Then the Papillon Noir raised his head and said, ‘How pleasant it is here! It is almost as nice as the pavilions the Emperor has built for us in Paris.’ He spoke in English, with a curious accent, and many of the other dragons raised their heads in interest. ‘Those are much larger, of course,’ the Papillon continued, ‘so no one has to sleep outside if they do not want to; and there is a charming little stream which runs past them, so if one wants a drink, one only has to stretch out one's neck. But these are just as warm if it is not raining, or snowing.’ A little drifting snow began to fall in that moment, slicking the stone.

‘I expect,’ Temeraire said, rather coolly, ‘that he is imitating the pavilions from China, which are very splendid.’

‘Yes, exactly,’ the Papillon said enthusiastically, ‘although Madame Lien says, he has made them even nicer. And we each have a box at the pavilions, where we can put our treasure, and the palace guard keeps watch over it when we are not there.’

‘Hum, and I suppose they don't take it,’ Gentius said, sceptically, cracking one luridly orange eye.

‘No, never,’ the Papillon said. ‘I have three gold chains and a ruby there, and they are always just as I have left them. The guards will even polish them for me, if I ask them.’

Everyone was wide-awake by three gold chains and a ruby. ‘I have earned them,’ the Papillon said, seeing that he had his audience, ‘by helping to build roads, and for some fighting, and I have been promoted to captain, see,’ and showed off a handsome badge pinned to his harness: a round disk of some shining metal. ‘So anyone, who wishes to serve the Emperor can,’ he added, significantly.

Temeraire laid back his ruff. ‘Certainly, if they do not mind helping someone who goes about stealing other people's territory, when he already has plenty of his own, and kills heaps of men and dragons to do it,’ he said coldly. ‘Anyway, we are also receiving pay, and I have been made colonel.’

‘I congratulate you!’ the Papillon said. ‘How much have you been paid so far?’ And when Temeraire had made an awkward, sputtering explanation, the Papillon went on, ‘Well, I am sure the emperor would pay you right away, and give you even higher rank.’