Mind you, Howard was pretty sure that Strange's opponent had left his share of blood on the hall's floor as well.
"He's a?" said Genie before either Howard or Wally could speak.
"Iphigenia, go to your quarters at once," Strange said in the same rustling tone as before. He didn't speak loudly, but his voice cut through the buzz of electronics as surely as a mower would the flowery meadow that Howard thought of when entering the room. "You disturb Master Popple. I've warned you about this."
"But there's nobody else to talk to!" Genie said. Though she complained, she walked quickly toward the door of her suite.
Strange returned his attention to Howard. "I said," he repeated, "who are you?"
"Mr. Strange, I asked M?that is, Howard to help me?" Wally said.
"I'm the volunteer you requested for your experiment, sir," Howard said without the least suggestion of a quaver in his voice. "Wally here?Mr. Popple?noted that the agent won't be able to carry a gun into the other realm, so my skill with a rapier is crucial."
"You know how to use a sword?" Strange snapped.
"Yes, sir," Howard said, standing very straight and keeping his eyes on the tycoon's, hoping that would make him look open and honest. Even though Howard was telling the truth about the fencing, Strange's whole tone and manner made it seem that everything he was being told was a lie.
Besides considering that Strange might have him shot as a spy, there was the possibility that the Wizard of Fast Food would demand Howard duel him to prove his skill. Beating Strange would be dangerous?rich men were self-willed and explosive if they didn't get what they wanted. Losing to Strange might be even worse, especially since Howard didn't imagine he'd have buttons on his swords any more than the folk on the other side of the mica window did.