In the Latin Class, by David Sydney

It was Mr. McCabe's Latin class, and the subject was the ablative absolute. Could anyone use it properly in a sentence?
"Ed?" asked Mr. McCabe. "Sheila?… Francis?"
Why some of the students had chosen Latin as an elective was beyond understanding.
"Irwin?" Was that Irwin Frankel who raised his hand?
"The ablative absolute," he began. "Gaul having been conquered, Caesar turned his attention to Rome."
"Did everyone hear that?"asked a stunned teacher. "Gaul having been conquered…"
Irwin again raised his hand. "The question having been answered, may I be excused from tonight's assignment, Mr. McCabe?"