Now, however, that it was the dead of night and he was alone, he chose from this repository one thick document called “Xenophila a Tragedy,” or some such title, and one thin one, called simply “ The Oak Tree ” (this was the only monosyllabic title among the lot), and then he approached the inkhorn, fingered the quill, and made other such passes as those addicted to this vice begin their rites with. But he paused.