Private message to Barty

[alt_antonin]

I am up to my arse in alligators and will follow with more detail tomorrow, but: step lightly around Bella tomorrow, dear heart; she is likely to be miserable to deal with.

(To make a long story short: teenage drama led to Hydra and the Finch-Fletchley boy being caught in a compromising situation yet again, and to both save the boy from Rod's idea of vengeance for his little girl's virtue and give the children a compelling argument to not be so bloody stupid next time -- as the last incident did not seem to leave an impression -- we steered Horace to Bella rather than Rod. As it turned out, however, Rod had not had the conversation he ought to have had with Bella after the last go-around; things escalated.)

You and yours were ever so much less trouble, I swear.

Comments

[alt_antonin]

In this particular case, Hydra invoked Raz's and my knowledge of her history with the boy, and I believe Horace wished to invoke our, ah, greater knowledge of Bella's foibles. (There is no snake like an old snake.)

As it happens, though, with Minerva ... indisposed, various of my colleagues have taken to bringing matters that are likely to touch upon politics to me for a quick consult before taking action, particularly with this challenge in play. Which I do appreciate, for twofold reasoning: one, we do not need the sort of clumsy mucking-about in matters that touch upon Our Lord's will that happen when those with little experience in His more direct service put their oars in. And two, it has allowed me opportunity to probe somewhat more directly along lines I would have probed along anyway.

(No conclusions on that front -- as there will not be for quite some time -- but I've my suspicions to keep me warm at night, of course. More when I see you next. I do not trust them to journals, even encoded.)

I am not in the least surprised that Our Lord is pleased with you. He would be a fool not to be.