Finding Cornelius

After I've breakfasted, I ask a member of the inn's staff for directions to the Grand Hall. I figure that working as a copyist should be better than working as a barmaid, even though the work seems likely to be mind-numbingly boring.

I find the Grand Hall easily enough. It's a very large and imposing building that runs along one side of a large open square. I imagine that most of Laralia's bureaucrats must be housed in it.

I enter the lobby. I look around, wondering where to go. A functionary in a scarlet uniform, who can evidently tell from my indecision that I don't work here, walks up to me. "What is your business here?"

"I should like to speak to Cornelius, please. He's an official in the Ministry of Law."

"You need to go up one floor." He points to an impressive marble staircase at the rear of the lobby. "Then turn left and follow the signs for the Ministry of Law. That will take you to their administration office. Ask again there."

I find the admin office without difficulty, knock on the door and enter. It contains two highly polished wooden desks, both piled high with folders and loose papers. The chair behind one of the desks is currently empty, but a smartly dressed young man is sitting behind the other. "Yes?" he says. "Can I help you?"

"Good morning. I was hoping that I might be able to see Cornelius. His nephew sent me. He thought that I might be able to get a job as a copyist here."

"Two doors down, on the right," is all that the young man says, before returning to his paperwork. I don't much care for his off-hand attitude.

I follow his instructions, and come to a highly polished door with a brass name plate attached that reads "Cornelius".

I knock and, since the door looks to be too thick for me to hear his response, enter without waiting for an invitation.

Behind a very impressive desk sits a rather corpulent man of fifty or so.

1. He quickly hires me as a copyist.
2. He tells me that there are no vacancies for copyists at present, but there is an alternative job available that I might wish to consider.
3. He tells me that there are no vacancies.
4. Unfortunately I seem to have knocked at a bad moment. Sitting in his lap is an attractive young woman, hurriedly putting her blouse back on. I imagine I won't be offered a job now. Not that I'd want one here, if this is typical.

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