Then General Cubitte hustled off, telling him to come to dine at an address in Kensington two nights later and "report himself." So within less than an hour Godfrey's future career was settled.

He came out of the office feeling rather dazed but happier than when he went in, and inquired his way to Garrick Street, where he was informed that Mr.Scoones had his establishment.

He found the place and, by good luck, found Mr.Scoones also, a kindly, keen, white-haired man, who read the letter, made a few inquiries and put him through a brief examination.
"Your information is varied and peculiar," he said, "and not of the sort that generally appeals to Her Majesty's examiners.

Still, I see that you have intelligence and, of course, the French is an asset; also the literature to some extent, and the Latin, though these would have counted more had you been going up for the Indian Civil.

I think we can get you through in three months if you will work; it all depends on that.