Barty watches her sarcastic performance of the perfunctory social forms with the air of a man who is winning an argument. He might be winning it in a very petty and ultimately meaningless way, but in the end all things are meaningless and we die. This dwarf will take what he can get, with gratitude.

"I finds that to be a charming expression of naiveté, and I do appreciates your flattery, but as former Warden-Constable of all Antiva, I haves had an office for more than fifteen years now and I am very sorries to informs you that it is nots in anys way impressive," Barty replies, gesturing broadly at the room an its decor. Behold, the gifted woven rugs in their lovely colors, hanging from the walls to keep out the draft. Witness the shining still on the table against the wall, quietly ticking little alcoholic murmurs to itself. See the dwarf, ever-patient, dressed in warden-blue, "Now, I hears you've gots a question for me abouts Carpentry?"