The chamber was filled with fine furniture. Almost overfilled. Richly upholstered chairs, an antique table, a polished cabinet, all lavish for the small sitting-room. A huge old painting of the Lords of the Union paying homage to Harod the Great entirely filled one wall. A thick Kantic carpet had been rolled out across the boards, almost too big for the floor. A healthy fire crackled in the grate between two antique vases, and the room was homely, and pleasant, and warm. What a difference a day can make, with the right encouragement.

'Good,' said Glokta as he looked round. 'Very good.'

'Of course,' muttered Fallow, head bowed respectfully, hat halfway to being crushed in his hands. 'Of course, Superior, I have done everything possible. Most of the furniture I had… I had sold already, and so I replaced with better, the best I could find. The rest of the house is just the same. I hope that… I hope that it's adequate?'

'I hope so too. Is it adequate?'

Ardee was scowling at Fallow. 'It will serve.'

'Excellent,' said the moneylender nervously, glancing briefly at Frost and then down at his boots. 'Excellent! Please accept my very deepest apologies! I had no idea, of course, absolutely no idea, Superior, that you were involved in any way. Of course, I would never… I am so very sorry.'

'It really isn't me you should be apologising to, is it?'

'No, no, of course.' He turned slowly to Ardee. 'My lady, please accept my deepest apologies.'

Ardee glared at him, lip curled, and said nothing.

'Perhaps if you were to beg,' suggested Glokta. 'On your knees. That might do it.'

Fallow dropped to his knees without hesitation. He wrung his hands 'My lady, please—'

'Lower,' said Glokta.

'Of course,' he muttered as he fell to all fours. 'I do apologise, my lady. Most humbly. If you could only find it in your heart, I beg you—' He reached out gingerly to touch the hem of her dress and she jerked back, then swung her foot and kicked him savagely in the face.

'Gah!' squawked the moneylender, rolling onto his side, dark blood bubbling out of his nose and all over the new carpet. Glokta felt his brows go up. That was unexpected.

'That's for you, fucker!' The next kick caught him in the mouth and his head snapped back, spots of blood spattering onto the far wall. Ardee's shoe thudded into his gut and folded him up tight.

'You,' she snarled, 'you…' She kicked him again and again and Fallow shuddered and grunted and sighed, curling up in a ball. Frost moved away from the wall a step, and Glokta held up his finger.

'That's alright,' he murmured, 'I think she has it covered.'