[They've just had to deal with one short-wicked candle too many...]

Maybe he thinks we're all stupid. I mean, if he's going to offer the same lukewarm apologies every time something goes wrong, doesn't that imply that he thinks we haven't figured out that it's suspicious? Either that or he just doesn't care, and I'm not sure which is worse.

[Arguably the latter, since that means that he doesn't think any of them are morons and he still doesn't care enough to try coming up with better excuses, even if it'd only take a little more effort.]