Henry's face relaxed as Leti explained her position. He would normally try to flatter the woman. That was the thing to do, with more than one purpose in mind. Sometimes to distract a woman from thinking boring thoughts, sometimes from dangerous ones, sometimes to reassure a patient, and sometimes, simply to appear normal. Fortunately, not a single instance of flattery needed applying here. He did not have to be cruel, but he was not required to be complimentary either. He could simply be himself and not even need the alcohol excuse to explain his lack of manners.
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"I must say I am surprised a bit. I don't know what I assumed. I suppose it should be obvious that being a bar maid is not any kind of vocation, but it never occurred to me that you were limited in career choices.?It is not anything you said, I guess I have this image, of a limited person having to be ugly, or stupid, or possibly old and you strike me as none of these..." Hyde was going to apologize to Victor and explain that he meant no offense by his last remark and did not consider the German?<that> old but luckily realized the very apology might be construed instead as offensive and?managed to avoid it before it was too late.?
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Changing his words at the last moment to the kind of flattery he would normally direct at women, Henry assiduously nodded, realizing his head was beginning to bob like a marionette. "Most eloquently put, my good fellow. Well done indeed, You have the knack for putting into words what I am thinking myself but having a hard time articulating. I suppose that is one deficiency of scientific mind, I am more a man of action, reaction and results, than...verbal excellence, especially when so greatly inebriated," Henry declared with a smile that somehow felt forced to him, though for which reason he could not venture to guess.
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Henry had expanded so much effort at contributing to the conversation without too many errors, that he was unable to keep participating for some time. It seemed like it was for the better though, for he would surely have found himself out of his depth. Watching the exchange between Rena and Victor, and Leticia, for that matter, was far easier than getting involved in it, especially when his little lady let him know...well, rather, he had to assume she let him know something, from the squeeze, it could be just a simple token of affection on Rena's part, but Henry was only too willing to remain silent and let her handle all of these confusing clarifications and pleasantries.
Kat