It worked. [His tone is the verbal equivalent of a shrug, or tries to be.]
The first time I was there without him it should have been quiet. And it was, but not the kind where it's boring and hard to sleep. [One last swipe of the razor and he's done, setting the blade down and patting his face dry.] The right kind of quiet, where you can enjoy the good food and drinks and company and not have to think about anything for a while.