Lambert's damn lucky he didn't ask what the difference between practical and not was, because that way only leads to him going on and on again, likely not at as much length, but still. Childermass gives his head a small shake at whether or not he's ashamed by magic, of all things.

"Hardly," he answers. "But there have only been two officially recognized magicians in recent time and I am not one of them, nor do I expect I'll ever be."

Not that he sounds terribly put out by that fact. It just is what it is, apparently.