Deacon Hoyle comes up at eleven and does not pretend to be on his way anywhere. He stands at the stair head with his back to the rail and looks at my door with his arms folded.

DeaconI am not going to knock. I am going to stand here until somebody explains the rule to me.

TamsinThe rule is two pages long and there is a copy in the corridor code and you have never read it.

DeaconI have never read it because I have never needed a room with a blind. I have needed a yard with a crowd and I have been very good at that and it has got me rank two.