Isn't that the social convention?

[The way his hands are trembling betray his emotional state, but he's getting good control over his face and voice now.]

Someone dies and you offer your sympathies if you liked them, regardless of a gravestone or flowers. I'm sorry, we haven't met, I don't know--

[Who you are. He tries to say it, but it won't come out because he knows exactly who this is and apparently he can't lie. Well, damn.]

--why you haven't introduced yourself yet.