"Vindicates my suspicions, I suppose."

"Some people are very quiet... Might hear better when I'm closer."

"We'll see." And over to get closer to where she's being interviewed.

River stays out of the line of site of whoever's inside - but there's a place in the vents where she can hear pretty well, and sometimes see shadows of movement without being exposed, and she can move so quietly that even Book struggles to hear her. 

The girl has an abundance of talent, there's no denying that. Book will play his small part as a distraction, now that the task of fetching River is accomplished.

It's hard to tell whether the woman notices anything. "Back already?" is all she says. 

"It would be poor manners to leave a young lady unescorted too long."

"And you're quite the gentleman."

"When one reaches a certain age, one finds they must make the best use of the tools which yet remain to them."

"I suspect you have more than manners in your kit."

"I won't deny the implication, if you'll allow an old man his ego."

"Depends on the size of that ego."

"The seminary encouraged me to travel light in that regard. Alas, I was not always a diligent student."

"A big ego looks good on you, so I won't judge."

"It is very kind of you to flatter me so."

"I can be a good girl when it suits me."

"And how often is that?"

"On special occasions only."

"So this is one of those?"

"It could be."

Hum.

"Why are you traveling?"

Light shrug. "To see somewhere new."

"Anywhere in particular?"

"I don't know yet."

"A more popular destination than you might expect. Though in such cases, the captain prefers to know if any tagalongs may be expected to attempt to join our voyage along the way."