The man slightly chuffs sitting up straight. Watching her with doubt in his eyes.

"So when did this all start? How long ago?"

There was a puzzle here and he would piece it together one way or another. He just had to try be quick about it as the 'party' had already started to arrive. He sensed a growing tension in her. 

"Keep the drinks flowing!" 
He loudly demands to the barkeep, offering not even the slightest glance, just a simple hand guesture.