In the old days, […] he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned. But he had then none of the oddities and mannerisms which I hold to be inseparable from genius, and which struck my attention in after days when I came in contact with the Celebrity.

Their praise is hymned by loftier harps than mine.

[…] a doddling old grandfather to act as sheep-dog, as a toothless, barkless, harmless guardian.

They were to spend many an evening together sitting round the old kitchen table playing twentyone ….