A barely furnished man's room, comfortable, austere, scholarly.

The refuge of a busy man, to judge by the piles of books and papers which littered the large open writing-table.

There were despatch boxes turned upside down, a sea of parchment and foolscap.

In the midst of it all a man deep in thought.
A visitor, entering with the freedom of an old acquaintance, laid his hand upon his shoulder and greeted him with an air of suppressed enthusiasm.
"Planning the campaign, eh, Brott?
Or is that a handbook to Court etiquette?
You will need it within the week.

There are all sorts of rumours at the clubs." Brott shook himself free from his fit of apathetic reflection.