as it were

[MadHorse]

Hi,
Does as it were mean 'as if ' in the following paragraph?
"All that's the matter with this chimney, Mr. Bunter," pronounced Mr. Puffett, "is, sut." Having thus, as it were, come out by the same road as he had gone in, he began to withdraw his brush from the chimney, unscrewing it with extreme deliberation, rod by rod.

Thanks.

[Tdol]

It's like 'in this way'