The reviewer in his art must quote passages. It is hardly the part of
a Preface writer to do that. But to show what I mean I can at least
quote the following:

"Your insight is clear and unbiased," said the gracious
Sovereign. "But however entrancing it is to wander unchecked
through a garden of bright images, are we not enticing your
mind from another subject of almost equal importance?"

Or again:

"It has been said," he began at length, withdrawing his eyes
reluctantly from an usually large insect upon the ceiling and
addressing himself to the maiden, "that there are few
situations in life that cannot be honourably settled, and
without any loss of time, either by suicide, a bag of gold, or
by thrusting a despised antagonist over the edge of a
precipice on a dark night."

Or again:

"After secretly observing the unstudied grace of her
movements, the most celebrated picture-maker of the province
burned the implements of his craft, and began life anew as a
trainer of performing elephants."

You cannot read these sentences, I think, without agreeing with what
has been said above. If you doubt it, take the old test and try to
write that kind of thing yourself.