“Come, Professor, you’re dreaming. Isn’t it true that your psychohistory tells you that the Empire is deteriorating? I’ve heard you referred to as Raven Seldon, something that, I believe, refers to a fabled bird of ill omen.”
Ths is a bad habit. Asimov wishes to introduce something HE finds witty but hides it behnd a too-ovbious remark by any character. Here Mummery clearly understands it's use and has heard it many times before. He would never pretend not to understand it's meaning. Asimov does this often with his talk of Earth or Gods. He pretends so much time has passed something is rare or fogotten but places them unbelivingly in contexts where rare and forgotten are disproved
