"Ah, a professor. How delightful. A pleasure indeed." He makes a mental note to ask him what and where he teaches when he can work it into the conversation. For the moment, the topic is one that warms him. He's content to continue in this vein.

"I specialize in books of prophecy, first editions when I can track them down. The hunt is a large part of the fun of it. Most of them are rubbish, of course. So vague you could read anything you like into any one of them. I believe it's the fact that so many interesting people covet them." And that so many of those people are terribly unpleasant people. It's enjoyable to give them a black eye and get to something first.