"I endeavor not to have strong opinions about anyone too stupid not to know better. It makes all our lives more pleasant."

Smith, methodical and intelligent and reliably likely to select the most uncreative yet technically correct answer to any given problem. No wonder Whitehall has decided they like him. Creative thinking is a natural irritant to those people.

(Imagine chasing Dr. Smith when there are better options at your fingertips. Maybe if he himself were arranged to be concussed once or twice, Ralston thinks, then maybe he would start looking appealing to the SIS as well.)

The long, punctuating drag he takes on his cigarette is more dismissive than it is anxious.

"Finding the time will be difficult."