"Mr. Mabin, is there... something about your companion that he's dissatisfied with? Was my hospitality lacking, or is there some other issue where I can make amends for my shortcoming?"
Mabin waved his hand in utter disdain. "Pay him no mind, he's just that kind of person. Coming from such a fine family, he insists on acting like some noble gentleman, expecting everyone else to be as indifferent to fame and fortune as he is. It's utterly ridiculous, just ignore him."
Pike naturally saw that there was some friction between the two men. Although he could not tell whether they were putting on a double act for his benefit, this did not prevent a faint surge of quiet glee from welling up in his heart. Where there was conflict, conflict could be exploited and amplified.
Chapter 450