[ Obediently, Strange follows, as if a child lost in a crowded area, or one who knows the very real possibility of getting lost in a labyrinth. That doesn't stop the talking, though. Not much stops the talking. ]

I doubt that's the truth of the matter either. I've picked plenty of fights with him before, why on Earth would I leave a wonderful exile in order to pick a fight?

[ Because Venice...well, wonderful's putting it a bit nicely, but there are some charms to Venice. It had been ages since he had a conversation as genuine as the ones he had with Flora. That, and the setting was wonderfully conducive to his...ah, 'experiments' with such trivial things as sanity and stability. ]

What I don't understand is why don't you know the truth of the matter? You're close to Norrell. [ not Norrell's man. Strange isn't entirely sure if Childermass is anyone's man. And surely that closeness plus Childermass's....well, Childermassness is reason enough to suspect he knows the truth. ]