That point does give him pause, and Piotr turns a very piercing, very unfriendly look directly at Byerly. A grain of sense, perhaps, but it doesn't make him trust this buffoon any more.

"No, they usually don't," Piotr agrees in a murmur, his tone thoughtful, but not in a way that encourages many good thoughts. "Unfortunately, that lends even less sense to your babbling. Perhaps you're just not in your right mind."

Insane, cowardly, traitorous -- none of these are useful to Piotr in the least.