People are getting so cursedly in earnest now-a-days, that I shall have to bolt to the backwoods to amuse myself in peace; or else sham dumb as the monkeys do, lest folks should find out that I'm rational, and set me to work.' Lancelot laughed and sighed.
'But how on earth do you contrive to get on so well with men with whom you have not an idea in common!' 'Savoir faire, O infant Hercules! own daddy to savoir vivre.

I am a good listener; and, therefore, the most perfect, because the most silent, of flatterers.

When they talk Puginesquery, I stick my head on one side attentively, and "think the more," like the lady's parrot.

I have been all the morning looking over a set of drawings for my lord's new chapel; and every soul in the party fancies me a great antiquary, just because I have been retailing to B as my own everything that A told me the moment before.' 'I envy you your tact, at all events.' 'Why the deuce should you?
You may rise in time to something better than tact; to what the good book, I suppose, means by "wisdom." Young geniuses like you, who have been green enough to sell your souls to "truth," must not meddle with tact, unless you wish to fare as the donkey did when he tried to play lap-dog.' 'At all events, I would sooner remain cub till they run me down and eat me, than give up speaking my mind,' said Lancelot.

'Fool I may be, but the devil himself shan't make me knave.' 'Quite proper.