The questions followed each other with the rapidity of machine-gun bullets. These preliminaries over, he looked up at me with the benevolent Fairy Godfather expression of, “Now, young fellow, I’m doing my best, I want to help you, but you must meet me half-way.” “Now,” he said kindly, “what work did you do before the war?” “None at all,” I answered truthfully; “I was at school.” “Then you don’t know what you are going to do when you get back?” “Oh, something to do with books,” I hazarded. “Ah, yes, Book-keeping. Then I suppose that what you want is a really sound commercial education?” And he was about to jot down “Commerce” when I pointed out that what I really wanted to do was not to keep books, but to write them. “Journalism? Then why couldn’t you say so at once,” and he returned to the official “Busyman” attitude. Finally we reached the stage to which this examination had led. “Now, then, what classes do you think of taking up?” “French.” He looked at me, doubtfully avuncular. “You know, I don’t know whether French will be much use to you. Is that all you are taking up? Because, of course, French is very amusing, but from a commercial point of view really I should advise shorthand. No? well, then, I must just put you down for French. Some notices will come round about the classes.” And he began his inquisition of my successor. Really, considering that to be entered in a French class was the whole object of my visit, the interview was sufficiently prolix, but the fellow enjoyed doing it. That was the great thing. * * * * * Like all innovations, the F.C.S. (as it appeared on official abbreviations) met with great support, numerous classes were formed, so numerous, in fact, were they that there was hardly enough room for them. At all periods of the day students could be observed hurrying across the court, a stool under one arm, and a pile of books under the other. The whole day was mapped out into periods; there was no vacant spot but it had to serve as a classroom; and the attendance was admirable. Over a hundred officers attended the first lecture of the shorthand expert. The elementary French class was so large that it had to be divided up into three. Great trade flourished then in the _Kantine_. Otto’s Grammars were at a premium. They were hoarded deliberately. One enterprising linguist went so far as to amass within the space of a week, grammars of Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Hindustani, together with their keys.