"Oh so?" Now that's curious; it's also the first time someone has outright told Augustine that they've encountered the Pthumerians somewhere other than this. (Not the same, necessarily, as encountering a person who has done so — but what he doesn't know...)

"Not that the passage of time in general can't be perfectly strange all on its own," which is more of a muttered undertone, "but I have to admit I'm quite curious to hear about the rest of it, if you're offering. Not that I can promise I'm not an idiot — but then, I have to imagine that anyone who does you'd be prone to disbelieve."

He hasn't said anything too idiotic yet, at least. Right?