"Yes, along with others, of course," Robards said, glancing toward the open door. He wouldn't put it past someone to be listening. "The Ministry has several independent advisors now. Or rather, parts of the Ministry do. The MLE is sometimes one of these parts."
He shrugged, picking at his chips. "I'll assume you're asking after the MLE employees in general, and not me personally," he said, popping a chip in his mouth and thinking. "There are times, yes, when individuals speak with individuals."