There is a beleaguered looking man at the bar who volunteers as tribute identifies himself as the guard captain, and it takes Brickenden a moment to overcome his incredulity before he can summon up a response. "That's depressing," he says flatly, shakes his head, and walks right towards Lance, not stopping until he is directly in the guardsman's personal space.

He looks him over appraisingly, upper lip curled under a bushy moustache. Then, locking eyes with him: "We're going to have words, Captain, you and I, about what to do about one of your cur guardsman."