His explanation of the book's provenance merits a smile, however fleeting, and she shrugs at the (unnecessary) question, "Retiring. Bon-papa keeps a room for me under ordinary cirumstance, nevermind these."

Which are, whatever else they might be called, not ordinary.

"I don't mind the female de Fonce's company," much, any more, "but I'm not taking reading suggestions from the poltergeist in the dead of night."