He straightens at that, unhappy at both the man's tone and his manner of speaking. Spoon-feeding information indeed! Who does this man think he is, speaking to him so!

"If the book was truly worth knowing about I would already own or be seeking it," he announces.

"Mr Norrell?" The store keeper finally emerges, a book bound in paper and tied about with string in his hand, then he hesitates at the sight of the man beside him. Clearly the discontent of the conversation is evident even to him. He pauses, uncertain if he should continue, before finally taking a few slow steps closer and holding it out. "Sorry for the wait, sir," he offers, and Norrell snorts in mild disgust while taking the book.