not all, the various theories concerning it. I have been here
a good deal longer than you have, I believe, and cannot think that you
know more of the subject than I.
Have you read Wycherley's treatise on the Eleanor Crosses? [I invented
this monograph for the purpose of inducing Petherton to reload.
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