Oh, you don't say! [ He beams brightly in response, knowing now that Magnus must surely have guessed that Rupert has a card up each sleeve, quite literally. ] The cad. How on earth does he sleep at night, I wonder.

[ Shuffling the cards idly between his long fingers Rupert lets his gaze wander the room, inspecting the footwear of the many and varied gentlemen he has already taken money from tonight. He shakes his head thoughtfully, announcing: ]

Forcefully removing the shoes of this lot would be an act of charity, I say. Have you heard of such a thing as Crocs? I discovered them quite recently. Simply terrible.