A box of tobacco and a pipe, some writing implements, loose sheets of paper, and some pages of various textures folded and bound in twine. Another skinny drawer displays a neat set of men's grooming implements, simple, perhaps Edgard is acquainted with these concepts, perhaps not.

No bowls, though.

Before he can get much further, there's the scuff of boot heel on stone floor, and Marcus Rowntree appears in the frame of the door, looking at first confused, and then something more fixed in the way he stares across at Edgard bent over his desk.

He keeps his hand on the edge of the door, as if in the process of making a decision.