Final answer:
The touch of wry humor in this chapter serves as comic relief, providing lightheartedness and contrast to the serious moments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The touch of wry humor in this chapter serves as comic relief. In literature, wry humor refers to a type of humor that is ironic, sarcastic, or subtly funny. It can be seen in the author's use of irony, unexpected situations, or clever wordplay. In this chapter, the humor may be found in the contrast between Mr. Knickerbocker's entertaining storytelling and the serious response of the dry-looking old gentleman. This creates a lighthearted moment to provide relief from the tension or seriousness of the previous events.