“Thank you,” said Kevin. “If you please.”
“Not if I please, Mr Blake,” said the advocate gently. “I realise that you are being polite but that is because I am both a travelled and a tolerant man. On this world such an expression immediately denigrates you to a servile capacity. You will drink only at my pleasure. That is hardly the attitude of a being which considers itself equal to its host. Would you like some tisane?”
“Yes,” said Kevin. “Very much.”
Beaming his appreciation at the correction Shabalan rang a bell. A girl entered the office with a tinkle of bells and a tray bearing cups and a steaming pot. Silently she placed it on the desk and withdrew.
“You will have noted that our menial classes, the servants and labourers and those of restricted intelligence are somewhat taciturn,
