You wanted to employ Ripper, perhaps on some sort of retainer. This encounter was all Mr Giles. You really don’t want to know how Ripper would respond. If you have issues with Angel, work them out for yourself. And if I decide I need a little payback from him, I really don’t need your assistance to do so. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a second set to do.”

Heh, yes I imagine Lindsey really would underestimate him. And approaching him during a time period when Giles was feeling uncertain probably made him particularly defensive.