"If you were to lend me a copy of the book for three days to a week, this conversation wouldn't need to be had." It seems simple to her. A deep breath is needed before she suggests, voice gentle, "Perhaps I could even take a corner of your office for that time, to read and take note without the book ever leaving your supervision."

Polite, she reminds herself.

"I merely want for an understanding of the whole text. It is how I was taught to approach any work -- to know it unabridged before discussion."