Joseph ignored the young man's question and instead settled on what to him seemed the most important part; that the man carried in his hand a wine glass filled with unmistakable dark red liquid. "Where did you get that glass of wine and do they have anything stronger?"
It was rude, but a spoilt society brat could handle being spoken down to for a moment at least and once Joseph had some liquor in him he'd be all the more talkative for it. It was in the young man's own interests that Joseph find something to drink. But even as he thought that he found himself apologising for his rudeness. The Chronicle had enough of a reputation for its libellous gossip and reporting without it’s writers gaining a reputation for being rude.
“I’m in London for quite some time to come. I have a lead I’ve been wanting to follow up, but I assure you it will be every bit as good as the work I’ve done before.” He said, offering his hand to shake.