It was an acknowledgement of his own unrivalled powers as an Examiner.
Mr.Precis, still trusting to his pure well, went on to the end, and at the end declared that so ignorant was Mr.Jobbles of his duty that he had given them no opportunity of showing what they could do in English composition.

Why had he not put before them the papers in some memorable official case, and desired them to make an abstract; those, for instance, on the much-vexed question of penny versus pound, as touching the new standard for the decimal coinage?
Mr.Jobbles an Examiner indeed! And so Mr.
Precis bethought himself that he also, if unsuccessful, would go to the Lords of the Treasury.
And Mr.Uppinall and Alaric Tudor also went on.

Those who knew anything of the matter, when they saw how the running horses were reduced in number, and what horses were left on the course--when they observed also how each steed came to the post on each succeeding morning, had no doubt whatever of the result.

So that when Alaric was declared on the Saturday morning to have gained the prize, there was very little astonishment either felt or expressed at the Weights and Measures.
Alaric's juniors wished him joy with some show of reality in their manner; but the congratulations of his seniors, including the Secretary and Assistant-Secretaries, the new Chief Clerk and the men in the class to which he was now promoted, were very cold indeed.

But to this he was indifferent.