"When you have a passion, as I do, then you make the time to read. Sanskrit is a difficult language, full of subtle nuances, that it would please me to attempt my hand at translating something. It will further hone my skills, and be no trouble at all."
Horace rather felt like it was his duty to help cultivate the refined and cultured side of his niece in order to bring out the human in her. Seeing how her father, Isaiah Fernsűlfer behaved the other evening at the Council meeting, all bombastic and crass like the animal he was, and on the other side, Lady Mariella and how wicked and preditorial she was, Horace did not want Julia to pick up on the same sorts of bad behaviors.
"Confidentially speaking," Horace said, "the second man missing from the attack is not dead, but alive and recuperating in the home of Lord Edgar. Evidently, the creature meant to attack him, but this other man stepped in the way to prevent it. I know nothing more of the incident, or even how the man is doing, since Lord Edgar has been keeping strangely silent over the subject. However, he has granted me an interview, on behalf of the Council, to attempt to hopefully get some information on how to deal with this creature."
Julia's question caught Horace off guard, but he paused to seriously consider. "There may be something, but it might be a bit far-fetched and possibly impractical."