I believe I once came across a comparable instance in
which VN, in the midst of answering a literary question, pretends to be
accosted by his dog (did he ever own a dog, btw?) and interjects "Down,
Fido" (or something like that...), but now I'm unable to locate that
passage. I think it was in Strong Opinions, but a cursory skim missed it.
Anyone know the passage? Perhaps I remember it all wrong...