"One of his fingers, then?" He seemed to ask this in all seriousness, the gravity of his expression only disappearing after several long seconds, at which time he broke into a toothy smile. "Do not sulk so, my friend. I need you at your best. I cannot worry over you or I will surely die of concern."

He took his friend by the arm and led him along, hoping vaguely that his mock chipper demeanor would inspire some drastic change in Marius' behavior. "Now, Marius, if you were Cinderella, where would you hide?"