A rumour circulates that Professor Peaseblossom of the University of Cram-Cram is the unmarried father of twins. It is a major topic of conversation among students and his colleagues, and of particular concern to the wife of the Vicar because Peaseblossom is a churchwarden. The rumour is not true, but the Vicar's wife is not convinced, believing that 'Nothing is impossible to a man of [Peaseblossom's] Communistic views'.