As Jack looked at her, the corner of his mouth twisted into a slight smile. "I should know better than to argue with that, shouldn't I?" he said. And that was to say that while he might not argue, she should know the intent is there.

He looked up at the ceiling again, glancing to the cornices and to the walls and the intricacy of the patterns upon it. He noticed them more now.

And then, from nowhere, a realisation and a statement.

"You know what?" he said. "I'm starving."