"And how much, may I ask, have you finished?"
"Well, sir, last night I had the Agamemnon chorus."
"I see, Simpson. I see."
"Please, sir, I was very busy."
"Our Simpson was busy early this morning also, I suppose."
"Yes, sir."
"At your ablutions, I presume."
Here the form would laugh: Simpson's cleanliness was a standing joke.
"Please, sir, I didn't wake up very early."
"That was very distressing."