It was an email. The tourist office replied "it is illegal to expose the public to cigarette smoke" and promised to take appropriate action. The B&B disappeared from the Web soon after. I figured that anyone who could produce the volume of smoke in that establishment would sooner give up letting out a few rooms than break the addiction.

Luckily for me, the night I spent there was unusually warm for October. I was able to keep the large window behind the prominent "no smoking" sign open and, with judicious use of inhalers, I did not suffer a serious asthma attack. And, having no desire to spend a moment longer than necessary in that toxic atmosphere, I declined breakfast and caught the early morning bus, thereby making my connection to the Oxford bus I'd given up hope of catching.

If my email drove that scofflaw business under, I'll gladly take the credit.