midnight
By long practice , astute contriving , and careful cross-examination of successful pupils he has arrived at such a pass that he seems to know more about the examiner 's mind than that gentleman himself . He repeats slowly and deliberately the exact form of answer which is most likely to draw approval from the grand inquisitor , and we copy it down hastily in our notes . The sleeves of his grey frock-coat are pulled back to keep the chalk dust from soiling them as he rapidly sketches on the board for our edification . We listen with respect , for we know he has been through precisely the same mill as ourselves , he has come on watch at midnight with his mouth dry and his eyelids sagging and wishing in his heart he were dead . He has won out and now stands ready to show us the way . We listen to every word . The lecture is short , sharp , apposite , a model of all a lecture should be , stripped to the bare bones of fundamental truth , pared clean of every redundant word .