Tom refers to himself in the third person as the “Spokesman,” and ultimately digresses from his intensely analytical commentary on “rhetoric and reality, theory and practice, history and histrionics” to notice his class’s reaction to his ramblings, concluding the “whole class has grown tired of this tedious discussion of causes, preliminaries; analytical debate” (168). Therefore, as any skillful storyteller would do, he vows to give them action and drama in yet another juicy tale of his past.

Ernest Atkinson is a rebellious sort with political aspirations, but his ideas are too radical for the common populace. As a thinking man, he redeems political favor by producing a phenomenal ale to celebrate the coronation of George V. Many outrageous occurrences happen because of this stout ale, including the total destruction of New Atkinson Brewery by fire.

Consequently, Ernest and Sarah (Ernest’s wife) collect the insurance money, but not before many speculate that they started the fire, especially when Ernest cannot be found during the ordeal and a maid claims she sees “Sarah standing before the window […] saying with a grin on her face […] ‘Fire! Smoke! Burning!’” (178).