no subject

[And so it is, until a little after noon in Hightown. There is no bothering with the pretense of the parlor - the rug is moldering and everything has been stripped out of it for the time being until she can find out where that smell is coming from. Instead it is in the scrubbed clean kitchen the she sets an elaborately gilded teacup before him with a clatter of porcelain and pours some mysterious hot drink into it. It does not look or smell like tea.]

Now. What was it you meant to show me?

[She had been disappointed that he hadn't arrived with some package under his arm and is being short with him now. Do not waste her time, Mr. Whatever Your Name Is.]