"I'm not sure whether I should entirely wish you success."

For a moment Joly looks almost serious, then his smile broadens. "But I hear people do it quite often; most writers seem to think the fastest method is to get married. Since that doesn't seem to be one of your options here, perhaps a distraction would help? We still need to scout out a theater, if you're up to it. I'd meant to ask you sooner, but then there was the arrest-- did I tell you?--and your arm, and everything's been rather lively."

He catches himself on that, and laughs. "Death is not proving the restful state I'd been promised at all, I should complain."