"I'm not going to buy yours if you refuse to buy my mine," Julius said, resigned but amused despite himself. "That hardly seems equitable. Are we going to stand in the street and be clever at one another until sunrise?"

...no, not if he was right about what was wandering this neighborhood. But he hardly expected she'd believe the truth even if he were mad enough to say it.

Then again, he was dressed like a pirate ship's librarian. Maybe she would.