"Only of the physical plant.  For our purposes, the physical plant is—well, not nothing, but interchangeable.  It's the human liabilities—and opportunities—it contains that made it worth dragging you here for a closer look.  And Madame Suze is unquestionably the mistress of that particular court of chaos."

Lord Mark gave a short nod—listening, not arguing.

"Did your brother know you were arriving, Lord Mark?" asked Vorlynkin.  "He hadn't mentioned it to me.  Nor had Dr. Durona."  His glance under his lashes at Raven-sensei was not very friendly.

"We caught an earlier ship than expected," said Miss Koudelka.

"I actually haven't any interest in impinging on whatever hornet's nest Miles is presently poking," said Lord Mark.  "We don't normally comment on each other's enterprises.  Think of it as the parallel-play stage of siblinghood."

His partner-lady put in smoothly, "Actually, I understand one of the functions of the consulate is to assist Barrayaran business people on Kibou."

Vorlynkin nodded warily.  "Although the Auditorial investigation naturally takes precedence, just now."  He added under his breath, "Whatever the hell he thinks he's doing . . ."

"Of course."  Miss Koudelka's smile grew blinding; Vorlynkin blinked.  "Perhaps, Mark, Raven, the consul should come along?  Then we'll only need to explain things once."

Vorlynkin looked nonplussed.  "Jin, do you mind?"

"Oh, Jin is welcome, too," said Raven-sensei airily.  He added aside to Miss Koudelka, "Native guide and all that."

She nodded agreeably, and favored Jin with another sunny look.

Raven-sensei led off, Jin tagging along in silent wonder, down and under and through and up to Suze-san's door.  Lord Mark and Miss Koudelka looked all around as they walked, very keenly, the blond lady taking vid scans on the way with a tiny hand-held.

At the corner suite, Raven-sensei knocked briskly.  The door was opened surprisingly soon not by Suze-san, but by Tenbury-san.  "What's all this?"  He peered suspiciously through his hedge of hair.  "You've gone and brought new people in without asking!"

"Asking is just what we came for," said Raven-sensei.  "I'm glad you're here.  May we come in and talk to Madame Suze?"

"I suppose."  Tenbury squinted down at Lord Mark.  "God, it's another one.  How many of these sawed-off galactics do you have up your sleeve, Raven?"

Lord Mark's eyebrows twitched, but Raven-sensei replied soothingly, "Just the two," and Tenbury gave way.

Suze-san was sitting by her window playing mahjong and drinking something that probably wasn't tea with Medtech Tanaka; Tenbury had apparently just risen from the third seat.  Their eyes opened wide at Lord Mark's party.

"Now what, Raven?" said Suze-san.  "I thought I'd settled with you.  When do I get my two revivals, eh?"

"We're considering changing the Deal," said Raven-sensei.

Suze-san's scowl deepened.

"Instead of two, how would you like two thousand?"