Biffy could think of many responses to that. He could describe England's progressive nature, its system of poor and almshouses, the vaunted and celebrated position of officership in England's armies. None of those were truly relevant to Krem's own experiences or the difficulties he had suffered.

"But that's not why you began to dress and act as you did," he supposed. If Krem had done it only as a means of security, he would not be dressed and acting the way he was now. Biffy was tempted to ask if he'd known before or during the army but that seemed too daringly personal.

"It must seem rather pitiful that I dreaded the idea."