And just like that, he stops. Now he can look as disgruntled as he likes, glaring at the audience when they laugh. She could certainly have asked him to do worse but mockery is not something he enjoys. This unquestioning obedience is more cause for concern than he first thought. He isn't even afforded the dignity of trying to resist its compulsion.

"You think this is amusing, do you?" he snaps at the ringmaster. "You - and all the rest of you" - his arm sweeps out, gesturing to the audience - "will not laugh when the leash is broken."