Humble pie is not good eats. Withholding things is, alas, second nature. Magicians and their tricks, and all. At least he told her everything he's getting out of her art authentication.

"There will certainly be time to see exhibits," he assures her, "and lunch wherever you like. Oh, I'll warn you, the portal there is a little bit onerous. You would not believe what I had to go through, working out the precise key sequence."