"And good for you too, Joe. Maybe. I'd guess whatever trouble Porphyry's got, he did what the ruling classes always do and turned to his old butler for help. That's OK if you've got a Crichton or a Jeeves, but all he had was Woodbine, who felt he couldn't help officially but tried to keep his nose up master's bum by recommending you as a last resort."

Joe tried not to show he was hurt but he wasn't very good at dissimulation, and Butcher, who was very fond of him, said placatingly, "Look, I don't mean you don't get results. For God's sake, I've recommended you myself, haven't I?" This was true, and the memory eased the smart a little. "All I meant was, I mean, Jesus, what can you do in a set-up like the Hoo? You'll stick out like a…" She seemed lost for a simile. "Like a black ball," completed Joe. This time she didn't reprove his vulgarity. "Something like that. When Porphyry met you, didn't he say anything?" "Like, hey man, no one mentioned you were a short black balding no-hoper with parrots on his shorts? No, I don't recollect hearing anything like that. Unless giving me four fifties and saying come and have lunch with me at the club is posh shorthand for I'd be crazy to hire a slob like you." "Joe, don't go sensitive on me. It doesn't suit you." He consulted his feelings. She was right. And in any case, it was too much of an effort in this weather to keep it up. "Apology accepted," he said. "Apology? You going deaf too?" That was better. Now they were back on their proper footing. They chatted about other things till Butcher told Joe to drop her in an area on the fringe of Hermsprong that even in the full brightness of a midsummer day had an aura of dark menace. "You want I should come with you?" offered Joe, glancing uneasily at a group of young men who looked like they were planning to blow up Parliament. "To do what?" she asked. Then, relenting, she added, "No, I'll be OK, Joe, but thanks for the thought. It's you who needs protection. I'm just going among the poor and the disadvantaged. Tomorrow you'll be mixing with the rich and successful. That's where the saber-toothed tigers roam. Take care of yourself there, Joe."