[ That's really how it is, is it...? The thought that he could be the one left out of the know and played for a fool this time is infuriating to him, and begrudging respect or no, he's half tempted now to forcefully pry the details of his supposed fall out of this miserable man and throw him away somewhere he'll never be found — surely there's something better than the Thames for that sort of thing in a place like this.

But no; he's not going to start letting the blood get on his own hands after all this time. Anyway, who knows if it's even possible to permanently silence anyone in this grotesque mockery of reality? He's just going to maintain his denial as long as he can. There's no one to disprove him. ]

That I bestowed upon you?

[ There's a chuckle from him as well, equally humourless. ]

Well, whether you think you were given that moniker by me or the public or the Devil himself, it matters little. It's plain to see you've finally cracked under its pressure.

A shame, truly. A part of me had still been holding out hope for you.