"That's…almost twice my monthly salary…" I stammered. This was beginning to border on the unbeleivable, but as I thought back, it made sense. Despite living in the Temple district on a courier's income, Dobbs never seemed to be in any great need of money. He certainly didn't show his wealth, but nor did he ever give the impression of being impoverished in any sense of the word.

I sobered myself with more tea before continuing, "She's certainly the generous sort."

He nodded at my interest, adding a piece or two to the conversation. "Little strange, too, if you ask me anyway. Rumors say she's the last of her name, and lives all lone in her estate and a domestic. Me, I don't pay much mind, long as I go home with coin in me pocket."

"Is she nobility, then?" I asked upon hearing the word 'estate'.

"Not a court noble, least in so far as I know, though she is the well-to-do sort from what I gather. Eizenstrauss is her family name, if that helps."

It did. The Eizenstrauss family was, in fact, nobility, though one that had long-since fallen out of favor. Last that I recalled hearing the name was going on a decade ago during the rise of the Inquisition, though the details escaped me.

"So?" he pressed after allowing me some time to my thoughts, "You interested?"

I pursed my lips and looked towards the window. By now, the rain had picked up yet again.

In reality, aside from an investiture of time and effort on my part, this wasn't asking too much from me, and since it was completely legal, there wasn't a great deal for me to lose. But still, something sad oddly with me about this who affair. I couldn't put my finger on why, but there was a sense of foreboding about the idea that I couldn't shake.

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"Won't I need to meet with Lady Eizenstrauss personally to discuss these arrangements?" I asked after some time, though Dobbs simply waved me off.

"Nah, no need of any of that," he said, downing the remainder of his cup, "I can give you all the directions you need. So long as you follow 'em, you'll get paid."

My brow hiked for the umpteenth time during this conversation. "You've not met her, then? How do you know you're really working for her?"

He shook his head at me, "But I've met her domestic. Basil, her butler. Least I think that was his name. Strange chap, that one. Young, too, and got a sickly look to 'em. Can't imagine why a lad like that'd be working as a servant and not off getting married, what with how smooth he is."

"Does she not concern herself with the trustworthiness of those she employs?"

"She has a way about her, me thinks," he said with a keen smile. "The type what knows a person's character even without having met 'em. My guess? She probably looks up your public records first, maybe asks around real subtle like. Does her research that one."

"Perhaps…" I said, my words trailing off into my teacup. That such a person should exist was not all that uncommon, especially in Nevarynn city, or among those with ties to the upper echelons of society. Reclusiveness was merely par for the course for anyone who called themselves Svietsylvanian, and I was hardly an exception. And though the Eizenstrauss family were not particularly famous for any one thing, they were nevertheless an old name, perhaps one of the oldest in the realm.

There was something else, though; something that I was forgetting. Why did that name conjure such a strange sensation in me?

After a time, our discussion drew towards a close. I decided to sleep on the decision, and informed Dobbs of such before we bid one another farewell. Despite this, however, he made sure to wish me luck in my new enterprise. For all the chagrin that I had for the man, I thought that I would come to miss him, at least a little.