Cinderella Timkins

The staircase in Dormec House a Ministry building is certainly elegant but to Arthur Timkins messenger one of the quota of variously disabled employees it is the scene of an encounter that changes his life miraculously. <br>Selected as one of Professor Knowle's guinea-pigs in a pilot trial to enhance intelligence he is whisked away to a world beyond his wildest dreams. Workers at Matcham Grange from kitchen staff to the Professor himself treat Arthur kindly. <br>Everything that puzzled him slowly clears he is like a man emerging out of thick fog into sunlight. This new life comes to an abrupt end. <br>By the merest chance Arthur left the Grange before the explosion that kills all his companions: his brief experience of luxury is over. <br>Hunted down by the spies responsible for destroying Matcham Grange he changes identity with the tramp killed by a bullet intended for him. Grief-stricken and suffering physical hardship he owes it to the Professor to reach the Ministry proving there is one guinea-pig left. An outcast from society after a hard journey Arthur has to convince headquarters that he is the real Timkins not a spy impersonating him. <br>The transformed Arthur is taken to Dormec House. The psychiatrist (who had selected him) swears that no one will recognise the down-trodden slow-witted messenger in this handsome well-heeled executive but someone does on that very staircase...