[Perhaps he may have done slightly better at discerning the sarcasm were he not, most certainly, three sheets to the wind by this point, and somewhat more accustomed to his companion's exceptionally dry tone. As things stand, he takes the ribbing in his stride, placing his empty glass down on the table in order to throw both hands up in a gesture of overacted supplication.]

Ah, well. Forgive me. I'm not exactly an expert on farming, but if one can deal only in leeches, as an example, then why not only in cabbages? Admittedly one of those things is rather more useful than the other, but it takes all sorts.