"I would never," Benedict insists serenely, taking the powder from Byerly and beginning to apply it, though he opens his eyes just in time to narrow them at Rat Red's unwitting betrayal.

"Being in the presence of glory is enough for me." It's spoken wryly, but with at least a modicum of sincerity: he truly doesn't have any desire to be onstage, does in fact respect Byerly's craft in doing so, and also, most importantly, wants Bastien to see him treating Byerly warmly.