All:
"Heh. You're eager... that's good." The Thurian scratches his chin and seats himself on a stool behind the metal bars. "Well, my darlin's, here's the plot..."
"One of my chummies came to me th' other day, and a right mess he was, one eye all blooded up, missin' some fingers and other bits. I says to him 'Charlie,', for such was 'is name 'Charlie, what 'appened to yer?'. 'Marx', 'ee says to me 'I needs yer 'elp to find me a job that's amenable to a man of limited capabilities, as I am'. And I says 'That may be, me darlin', but 'ow'd you end up in these dire straights?' And he tells me, him and his crew did take a contract for a foreign nob by the name of Marquessa Milanae Verena, by your bloody leave, and it turned right nasty. 'Ee tells me she hired 'is lads to find a few gubbinz for 'er; the first was a phial of some sod's blood, apparently real important-like, and hear tell it's down in the undercity, somewhere."
He sucks on his teeth noisily for a moment, and the gaslights flicker. "So, I sends a few feelers off Madame Verena's way, askin' if'n I might be of service with her little problem. And I get's back a letter, sayin' she would be willin' to deal, though me, for some competant 'elp. That, me little jackahearts, is where you come in." He slides a slightly grubby sheet of folded paper under the grill. "This 'eres her address; it's a big mansion outsidea the burgh. She'll be hex-pecting you once you've found the phial, and will 'ave your payment forwarded to me once it's firmly in 'er 'and. You'll also find details of the job, what's what and where's where."
After a moment he slaps his forehead theatrically and gasps. "Oh, lummy! 'Ow could I 'ave fergotten? Your reward fer 'elpin' this lady in distress will be, less my fee, of course, the princely sum of four 'undred and twenty five goldheads." He pauses slightly, glancing at Tyra. "That be'in Llaelese currency, 'er ladyship be'in one of your countrymen. Err, that is to say, countrywomen."
He stands, and picks up a jeweller's monocle and a gold ring set with a large pearl. Peering at it, he mutters "Fifteen 'hundred? Fifteen 'undred? I'll bloody fifteen 'undred 'im if 'ee thinks this is real pearl..." He glances up, and seems to realsie you're still there. "Don't let me detain you, me lovlies..."
