[Thomas nods as if everything Barry says makes perfect sense, but inwardly, he's marveling at the doubtlessly odd reaction he's had to all this. Even if Thomas was one to fret about upsetting his stomach - which he most certainly is not - he certainly wouldn't be sharing that tidbit with a complete stranger.

Is this man truly an open book, or does he simply act that way?]

Your main fear about this sort of thing, [he echoes.] Do you mean to say that you have feared that this would happen prior to now?