Funny, but not in JA's line. Oh, there are sparklets, like appearance of The Hero - too late, alas - that you mention, and Charles's costume for the masked ball - ha-ha! JA was determined to eclipse any author in loud admiration for one's heroes - a feature of many novels, I'm afraid. But the whole wine-soaked texture of the piece is simply boring. I know that drunks were considered side-splittingly funny in the 18 century, or at least acceptable both in life and fiction, and I admit that Jane had every right to parody whatever she wanted. Tom Jones? Well, she did find her own voice beginning by snooping around. :)