'But what is to happen to me? said Paul.

'I think you ought to find some work, said his guardian thoughtfully. 'Nothing like it for taking the mind off nasty subjects.

'But what kind of work?

'Just work, good healthy toil. You have led too sheltered a life, Paul. Perhaps I am to blame. It will do you the world of good to face facts a bit ‑ look at life in the raw, you know. See things steadily and see them whole, eh? And Paul's guardian lit another cigar.

'Have I no legal right to any money at all? asked Paul.

'None whatever, my dear boy, said his guardian quite cheerfully….

That spring Paul's guardian's daughter had two new evening frocks and, thus glorified, became engaged to a well‑conducted young man in the Office of Works.

* * *

'Sent down for indecent behaviour, eh? said Mr Levy, of Church and Gargoyle, scholastic agents. 'Well, I don't think we'll say anything about that. In fact, officially, mind, you haven't told me. We call that sort of thing "Education discontinued for personal reasons", you understand. He picked up the telephone. 'Mr Samson, have we any "education discontinued" posts, male, on hand?… Right!… Bring it up, will you? I think, he added, turning again to Paul, 'we have just the thing for you.

A young man brought in a slip of paper.

'What about that?

Paul read it:

Private and Confidential Notice of Vacancy.

Augustus Fagan, Esquire, Ph.D., Llanabba Castle, N. Wales, requires immediately Junior assistant master to teach Classics and English to University Standard with subsidiary Mathematics, German and French. Experience essential; first‑class games essential.