The smell of Childermass's magic, back to the way it should be, makes Lambert half-smile -- though he's sure the magician wouldn't care to hear why. But then he starts speaking.

Wow. Only the barest of contact for the past few days, long enough for Lambert to assume the matter forgotten or desired to be forgotten, and Childermass comes at him with that? He's too drunk to hide the way the question flusters him, though the immediate reaction that follows embarrassment is a scowl and chin lifted in challenge.

"Yeah," he says, mule-stubborn. If he can't deny it, he may as well own it. "Got a problem with that?"