"You must not apologize to me, having died in my service," he says gently. "Please, sit." He draws out a chair himself.

"I confess, I had high hopes for you. I believe you know as much about the early days of the Post-Resurrection era as anyone--" now living, is how that platitude ends. "Who was not there."

"How do matters stand in my House? I have had only the most confused reports."