Alric paused momentarily with a pensive sort of smile, before replying to that.

"There are worse fates in this world, Mr. DeFalco, although I do appreciate your sympathy on the matter. And in truth, I am not wholly prevented from such pursuits--but I am forced by circumstance to be somewhat more demanding in certain ways than I might be, otherwise. The same would be true in its own way for, say, a widower with young children, for example: his existing obligations imply certain constraints upon his lifestyle, at least, if he is not a grossly negligent person."