[ He watches, with a faint crease of almost paternal concern, this growing anger. Palamedes cannot have knowingly endorsed this conversation, this confrontation; he doesn't seem the sort to throw his whatever-the-kids-are-calling-it into the deep end for a shouting match with God. Not two minutes into tea, at least.

Ah. And there's the line. ]

I think there has been a misunderstanding. [ This he says very calmly. Very reasonably! But there is a shift in the Emperor, at the words your cavalier, as though some picture has just crystallized for him and he does not like it very much. He taps a finger on his leatherbound journal. ] To discuss what went on at Canaan House, it'll help to have context. Can I walk us back to the science, for a minute?

[ Either Viktor has gone off hopelessly half-cocked, here, or Palamedes knows more than anyone should. Gideon's been talkative; it was a matter of time. ]