He returned the menu to the countertop and looked to his left. Three persons were there, two male and one female. The closest was a man, sitting on a stool two away from Matthews, clutching his left hand. As Matthews glanced at him, he spoke: "What about some Borneo vintage brandy? That'd hit the spot quite nicely. Also ... who's that with the peppermint schnapps?"
Beyond him was a man and a woman. He heard something about comparing service history, but he couldn't really make out much else. Matthews turned back to the bartop, and beckoned to the bartender. "One Colonial Mead, in a glass or whatever it is you serve it in." He sat himself down on the stool two down from the man to his left, and began tapping the bar with his right hand.
