A lack of patience? Perhaps. Certainly Shrike lacks a willingness to trust easily. Precious few people had ever proven worth it over the decades, after all.

Still, that claim is so wildly unexpected that he has to, at the very least, believe this fellow at least thinks it's true. No one deliberately trying to lie to him would be so foolish, surely.

"That is impossible," he replies dismissively. "To begin with, you are not nearly old enough by half, and besides which, I'm quite certain I would have some recollection of knowing someone who appears so striking."

.... Phrasing, Shrike, phrasing.