“You!” Fiona
glowers at the Author, “You're...”
“Very regretful of my
unspeakable behaviour at our previous encounter,” the Author
replies. “Appearances had to be maintained, just in case we were
observed, but it can't have been a very pleasant welcome for
yourself. I do hope you'll accept my complete and sincere
apologies.”
“What happened?”
Robert asks, “What did you do to my wife?”
“I was a brute, and a
cad,” the Author tells him, “Expecting your good wife to
understand the dynamics of the Market from the moment she arrived,
without ever explaining them to her.”
“And the reckoning
you promised?” Fiona asks.
The Author smiles. “I
think you should mark that card as filibuster and leave it at that.”
