Jonathan Strange, [ he says, with a little nod. ] Pleasure to meet you as well, Hastings. Have you been in this world for a while or were you one of the recent lot, deposited here without so much as a by-your-leave a few weeks ago?

[ If it's the latter, it's nice to chit-chat and have someone in similar straits. If it's the former, Strange has so many questions that he'd love answered. ]