"One or two ls? Or, hmm, I suppose that should be two or three. I mean in the middle." He pauses with the pen hovered above the paper.

And then a quick glance up, unguarded surprise. "Thank you." Yes, it could be a lie. Constant suspicion isn't a natural state for him. If it is a lie, he'll discover it when he makes his way there.

"Somehow I'm not surprised he managed to avoid this mingle. He's good at getting out of things."