"Francis will see you now," the returning clerk said, as red in the face as he was when he had left, if not redder. It was almost as if he'd just had a fight with Francis as well. Vol would not have put it past him. There was something about Francis that invited a deal of wariness.
"Thank you very much," Penelope said, making it quite clear that her words were nothing more than hollow politeness. "You have been most helpful."
The man swallowed his pride, and said nothing further, but he did glower heartily as he watched them go, and as the second the double wooden doors swung shut behind them, as they entered into the corridor, he rounded on that poor young clerk of his, jabbing his finger, and slathering at the mouth, declaring him incompetent.
