[A demure, conspiratorial smile comes first, then a lift of one shoulder.] ...Perhaps. [He answers after a beat and it may not be wrong for all he knows.] Of course, were I to know of who in fact he calls his friends, I would be better fit to answer.

I have been in this village long before you and have met many in this time, enough of whom are still among us. As you no doubt can attest, I have a talent for stripping a man of his gentility before long. Or a woman. [He adds after a moment.] I find that in anger, one is often the most honest.

[He chuckles throatily.]

I take it that Simon is a friend of Jack's?