Answer: Much of the humor in Somerset Maugham's short story "The Luncheon" derives from the fact that the narrator is trying to appear sophisticated, urbane, and gallant, whereas he really can't afford to be entertaining this woman in such an expensive restaurant as Foyot's. He feels relieved initially because she tells him, "I never eat anything for luncheon," and then he is appalled when she orders some of the most expensive items the place has to offer. Maugham describes the situation in just a few words:
This is why. The word 'literal' can be defined simply as "face value". For example if some one says I literally haven't slept all night. You would see that this means they have not slept at all.
