After harvesting at the library for the next few weeks, I came across this title. These novels inevitably all present an unexpected profession. It's pretty funny, sometimes far-fetched. The character of Basil, a former magistrate considered mad, seems particularly improbable with his ability to see the reality of personalities immediately. But it's excellent and quick to read, a delightful interlude.
I only knew of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, a few surveys by Father Brown, read a long time ago—finally, an author to remember when the need to smile through books arises.