[A single bleat of laughter escapes Dirk before he can suppress it.]

You wouldn't dare. Anyway, I've an acquaintance in the guard.

[That, and they've quite a few more important things to be dealing with. Dirk doesn't say as much. Dirk doesn't even think as much -- his experience with the police inclines him to believe, on the contrary, that they are indeed precisely that petty. His experience with the authorities in a more general sense has been still less encouraging.]

I will, though. Buy you drinks, I mean.

[He pauses to take a bite of bread and then adds around the mouthful, pointing the remainder of the slice in John's direction:]

Entirely of my own volition, now.