"Yes. I wish Mother were here, she could talk to Derby's acquaintances..." 

"I'm unfortunately no longer skilled at moving in loftier circles."

"I think Eliza is the best we have for that, at the moment." 

She nods. "I might be best served helping with researching solutions to the age issue."

Nod. "We should also contact Mother and Hiram." 

"Telegraph, this time?"

"Yes...I think this is sufficiently urgent to override the potential danger of letting a telegraph operator see the message." 

"We can couch it in terms of a novel we're working on, perhaps, but yes."

"Yes, that seems wise." 

"I'll help with the wording."

He nods and pulls out another sheet of paper and starts composing a draft. 

Nereus, meanwhile, to the woman: "I'm," long fluting noise, "Though I go by Nereus when I'm in this shape. Nereus Sanders, lately. Do you have a name you're willing to share?"

"Martina Pratchett. That's just my name, I'm only a quarter." 

He nods. "It's good to meet you, Martina."

She ducks her head. "Thank you." 

"Can you tell me where Ephraim lives, and what Derby looks like?"

"Can I borrow some paper?" 

"Here," Joseph says absentmindedly, handing over a couple of sheets.

"Thanks," she says, starting to sketch a map. 

He pays attention.

"Thank you. Is there any time he's usually at home, or usually out?"

Headshake. "He keeps a fairly irregular schedule these days." 

"I'll hang around as a raven or something for a while, then."

Joseph is briefly distracted from his writing. "You can compress yourself that far?" 

"I'd end up a really heavy raven who should possibly not be landing on tree branches - maybe a fox would be better - "

"--What are the limits on your shapeshifting abilities?"