"Would it be indiscreet to ask for details?"
"Not the least in the world. It appears that the rogue had approached the fishpond of the Grand Gobelin rather nearer than was fitting for a fellow of his ilk, and had been condemned to have his tongue, hand, and head cut off – the tongue the first day, the hand the next, and the head on the third day. I find mutes very amusing and moreover this specimen's sibilant voice was rather irritating, so I waited until his tongue had been removed before intervening." Éarendeau laughed quietly.
Arafrantz remained momentarily silent, uncertain how to respond to his host's cruel bonhomie. "Have you suffered much, monsieur?" he inquired at length. "You have the air – and possibly also the ring – of one who has been persecuted by society."
"And what tells you that?"
"The way you slice your cheese. You seem almost to have an account to settle with it."
The host laughed again, saying, "On the contrary, I lead the life of a pasha or an elvenking. I have a million amusing pastimes and... projects. But enough of that, for I perceive that you are curious about the great horn of the wild buffalo of the East, bound with silver and carved with strange characters, that my Gali so reverently brings to the table?"
