What a loss for the arts. [ A little mournful, too. But he pats Byerly’s shirt front—near the collar but not quite high enough, because as previously mentioned, the man is unfairly tall—and brightens a bit. ] But a gain for everyone else. I am very proud to know you, you know.

[ Not I’m proud of you, because that feels like something he doesn’t quite have a claim to. And then, to save Byerly from having to actually respond to that, he hops down into the pit. ]

What would you like to play? I will even let you have the cello.