Trying to stay outwardly calm, Barty's thoughts were tumbling over themselves. How was he to play this? He was trying to escape the past, and here was the past standing in front him.
Yet, Regulus was alive; he was a blood traitor and therefore not loyal to the Dark Lord's memory; and he was doing something as ordinary as trying to run a business. Had Regulus already achieved what Barty was seeking to do?
When Regulus' next words were a joke about his death, Barty began to hope that perhaps this wouldn't be a complete disaster.
"Obviously," he agreed cautiously. "Can I hope that you don't read the newspapers?" he asked. "And, if you do, can I hope that you'll give somebody trying to leave the past behind a chance?"