Time to butt in to defend Ignatius. At Rita's words, Strange's expression shifts to a scowl. Before, he was a bit nervous and worried. Now, as they talk about Ignatius, he's pissed.

"Ignatius almost died. The Architects used iron on him and that damn bear bound him up in iron shackles. The only reason he's alive is that after we escaped, West performed some emergency surgery."

And thus everybody learns why it took Strange too long to answer the metaphorical phone.