If the scrutiny bothers her, there's no sign; she doesn't turn back, her tone unrelenting in its bland pleasantness. "Well then, you'll have to forgive me for not crumpling under your attempt at a cutting remark," she says, lightly. "I've been condescended to for years, by men with far more power over my future. I assume you must be at least reasonably good at what you do, or home office would have cut you loose years ago. So I am giving you the benefit of the doubt. But it is going to be an extremely tiresome mission if you spend it doing the rhetorical equivalent of kicking the seat in front of you on the train the entire time."