Laurent's guardedness sharpens at the first jest and reaches icy by the second one. Though he continues the dance, he's stiff now and the movements are automatic. "No. I would be very displeased to have my guardsman start a duel for reasons I do not know or understand."

It's a second chance--a last chance--for Nyx to explain his strange behavior. Even if Auguste has put restrictions upon him as to what he can and cannot reveal, Laurent cannot accept a situation like this, having his hands tied socially and Nyx acting unpredictably.