Oh, interesting. So he was open to bribes, at least in this context. Perhaps he was more desperate, now. Perhaps his gambling habit coming out in Witch Weekly had dried up other avenues. He was presumably out of friends, if he was here. Ester had presumably taken him in because he was a lost puppy, not because they had some longstanding secret friendship — Emrys thought he would have heard about Pettigrew in that context before this, if they were friends, anyway. Ester wasn't the sort to blush; she didn't keep many secrets.

So what did Emrys consider worth investing in? A great many things that Pettigrew would have no inkling about. Art, music. Pornography. That was an intriguing possibility, because Emrys wouldn't have minded seeing him naked, but he discarded it after only the briefest consideration. People could get touchy about that sort of thing; if Pettigrew's friends were conducting honor duels presumably he was one of a similar type.

"I have a wide set of interests," he said with a casual shrug. "So long as things pay off in the end." He watched Pettigrew a moment, and took another drag of his cigarette. "Perhaps we might discuss the matter when you've a clearer head."