He did not grasp the nub of the matter

          "What I was about to ask you, my dear Tippy," he said, "was, have you ever given a  thought to modern trends?"
          "Well, I'll tell you," said Tipton, learning for the first time that these existed, "what with one thing and another, no."
          "When I say 'modern trends,'" proceeded Gally, "I am thinking at  the moment of the amusement world. Amazing how people's tastes have altered since I was your age. Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis."
          "You betcher," said Tipton, fogged but courteous.

(from Full Moon, by Sir Pelham Wodehouse)