Sentence:  “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said <WSD>as</WSD> dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.” 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To such an extent or degree; to the same extent or degree.