Ohhh, he likes Johnny more and more the more he learns of him. The immediate, thoughtless, helpless stillness at the hand to his throat is-- well. He feels like a connoisseur having unintentionally stumbled upon a lost Da Vinci. His usual modus operandi is to be genial and kindly until he's coaxed a person into his trust (although obviously he's already somewhat eschewed that), but this gives him a whole new level to play with.

'Of course they are,' he says soothingly. 'Nor are they my interest. Every man has the right to his own... personal business. But I admit, Johnny,' he pushes himself off the wall with another roll of his shoulders, straightening and taking half a step forward-- Johnny will have to retreat or allow the distance between them to close-- 'I am curious about, oh, a great many things. I hope you might be able to help me.'