"Various reasons, old fellow," I said. "For one thing I don't happen to know a fellow who knows a chap who lives next door to a woman whose husband works in the Scotch Education Department.
"Again, I'm not qualified; I never took the Education Class at Oxford."
"Finally, I don't want the job."
"I suppose," said Lawson, "that lots of 'em get in by wire-pulling."
"Very probably, but some of them probably get in straight. Naturally, you cannot get geniuses by wire-pulling; the chap who uses influence to get a job is a third-rater always."
Lawson reddened.
"I pulled wires to get into my job," he said.
"That's all right," I said cheerfully, "I've pulled wires all my days."
"But," I added, "I wouldn't do it again."