All this gravity—but perhaps the scale has to be adjusted, since it's Ellis, routinely grave. Perhaps he's going north to see about a horse.

Bastien doesn't really think he's going north to see about a horse.

But he smiles a little, like he's not worried, and resumes escorting the dog toward the nearest garden. "If it is unfair, I will be the first person to tell you so," he lies. "Go on."