The idea of him getting high, taking drugs, being this version of himself in England is enough to make Strange grin like a madman. What an attack on the respectability of English magic! What an affront on everything Norrell was trying to make magic become! It's a grand idea until Strange realizes that no, it really isn't.

"I did this in Venice," Strange answers, the most coherently he's been in this entire conversation. "After I thought Arabella dead, I wanted to make myself mad in order to see a faerie and entreat one to bring her back. I tried powders and potions and plants until I found the secret to real madness."

And that right there explains so much. No, this isn't something he did all the time back home. This was just the actions of a desperate man, willing to try anything and break himself in new and exciting ways to bring his wife back from the dead. Strange slumps to the side again, staring off at nothing. He attempts to rest his head on Lambert's shoulder but just misses entirely and plop, there goes his head, right in Lambert's lap. This is hilarious and Strange badly represses a giggle. Though, he thinks he knows what Lambert's next question will be so, through the giggles, Strange continues.

"I didn't have anyone to stop me in Venice. And if I did, I'm not sure if they even would."