Gabe looked evenly at Skulduggery for several moments. It wasn't that he was oblivious to Skul's anger, wasn't that he was unaware of the cost if Skul every lost control. But the Archangel didn't consider that a worthy enough risk to avoid saying things which ought to be said. Skul's guilt was entirely justified, and it drove the detective to great heights; yet it was also a crutch. If Gabe recalled, there was only one answer his Master had had for Gabe himself when he was getting like this after the wager.

Quite calmly, the Archangel took off his hat and whapped Skulduggery across the head with it. "Y'ever seen a pig in a sty?" he drawled. "They're amazin' animals. Smart, affectionate, cute as anythin'. 'Course, one of their special skills is the power to wallow like nothin' else, even if it might be better to get up and out of the mud."

He grinned cheekily at Skulduggery, flipping the hat in his hands to place it on his head as smoothly as any cowboy could wish. "Good thing I don't mind gettin' dirty."