And my absent-mindedness was visible to Fifanti when I came to my studies with him later.

He grew more peevish with me than was habitual, dubbed me dunce and wooden-head, and commended the wisdom of those who had determined upon a claustral life for me, admitting that I knew enough Latin to enable me to celebrate as well as another without too clear a knowledge of the meaning of what I pattered.

All of which was grossly untrue, for, as none knew better than himself, the fluency of my Latin was above the common wont of students.

When I told him so, he delivered himself of his opinion upon the common wont of students with all the sourness of his crabbed nature.
"I'll write an ode for you upon any subject that you may set me," I challenged him.
"Then write one upon impudence," said he.

"It is a subject you should understand." And upon that he got up and flung out of the room in a pet before I could think of an answer.
Left alone, I began an ode which should prove to him his lack of justice.