Paternoster Row there dwells a good magician who for silver will
provide you with a "Key" that shall open wide for you the gates of
Hades.

By its aid, the Frogs of Aristophanes became my merry friends. With
Ulysses I wandered eagerly through Wonderland. Doctor Florret was
charmed with my progress, which was real, for now, at last, I was
studying according to the laws of common sense, understanding first,
explaining afterwards. Let Youth, that the folly of Age would
imprison in ignorance, provide itself with "Keys."

But let me not seem to claim credit due to another. Dan it was--Dan
of the strong arm and the soft smile, Dan the wise hater of all
useless labour, sharp-witted, easy-going Dan, who made this grand
discovery.

Dan followed me a term later into the Lower Fourth, but before he had
been there a week was handling Latin verse with an ease and dexterity
suggestive of unholy dealings with the Devil. In a lonely corner of
Regent's Park, first making sure no one was within earshot, he
revealed to me his magic.

"Don't tell the others," he commanded; "or it will get out, and then
nobody will be any the better."

"But is it right?" I asked.

"Look here, young 'un," said Dan; "what are you here for--what's your
father paying school fees for (it was the appeal to our
conscientiousness most often employed by Dr. Florret himself), for you