It's obvious that, though his forced honesty is quite obviously above and beyond anything he'd care to have admitted to the other man, he has by no means offended the other man, and so he lowers his own hand after a moment, his own cheeks more than a little flushed with color himself.

"It relieves me to hear your laugh again, my friend," he replies, which is again another bout of honesty but this one he will take. "Even if it is at my expense."