Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know, because if you’re stuck at dinner with the devil you don’t know and your mutual acquaintance leaves for the bathroom, it’s kind of awkward trying to make small talk with him and you’ll end up nervously asking all the obvious questions like some star-struck fan—"Do you ever mind the heat," etc.—and you can tell he feels weird about it and is answering rotely for your benefit until the third person returns and saves you both.