We thought this very funny: we said his earnest manner was half the humour. The slightest hint on his part that he knew how funny he was would have completely ruined it all.
On trouva cela d’autant plus drôle que l’on savait que son sérieux imperturbable faisait partie du spectacle, et que, s’il avait eu la faiblesse de sourire a son propre comique, il aurait manqué assurément son effet.