Claws Come Off Best

Back at Gaius's house, everyone is busy.

Gaius has unpacked, put on a load of washing, and is looking for fish glue.

Denis Diderot is checking his emails,

Terence is showing Ageless lobster his claw.

I had a glowing finger, says Terence, but it needed a battery.

Claws come off best, says Ageless lobster.

Very good, says Gaius, who has found the fish glue. Claws come off best. Did you hear that Denis?

No, says Denis.

Ageless here says claws come off best, says Gaius. It's a double entendre.

Denis can't be bothered with a double entendre. He has received an email from Henriette.

Henriette has replied, says Denis.

What did she say? asks Gaius. If it's not too private. 

She says On what? says Denis

On what? says Gaius. What is that a reply to? 

That depends, says Denis. 

I see, says Gaius. You said that depends and she is now asking on what.

Exactly, says Denis. So I'm still in the dark.

As I see it you now have carte blanche, says Gaius. It's seems she's leaving it up you what further correspondence depends on.

You may be right, says Denis.

I am right, says Gaius. Hold Terence's claw for a moment. I need to apply fish glue to the gap in his hand.

Yikes! says Terence.

It won't hurt, says Gaius. 

No! Look out of the back window! says Terence. It's Roo-kai!

So it is, says Gaius, opening the sliding glass door.

Roo-kai hops in with the muffin in the egg box.

He puts it on the floor and lets go of the string.

Gaius looks down at the muffin.

Well done Roo-kai. says Gaius. What an ingenious way to bring home a sample.

Terence looks down as well.

There is a hole, filled with white foam, in his muffin.

And the muffin is coughing.

We must remove the sample at once, says Gaius. That may be an allergic reaction. Will you do it, Denis? I'm dealing with fish glue so time is of the essence.

Okay, says Denis. I'll scoop it out with a spoon.

He finds a spoon in the kitchen drawer, and scoops out the foam.

Where shall I put it? asks Denis.

On a saucer for now, says Gaius. 

While looking for a saucer, it occurs to Denis that Henriette might like this story.