[he's mollified enough not to ignore Chilton outright, even if he hardly looks cheered by their continued course. Rincewind's mouth screws around a long drink of wine, the topic turning the sip bitter on his tongue.]

I don't need to. I'll wait him out. Wait out his interest, at least.

You don't need to be a psychiatrist to see why he's doing this. [a not-quite-subtle dig.] It's pride, mostly. He's been slighted after all, hasn't he? Stolen from. I'm not his real target there, I'm just someone he can push around in the meantime, bat around a bit like the beast of a cat he is. I've been that before for people; it won't last, not when I'm of no actual use. He'll get himself fluffed back up and focus on his real threats, and leave me happily ignored. The other part of it is just a show of force, thinking if he scares me enough I won't bother with any of his marks in the future.

[Rincewind shrugs around another sip and finds the second taste sweeter, crushed velvet and plum.]

He's right, of course. But that's no great loss to me either.