'A long and by no means interesting story.' Gramarye shoots a wary glance at the departing Saph before looking back to Mary. 'We were planning to ask him for his opinions about Irish Home Rule and the split in the Liberal Party...and bimetallism! Yes, bimetallism.'

Not that Archibald Craven is likely to have any real opinions on politics, but of all the boring topics she can think of, politics is as good a topic as she can get.