Oh, lord, Selwyn was one of those--another one of those people who thought they knew everything about him and what sort of person he was, what sort of life he had because of some strange little fantasy in their heads. It was pure hype that was usually generated by anti-Ministry politicians and swallowed by people that believed Robert lived in some little golden castle somewhere. Robert did not feel like defending himself tonight. He felt like a pint and a cigarette. He drew out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, letting the smoke drift off the other direction away from the table.
"You aren't in the easiest position. I realize that. Nor do you have the easiest job, certainly not in the way that Hayes left things, I'm sure," he said. "I agree with the same things you do about those who are disadvantaged. And yet you still misunderstand me. Oh, well. You are entitled to your own opinion. You make a good many assumptions about who you believe I am and how you believe I live. You are correct in about a sliver of it, and the rest of it is utter twaddle, Thorfinn. If you knew anything about me and what I have actually done, believed in or stood for, at least your opinions would be made in fact and not in either presumption or hype."
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