The hour was early; the place almost deserted; and possibly there was thunder in the air.

But the sun struck full upon the Acropolis.
Jacob's intention was to sit down and read, and, finding a drum of marble conveniently placed, from which Marathon could be seen, and yet it was in the shade, while the Erechtheum blazed white in front of him, there he sat.

And after reading a page he put his thumb in his book.

Why not rule countries in the way they should be ruled?
And he read again.
No doubt his position there overlooking Marathon somehow raised his spirits.

Or it may have been that a slow capacious brain has these moments of flowering.