We were in the midst of an increasingly busy and crowded bar, the music and chatter becoming almost too loud to talk against. Tilly had been plucked from our table by a line of admirers—reluctantly, given a little encouraging nudge and push by us—and was being tugged between these gentlemen seeking to monopolize her attention. Matthias was kept busy drifting between Tilly’s circle of courtiers and us, gallantly bringing drinks over and keeping a weather eye on everyone. When Charley had urged him to give up his duties—“Let Tilly be. How is she ever to reach her full potential for misbehavior with you hovering? I might add that we are eminently capable of telling someone to go, shoo, Matthias, and also quite adept at summoning a bartender. Shall I teach you how?”—Matthias’s response had bee
