"I don't know how long before he'll be here again. Last I heard he was in Italy still, sending me pictures of some violinist and asking me whether he looked like a girl." Which he decidedly had not. Maybe Giacomo was finally realising that he wasn't as straight as he'd always thought he was.

Barty opened the door to get out, then walked around to get the door for Sam as well, just to be polite. And in case Sam was feeling faint. "I'm an excellent influence on him. I hit him sometimes. He really needs that."