Were you? I've been serving as an officer of my family's soldiers, myself, until- [a brief frown, while he thinks about it and does the quick math,] -a handful of weeks ago, as it happens.

[And now he's here, in Debaucheryville. It happens. He clears his throat and moves on, back on topic,]

Do you remember any of his works? That is to say, are you also interested in recital, or only reading...?