Chapter 2

           IheardthattheBritishCouncilwererecruitingstaff,soinearlyAugustIwentalongtoDaviesStreetandwasinterviewedbyaneagerladywithaculture-riddenmindandaveryupperclassvoiceandvocabulary.Itwasfrightfullyimportant,shetoldme,asifinconfidence,that"we"wererepresentedabroadbytherighttype;butitwasanawfulbore,allthepostshadtobeadvertisedandthecandidateschosenbyinterview,andanywaytheywerehavingtocutdownonoverseaspersonnelactually.Shecametothepoint:theonlyjobsavailablewereteachingEnglishinforeignschoolsordidthatsoundtooghastly?

           Isaiditdid.

           InthelastweekofAugust,halfasajoke,Iadvertised:thetraditionalinsertion.Ihadanumberofrepliestomycurtoffertogoanywhereanddoanything.ApartfromthepamphletsremindingmethatIwasGod’s,therewerethreecharminglettersfromculturedandalertswindlers.AndtherewasonethatmentionedunusualandremunerativeworkinTangierscouldIspeakItalian?butmyanswerwentunanswered.

           Septemberloomed:Ibegantofeeldesperate.Isawmyselfcornered,drivenbackindespairtothedreadedEducationalSupplementandthoseendlesspalegraylistsofendlesspalegrayjobs.SoonemorningIreturnedtoDaviesStreet.

           IaskediftheyhadanyteachingjobsintheMediterraneanarea,andthewomanwiththefrightfulintensifierswentofftofetchafile.IsatunderapuceandtomatoMatthewSmithinthewaitingroomandbegantoseemyselfinMadrid,inRome,orMarseilles,orBarcelona…evenLisbon.

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