"Les oiseaux," he said gravely. "Ils me racontent des histoires."

There was no hint of humor to his tone when he said these things at first. Then he shot her a wink and began to snicker at her crabby attitude.

When it seemed that she could not be placated, he raised a yielding hand. "Les informations sont transmises à moi, à l'occasion," he finally admitted. "Il ne peut pas toujours faire confiance, il n'est donc pas nécessaire de répandre des rumeurs."

The common room was still just a little ways off, giving them more time to talk. He hoped, however, that it would not simply be about robots and the possibility of an attack.