Still, [ charles smiles, not at all deterred by the fact that it was all volunteer work, ] That was pretty good of you, signing up for that.

[ the question makes him snort as if it's a silly thing to ask; instead of getting up, he nudges at his coat with his foot and then pulls it closer until he can stick his hand into one of the pockets and pull out, yeah, a notebook and pen.

he hands them over with a little bow, just because he can, and says, his voice affecting a posh, sharp british accent clearly different from his own, ] A good detective never fails to carry with him the means of note-making.