Both Uses of
retort
in
The Remains of the Day
- Of course, you may retort, as did Mr Graham whenever I expounded such a line during those enjoyable discussions by the fire, that if I am correct in what I am saying, one could recognize a great butler as such only after one had seen him perform under some severe test.†
Chpt 1e - *retort = quickly reply
- And as I spoke, I was struck by the thought — the same thought as had struck me on numerous occasions of late in Mr Farraday's presence — that some sort of witty retort was required of me.†
Chpt 3m -
Definition:
a quick reply to a question or remark -- especially a witty or critical one