"You know, I'm rather great on heredity, Professor.

What class did he come from then?
Were his people just domestic servants always ?" The Professor's face was for a moment troubled.

He moved to his desk, rummaged about for a time, and finally produced an ancient volume.
"This really belongs to my brother, Lord Ashleigh," he explained.

"He brought it over with him to show me some entries concerning which I was interested.

It contains a history of the Hamblin estate since the days of Cromwell, and here in the back, you see, is a list of our farmers, bailiffs and domestic servants.