Arthur pushed open the wooden door that had been freshly painted black and fully renovated not long ago, wrapped his cloak around himself and walked into his office.
The fireplace crackled away, clearly having had its logs replaced by the officer on duty last night, heating the kettle on its base.
He took off his gloves and leaned his ever-present walking stick against the back of a chair.
Arthur had just pulled back the armchair and before he could sit down properly, a series of unhurried footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
There was a knock at the door.
"Sir." A young officer's voice sounded from outside the door, "Samuel March Phillips from the Home Office has arrived. Would you care to see him?"
Arthur's eyebrows twitched, but he didn't rise immediately.
If it had been anyone else, Arthur might not have bothered to see him, but this Mr. Samuel March Phillips was not someone Arthur could choose to avoid.
