Then Auberon resumed.
"That story," he said reverently, "is the test of humour." They walked on further and faster, wading through higher grass as they began to climb a slope.
"I perceive," continued Auberon, "that you have passed the test, and consider the anecdote excruciatingly funny; since you say nothing.
Only coarse humour is received with pot-house applause.

The great anecdote is received in silence, like a benediction.

You felt pretty benedicted, didn't you, Barker ?" "I saw the point," said Barker, somewhat loftily.
"Do you know," said Quin, with a sort of idiot gaiety, "I have lots of stories as good as that.

Listen to this one." And he slightly cleared his throat.
"Dr.Polycarp was, as you all know, an unusually sallow bimetallist.
'There,' people of wide experience would say, 'There goes the sallowest bimetallist in Cheshire.' Once this was said so that he overheard it: it was said by an actuary, under a sunset of mauve and grey.

Polycarp turned upon him.