"...Aye, we can." He waved a hand -- as if washing the previous topic away. He hadn't particularly wanted to hear about how hooked she was on this Horner fellow, but Effie had interpreted his question as such. Better to just let her move on and not make a fuss of the miscommunication.

So: "Tell us, then, what subject you would care for?"

Maybe he should just leave. Why wasn't he just leaving?