[...and Giles, despite himself, manages a very faint laugh.]

I can only imagine that you've, um, n-never seen a proper stage magician. Until you've brought a tiger out on stage, um, I-I'd say you're still fairly subdued. At least as far as stage magic goes.

For what it's worth, though, I...well, um, I think it was better for it. Certainly seemed, um, more genuine than smoke and mirrors.

[He's aware that he's probably not phrasing the attempted compliment - and it is a compliment - well enough to make any sense. But, living the life he has, Giles has had to spend a lot of time putting up with misinformation and misrepresentation. Even with the touch of showmanship, it had been easy to see that Helios' magic was utterly genuine, and all the more enjoyable to watch because of it.]