Envoy Extraordinary by E. Phillips Oppenheim

It was a small but very distinguished company of Norfolk notabilities who were gathered together, two days later, in the private coffee-room of the old-fashioned Crown and Anchor Hotel at Aylsham. There was the Earl of Bemrose, the Lord Lieutenant, drinking the famous old beer of the house from a tankard; General Hamilton, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Magistrates; Colonel Fulton; Sir Richard Scott Haverley and two other magistrates. Matresser and Mr Phillips Poulteney, of the firm of Fellowes, Son & Poulteney, Coroner for the district, were seated at one end of the long table exchanging confidences. The latter was a pleasant-faced man of middle age, a thorough countryman, who wore the legal habiliments suitable to the occasion, with some difficulty. He, too, held a tankard in his hand. The room in which they were holding their impromptu meeting was a private one, and the door was locked.

Poulteney rose to his feet and moved to the hearthrug.