[.....He knew he was missing something. What a way to break the news, slipping up like that. Ivan stumbles his words for a moment, grasping for the right way to explain it to Keith as delicately as possible.]

Forgive me, Keith-san... I.

After I brought you to my little hovel, a few days later I went back to the convention where...

[The shame was apparent in his tone. He knew he had been taken for a fool... but there was nothing at this point he could do to take it back.]

I was bamboozled by a charlatan who.. who told me I could find a new sponsor if I 'showed my talents on stage'.

[His mouth was drying, as if he were giving his admittance of guilt to a murder.]

It just so happened... someone took an interest in me.