Where he's slouched, Ralston's mouth slants in the direction of humor that's no less sullen than anything that came before it. Funny.
"Off the top of my head? Take what I've just told you. Maybe whatever American intelligence I've my hook in is worth less than seeing Britain's continual relegation to the children's table. Burning me now right as they're patching things up could be highly embarrassing."
Or maybe someone has got the wrong impression and thinks his frustration with failing to convince anyone to let him on the production floor was to cover slow walking the work. Cowardice, maybe. Or maybe someone has got to him and he finds the idea of redeeming his reputation at home appealing. Or, or, or.
"Personally speaking, I'd prefer an alternative. But I can't pretend not to see the logic."
Another long drag of the cigarette demands management of the ash formed at its end. Ralston fires sidelong look in Byerly's direction as he knocks it free into the cheap ashtray.
"You can accuse me of being paranoid at any point, by the way."
no subject
"Off the top of my head? Take what I've just told you. Maybe whatever American intelligence I've my hook in is worth less than seeing Britain's continual relegation to the children's table. Burning me now right as they're patching things up could be highly embarrassing."
Or maybe someone has got the wrong impression and thinks his frustration with failing to convince anyone to let him on the production floor was to cover slow walking the work. Cowardice, maybe. Or maybe someone has got to him and he finds the idea of redeeming his reputation at home appealing. Or, or, or.
"Personally speaking, I'd prefer an alternative. But I can't pretend not to see the logic."
Another long drag of the cigarette demands management of the ash formed at its end. Ralston fires sidelong look in Byerly's direction as he knocks it free into the cheap ashtray.
"You can accuse me of being paranoid at any point, by the way."