[Tired of this voice? Bartimaeus can fix that! When next he speaks, his voice has lowered an octave and, for the heck of things, picked up a booming echo.]

If I had a pound for every time I've heard that rhetoric, I might have to lay off the chocolate-covered imps. You're not interested until you need or want something, then suddenly ol' Bartimaeus is the first "demon" on your speed dial.