Prompting Ellis to rise to fall in step with Bastien, as he encourages Whiskey along. It's a handsome dog. But that's something to discuss once all has been settled.

"I've an envelope I'd like you to hold for me. If I don't return, I'd ask you pass it on to the Provost and he'll manage the rest."

And this is a particular kind of motivation: to return so Bastien never need pass along the envelope, and Tony need never open it to find two letters with his name and Wysteria's written very carefully along the folded edge. It's unfair. Unfair to Bastien, unfair to Tony. But Ellis can think of no better way.

Nevermind how strange it is to have grown to trust an Orlesian this way.