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side of the business, the ‘cramming’ of English students for resitting A-levels. Failure in the retaken examinations only confirmed for most parents what the first disappointment had gloomily prefigured, and few of them felt confident enough to make any complaint against the school.
    Besides, there were successes, which could be quoted proudly in initial interviews. Some students had given themselves such a shock by their failure that they approached resitting their exams with a new application. Some benefited from working in smaller groups or one-to-one tutorials. And, amongst the shifting ragbag of staff whom Julian Garrett employed, there were occasionally teachers with genuine gifts, who could communicate knowledge and enthusiasm to their charges.
    As well as the A-level work, the Garrettway offered to prepare students for Oxbridge entrance examinations, and this side of the business had netted for the school the perfectly respectable tally of one Exhibition and a place at Oxford, and two places at Cambridge. These achievements had been spread over the five years of Garrettway’s life, but Julian, not wishing to confuse potential customers with chronology, tended (without actually lying) to imply to parents that they represented only one year’s crop.
    He now felt confident of the business, and lulls, like the current one, no longer caused him anxiety. Bookings for the summer courses were already up on previous years and so it was a matter of little consequence to him that he only had one Turk to offer his newest recruit to the teaching staff.
    â€˜A Turk?’ Bernard Hopkins echoed.
    â€˜Yes. Been sent over here on some business course. Trouble is, as he hasn’t got much language, it’s all being rather lost on him at the moment.’
    â€˜So he needs an intensive course in English?’
    Julian Garrett gave a wince. ‘Needn’t be intensive. Only asked for “conversational English”. Just a matter of going to talk to the poor sod. Don’t make a big deal of it – his company’s paying.’
    Detecting a slight recoil from his employee at this, Julian intensified the charm as he continued. ‘I’m sorry, Bernard, if I sound cynical, but I am running a business here, not a charity. Of course, we care a lot about all our students, we want to do the best for them, but we do have to be careful.’ He gave a sad, once-bitten-twice-shy shake of the head. ‘I’m afraid I’ve had unpleasant experiences in the past. What you must do in this case is what is asked for. Give him conversational English. . . Then, if it turns out that his grasp of the language is not even up to that, you will have to recommend an intensive course, and the necessary arrangements will be made. I’m sure the company can afford it.’ There was a moment’s pause. ‘From what I hear of the man, I think it’s quite likely that he will need a further course.’
    â€˜Right.’ Bernard nodded, very much the dutiful employee in his new job. ‘Has a time been arranged for him to come here?’
    â€˜Ah, that’s one of the points. He won’t be coming here. This business course he’s on is pretty intensive, so I’ve made arrangements that our tutor will go to his hotel. He’s at the Metropole. Name’s Nassiri. Nine o’clock each evening, for the next fortnight. That be OK with you?’ Bernard nodded. Julian did not see that there was anything to be gained by telling him how much extra the Turk’s company would be paying for this inconvenient personal service.
    â€˜Does happen from time to time,’ he continued smoothly.
    â€˜Odd hours. Have to fit in with the students, though. After all, as educators, we must make them our primary concern.’
    â€˜Of course,’ Bernard agreed.
    â€˜Hope that doesn’t raise problems. The evenings?’ Bernard looked blank.
    â€˜With your wife. I gather