It was his occasional custom⁠—and a very laudable, acceptable custom, too⁠—to arrive of an evening, always à l’improviste , unannounced, burst in on the silent hour of study, establish a sudden despotism over us and our occupations, cause books to be put away, workbags to be brought out, and, drawing forth a single thick volume, or a handful of pamphlets, substitute for the besotted lecture pieuse , drawled by a sleepy pupil, some tragedy made grand by grand reading, ardent by fiery action⁠—some drama, whereof, for my part, I rarely studied the intrinsic merit; for M.