As it happens, I read the story about what Pardon asked his neighbour for when he went there for his tea as demonstrating his good manners. You ask for something that does not trouble your neighbour too much, something modest. And you never ever tell your host you did not like what you were offered. The stuff I forced down as a child due to this rule (jellied chicken stuff is an example I shall not forget and still gag at the thought of).

For me the key thing in that interview was the concern of Pardon's friends in the village to protect him from potential harm after his discovery, which they seemed to think might have adverse effects on him. Luckily, as far as we can see, this did not happen. He may even have made a bob or two out of it.

Different people will interpret the 'text' ie the film differently. Fact of life. Part of what makes it difficult to get at 'truth' about Pardon, as it happens.