"Could you please... show me to a room?" he asked. "And... maybe the kitchen..." he added. "I wish to learn more about this new place" he nodded.
He wondered if he would have to pay for the food... he was a poor former student. He had to drop his education because he couldn't afford it. Could barely afford to pay for a roof over his head so he sold his possessions to pawnbrokers. And food? That came once a week or so if he was lucky, a generous offer from his landlady when she grew worried about him. Soup usually... But it was something.