It was too late for Marius to salvage any dignity. Courfeyrac had seen him falter and his face was already knit with concern by the time his friend was en route to him. It had apparently been a stressful day for Marius, not that Courfeyrac could fault him for it. He'd been stressed out too, and on edge since his initial encounter with X5-452. Speaking of which...

"Stay back, Marius. I have brought someone, but I do not wish for them to be startled by you." He glanced back to the child, straining to see her in the dim light. "Get a good look at him. Can't you see he is harmless? He will die without me."