[ The fact that Bastien does not look away from his book, eyes continuing to pass over the lines rather than turning up to Byerly's face with a smile, is the only sign that he's the least bit anxious about that question.

But a pretty clear one, to someone familiar enough. ]

I was thinking I should write first this time. Even if they can't read it themselves, someone could read it to them. That's more polite than showing up out of nowhere, isn't it?