Kit glanced around John Merylbone, a fairly new scout despite his age — he was pushing fifty had come up to the desk.
”Brian, sorry to interrupt, but I need help. I’m looking for information on early British scholars’ costumes. I’d heard there was a good general reference by Cunnington and Lucas from 1978.”
Brian stared at the scout for long, unblinking moments, giving the distinct impression that John’s request was utterly beneath his notice. Margo whispered, “Isn’t that a little rude?”
Kit smiled. “No, actually he’s thinking. Watch.”
Brian started talking. “Well, yes, that’s a very good general reference, but it contains a good bit more than you’ll need. Covers all manner of charity costumes, through several centuries, actually. I’d recommend Rymer’s Foedera, vol. VII, or Statutes of the Colleges of Oxford for the Royal Commission.-that’s translated from the Latin, which is useful-or perhaps Gibson’s Statua Antigua Universitatis Oxoniensis. Loggan also did some excellent work in Cantabrigia Illustrata and Oxonia Illustrata.”
The librarian was busy jotting down names and titles while he spoke.
”Good grief! He didn’t even use the computer!”
Kit only smiled “Don’t look so horrified Nobody’s asking you to learn as much as Brian knows. Nobody knows as much as Brian Hendrickson. He has a photographic memory. Useful for a research librarian on a time terminal.”
”Oh. I was beginning to worry.”
”You do that, “Kit laughed “I like it better when you’re worried. Proves you’re thinking.”
She put out a pink tongue. “You’re mean and horrible. Why does everybody else like you?”