Summary

In “Parson’s Pleasure,” Cyril Boggis drove through the countryside, studying the scenery and the farmhouses. Cyril was “a dealer in antique furniture, with his own shop and showroom” in Chelsea (71). In recent years, he had developed a new technique for acquiring pieces. He drove around dressed “in the uniform of a clergyman,” under the guise of working for the Society for the Preservation of Rare Furniture for The Victoria and Albert Museum (70, 77). He would pay residents a small sum for their antiques, and resell them for exponentially higher prices.

After making a few unsuccessful stops, Cyril stopped at a farmhouse where three men were roasting a pig. Though the men were suspicious of Cyril, they let him into their house to inspect their furniture. When Cyril spotted a rare Chippendale Commode, he nearly fainted. He...