He spent his mornings with a coffee and the PDF version of the book open on his tablet. The first few lessons were deceptively simple. "Bonjour," he would whisper to his reflection. "Comment ça va?" The method felt less like studying and more like eavesdropping on a conversation between two old friends, Mr. and Mrs. Thibaut. He followed the "Active Phase," repeating the French sentences until the sounds felt less like gravel and more like silk in his mouth.