What he learned led him, almost immediately, to the conclusion that his subject was a liar of substantial proportions.
A substantial proportion, in fact, took up the same vices that finished off their parents before they could reach 100.
Britons continue to make up a substantial proportion of immigrants.
A substantial proportion of its students are from civilian backgrounds.
The qualifications must also have a substantial proportion of external assessment.
A substantial proportion of the population, the refugees, had been dependent on international help since 1949.
A substantial proportion of local jobs are in the latter, such as health, education and leisure.
"A substantial proportion came from the car sector, but there was weakness elsewhere in the report," he said.
This was because a substantial proportion were very heavily dependent upon the state for their income.
However, a substantial proportion of its students are from civilian backgrounds.