"Of course I will tell her whatever I wish, whenever I wish."

The counter is delivered as a pronouncement, immediate and crisp. But he does not actually mean it. Or rather, he means it thirty percent. Yet it must be said. One does not entertain orders. And now, if he does decide not to tell Wysteria about anything, it will be because he has chosen not to do so.

Abruptly, Val thrusts his hand toward Ellis, expectant of a gentlemen's handshake and not the immediate delivery of these papers. Surely the man is not carrying them on his person.

"I accept the charge of your research. It may be entrusted to me."

And he will, despite everything, take it quite seriously. And look through it. But surely that is to be expected.