Klaus adjusted his tie, trying not to let his apprehension show.

"I'm sure I'll be able to make do."

The hulking giant was quite delighted to hear this. "Mrs Prisby back home showed me a bit of knitting at the gardening club. I confess, it's quite relaxing." He didn't add that it had helped him on long, sleepless nights. He wasn't much good at it but something to occupy his hands and keep him from pacing the corridors had been a godsend. "Mr Ravel mentioned you'd built this hotel around the time of the war. Were you a soldier?"