He had a great command of humour and invective, and his little serio-comic lectures were always skilfully adapted to the section of the crowd he happened to be addressing, He could silence the knocker, and the member of the crowd who attempted to score off him always had the laugh turned against himself."
This individual was a master of humor and sharp criticism, able to adapt his lectures to different audiences with ease.  He could silence anyone who tried to challenge him, turning their own attempts at mockery against them.