"Oh, you can use the bathroom," she says, no playful suggestion that he should do it right there. If anything, she seems to prefer the opposite.

She waves over her shoulder to indicate the direction, stepping aside so he could pass on. She lets him lead on through to the next room, which isn't much bigger than her office, but at least considerably tidier. In here, the era is unmistakable, with busy wallpaper and dark furniture, low lights flickering on the walls.

"Through there," she adds as she follows him on through, pointing to a door just off to the side that would lead to an even pokier bathroom.