He wouldn't say that he'd been worried, exactly, about Ginsberg's ability to keep secrets, but the reassurance is not unwelcome, though whether or not it's true still remains to be seen. Ned's heard that line before and been surprised. Lots of people liked to boast about how great they were at keeping secrets, out of lack of self-knowledge and the desire to appear reliable and, indeed, mysterious.

"A little red," Ned admits, knowing that he's in the same state himself, "Just a touch. Hardly noticeable. Definitely not ridiculous."

Then, without any preamble or explanation, he asks, "Do you like dogs?"