The splendid frame and stern features of Sir John's secretary made him a striking figure.

Yet he was, quite frankly, sprung from the people, and made no secret of it.
His father had been simply a well-to-do London surgeon, who had been knighted for some mere discoveries in science.

His grandfather, so it was whispered, had been nothing more than a successful banker who had amassed a fortune simply by successful banking.

Yet at Oxford young Powers had carried all before him.

He had occupied a seat, a front seat, in one of the boats, had got his blue and his pink, and had taken a double final in Sanscrit and Arithmetic.
He had already travelled widely in the East, spoke Urdu and Hoodoo with facility, while as secretary to Sir John Elphinspoon, with a seat in the House in prospect, he had his foot upon the ladder of success.
"Yes," repeated Powers thoughtfully, "they may rise.