Did the company fall to discussing well-bred dogs, at once he had remarks of the most pertinent kind possible to offer.

Did the company touch upon a prosecution which had recently been carried out by the Excise Department, instantly he showed that he too was not wholly unacquainted with legal affairs.

Did an opinion chance to be expressed concerning billiards, on that subject too he was at least able to avoid committing a blunder.

Did a reference occur to virtue, concerning virtue he hastened to deliver himself in a way which brought tears to every eye.
Did the subject in hand happen to be the distilling of brandy--well, that was a matter concerning which he had the soundest of knowledge.

Did any one happen to mention Customs officials and inspectors, from that moment he expatiated as though he too had been both a minor functionary and a major.