‘Armand heard but gave no answer. Whatever terror he felt at the sight of one so old, he masked completely. One would have thought he was looking at the wall behind Khayman’s head, at the steady stream of laughing and shouting children who poured down the steps from the topmost doorways.’

Armand’s reaction to Khayman is interesting – it is difficult to explain in any great detail. Obviously Armand did not feel he could trust Khayman at first that is understandable. Also Armand was very preoccupied at the concert. Of course Armand and Khayman are very different, yet Khayman is very attracted to him all the same. This is Botticelli’s angel so it is not surprising!